15 Best Thanksgiving Board Games for Family Fun

Add us as a preferred source on Google »

Thanksgiving board games are an easy way to bring everyone together before dinner, after the meal, or while you’re waiting for dessert.

I’ve included Thanksgiving-themed games as well as family board and card games that work particularly well for holiday gatherings. There are quick games for kids, party games for larger groups, and options that grandparents, teens, and younger players can enjoy together.

Thanksgiving board games to play with the whole family

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**

Best Board Games for Thanksgiving

The best board games for Thanksgiving are easy to learn, work well with different ages, and give everyone something fun to do while they’re together.

I’ve included Thanksgiving-themed games alongside family favorites, with options for kids, teens, adults, large groups, and quieter games to play around the table.

Family Feud Kid’s vs Parents

Family Feud Kid’s vs Parents pits children against adults with questions designed for each generation. It’s easy to understand and works particularly well for a Thanksgiving gathering when you have several family members who want to play together.

Just One Party Game

Just One is a cooperative word game where everyone works together to help one player guess a mystery word using one-word clues. The catch is that matching clues are removed, which often leaves the guesser with some very questionable hints. It’s easy to learn and works well with mixed ages, making it a good Thanksgiving game when you want everyone playing together rather than competing against each other.

Incohearent Family Edition

This game is all about trying to make sense of silly gibberish phrases, and it’s one of those activities where kids usually end up being better than adults. It’s quick to explain, doesn’t take long to play, and works perfectly for those in-between moments during Thanksgiving. We’ve found it keeps the energy light and playful without dragging on too long when people are waiting for dessert.

Who’s Most Likely to…

This family-friendly card game uses “Who’s most likely to…” prompts to get everyone talking and comparing answers. It’s a good choice for a relaxed Thanksgiving gathering, especially when you’re playing with relatives who don’t see each other often.

Who Knows You Best?

Who Knows You Best? tests how well family and friends know each other through a series of questions. It’s a quieter alternative to some of the party games on this list and works particularly well with different generations playing together.

Thanksgiving Charades

This Thanksgiving-themed version of charades has players acting out seasonal words and phrases for everyone else to guess. It’s easy to get started and works well with mixed-age groups, making it a simple option for a larger family gathering.

Codenames Board Game

Codenames is a team word game where players use one-word clues to identify the correct words on the table while avoiding the opposing team’s choices. It’s simple to set up, but coming up with clever clues makes every round different. This is a good choice for a Thanksgiving gathering with older kids, teens, and adults, especially if you have enough people to split into teams.

BLANK SLATE

Blank Slate is a word association game where you try to match your answers with others at the table, and it’s always funny to see which family members think alike. It’s quick to play and doesn’t take long to explain, so it works well if you want a lighter game between courses. We found it especially fun with teens, since they loved seeing how often they matched with the adults.

Clue

Clue is a classic mystery board game built around deduction as players try to determine the suspect, location, and weapon. It’s a better Thanksgiving choice for families who prefer a traditional board game and want something more strategic than a quick party game.

Bamboozled

Bamboozled combines bluffing and dice rolling as players try to outsmart each other. The rules are easy to pick up, making it a good option when you want a competitive family game without spending a long time explaining how to play.

Herd Mentality

Herd Mentality is particularly good for large Thanksgiving gatherings because it can accommodate up to 20 players. The aim is to give the same answer as everyone else, so the simple questions quickly turn into debates about what the group is most likely to choose.

All of Us

All of Us is a multigenerational trivia game with questions covering different eras and topics. That makes it particularly well suited to Thanksgiving, when kids, parents, and grandparents may all be playing together.

Happy Salmon

Happy Salmon is a fast, energetic party game built around matching actions with other players. Rounds are short, making it a good Thanksgiving option for younger players or when you want something quick to play while everyone is waiting for dinner.

OUTSMARTED!

OUTSMARTED! turns family trivia into an interactive quiz-show-style game with questions across a range of categories. It’s designed to accommodate different ages, making it a useful option when kids, teens, and adults all want to play together.

Turkey Escape Room Game

This Thanksgiving escape room offers something different from the traditional board and party games on the list. Players work together to solve a series of clues, making it a good choice for a smaller group that enjoys puzzles and teamwork.

Free Thanksgiving Games to Print

Looking for something you can use right away? These free Thanksgiving games are easy options for keeping kids and families entertained before dinner or around the table.

free printable thanksgiving scattergories game

Free Thanksgiving Scattergories

Scattergories is one of those games that always gets everyone laughing, and the Thanksgiving version makes it even better. We’ve used these printables at family dinners, and it’s hilarious to see what people come up with when the pressure’s on. Kids love racing to think of answers, and adults get surprisingly competitive. Best part? You just print the sheets and grab a pencil, no setup required.

Thanksgiving Bingo Printable

This is hands down the easiest game to keep kids entertained while waiting for dinner. The themed images, turkeys, pumpkins, pies, are perfect for preschoolers, but older kids still get into it if you add little prizes for winners. I usually print the cards on cardstock so they last through sticky fingers, and it’s a game you can bring back every year without any fuss.

Thanksgiving matching game free printable

Thanksgiving Memory Game

The printable matching game is a quiet option that works well if the kids need a calmer activity. I’ve found it especially helpful for preschoolers and early elementary ages, they love flipping the cards and spotting pairs, and it helps build focus while keeping them in the holiday spirit. It doesn’t take much prep beyond cutting out the cards, and it’s one of those activities kids will happily replay a few times in a row.

More Holiday Board Games for Every Season

Looking for more games to play throughout the year? These seasonal board game roundups have more family favorites for holiday gatherings and game nights:

Christmas-themed board games for family gatherings throughout December
Spooky board games for Halloween game nights
Winter board games for cold days and evenings indoors

Last Updated on 16 September 2026 by Clare Brown

Best Thanksgiving Board Games

Best Board Games for Thanksgiving

Free Thanksgiving Games to Print

More Holiday Board Games for Every Season

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Hi! I’m Clare!