25 Best Christmas Board Games for Families, Kids & Adults

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Every December, I pull out our favorite Christmas board games for those quieter moments over the holidays, usually after dinner or while we’re waiting for cookies to bake.

We’ve tried dozens of festive games over the years. Some became instant favorites, while others didn’t make it past one Christmas! I’ve included the ones we’d happily play again, from silly party games and trivia to easier options for younger kids.

Christmas themed board games for family game night

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Best Christmas-Themed Games

There’s a real mix here, from quick trivia and card games to longer games for Christmas Eve or a family game night. I’ve included options for younger kids as well as games that teens and adults will actually want to join in with.

For Younger Kids

These are the easiest options for younger players, with simple rules, familiar characters, and plenty of festive fun. Most are quick to learn without needing lots of help from adults.

Candy Land: The Elf on the Shelf Board Game

The Elf on the Shelf Edition gives the classic preschool game a Christmas makeover, with North Pole characters and a race along the Rainbow Path to reach Santa.

It's made for ages 3 and up, with no reading required, and there are two ways to play, including a cooperative version where everyone works together. Games take around 10 minutes, which makes this a good choice for younger kids who aren't ready for longer board games.

Santa Claus GO FISH

This was a big hit when we had littles visiting, it's the classic Go Fish game with a Christmas twist. The Santa-themed cards are bright and easy to match, which helped the younger ones stay focused. Great for ages 4–6, and a nice option when you want something simple that still feels festive.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Top Trumps Match Game

This game is part memory, part matching, with cute character tiles. It’s a fast-paced game that even adults can enjoy in quick rounds. We usually use it as a transition game, something to play between dinner and dessert, or when we have a short window. The Rudolph theme keeps it extra festive.

The Santa Claus Game

This one feels like a Christmas version of Candy Land with a bit more learning baked in. It’s all about delivering gifts and helping Santa, so younger kids really get into the story. Ours practiced counting and taking turns without even realizing they were learning. It’s sweet, easy to play, and ideal for preschoolers.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Board Game

We played this after watching the movie, and it made the game feel even more special. The visuals are really close to the classic film, and it helps with counting and color recognition too. Younger kids enjoyed the simple mechanics, and older siblings liked helping them figure it out.

Related: Reindeer scavenger hunt clues.

Dr. Seuss: Merry Grinchmas!

If your kids love the Grinch, they’ll get a kick out of this one. It’s a cooperative game, so no tears over who wins, just working together to stop the Grinch. We used it as a calm-down activity before bedtime a few nights leading up to Christmas. Great for teamwork and low-key family bonding.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt Game

This is one of those games that gets kids moving, which is gold when they’ve been cooped up. We’ve played it inside and outside, it’s super flexible. The cards are straightforward, and the activities keep kids laughing. Works well for mixed-age groups, especially if you set a timer or make it a team challenge.

You can also play our free Christmas treasure hunt

For the Whole Family

These are the ones I'd bring out when everyone wants to play together. There’s a good mix of quick, easy games and longer options for a relaxed evening over the holidays.

Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman

This one's fast-paced and silly in the best way. It’s kind of like a Christmas version of Spot It or Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. We played it with a mixed group (kids, teens, and adults), and everyone got into it, especially the part where you have to slap the card pile at just the right moment. Easy to learn, hard to stop laughing.

CLUE Home Alone

CLUE: Home Alone Edition puts a festive spin on the classic mystery game, this time inside the McCallister house from Home Alone. Players have to work out who discovered Kevin's antics, which booby trap they found, and where they found it.

It's for 2–6 players ages 8 and up, and a game takes around 30 minutes. If your family watches Home Alone every Christmas, this is a fun way to carry the theme into family game night.

A Christmas Story Card Scramble Board Game

If your family loves A Christmas Story, this is a fun one to add to game night. The gameplay is simple enough for older kids, and the challenges and cards are all themed from the movie. Ours liked collecting their favorite moments (like the leg lamp, of course). Not too long, so it works well for post-dinner play.

Buddy The Elf Game

This one's packed with themed trivia and silly challenges based on the Elf movie. Teens and adults who know the film get the most out of it, but even the younger ones have fun with the challenges. We played it with family over Zoom one year, and it actually worked great virtually too!

Monopoly Elf

We bring this one out every year, usually on Christmas Eve. If you know the movie Elf, the themed properties and cards are hilarious. It still follows the classic Monopoly rules, but the familiar places from the film make it feel fresh. Great for older kids and teens who’ve outgrown simpler games but still love a good theme.

CLUE: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

This was such a fun twist on the original CLUE! The Christmas setting and familiar characters (like Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch) make it feel totally different. Our older kids loved the mystery-solving part, and it’s nice that it keeps everyone thinking without being too competitive. Definitely one we’ll be keeping in the rotation.

12 Days of Christmas

This card game is quick to set up and great for smaller groups. Each player tries to collect sets based on the classic carol, and it’s simple enough for kids but still strategic enough to hold adults’ attention. We like playing it as a countdown activity, one round a day leading up to Christmas.

Trivia and Party Games

If you have a crowd to entertain, these are easy ones to bring out after dinner or during a Christmas get-together. Expect plenty of trivia, music, quick challenges, and laughs.

Christmas Trivia Game

This is a quicker, more casual version of a trivia game, great for younger kids or as a warm-up to something longer. The cards are easy to read, and it doesn’t take long to play a full round. We sometimes keep this in a basket near the tree for spontaneous game moments.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

This is one of our go-to trivia games when the older kids are around. It’s definitely best for fans of the movie, some of the questions get pretty detailed, but that’s what makes it fun! We like to play it with hot cocoa and the soundtrack in the background. A good fit for teens and up, especially if you’ve watched the movie more than once.

Santa’s Tongue Twisters Card Game

This one is pure silliness and works best when the kids need to burn off a little energy. The tongue twisters are festive and just tricky enough to make everyone giggle. We’ve used it as a warm-up for game night or just a fun 10-minute activity before bedtime. Easy to learn, easy to laugh at.

First to Worst: Holiday Edition

First to Worst is a fun choice when you have a mix of ages playing together. Instead of answering trivia questions, players rank Christmas and holiday topics and try to work out how everyone else would rank them.

It's for ages 8 and up and works with two or more players, so it's an easy one to bring out when family or friends are together over Christmas.

Christmas Charades Board Game

This has been a party favorite for us, especially with mixed ages. The prompts are easy to act out, and we’ve played with groups ranging from 6-year-olds to grandparents. It’s chaotic in the best way and always ends in laughter. We usually play a few rounds after dessert or while waiting for midnight on Christmas Eve.

12 Games of Christmas

This set is a lifesaver for parties or when you need lots of options. We used it during a family gathering where ages ranged from toddlers to grandparents, and there was something for everyone, charades, trivia, Pictionary-style games, all with a holiday twist. Great for variety without having to learn a bunch of new rulebooks.

For Teens and Adults

These have a little more strategy, humor, or competition, making them better suited to older players. They're good choices when the younger kids have moved on to something else.

Herd Mentality Christmas Booster

We already loved the original Herd Mentality game, so this Christmas expansion was an easy yes. The holiday-themed questions made it feel fresh, and it worked great with both teens and adults. You do need the base game, but if you already own it, this little add-on keeps things lively during family get-togethers.

Wicked Christmas

Wicked Christmas is a fast-paced card game where the aim is actually to get rid of your Christmas presents. Players use Blast and Mischief cards to clear their own cards and make things harder for everyone else.

It’s easy to learn but has enough strategy and competition to keep teens and adults interested.

Merry Dissmas

We pulled this out during an adults-only game night, and it was hilarious. It’s packed with snarky Christmas-themed “diss” cards, with players competing to come up with the funniest insults and comebacks.

The humor is definitely aimed at older teens and adults, so this is one to save for when the younger kids aren’t playing.

Last Christmas: The Naughty or Nice Holiday Party Game

This one had everyone laughing at our holiday gathering last year. It’s super lighthearted, think silly dares, goofy challenges, and some unexpected surprises. Teens and adults will have the most fun with it. It’s less about strategy and more about just letting loose and being a bit ridiculous.

Unstable Unicorns Christmas Special Expansion Pack

Unstable Unicorns has been a long-time favorite in our house, and this Christmas expansion just adds to the chaos in the best way. It’s full of festive unicorns and holiday sabotage, perfect for teens who like a bit of strategy and a lot of mischief. You’ll need the base game, but if you’re already a fan, this is a fun seasonal twist.

Last Updated on 16 September 2026 by Clare Brown

Best Christmas Board Games

Best Christmas-Themed Games

For Younger Kids

For the Whole Family

Trivia and Party Games

For Teens and Adults

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