15 Best Thanksgiving Board Games for Family Fun

Thanksgiving board games are one of my favorite ways to keep the holiday fun going after the meal.

In our family, pulling out a game has become just as much a tradition as pumpkin pie, it gets everyone laughing, talking, and playing together.

Whether you’re keeping kids busy before dinner or gathering the whole family around the table, these games bring the perfect mix of fun and connection to the holiday.

Collage of family-friendly Thanksgiving board games including Incohearent Family, Family Feud Kids vs Parents, Who Knows You Best?, Who’s Most Likely To, Thanksgiving Charades, Bamboozled, Herd Mentality, and Blank Slate

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Top Family Board Games for Thanksgiving

The best board games are the ones that work for everyone, easy to pick up, fun across ages, and lively enough to keep the table laughing together.

Over the years, I’ve found that simple rules, a mix of strategy and silliness, and plenty of interaction make the difference between a game that gets played once and one that becomes a holiday tradition.

Family Feud Kid’s vs Parents

If your family loves a little friendly rivalry, this twist on the classic TV show is a winner. We played it last Thanksgiving, and the kids couldn’t stop laughing when the “grown-ups” completely blanked on the obvious answers. The mix of kid-friendly and parent-level questions makes it fair across ages, and it’s the kind of game that gets everyone shouting answers and cheering each other on.

Thanksgiving Friendly Feud Game

This printable version gives Family Feud a holiday makeover, with all the questions tied to Thanksgiving food, traditions, and fun. I love pulling this one out while the turkey is in the oven because it doesn’t require setup beyond printing a few sheets. It works just as well with a small group after dinner as it does with a big family gathering, and the Thanksgiving theme makes it extra festive.

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 is less about competition and more about sparking funny conversations. The family-friendly edition keeps it lighthearted, and it’s a great icebreaker if you’ve got relatives who don’t see each other often. The prompts always lead to plenty of laughs, last year, “Who’s most likely to eat the last piece of pie?” turned into a whole debate that carried through the night.

Who Knows You Best?

This one works well if you’re looking for something calmer and more personal. It’s a card game where you test how well you know each other, and it surprised me how much my son remembered about small family details. It’s not loud or competitive, so it’s a nice option for a quieter moment in the day, and it doubles as a way to build stronger connections across generations.

Thanksgiving Charades

Charades is always a hit in our house, and giving it a Thanksgiving twist makes it even better. Kids love acting out turkeys, pumpkin pie, or “Grandma taking a nap after dinner,” while the adults get just as silly. It’s low-prep and works for any age group, which makes it one of the easiest Thanksgiving board games to pull out when everyone’s gathered in the living room.

Printable Thanksgiving Word Game

I like this printable word game because it’s flexible, you can play with just two people or a whole group. The Thanksgiving-themed word prompts keep it on-topic for the holiday, and it’s the kind of activity you can hand to kids while the food is cooking. All you need are the cards and a pencil, so it’s perfect if you want something fun without a lot of setup.

Turkey Escape Room Game

This one is different from the usual party games, it feels more like a puzzle adventure. We tried it with a small group of older kids and adults, and everyone got completely hooked trying to solve the clues before “the turkey escaped.” It’s best if you’ve got a quieter space and some time to focus, but it’s a unique way to mix teamwork with holiday fun.

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, but this newer edition with Alexa compatibility adds a modern twist. It’s a good choice if your family likes mystery and deduction rather than fast-paced silliness. When we played last year, it kept the older kids really engaged, and it gave everyone a chance to slow down and focus after a busy day. It’s one of those Thanksgiving board games that feels more like a tradition than a quick laugh.

Bamboozled

Bamboozled is one of those games that sounds chaotic but ends up being hilarious. It mixes bluffing with quick thinking, which makes it fun across ages. When we played it last Thanksgiving, the kids loved trying to trick the adults, and it turned into a running joke the rest of the evening. It’s easy to learn, so you don’t have to spend half the night explaining rules.

Herd Mentality

This game always surprises me because the “right” answer is just whatever most people choose. It’s perfect for bigger gatherings since it works with up to 20 players, and the silly questions, like favorite foods or dream vacations, always get people talking. Last year, our family couldn’t stop laughing when nearly everyone answered “pumpkin pie” except for one outlier, who got teased the rest of the night.

All of Us

All of Us is a trivia game that’s meant to span generations, which makes it a good fit for Thanksgiving. The questions cover pop culture and history, so kids, parents, and grandparents all get a chance to shine. We used it last year after dinner, and it turned into a fun way to swap stories as well as test knowledge. It works for both smaller family nights and larger holiday gatherings.

Happy Salmon

Happy Salmon has players running around giving high-fives and silly handshakes, it’s chaotic but in the best way. They’re short games, so they’re ideal if you want something fun between courses or while waiting for dessert. Younger kids especially loved these at our last family get-together.

OUTSMARTED!

If you’ve ever wanted to turn Thanksgiving into a game show, Outsmarted! does exactly that. It’s a live quiz game that works with a wide range of players, so everyone can join in. The trivia covers lots of categories, which makes it fair across ages. When we tried it, it got competitive quickly but in a fun way, teams formed on their own and we ended up playing longer than planned.

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 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

If your family loves pulling out games at Thanksgiving, you’ll probably enjoy keeping the tradition going through the rest of the year too. We’ve rounded up more themed favorites that fit perfectly with other holidays and cozy winter nights:

Christmas-themed board games that bring festive cheer to December gatherings
Spooky board games for a playful Halloween twist
Winter board games that make cold evenings more fun indoors

These are a fun way to keep family game nights fresh while building traditions for every season.

Last Updated on 2 September 2025 by Clare Brown

Top Family Board Games for Thanksgiving

More Holiday Board Games for Every Season

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