15 Thanksgiving Games for Adults and Families (That Aren’t Just Arguing)

There’s a dangerous window on Thanksgiving between the last bite of pie and the moment someone suggests you all “talk about the election.” Thanksgiving games fill that window. They keep the kids busy, give the adults something to compete over besides opinions and turn a food coma into actual memories.

Here are 15 games sorted by when you’ll need them. Most need nothing more than paper, pens and a willingness to look a little silly.

Easy Table Games (While Everyone’s Still Sitting)

1. Thankful Alphabet

Go around the table. Each person names something they’re thankful for, in alphabetical order. A is for apple pie, B is for butter, C is for cousins who didn’t come this year. Anyone who freezes for more than five seconds is out. It’s wholesome until the letter X, when it gets creative.

2. Two Truths and a Lie, Family Edition

Each person shares two true facts about themselves and one lie. Everyone else guesses the lie. This works especially well with grandparents, who have stories nobody has ever heard and possibly should not hear.

3. Who Said It?

Before dinner, write down quotes from past family gatherings on slips of paper. Read them out and have everyone guess who said it. Warning: this game creates new quotes.

4. Napkin Pictionary

All you need is a pen and the paper napkins you already have. Draw Thanksgiving-themed words like pilgrim, gravy boat or awkward silence, and have your team guess.

After-Dinner Party Games for Adults

5. Turkey Trivia

Prepare 20 questions mixing real Thanksgiving facts, family trivia and pop culture. Split into teams and keep score. Losers do dishes. Suddenly everyone takes it very seriously.

6. Leftover Wars

Each player gets a mystery combination of leftovers (pie and mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry) and has 60 seconds to pitch it as a gourmet dish. Everyone votes. Winner gets first dibs on tomorrow’s sandwich.

7. Charades: Holiday Edition

Write prompts like “carving a turkey badly,” “pretending to like the green bean casserole” or “unbuttoning your pants discreetly.” Act them out. Nobody will be discreet.

8. Gratitude Hot Seat

One person sits in the hot seat while everyone else says one thing they appreciate about them. It sounds cheesy. It will make at least one person cry. That’s the point.

9. Pie Auction

Give everyone the same amount of fake money (Monopoly cash works). Auction off slices of pie, the last dinner roll and the right to choose the next movie. Watch your family’s true values come out.

Thanksgiving Games for Kids

10. Turkey Feather Hunt

Hide paper feathers around the house before guests arrive. The kid who finds the most gets to put the whipped cream on the pie. Keeps them busy for a solid 30 minutes. You’re welcome.

11. Pass the Pumpkin

Hot potato, but with a small pumpkin and music. When the music stops, whoever’s holding the pumpkin is out. Small pumpkins only. We cannot stress this enough.

12. Thanksgiving Bingo

Make bingo cards with squares like “someone burns something,” “dog steals food,” “Grandpa falls asleep,” or “someone says it’s so good this year.” Kids and adults both play and get very invested.

Outdoor Thanksgiving Games

13. Turkey Bowl Flag Football

A Thanksgiving classic. Play before dinner when everyone still has the ability to run. Assign one older relative as the permanent referee so they feel included and nobody gets tackled.

14. Cornhole Tournament

Set up a bracket, give the teams ridiculous names and keep a scoreboard on the fridge. Bonus points for trash talk, minus points for crying.

15. Pumpkin Bowling

Line up empty plastic bottles and roll small pumpkins at them. It’s messy, it’s dumb and everyone will want a second round.

Tips for Running Games Without a Mutiny

• Pick a game master. One person explains the rules and keeps things moving.
• Mix the teams. Put kids with grandparents and in-laws with siblings. It’s free family therapy.
• Keep prizes silly. The last slice of pie, a paper crown or immunity from dishes.
• Stop while it’s fun. Two or three games is plenty before the nap phase kicks in.

Dress for the Occasion

Team uniforms make every game more competitive. Match your crew in our funny Thanksgiving shirts, like Pie Is a Food Group, Talk Turkey to Me or the battle-tested I Survived Thanksgiving Dinner. Free US shipping on every tee.

Hosting friends instead of family? Check out our Friendsgiving ideas.