18 Christmas Party Games for Adults That Get Everyone Off Their Phones

The difference between a forgettable Christmas party and a legendary one is about two hours of good games. Without them, everyone stands near the snacks, scrolls their phones and leaves at 9. With them, people are yelling, laughing and inventing inside jokes that last until next December.

These Christmas party games for adults work at house parties, office parties and family gatherings after the kids go to bed. Most need little more than paper, pens and a competitive spirit.

Icebreaker Games

1. Christmas Two Truths and a Lie

Everyone shares two true holiday stories and one fake one. The group votes on the lie. Great for mixing groups who don’t know each other yet.

2. Holiday Would You Rather

Would you rather only eat fruitcake for a week or only listen to one carol on repeat? Would you rather wrap 100 presents or untangle 100 strings of lights? Take turns asking and defending your answers.

3. Guess the Baby Elf

Guests send a baby photo ahead of time. Print them, number them and have everyone guess who’s who. Prize for the best detective.

Team Games

4. Christmas Pictionary

Write holiday words on slips of paper: mistletoe, ugly sweater, regifting, eggnog hangover. Split into teams. Use a whiteboard or giant paper pad. Loud, fast and always funny.

5. Holiday Movie Charades

Act out Christmas movie titles without speaking. Include the classics and a few deep cuts to separate the casuals from the fanatics.

6. Christmas Song Lyric Battle

Teams take turns singing a line from a Christmas song containing a random word you call out, like “snow,” “home” or “heart.” First team that can’t come up with one in ten seconds loses a point.

7. Ugly Sweater Fashion Show

Everyone walks a runway in their ugliest sweater. Guests vote for categories like Most Lights, Most Questionable and Most Likely to Be From a Grandmother.

8. Christmas Trivia Showdown

Prepare 25 questions about holiday movies, songs, traditions and the people at the party. Teams write answers on paper. Losers clean up the wrapping paper.

Minute-to-Win-It Christmas Games

9. Candy Cane Hook

Players hold a candy cane in their mouth and try to hook as many other candy canes as possible from a table in 60 seconds. No hands.

10. Ornament Toss

Toss plastic ornaments into a bucket from increasing distances. Shatterproof ornaments only, unless you enjoy sweeping.

11. Unwrap the Present

Wrap a small prize in 20 layers of paper. Players sit in a circle and pass a pair of oven mitts and a die. Roll a six, put on the mitts and start unwrapping until someone else rolls a six.

12. Stack the Cookies

Put an Oreo on your forehead and try to get it into your mouth without using your hands. Harder than it sounds. Hilarious to watch.

Office Christmas Party Games

13. Holiday Bingo

Squares like “someone mentions the weather,” “the boss tells a dad joke” or “someone leaves early with a plate of food.” Safe for work and weirdly competitive.

14. Name That Christmas Tune

Play the first five seconds of a holiday song. First person to name it wins a point. Works on video calls too.

15. White Elephant Gift Exchange

The office party classic. Everyone brings a wrapped gift under a set budget, then picks, steals and trades. Read our full guide to white elephant rules before you play.

Late-Night Party Games

16. Most Likely To

Ask “Who’s most likely to regift a candle?” and everyone points at the same time. Rapid-fire questions, zero mercy.

17. Christmas Confessions

Everyone anonymously writes their worst holiday confession on a slip of paper. Read them out and guess who wrote each one. Keep it fun, not cruel.

18. Reindeer Ring Toss

Someone wears antlers. Everyone else tosses rings (or glow-stick hoops) at them. Simple, silly and great for photos.

Tips for Hosting Christmas Party Games

• Plan three or four games. More than that and people get tired.
• Start easy. Icebreakers first, competitive games once everyone’s warmed up.
• Get prizes everyone wants. Gift cards, good snacks or a funny tee beat a novelty mug every time.
• Have a host who keeps time. Games without a timer turn into chaos.

Prizes That Don’t End Up in a Drawer

Need prizes for the winners or a gift for the white elephant pile? A funny T-shirt is cheap, useful and gets a laugh when it’s unwrapped. Browse our full collection and holiday shirts. Free US shipping on every tee.

Hosting kids too? Check out our Christmas games for family.