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December 12, 2023

Christmas Party Games to Play with Friends

Move Beyond Charades

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Adults and children sitting on the floor playing a bingo-like Christmas game, with snow outside the window and a Christmas tree in the background.

iStockPhoto / petrenkod

Are you looking for something fun to do at your Christmas or New Year’s Party? Will charades not cut it? You might think there aren’t any options for Christmas games to play with friends, and that a board game would be way too much work. You’re eating and drinking after all: who wants to worry about a big game? However, this is the exact reason party games exist! They’re easy to learn, quick to set up, and usually designed to make you laugh. 

The five games listed below could end up being the hit of your holiday gathering. 

Throw Throw Burrito

Front of box for Throw Throw Burrito game.
Front of box for Throw Throw Burrito game.
Exploding Kittens LLC

There’s no better expression of affection than hurling a stuffed burrito at a loved one. This party game is great for all ages, as the most prevalent game mechanic is pelting a burrito at someone. A good choice if you’re looking to teach a game quickly and get straight to the laughs.

Buy Throw Throw Burrito on Amazon

Pantone: The Game

Front of box for Pantone: The Game.
Front of box for Pantone: The Game.
Cryptozoic Entertainment

Another one for all ages, but especially for inquisitive children. Pantone: The Game uses simple colors and geometric shapes in a Pictionary-like way. The game requires you to try and create famous people out of color swatches, which I know sounds a lot more involved than burrito throwing. If your Christmas party has some very smart children or just a quieter crowd, this might be a great choice.

Buy Pantone: The Game on Amazon

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity cards spread out on a wooden table with a wooden platter in the middle.
Cards Against Humanity cards spread out on a wooden table with a wooden platter in the middle.
Shutterstock / Penty Photography

Deeply inappropriate and only for the adults, Cards Against Humanity can be extremely entertaining with the right group. If your party consists of old college pals, visiting cousins, or even your immediate family, this can turn into quite a riot. A lot of people design drinking games around the mechanics, because the game doesn’t care how you play it. There are also an absolute ton of expansions for this game. 

Buy Cards Against Humanity on Amazon

What Do You Meme?

A What Do You Mean game box, with cards on the right.
A What Do You Mean game cards.
What Do You Meme?

Another party game only for the older crowd, What Do You Meme will make you laugh against your will. It’s a fun game designed simply to facilitate spit-take-worthy reactions. The base game comes with general prompts and well-known memes, but there are entire versions based around careers. There’s even one just for Real Estate Agents.

Buy What Do You Meme? on Amazon

Dixit

A Dixit game box, with cards on the right.
A Dixit game box.
Libellud

Dixit isn’t designed to be a party game, but it easily can be. It involves competitively utilizing creativity with mechanics akin to Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity. The beautiful art on the cards is used to inspire words and phrases. You could even try to use only Christmas words! There are a lot of possibilities with this game and with a small group of all ages, it can be a lot of fun.

Buy Dixit on Amazon

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