A luxurious, warmly lit living room decorated for Christmas, featuring a large Christmas tree, plush velvet sofa, stone fireplace, and people enjoying a game night amid festive decor and falling snow outside.

The Best Christmas Games for Large Groups

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Hey there, fellow party planners! Are you feeling the pressure of organizing a Christmas bash for a big crowd? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Whether you’re aiming for silly icebreakers or full-on competitive showdowns, the right games can transform your holiday gathering into a night everyone will remember. If you’re still gathering supplies, you can check out these top-rated Christmas party games for groups to find something that fits your vibe.

Let’s dive into some fantastic games that’ll have everyone ho-ho-ho-ing with delight!

A cozy living room with vaulted ceilings and exposed wooden beams, featuring a plush L-shaped sofa, a stone fireplace decorated for Christmas, a 7-ft Christmas tree, and warm afternoon sunlight streaming through bay windows.

Indoor Games to Warm Up the Crowd

Jingle All the Way (or Junk in the Trunk)

Picture this: Your uncle Bob, shaking his booty like there’s no tomorrow, trying to get jingle bells out of a tissue box tied to his waist. Hilarious, right? Here’s how it works:

  • Tie tissue boxes filled with jingle bells to participants’ waists – a silly, festive twist that gets everyone moving and laughing.
  • No hands allowed – it’s all in the hip action, making coordination hilariously tricky and fun.
  • First one to shake out all their bells wins – perfect for creating laughter-filled competition and memorable holiday moments.

Trust me, it’s a belly-laugh generator.

A high-angle view of an expansive open-plan kitchen and dining area featuring polished concrete floors, industrial-style pendant lights, and a festive setting with a gift-wrapping station, a dining table elegantly set for a meal, and a small decorated Christmas tree, showcasing a color palette of whites, golds, and greens.

Tree-mendous Decorating Challenge

Want to see Grandma wrapped in tinsel? Here’s your chance:

  • Divide into teams to get everyone involved and set the stage for a festive, competitive atmosphere.
  • Each team chooses their human “tree” – the centerpiece of the game, ready to be transformed with crepe paper and ornaments.
  • Race to decorate your tree-person using holiday decorations – encourages creativity, teamwork, and lots of laughs along the way.
  • Most creative wins – and gets to keep their new look for the party, making the effort feel extra rewarding.
A lively family room filled with people wrapped in tinsel and ornaments for a decorating challenge, large sliding glass doors revealing a snowy patio outside, warm beige walls contrasting with colorful decorations, mid-morning light illuminating the scene.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

This classic never gets old. It’s perfect for groups of 6 to 20 or more:

  • Everyone brings a wrapped gift – make sure to grab something fun from a selection of holiday gift ideas to keep the game exciting.
  • Draw numbers to determine order – adds suspense and sets the stage for hilarious gift swaps.
  • Choose a gift or steal from someone else – pick from quirky novelty gifts to make the game even more unpredictable.
  • Watch the chaos unfold as people fight over that singing fish plaque or other ridiculous treasures.
An elegant formal living room with high ceilings, adorned with crown molding and warm lighting. A circular arrangement of velvet armchairs and sofas surrounds a large coffee table stacked with wrapped presents for a White Elephant Gift Exchange. A grand piano decorated with a garland and candles is in one corner, while a roaring fire in the marble fireplace adds warmth to the rich jewel-toned color scheme. Guests' faces show anticipation.

Christmas Trivia Throwdown

Time to put those years of watching Elf on repeat to good use:

  • Form teams
  • Answer rounds of festive questions
  • Add a twist: losers have to sing a carol
A cozy converted attic game room for a 'Christmas Trivia Throwdown', featuring slanted ceilings, dormer windows, and illuminated by fairy lights. Teams gather around small tables, with a chalkboard displaying scores, while bean bag chairs and floor cushions provide extra seating. A hot chocolate station is set up with steaming mugs, and the walls are adorned with quirky Christmas-themed posters. The image captures the intimate atmosphere from a low angle, highlighting players' focused expressions.

Name That Christmas Tune

Ready to show off your holiday playlist knowledge?

  • Play short clips of Christmas songs
  • Teams race to guess the title
  • Bonus points for singing along (badly encouraged)
Christmas Card Matchmaker

Great for breaking the ice and forming random teams:

  • Cut Christmas cards into pieces – pick from a variety of holiday cards to make this game festive and fun.
  • Distribute to guests as they arrive – everyone gets a piece and a reason to start mingling right away.
  • Mingle to find your card-mates – encourages interaction and laughter as guests hunt for their matches.
  • Instant conversation starter! – this clever twist keeps your party lively and festive while using Christmas-themed supplies to enhance the experience.

Outdoor Games for the Brave (or Warm-Blooded)

Snowman Showdown

Who needs a carrot nose when you can have a pickle?

  • Set a time limit
  • Teams build the most creative snowman
  • No snow? Use cotton balls and imagination!
Reindeer Games Relay

Rudolph’s got nothing on your crew:

  • Teams don antlers
  • Race while pulling “sleighs” full of presents
  • First team across the finish line wins bragging rights
A spacious snow-covered backyard during golden hour, featuring a festive 'Reindeer Games Relay' with obstacle courses marked by candy cane poles. Teams wearing antlers pull colorful sleighs filled with wrapped gifts, surrounded by evergreen trees adorned with oversized Christmas lights. A fire pit with Adirondack chairs is visible, providing a cozy gathering spot. The image is captured from an elevated perspective, showcasing the entire relay course and players in action.

Candy Cane Hunt

It’s like an Easter egg hunt, but cooler:

  • Hide candy canes around the yard – grab a pack of candy canes to make the hunt sweet and festive.
  • Players or teams search – encourages friendly competition and keeps everyone moving.
  • Person/team with the most wins – a fun way to reward the most determined or lucky hunters.
  • Tip: Count them before hiding! – make sure everyone plays fair and enjoys the game using holiday treat bags for collecting prizes.

Games That Won’t Break the Bank (or Your Back)

Christmas Cornhole

Forget summer BBQs, this is a holiday classic now:

  • Decorate boards with holiday themes – use Christmas-themed craft supplies to make each board festive and fun.
  • Use red and green bean bags – grab a set of holiday bean bags for tossing and scoring points.
  • Aim for the “fireplace” hole for extra points – a fun twist that keeps the game competitive and adds a festive challenge for players of all ages.
Snowball Toss

No snow? No problem!

  • Use white pom-poms or balled-up socks – grab a pack of white pom-poms or soft socks for safe indoor tossing fun.
  • Set up festive targets – decorate with holiday poster boards, like a snowman or Santa, to make aiming more fun.
  • Award points based on difficulty – create extra excitement by giving more points for trickier shots and challenging participants of all ages.
Merry Bow Match

It’s like Memory, but more festive:

  • Hide different colored bows under cups
  • Players take turns finding matches
  • Most matches wins
  • Loser wears all the bows for the next game

Virtual Party? No Worries!

Festive Online Game Show

Keep your remote participants in the holiday spirit:

  • Hire an online host or DIY – explore virtual holiday party kits for an easy, fun way to get everyone involved.
  • Create rounds of holiday-themed challenges – use Christmas trivia cards or printable activities to keep the competition lively.
  • Perfect for any group size – whether it’s a small family gathering or a big office party, these challenges scale easily.
  • Pro tip: Have prizes mailed to winners for extra excitement – check out holiday gift sets to reward participants and add an extra layer of fun.
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