Christmas Board Games For Adults: The Best Games For Christmas Day

The best Christmas games for adults are quick to learn, work after a big dinner and get everyone laughing. Here are the kinds of games that go down well, sorted by group size and mood.

Some of the things we suggest here are sold by other shops, not by us. Where we link to them, we say so.

Big-group party games (6+ players)

• Word and drawing games where teams guess against the clock.
• Social deduction games where someone is secretly the traitor.
• Charades-style acting games with ready-made cards.
• Trivia games with a 'pub quiz' feel.

Quick card games (10–20 minutes)

• Fast reaction card games you can learn in two minutes.
• Fill-in-the-blank humour card games (check the age rating first).
• Bluffing games where you lie about the cards you hold.

Games for two or four

• Cooperative puzzle games where you work together.
• Tile-laying and strategy games for a quiet Boxing Day.
• Two-player duel card games.

Escape-room style

• Boxed escape-room games you solve around the table.
• Puzzle boxes and mystery games with a story.

Free games with no box

• Who Am I with sticky notes.
• The Christmas film emoji quiz.
• Pass the parcel with forfeits for grown-ups.

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How to write it so it lands

• Teach the rules before dinner, not after.
• Keep one quick game in reserve for when energy drops.
• Check age ratings on humour card games if kids are about.

Where to shop next

• Funny Christmas cards
• All our Christmas guides
• Christmas party games for adults
• Christmas games for the whole family
• Christmas games for two
• Christmas quiz questions
• Christmas film quiz
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Board Games Hub: Picks, Rules And Games For Every Group
• Christmas Card Messages
• Birthday cards for kids
• Good luck cards
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Christmas game for adults?

A team guessing or drawing game is the safest choice — it works for any number, needs no strategy and gets people laughing quickly.

What games can adults play at Christmas without a board?

Charades, Who Am I with sticky notes, a Christmas quiz and the gift-stealing Yankee swap all work with nothing to buy.

What's a good game for a mixed family and adults group?

Pick something rated 12+ with short rounds, like a trivia or word game, so grandparents and teenagers can play together.

What is a good example of christmas Board Games For Adults?

"Word and drawing games where teams guess against the clock." is one of 15 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.