Family-Friendly Games to Play at the Table After Christmas Dinner

Christmas Day is all about spending quality time with loved ones, and there’s no better way to keep the festive spirit alive after dinner than by playing games together. Whether you’re looking for laughter, creativity, or a bit of friendly competition, here are some family-friendly games that everyone can enjoy without even leaving the table.

We have compiled a list of games that are easy to play, require minimal effort or need minimal "extra bits" to plat and are perfect for the whole family. Don't forget to share your favourite Christmas day fun and games ideas in the comments below too! 

1. Charades

What you need: Just your imagination (or a notepad to jot down ideas).

Charades is a classic game that’s perfect for all ages. Players take turns acting out a word or phrase without speaking, while others try to guess what it is. You can keep it festive by choosing Christmas-related topics like films, songs, or traditions. If you’re playing with younger children, consider using simple categories to keep everyone engaged.

2. Who Am I?

What you need: Sticky notes or small slips of paper and a pen.

Each player writes down the name of a famous person, character, or animal and sticks it to the forehead of the person next to them (without letting them see it). Players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are. For example, “Am I real?” or “Am I a character from a Christmas film?” The first to guess correctly wins!

3. Pictionary

What you need: Paper and pens, or a small whiteboard and marker.

This drawing game is a guaranteed laugh! Split into teams and take turns drawing a word or phrase from a list while your teammates try to guess what it is. You can add a Christmas twist with prompts like “Santa stuck in a chimney” or “a reindeer on holiday.” Don’t worry about artistic skill – the worse the drawings, the funnier the game!

4. Two Truths and a Lie

What you need: Nothing but your creativity.

In this simple game, each player takes turns saying three statements about themselves – two that are true and one that’s a lie. Everyone else tries to guess which statement is false. It’s a great way to spark conversation, learn new things about family members, and share a few laughs.

5. Pass the Present

What you need: A small wrapped gift and a list of silly challenges (or a pre-prepared game version).

Wrap a small prize in multiple layers of paper, with a challenge or question tucked between each layer (e.g., “Sing a Christmas carol” or “Name three types of Christmas pudding”). Players pass the gift around the table while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the gift unwraps one layer and completes the challenge. The game continues until the final layer is unwrapped.

6. Twenty Questions

What you need: Nothing but your imagination.

One player thinks of an object, person, or place, and everyone else has 20 questions to guess what it is. The answers can only be "yes" or "no." To make it festive, you can limit the category to Christmas-themed items like “a snow globe” or “a mince pie.

7. The Name Game (aka Celebrity)

What you need: Small slips of paper, a pen, and a bowl.

Each player writes down several names of famous people, characters, or even family members and places them in a bowl. The game is played in three rounds:

• Round 1: Players describe the person without using their name.
• Round 2: Players act out the person, similar to charades.
• Round 3: Players can only use one word to describe the person. The mix of describing, miming, and wordplay makes this a hilarious and competitive game for all ages.

8. Scattergories

What you need: A notepad for each player and a random letter (you can use a dice or an app).

Players are given a list of categories (e.g., “Christmas food,” “things found in the living room”) and a letter. Everyone has a set amount of time to write down a word for each category starting with that letter. For example, if the letter is "S," answers might include "Stuffing" and "Stockings." Points are scored for unique answers no one else thought of.

9. Tabletop Trivia

What you need: A trivia set or some prepared questions.
Test everyone’s knowledge with a quick round of trivia. You can buy a Christmas trivia game or prepare your own questions on festive topics, like Christmas films, songs, or history. Divide into teams to make it more competitive, or keep it casual with individual scores.

10. Reverse Charades

What you need: A list of prompts (or just your creativity).In this twist on the traditional game, one person guesses while the rest of the group acts out the word or phrase together. The chaos of everyone trying to mime the same thing often leads to hilarious results. Keep it short and simple with festive ideas like “a snowball fight” or “wrapping presents.”

Bonus Tips for Christmas Table Games:

• Keep it simple: Choose games that don’t require much setup or materials.
• Encourage participation: Adapt the games for younger children or older relatives by simplifying the rules.
• Add a festive touch: Use Christmas-themed prompts or categories to make the games feel even more special.

After a hearty Christmas dinner, these games are sure to keep the laughter rolling and the family bonding. Gather round, make memories, and enjoy the spirit of the season! Which game will you try first? Let us know in the comments below!

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