23 Super Fun Christmas Party Games For Kids

Here’s a roundup of 12 super fun Christmas party games for kids, guaranteed to get them giggling, moving, and most importantly, having oodles of fun!

This mix of classic favourites and fresh ideas has something for kids of all ages (here's looking at you kidults!!), so no one’s left out of the fun.

Christmas can be a costly time of year, so I've made sure that these games are all family budget-friendly.

Most of the games use stuff you might well already have at home or only need a few extra props.

Several of them even come with printables to make things even easier.

I’ve also focused on games that are quick and simple to set up, saving you precious time.

The only exceptions are activities that double as a fun craft project, which are great for keeping older kids and teens busy and creative. 

Also read: Christmas Would You Rather For Kids (Free Printable)

The 23 Most Fun Kids' Party Games to Play This Christmas 

From toddlers to tweens, teens, and even the young at heart, this list is packed with games to keep everyone entertained throughout the holiday season.

1. Gift Stacking Relay

A gift-stacking relay race is a great way to bring out everyone's competitive side, and it can quite often also dissolve into giggles.

• Number of Players: 2+ divided into two teams
• What You Need to Play: Some empty boxes of different sizes and leftover wrapping paper
• Suitable Age Group: 3–6

How To Play:

1. Divide the players into two teams.
2. Set up the gifts in piles at one end of the party space.
3. Line up the two teams at the starting line at the other end of the space.
4. When the game starts, the first player from each team runs to their team's pile of gifts and grabs one gift.
5. The player then runs back to their team's starting line and sets the gift down.
6. Subsequent players are tagged as soon as a gift has been set down and stack the gift they retrieve on top of the previous gift.
7. This process continues until one team has stacked all of their gifts in a tower.
8. The first team to stack all their gifts wins the game.
9. If a tower of gifts falls down, the team must rebuild the tower.

2. Saran Wrap Ball Game Challenge

 

Grab: Christmas Saran Wrap Ball Game

The Saran Wrap ball game has become super popular over the last few years.

Think of it like pass the parcel but made of plastic wrap instead of layers of paper. 

The game can be fun as a simple unwrapping game.

However, you can use our challenge cards to make it so much more fun. 

There area16 printable Christmas Saran Wrap Ball Game Challenge cards in the set and a sheet of blank cards where you can get creative with your own challenges. 

• Number of Players: 3–10
• What You Need to Play: Saran wrapped ball full of little prizes, set of challenge cards, two dice 
• Suitable Age Group: 3+

How To Play:

• Players sit in a circle and take turns to roll the dice until someone scores a double. That person is then the first to start unwrapping the ball. 
• The other players continue to take turns rolling the dice. 
• The player unwrapping the ball must stop as soon as someone else scores a double. 
• The player who scores a double is then given the ball to unwrap.
• The game continues until all the prizes in the ball have been won. 

Here's a great video showing how to make a saran wrap ball full of cute prizes. 

3. Jingle Bells Toss Game

This game challenges kids to toss jingle bells into cups.

It’s also customisable to fit all age groups, as you can increase the difficulty level by simply spacing the cups further away.

• Number of Players: 3–10
• What You Need to Play: Plastic or paper cups and colourful jingle bells.
• Suitable Age Group: 3+

How To Play:

• Set up six to ten cups in a bowling pin formation at one end of a big table.
• Each player takes turns standing at the other end of the table and tossing jingle bells at the cups.
• Players take turns, with each getting three bells to toss per turn.
• Keep score of how many bells a player manages to get into the cups each time.
• The winner is the player who manages to get the most bells into the cups at the end of the game.

Quick Tip: Play with coloured jingle bells to make the game look more fun. Double up the cups to weigh them down, or use a hot glue gun to secure the cups to a large board.

4. Pin the Nose on Rudolph

Grab: Pin The Nose On Rudolph

Pin the Nose on Rudolph gives a Christmas twist to the classic game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

• Number of Players: 2+
• What You Need to Play: Grab a Pin the Nose on Rudolph printable (it's also in our super great value 22 Christmas Games Bundle), sticky tack or tape, and a blindfold. Add mini red craft pompoms for extra fun.
• Suitable Age Group: 3+

How To Play:

• Draw or print a reindeer image and hang it on a wall low enough for all kids to reach.
• Prepare a number of noses and attach adhesive tape to each.
• Players take turns trying to stick the nose on the reindeer while blindfolded.
• Spin the kids around three times before they attempt to stick the nose.
• The player who places the nose closest to the actual spot wins.

5. Snowman Tower Slam

Snowman Tower Slam is a fun and easy game that even involves a little crafting beforehand!

• Number of Players: 3+
• What You Need to Play: White paper cups, construction paper, glue, and rolled-up socks or small soft balls.
• Suitable Age Group: 3–6

How To Play:

• Decorate the cups with snowman faces.
• Stack the cups in a tower.
• Each player throws a rolled-up sock at the tower to knock it down.
• The winner is the player who knocks over the most snowmen.

Quick Tip: Encourage kids to decorate their cups with imaginative faces like Santa or reindeer.

6. Christmas Punch Board

Punch board games are hugely fun, and this Christmas version can be crafted in the shape of a Christmas tree.

This is a great video on how to make a punch board. 

• Number of Players: 3+
• What You Need to Play: 15 paper cups, a thick board, red and green tissue paper, a plate to use as a template, rubber bands, small prizes, scissors, a pen, and a ruler.
• Suitable Age Group: 4–10

Set Up:

1. Mark evenly spaced openings on the board in the shape of a Christmas tree. Each hole should fit a cup snugly.
2. Cut circles from the tissue paper using the plate as a template.
3. Place a small prize in each cup and secure tissue paper over the top with rubber bands.
4. Insert the cups into the board’s holes.

How To Play:

1. Each player takes a turn punching through the tissue paper of one cup to claim the prize inside.
2. Continue until all prizes have been claimed.

7. Snowball Scoop Challenge

The Snowball Scoop Challenge is a hilarious game that involves trying to scoop cotton wool balls while blindfolded.

• Number of Players: 2+
• What You Need to Play: A large bowl, two kitchen spoons, a big bag of cotton wool balls, two blindfolds, and a timer.
• Suitable Age Group: 8+

How To Play:

• Place the bowl on a table and scatter cotton wool balls around it.
• Blindfold the player and hand them a spoon.
• Set a timer for one minute and challenge them to scoop as many balls into the bowl as they can.
• The player with the most balls in the bowl at the end wins.

8. Christmas Bingo

Bingo is a classic game that’s easy to adapt for Christmas fun! I've put together a FREE set of 25 Christmas Bingo Cards you can grab. 

• Number of Players: 4+
• What You Need to Play: Christmas-themed Bingo cards, printable callouts in a bowl, and Bingo markers (like candies).
• Suitable Age Group: 4+

How To Play:

• Print out Christmas-themed Bingo cards and distribute them to players.
• Place callouts into a bowl and have a caller randomly select and announce them.
• Players mark the corresponding squares on their cards.
• The first player to get five markers in a row wins.

9. Christmas Charades

Grab: Christmas Charades Prompts

Give the classic charades game a festive twist with holiday-themed phrases.

• Number of Players: 2+
• What You Need to Play: A list of Christmas-themed words or phrases and a timer. Grab our set of 30 Christmas Charades prompts in the shop (also available as part of the super value 22 Christmas Games Bundle. 
• Suitable Age Group: 6+

How To Play:

1. Divide players into two teams.
2. A player from the first team acts out a festive word or phrase without speaking.
3. Their team guesses the phrase before the timer runs out.
4. Switch to the other team and continue until all phrases are guessed.

10. Festive Cookie Decorating Competition

This competition lets kids show off their creativity while decorating cookies. Take a look at this curation of festive cookie decorating ideas using Oreo cookies for inspiration. 

• Number of Players: 2+
• What You Need to Play: Pre-baked cookies, icing in different colours, and various decorations (e.g., candy, sprinkles).
• Suitable Age Group: 4+

How To Play:

• Provide each player with cookies and decorating supplies.
• Encourage creativity by offering awards for categories like “Most Creative” or “Most Colourful.”
• Serve hot chocolate while players enjoy their decorated cookies.

11. Chocolate Coins Scavenger Hunt

This is a festive twist on a classic scavenger hunt. Chocolate coins or other small Christmas-themed items are hidden, and kids race to find them.

• Number of Players: 2+
• What You Need to Play: Chocolate coins or other small Christmas items, a list of clues, and a timer.
• Suitable Age Group: 3+

How To Play:

• Write a list of Christmas-themed items to find, such as candy canes, ornaments, or gold chocolate coins.
• Hide the items around your home or party space.
• Give the kids a list of the hidden items and set a timer.
• The child or team that finds the most items within the time limit wins.

12. Santa Says

This is a Christmas-themed version of the classic "Simon Says" game, perfect for kids of all ages.

• Number of Players: 3+
• What You Need to Play: A designated "Santa" and, optionally, a Santa hat or costume.
• Suitable Age Group: 4+

How To Play:

• The designated "Santa" gives commands to the group, such as "Santa says clap your hands."
• Players must only follow the commands that begin with "Santa says."
• If a player follows a command that doesn't begin with "Santa says," they’re out.
• The game continues until only one player remains.

13. Candy Cane Hook Challenge

A quick-setup game that uses inexpensive materials and tests dexterity.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: Candy canes (the hook-shaped kind), a large bowl, and a timer
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• Give each player a candy cane to hold in their mouth (hook end out).
• Place a pile of candy canes on a table.
• Players must use only the candy cane in their mouth to hook other candy canes and transfer them to a bowl.
• Set a timer for one minute.
• The player who transfers the most candy canes wins.
• No hands allowed!

14. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss

A hilarious active game that doubles as photo opportunity entertainment.

Number of Players: 4+ (works best in pairs)
What You Need to Play: Inflatable reindeer antler headbands (or DIY versions with cardboard and headbands), glow stick necklaces or small rings
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• One player wears the reindeer antlers.
• Other players stand at a marked distance and toss rings at the antlers.
• Each player gets 5 tosses per turn.
• Players rotate being the "reindeer."
• The player with the most successful tosses wins.

Quick Tip: Use different colored rings for different point values to add complexity for older kids.

15. Snowball Spoon Race

A relay-style game perfect for burning energy indoors or outdoors.

Number of Players: 4+ (divided into teams)
What You Need to Play: Large spoons, cotton balls or ping pong balls, and two bowls per team
Suitable Age Group: 4+

How To Play:

• Set up a start and finish line with bowls at each end.
• Players must carry a "snowball" on a spoon from one bowl to the other.
• If the snowball drops, they must return to the start.
• First team to transfer all their snowballs wins.
• For older kids: have them balance the spoon in their mouth!

16. Elf Dress-Up Relay

A giggle-inducing relay race that creates great photo opportunities.

Number of Players: 6+ (divided into teams)
What You Need to Play: Two sets of oversized elf costumes (hat, belt, oversized shirt, curly-toe shoes or DIY alternatives)
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• Divide into two teams and line up at a starting point.
• Place the elf costume pieces at the opposite end.
• First player runs to the costume, puts it ALL on, does a silly elf dance, takes it all off, then runs back.
• Next player goes.
• First team to have all players complete the challenge wins.

Quick Tip: Use items from thrift stores or make simple versions with construction paper and elastic.

17. Christmas Memory Tray Game

A classic memory game with a festive twist—perfect for calmer moments.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: A tray, 15-20 small Christmas items (ornament, candy cane, small wrapped gift, jingle bell, etc.), a cloth to cover the tray, paper and pencils
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• Arrange Christmas items on a tray.
• Let players study the tray for 30 seconds.
• Cover the tray with a cloth.
• Players write down as many items as they can remember.
• The player who remembers the most items wins.

Variation: Remove one item while the tray is covered and have players guess what's missing.

18. Ornament Chopstick Challenge

A surprisingly tricky game that's great for older kids and teens.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: Chopsticks (or pencils), plastic ornament balls, two bowls per player, timer
Suitable Age Group: 8+

How To Play:

• Each player gets a pair of chopsticks and two bowls.
• Fill one bowl with plastic ornaments.
• Set timer for 60 seconds.
• Players must transfer ornaments from one bowl to another using only chopsticks.
• The player who transfers the most ornaments wins.

Quick Tip: Use different sized ornaments for varying difficulty levels.

19. Stocking Stuffer Guess

A sensory guessing game that's simple but entertaining.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: A Christmas stocking, 10 small items (candy cane, small toy, ornament, etc.), paper and pencils, blindfold (optional)
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• Fill a stocking with various small items.
• Players take turns feeling the outside of the stocking (without looking inside).
• Each player writes down what they think is inside.
• Empty the stocking and reveal the items.
• The player who guessed the most items correctly wins.

20. Jingle Bell Freeze Dance

A musical game that gets kids moving and laughing.

Number of Players: 3+
What You Need to Play: Christmas music playlist, jingle bells (optional: one per player to wear on ankle or wrist)
Suitable Age Group: 3+

How To Play:

• Give each player jingle bells to wear.
• Play Christmas music and have everyone dance.
• When the music stops, everyone must freeze completely.
• Anyone who moves (or whose bells jingle) is out.
• Last player remaining wins.

Variation: Call out specific poses when music stops ("Freeze like a snowman!" or "Freeze like Santa stuck in a chimney!")

21. Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Challenges

Quick, hilarious challenges that are perfect for keeping the party energy high! Each challenge takes just 60 seconds to complete, making them ideal for filling gaps between activities or creating a full tournament-style competition.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: Various depending on challenge chosen (see individual challenges)
Suitable Age Group: 6+

Popular Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Challenges:

• Jingle in the Trunk: Shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box tied to your waist
• Candy Cane Chopsticks: Move M&Ms from one plate to another using candy canes as chopsticks
• Marshmallow Toss: Toss marshmallows into a mug held by a partner
• Cookie Face: Move a cookie from forehead to mouth without using hands
• Ornament Shake: Shake wrapped boxes to guess how many jingle bells are inside

22. Build a Snowman Relay

A creative team game that results in silly snowman creations.

Number of Players: 6+ (divided into teams of 3)
What You Need to Play: White balloons, markers, scarves, hats, and other snowman accessories
Suitable Age Group: 5+

How To Play:

• Divide into teams of three.
• Give each team 3 white balloons (pre-inflated), markers, and accessories.
• Set a timer for 3-5 minutes.
• Teams must work together to create the best snowman using one team member as the base (balloons attached to them).
• Take photos of each creation.
• Vote on winners in categories: funniest, most creative, most realistic.

23. Christmas Light Untangle Challenge

A puzzle-solving game that's surprisingly competitive.

Number of Players: 2+
What You Need to Play: Sets of tangled Christmas lights (battery-operated for safety), timer
Suitable Age Group: 8+

How To Play:

• Prepare identical tangled sets of Christmas lights for each player/team.
• On "go," players race to untangle their lights completely.
• First player to have completely untangled lights that turn on wins.
• For teams: pass the lights every 30 seconds to add chaos!

Quick Tip: Intentionally tangle the lights the same way so it's fair, or use a timer and see who makes the most progress in 3 minutes.

Quick 5-Minute Game Fillers

Need something to fill a few minutes while you're setting up the next activity or waiting for guests to arrive? These super-quick games require minimal setup and keep kids entertained:

• Christmas Word Scramble Races: Write scrambled Christmas words on a whiteboard and see who can solve them fastest
• How Many Words from "Merry Christmas": Give everyone 2 minutes to write as many words as they can make from the letters
• Christmas Would You Rather: Check out our Christmas Would You Rather For Kids post with free printable
• Two Truths and a Christmas Lie: Each person shares three Christmas-related statements, others guess which is false

Games by Age Group: Quick Reference Guide

Best for Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 3-4)

Games: Gift Stacking Relay (#1), Snowman Tower Slam (#5), Chocolate Coins Scavenger Hunt (#11), Santa Says (#12), Jingle Bell Freeze Dance (#20), Snowball Spoon Race (#15)

Perfect for Young Kids (Ages 5-7)

Games: Saran Wrap Ball Game (#2), Jingle Bells Toss Game (#3), Pin the Nose on Rudolph (#4), Christmas Punch Board (#6), Christmas Bingo (#8), Candy Cane Hook Challenge (#13), Reindeer Antler Ring Toss (#14), Elf Dress-Up Relay (#16), Christmas Memory Tray Game (#17), Stocking Stuffer Guess (#19), Build a Snowman Relay (#22)

Great for Tweens (Ages 8-12)

Games: Snowball Scoop Challenge (#7), Christmas Charades (#9), Festive Cookie Decorating Competition (#10), Ornament Chopstick Challenge (#18), Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Challenges (#21), Christmas Light Untangle Challenge (#23)

Teen & Adult Friendly

Games: Saran Wrap Ball Game (#2), Snowball Scoop Challenge (#7), Christmas Charades (#9), Reindeer Antler Ring Toss (#14), Ornament Chopstick Challenge (#18), Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Challenges (#21), Christmas Light Untangle Challenge (#23)

Note: Many games can be adapted for multiple age groups by adjusting rules or difficulty levels!

With these 23 Christmas party games, you've got everything you need to host an brilliant holiday celebration! 

Don't feel like you need to play every game, I tend to go with around 4-6 that suit the space, time, and the ages of the guests. 

Looking for more Christmas fun?

Now, before you head off... if you are planning a big family or friends get together, this bundle of 22 Christmas Games has a wonderful selection of games to keep all ages amused. 

Grab: Fun Christmas Party Games Bundle

Pin to save:

 

You might also like...

• Free Christmas Planner – 38 Printable Pages To Help You Prep For Christmas
• Awesome Group Games For Teens At Christmas
• Quick Fire Christmas Would You Rather Questions
• Simple Ways To Make Christmas Memorable For All The Family
• Christmas Family Bucket List
• Fun Christmas Eve Activities For All The Family
• 45 Creative Christmas Gift Exchange Themes to Sleigh Your Holiday Party!
• Fun Christmas Pictionary Ideas (With Word Lists)
• 16 Fun Christmas Party Games For All The Family