OrangeCell ToolsWhat games can the whole family play at Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Updated October 29, 2026 · OrangeCell Tools · Topic: Porchlight Party
Short answer
The games that work for a whole family at Thanksgiving or Christmas are ones a grandparent and a ten-year-old can play together: holiday bingo, holiday trivia in mixed-age teams, table-topic or gratitude cards passed around the table, would you rather / this or that, a gift swap (steal-or-keep) game at Christmas, and kids' table activity pages so the youngest have something during the long meal.
Before the meal
- Mingling bingo ("find someone who has been to another country") gets cousins and in-laws talking.
- Kids' table pages: word searches, mazes and drawing pages keep younger children busy.
At the table
- Table topics or gratitude cards: one card per person, read aloud between courses.
- This or That / Would You Rather: no writing, no losers.
After the meal
- Holiday trivia in teams that mix ages.
- Bingo with a caller list, for a big group on the couch.
- Gift swap: numbered cards and steal-or-keep rules make a white elephant run smoothly.
- Family trivia: questions about your own family, written by the host.
Tips
- Pick three or four games; long meals leave less time than you expect.
- Have small prizes: candy, leftovers rights or first pick of pie.
- Print in black and white if you need a lot of copies.
Printable bundles
You can improvise most of these with paper and pens. If you would rather print a ready set, our Porchlight Party Thanksgiving Family Games Bundle and Christmas Family Games Bundle ($7.99 each on Etsy) each have 25 games with answer keys, kids' table pages, and color and ink-saver versions in US Letter and A4.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Thanksgiving game for adults and kids together?
Thanksgiving bingo or trivia played in mixed-age teams; both work with a wide age range and no setup beyond printing.
How do you run a gift swap game?
Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. In order, each person opens a new gift or steals an opened one; set a limit on how many times a gift can be stolen.
Are there printable games for the kids' table?
Yes: word searches, mazes, I Spy sheets and drawing pages are common. Both Porchlight Party holiday bundles include kids' table pages.
Products mentioned
| Product | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Family Games Bundle | 25 printable Thanksgiving games for grown-ups, cousins and the kids' table: trivia, bingo, table topics and kids' activity pages, with answer keys. | $7.99 |
| Christmas Family Games Bundle | 25 printable Christmas games for the whole house: trivia, bingo, a gift swap game and kids' table pages, with answer keys. | $7.99 |
Prices verified on Etsy October 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not tax, legal, financial or veterinary advice.