Christmas games the whole family can play together

No-prop games for the living room

These work from age five to ninety. Mix ages in every team so the kids are not always losing to the adults.

• Christmas charades. Write films, songs and objects on paper slips. One person acts, the team guesses in 60 seconds, then the other team goes.
• Pass the parcel. Wrap a small prize in many layers with a joke or a forfeit in each one. Pass it while music plays and unwrap a layer when it stops.
• White elephant swap. Everyone brings one wrapped gift under a set price. On your turn, open a new gift or steal one that is already open.
• Reindeer, Santa, Elf. Rock paper scissors with poses. Reindeer beats elf, elf beats Santa, Santa beats reindeer. Play knockout rounds until one champion is left.
• Two truths and a lie, Christmas edition. Each person tells two true Christmas memories and one made-up one. The table votes on the fake.

Phone games for the cousins' table

When the teens drift to their phones, give them something to play together instead of alone. On Roam, a free iPhone app, these party games suit a crowded sofa.

Knockout Party Online is a party knockout race: 16 players, 4 rounds, 1 winner. Mind the Pane is a co-op run where two people carry one pane of glass through a lot of traffic. Sound Like a Goat is a comedy sound game where your finger is your voice. Vote Them Out is an election party game, and KNOW IT! is a fast game-show trivia quiz that works for a family face-off.

How to run a family game hour

• Pick three or four games. Start loud with charades, put a calm one like two truths in the middle, end with a prize round.
• Keep rounds short. Five minutes per round keeps small kids in and stops one person from taking over.
• Use tiny prizes. The winner picks the film, skips the dishes or gets the last mince pie.

Questions people ask

What are good Christmas games for all ages?

Charades, pass the parcel and a white elephant swap work for small kids and grandparents alike. Mixed-age teams keep it fair.

How many games should we plan for a Christmas party?

Three or four fill an hour. Start with something loud, put a calm game in the middle and finish with a round that has a prize.

Can our family be the characters in a game?

On Roam, yes. You can make a game from a photo, so a family photo can become the characters, and the family can play it together.