15 Friendsmas Games for a Christmas Night With Friends
The best Friendsmas games give everyone an easy way to join in, whether your friends love a competition or would happily spend the evening talking over pizza. These ideas work for small adult groups at home, with paper, pens, and a few household supplies. For the full host plan, visit the Friendsmas inspiration guide.
I would pick three: a quick conversation game at the start, a team game after food, and a short challenge if everyone wants another round. You do not need to turn the entire evening into a tournament. For a party style to match, see these Friendsmas theme ideas.
Choose Games That Fit Your Friends
For a seated group, try Drawing Telephone, Christmas Categories, or the Emoji Quiz. For friends who know each other well, choose the friendship quiz or Guess Who Said It. For a mixed group, start with film charades or the paper-tree challenge, where nobody needs years of shared history. If your group would rather make something, see these Friendsmas activities.
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Explain the rules before starting, demonstrate a turn if it helps, and let guests keep score or watch when they do not want to perform. None of these games needs alcohol.
1. How Well Do You Know Your Friends?
Players: 4–12
What you need: Paper, pens, and a bowl
Allow: 15–20 minutes
How to play: Ask everyone to write one lighthearted fact about themselves that most of the group might not know. Collect and number the slips, then read them aloud. Each player writes the name they think belongs to each fact. Reveal the answers after everyone has guessed and award one point for each correct match.
Make it work: Keep the prompts friendly: a childhood holiday obsession, an unusual hobby, or a favorite festive snack. Let people leave out anything personal.
2. Friendsmas Most Likely To
Players: 4–12
What you need: A short list of prompts
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Read a prompt such as ‘Who is most likely to start decorating in October?’ Count down from three, then have everyone say or point to their choice at the same time. Invite the chosen person to give their defense before moving on. This one works without a winner.
Make it work: Try ‘bring emergency snacks,’ ‘know every line of a holiday movie,’ or ‘save every piece of ribbon.’ Skip comments about relationships, bodies, money, or anything that could embarrass a guest.
3. Christmas Drawing Telephone
Players: 4–10
What you need: One small paper pad and pen per person
Allow: 15–20 minutes
How to play: Each person writes a festive phrase on the first page and passes the pad left. The next person draws it on a fresh page, then hides the original words. The next person writes what they think the drawing shows, seeing only that drawing. Alternate drawings and descriptions until the pads return to their owners, then reveal the whole sequence.
Make it work: Start with phrases such as ‘a snowman ordering pizza’ or ‘Santa stuck in an elevator.’ No points are needed; the final reveal is the fun.
4. The Gift-Wrap Duo Challenge
Players: 4–12, in pairs
What you need: One empty box, paper, tape, and ribbon per pair
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Give every pair the same supplies. Each person may use only one hand, so the pair must work together to wrap the box. Allow five minutes, then let the group vote on the neatest wrapping and the funniest result. Choose different pairs for a second round if you have time.
Make it work: Precut the paper and tape and leave scissors out of the timed round. Use similar-size boxes so the comparison is fair.
5. Guess the Festive Film
Players: 4–16, in teams
What you need: Paper prompts and a timer
Allow: 15 minutes
How to play: Write the titles of familiar holiday movies on slips. One player draws a title and acts it out silently while their team has 60 seconds to guess. Correct answers earn one point. Alternate teams and change the actor each turn. Play six to ten rounds, keeping the number of turns equal.
Make it work: Allow one pass per turn. Choose films the group actually knows and agree beforehand whether signaling the number of words is allowed.
6. Holiday Humming Challenge
Players: 4–16, in teams
What you need: Song-title slips and a timer
Allow: 10–15 minutes
How to play: A player draws a familiar holiday song and hums the tune for their team. No words, gestures, or singing the title. Give the team 30 seconds to identify it for one point, then switch teams. Take eight turns with a different hummer each time.
Make it work: Choose a mix of songs and let players pass once. Written title answers are fine if a guest would prefer not to call out.
7. The Mystery Ornament
Players: 4–12
What you need: A bag, a nonbreakable ornament, paper, and pens
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Hide one ornament in the bag. Players take turns asking a yes-or-no question about it, such as whether it has an animal shape or includes red. After everyone has asked two questions, each person writes one final guess. Reveal it and give one point for the correct object or character.
Make it work: Use a distinctive but recognizable ornament. Play three rounds with different objects; no peeking or feeling inside the bag.
8. Christmas Categories
Players: 4–12
What you need: Paper, pens, and a timer
Allow: 10–15 minutes
How to play: Choose four categories: festive food, winter clothing, gift ideas, and things you might find in a decorated room. Pick a letter with plenty of options, such as S, P, or C. Give everyone two minutes to write one answer per category beginning with that letter. Read out answers and award one point for a valid answer nobody else wrote.
Make it work: Agree that food brands and proper names count only if everyone is happy with them. Play three rounds and settle borderline answers with a quick group vote.
9. The Festive Memory Tray
Players: 4–12
What you need: A tray, 12 small objects, a cloth, paper, and pens
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Arrange 12 objects on a tray and show it to everyone for 30 seconds. Cover it, then give players two minutes to list what they remember. Reveal the tray and award one point per correct item. For a second round, remove three objects while everyone looks away and ask which are missing.
Make it work: Mix obvious festive objects with one or two everyday surprises, such as a tiny toy or a key. Choose unbreakable pieces.
10. Friendship Predictions
Players: 4–12
What you need: Paper and pens
Allow: 10–15 minutes
How to play: Each guest writes a kind, playful prediction about the group’s next year and signs it. Collect the notes and read them aloud while everyone guesses who wrote each one. Award one point for each correct author, then let the writer explain the prediction.
Make it work: Use ideas such as a group trip, a new hobby, or who will organize the next dinner. Keep promises and life milestones out of it unless the person has volunteered them.
11. Holiday Movie Emoji Quiz
Players: 4–12, solo or pairs
What you need: Paper and pens
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Draw simple symbol clues for five movies: a house and a surprised face for Home Alone; an elf hat and a city skyline for Elf; a train and a mug for The Polar Express; a green face and a heart for The Grinch; and a skeleton and a Christmas tree for The Nightmare Before Christmas. Give players five minutes, then reveal those answers and award one point per correct title.
Make it work: Keep the answer key hidden. Hand-drawn symbols work, so nobody needs to stare at a phone screen. Add your own clues only after checking that the intended answer is clear.
12. The One-Minute Paper Tree
Players: 4–12
What you need: One sheet of paper per person and a timer
Allow: 5–10 minutes
How to play: Give everyone the same size of paper. In 60 seconds, they must make a freestanding Christmas tree by folding or tearing only. No tape, glue, or scissors. At the buzzer, take hands away and see which trees remain standing. Give one point for standing and one group-voted point for the most tree-like result.
Make it work: Try a second round in pairs using a fresh sheet. Keep torn scraps on the table for an easy cleanup.
13. Guess Who Said It This Year
Players: 4–12
What you need: Guest-submitted quotes, paper, and pens
Allow: 15 minutes
How to play: Before the party, ask guests to send one funny, harmless thing they said during the year and confirm that it may be read aloud. Number the quotes and read them without naming the speakers. Players write their guesses, then you reveal the authors for one point per correct match.
Make it work: Use only volunteered quotes. If the group includes new friends, read a short introduction round first so the game does not depend entirely on old inside jokes.
14. The Silent Gift Lineup
Players: 6–14
What you need: Paper slips, pens, and reusable bags or empty boxes
Allow: 10–15 minutes
How to play: Ask everyone to write an imaginary gift they would like, then place the note inside their bag or box. Players may read only their own note. Without speaking or showing the words, they must line up alphabetically by the gift name, using gestures to communicate. Once the group agrees the lineup is ready, reveal the notes from left to right.
Make it work: Use broad, mime-friendly gifts such as bicycle, book, headphones, or socks. There is no shopping involved and no prize needed.
15. The Festive Five-Second List
Players: 4–12
What you need: Prepared prompts and a timer
Allow: 10 minutes
How to play: Take turns naming three things that fit a prompt within five seconds. A successful list earns one point; repeated or unfinished answers score zero. Give everyone the same number of turns. With a larger group, play in pairs and allow the pair to answer together.
Make it work: Try ‘three red decorations,’ ‘three things to put in hot chocolate,’ or ‘three gifts that fit in a pocket.’ Allow ten seconds if the group prefers a gentler pace.
A Three-Game Friendsmas Lineup
- While everyone settles in: Play Friendsmas Most Likely To for about 10 minutes.
- After dinner: Give Drawing Telephone 20 minutes, including time for the reveals.
- Before dessert: Run two short rounds of the Gift-Wrap Duo Challenge.
This lineup leaves room for dinner first; these easy Friendsmas food ideas are designed for sharing.
If your group wants a gift swap, make that a separate part of the evening and agree the budget and rules in advance.
Also read: Christmas gift exchange games with clear rules.
Want a Ready-to-Print Game?
For a paper-game option you can prepare ahead, browse the Christmas printable games in my Big Heart Little Star shop. Choose the game that suits your group and check its listing for what is included.
For more festive activities and game formats, explore my Christmas games and activities collection.
Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.