If you’re hosting a holiday party, you’re likely busy with everything from planning the menu to decorating your space. But before you finalize the entertainment, don’t overlook the adult games! Adults can have just as much fun playing games as kids, especially when they give guests a chance to get to know each other better and spark some friendly competition.
However, coming up with adult games can be difficult. You want everyone to have fun and participate, but you don’t want the games to be boring or cheesy. To make planning a little easier, here are some of the best games for holiday gatherings that your guests will actually want to play.
Fun Adult Games for Holiday Parties That Everyone Will Actually Want to Play
1. Secret Santa Mission
Secret Santa Mission is a fun way to add a bit of mystery (and a whole lot of laughter) to your party. As guests arrive, you’ll secretly give them a silly task they must complete sometime during the party. Their goal is to finish the task without getting caught by the others!
For example, they might have to get three people to sing a Christmas song or somehow work the word “reindeer” into five conversations. At the end of the night, everyone reveals their missions and the one who was able to go the whole evening without being discovered wins a prize!
2. Holiday Trivia
There’s a reason why trivia is a party favorite. But since it’s a holiday party, you’ll want to add a festive twist to the game. The easiest way to do this is to make the questions about Christmas movies, holiday songs, winter traditions, and seasonal pop culture. Come up with your own or buy a trivia set with questions already prepared!
While everyone can play individually, you can also make it a group activity by dividing people up into teams. Have each team come up with a festive name and use holiday props, such as jingle bells or a Santa hat to signal when they’re ready to answer.
3. Santa’s HR Department
Put everyone’s imagination to the test by turning your living room into Santa’s HR Department! In this adult party game, guests take turns inventing ridiculous reasons to fire one of Santa’s elves. One person gets to make up the scenario while the others get to play HR and decide if the elf gets to stay or ends up getting fired.
It’s perfect for a group that loves role-playing and acting, as everyone gets to come up with outrageous scenarios and defend their decisions. For an added challenge, try to do it with a straight face!
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4. Holiday Gift Price Is Right
Everyone knows The Price Is Right game show, and this holiday-themed version brings the same guessing game to your party. You can show pictures of festive products or quirky Christmas items and have each of your guests guess the retail price of the item.
Just like the actual game show, you can offer real prizes to the winners. They don’t have to be big-ticket items. Small gifts like ornaments or Christmas cookies will go down well and give everyone something fun to take home after the party.
5. Dirty White Elephant Exchange
Once the kids are in bed, spice up your holiday party with a fun twist on the classic White Elephant gift exchange! Before the party, ask everyone to bring a wrapped gift (under a certain price) that’s funny, inappropriate, suggestive, or downright ridiculous.
When it’s time to play, the first person chooses and unwraps a gift, while each subsequent player can either open a new present or steal one that’s already been opened. This is one of those adult games that can quickly turn into the highlight of the night, especially when everyone starts stealing the most outrageous gifts.
6. Festive Forbidden Words
Forbidden Words (Holiday Edition!) is a creative game that you can play the entire night. Choose a few common holiday words, such as “Christmas,” “gifts,” and “Santa,” and make them off-limits for the entire party. Explain the rules to your guests and decide what happens if someone slips up, such as losing a point or having to complete a silly challenge.
Want to make things a little more interesting? Turn it into a drinking game! Anyone caught saying a forbidden word has to take a sip, so everyone will be forced to choose their words carefully!
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Simple Ways to Make Your Holiday Gathering Extra Special
- Set up a festive cocktail bar: Let guests mix their own drinks and serve them in cute glasses and mugs.
- Create a photo booth: Set up a fun backdrop and add holiday props so everyone can take photos during the evening!
- Add a dress code: Parties are always more fun when everyone gets dressed up (think ugly sweater, Christmas pajamas, or holiday glam).
- Play Christmas music: No party is complete without good music! While classic holiday hits are always welcome, feel free to mix in party songs or other throwbacks to liven things up.
- Add in arts and crafts: Besides adult games, you can also let your guests’ creativity shine by supplying crafts so they can make their own decorations or gifts.
- Give out stocking stuffers: Send your party guests home with little stockings filled with candies or treats.
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Playing Adult Games at Your Holiday Party
The best holiday parties are about making memories with your friends and family. Having some fun adult games to play can be a great way to bring people together and to keep everyone entertained throughout the evening. Once parents have had their fun with these adult games, you can also get the kids involved in the festivities with a few family-friendly activities. Whether it’s a fun holiday-themed activity or a yummy Christmas dinner, the real magic comes with spending time with loved ones!
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