Fun Holiday Party Games for All Ages

Did we mention it’s also Barnes & Noble’s official Party Game Pick? Hues and Cues is all about connecting colors with clues. Using only one or two words, players try to guess the exact hue that matches. The better the guess, the more points your team gets. It’s as fun as it is eye-catching, and yes, you’ll be playing for hours. ($25.99, Barnes & Noble) 

One (extroverted) editor tried Esther Perel’s “Where Should We Begin” card game in an effort to switch up date nights with her (more introverted) boyfriend, and still swears by it. The game includes 200 fill-in-the-blank prompt cards and a six-sided die that helps the player shape the story they want to share. It’s pretty self-explanatory — in case you don’t like reading instructions — and it's equally appropriate for friends and family. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you like games like Taboo or charades, you’ll love Monikers. Players must rely on one-word answers or miming skills to get their teammate(s) to guess a word or phrase. The kicker? Each card is niche. Topics can range from celebrity names to meme references to phrases you might see in games like Cards Against Humanity. Be prepared to play all night. ($26.99, Target)  

Trivia fans, unite. This holiday-themed trivia game will put your skills to the test with challenging questions about everything from traditions around the world to pop culture. Each card comes with a QR code so you can fact-check each answer quickly and easily. You can play individually, or with teams. But fair warning, these questions are anything but easy. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)  

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is about as random as it is fun to play. Similar to slap jack, players take turns going through cards with different terms on them (like Taco, Cat, Goat…you get the idea). As soon as there’s a match, players must slam their corresponding card down before anyone else to win the point. They even came out with a holiday version, Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)  

Sometimes, it’s good to break out a classic. Rummikub is a tile game similar to Scrabble, but instead of letters, you have numbers one through 13 that come in four different colors. The objective is to create groups of three or more tiles before setting them down at the center. Players can adjust the groups of tiles that have been played in a way that benefits them — while switching things up for the other players. It’s sneaky, it’s engaging, and it’s best paired with a hot drink and great conversation. ($25.95, Walmart)

We’re talking grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — anyone who wants to participate. Mind the Gap is the ultimate generational trivia game. Different generations can either work together or divide by age and must answer trivia questions from five different categories (like TV/Film, Pop Culture, Headlines, etc.). The more answers players get right, the farther they can move along the board to ultimately win. May the best generation win. ($21.97, Walmart) 

You may have played a version of this game on a long road trip, where you pick a number between one and 10 and give your partner context clues until they guess the right number. Wavelength is a more formal tabletop version of this, with a colorful dial that represents the scale. The game includes cards that indicate a specific spectrum, like “cold vs. hot” or “quiet place vs. loud place,” including a few advanced versions like “tick vs. tock” or “guilty pleasure vs. openly love.” It’s a great game to play with old and new friends alike. ($34.99, Walmart) 

For anyone that’s into true crime docs or escape rooms, you’ll want to have this game on deck. Players act as detectives in this immersive realistic game as they try to solve the murder case of Joseph Bremer. Inside, you’ll receive a robust case file packed with evidence, witness statements, newspaper clippings, and instructions on how to bring the accused to justice. It’s perfect for a screen-free evening. ($19.97, Walmart) 

If the crew is ready to jump right in with little to no prep, Without Fail is a total crowd-pleaser. It’s from the team behind Exploding Kittens and starts with straightforward task cards. Once one is drawn, players then get a chance to up the ante, and make the game more difficult using any of the props included (like a blindfold, a sand timer, cups, a ball, a pen, etc.). Use this one out as an ice breaker to get the party started. ($19.99, Walmart) 

If you can't decide on a game, let this set of 40 scratch-off cards be your judge. It's packed with hidden mystery activity ideas, like taste-tests, family trivia, and daytime adventures. Each card also includes how long the activity will take, if prep is required, how much the activity will cost, and where best to complete it. It’s designed for ages 4 and up, so the whole family can join in. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)