Are you facing a screen rather than a room full of people at your next Christmas party? Fortunately, you do not have to let the distance dampen your holiday cheer.
You can look into virtual Christmas dinner party games like Christmas Movie Trivia and Festive Scavenger Hunts to stay connected and spread the holiday spirit from your own home.
This article contains a list of 16 fun Christmas games that will transform your next video call into a jolly celebration. Grab your Santa hats, and let us get ready to play fun Christmas games for adults!
Now, let’s dive into our top recommendations to get you started with some Christmas eve party games and games for holiday party fun!
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1. Seasonal Cinema Challenge: Christmas Movie Trivia
The Seasonal Cinema Challenge is the perfect virtual trivia game for movie buffs.
This Christmas quiz will bring festive nostalgia and friendly competition to virtual Christmas parties via your favorite holiday movies.
Below are the rules of the game.
- Choose Your Platform: Many free and paid online trivia platforms can handle question creation, pointkeeping, and virtual scoreboards. Alternatively, you can play on any video conferencing platform and have someone handle the points and questions instead.
- Craft Your Questions: Think of trivia that spans different genres, decades, and film details. Below are some ideas.
- Quote Identification: Play a short clip of a famous Christmas movie line and have players guess the movie and speaker.
- Scrambled Scenes: Briefly describe a well-known scene from a Christmas movie and have players guess the film.
- Cast of Christmas Characters: Show a picture of a lesser-known Christmas movie actor and have players guess the character name or the movie they starred in.
- Award Points: Keep track of points and award prizes to the trivia winners.
Seasonal Cinema Challenge can also start a conversation about the joy and nostalgia that classic Christmas movies bring to the participants.
2. Holiday Hunt: Festive Scavenger Hunt
Who says virtual games require you to sit at your desk the whole time?
With the holiday scavenger hunt, players get a list of things to find in their own homes — such as Christmas objects (like candy canes) or something more usual (like socks).
Players race to find these things, extending the festive fun and friendly competition from the virtual holiday party to the other people at home who end up helping them complete the list of items.
You can choose your gameplay from the options below.
- Lightning Round: The host names the items one by one rather than give a complete list of what to find from the start of the game.
- Blind Hunt: Players gather things they think the host might request. Then, they will have to use the gathered items to fulfill the host’s actual demands later on.
- Riddled List: Create a list with riddles or challenges, like “Find something red and sparkly” or “Find a symbol of a cherished tradition.”
Playing some Christmas classics in the background can keep up the holiday spirit while waiting for the participants to return.
3. Festive Fashion Show: Christmas Costume Contest
Show your inner fashionista with a Christmas costume competition!
Participants will strut their stuff in their most dazzling holiday attire. Think head-to-toe Christmas lights and reindeer antlers paired with pool floaties — the more creative, the better!
Below are some categories you can use during the awarding.
- Most Creative Costume
- Most Humorous Costume
- Best Group Costume
Add some Christmas tunes in the background to bring the festive spirit while participants model their outfits.
4. Mysterious Merriment: Virtual Secret Santa
Inject mystery and intrigue into a holiday party activity with a Virtual Secret Santa!
This online version of a Christmas classic brings the joy of anonymous giving to your virtual holiday party. Below is how to play.
- Gather Your Participants: Ask them to also start thinking of a wishlist.
- Choose a Platform: Many online generators (such as drawnames.com and the Secret Santa bot on Discord) can handle everything from wishlists to random assignments.
- Set Guidelines: Decide on a spending limit and a deadline for wishlists.
- The Big Reveal: Schedule a dedicated time for the virtual reveal. Participants can show the Christmas presents they got and try to guess who they were from.
Virtual Secret Santa is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The guessing, surprise reveals, and the joy of anonymous giving will create a festive atmosphere.
5. Tacky Threads Challenge: Ugly Sweater Competition
Some Christmas sweaters are not the most aesthetically pleasing. But in this competition, those ugly sweaters will be the stars of the show!
Participants will proudly (and perhaps slightly sheepishly) showcase their ugliest sweaters. Encourage participants to also share the stories behind those sweaters.
There are two ways to determine the ultimate ugly sweater champion.
- Audience Choice: Let the laughter decide! Hold a vote and award the “Ugliest Sweater” title to the one that elicits the most reactions from the crowd.
- Themed Categories: You could have awards for “Most Mismatched,” “Most Lights,” “Most Vintage Vibe,” or even something abstract like “Sweater Most Likely to Cause a Power Outage.”
6. Melodies & Mistletoe: Name That Christmas Song
This virtual game involves testing your Christmas song knowledge and bringing out everyone’s inner caroler during your virtual Christmas party. Below is a quick guide for this holiday game.
- Choose Your Delivery: There are three ways to challenge your players.
- Sing a Snippet: Hum or sing a short portion of the Christmas tune yourself.
- Play the Melody: Use online tools to clip the Christmas song or manually play and pause it.
- Get Cryptic: Offer creative clues about the song’s lyrics, theme, or artist. For instance, you can read a Shakespearean version of the Jingle Bells lyrics or talk about the song’s history.
- Point System: Award points for correct guesses — and maybe bonus points for particularly enthusiastic singing.
7. Yuletide Yarns: Holly Jolly Presentation
This presentation challenge will bring out the inner artist in everyone — whether for storytelling or making Christmas arts and crafts.
Below are some ideas on what you can present during the virtual party.
- Craft a hilarious presentation on the history of ugly sweaters, the science behind the perfect cup of hot cocoa, or the best strategies for winning a snowball fight
- Present a dramatic reenactment of a famous Christmas carol or design the ultimate eco-friendly Christmas tree.
- Share serious but still interesting facts about different holiday traditions worldwide or the history of candy canes.
The beauty of this activity lies in its versatility since participants can present anything that sparks their passion or interest.
8. Seasonal Revelations: Put a Finger Down Christmas Edition
This fun game is guaranteed to get everyone talking, laughing, and discovering surprising things about their fellow players even after the Christmas party. Below are the game instructions.
- Set the Stage: Explain the rules of this Christmas game. Players start with all fingers up and put a finger down if the statement applies to them.
- Get Festive Statements: Read aloud Christmas-themed statements, such as the ones below.
- Put a finger down if you have ever decorated a Christmas tree.
- Put a finger down if you can sing all the verses of “Jingle Bells.”
- Put a finger down if you prefer eggnog over hot cocoa.
Put a Finger Down: Christmas Edition is a discussion starter and a way to bond over shared (or not-so-shared) holiday experiences, which will surely keep up the festive mood.
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9. Yuletide Tales: Christmas Two Truths and One Lie
Yuletide Tales infuses the popular icebreaker game “Two Truths and One Lie” with more holiday fun.
Players take turns sharing three statements about their Christmas experiences — two true stories and one lie. The challenge is for everyone else to guess which statement is the fib!
Encourage players to get creative with their stories! Below are some ideas.
- I once got chased by a rogue reindeer while caroling. (True or False?)
- Every year, I win the family ugly sweater contest. (True or False?)
- As a child, I was convinced Santa had forgotten me because I had eaten all the cookies. (True or False?)
As players try to guess the lie, expect lively discussions (and accusations).
10. Festive Fortune: Spin the Wheel
Festive Fortune: Spin the Wheel is a dynamic game that is perfect for a virtual holiday party. This will bring laughter, engagement, and a healthy dose of Christmas cheer to everyone involved. Below is how to play.
- Craft Your Wheel of Festive Fortune: There are two ways to create your wheel.
- Digital Doodling: Design a digital wheel with festive sections using online tools (so anyone can contribute) or presentation software.
- DIY Delight: Get crafty! Someone can create a physical wheel out of cardboard or poster board and decorate it however they wish.
- Fill in the Sections: Below are some ideas to get you started.
- Sing a Carol: Land on this, and everyone (or the spinner) belts out their favorite holiday songs.
- Holiday Trivia: Test your knowledge with a Christmas-themed trivia question.
- Share a Memory: Spark heartwarming memories with a prompt like “Share your funniest Christmas story.”
- Start Spinning: The host (or however created the wheel) spins, and participants take turns completing the action on which it lands.
11. Holiday Bakery Battle: Cookie Decorating Contest
This delightful competition is the perfect way to showcase your creative culinary skills in preparing Christmas food — particularly cookies.
Below are some tips for sweet success.
- Gather Your Ingredients: Plan and ensure you have all the necessary ingredients for the cookies and decorations.
- Decorating Party! Set up a decorating post with frosting, sprinkles, candies, and other edible decor. Participants can also set up their cameras in their own kitchens at home to capture their process for others in the video call to see. Someone can play Christmas songs for a more festive atmosphere.
- Document the Process: Take photos of your masterpieces before they get eaten! Afterward, you can use these photos for online voting for the best designs or to be compiled into an album.
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12. Seasonal Sketches: Virtual Christmas Pictionary
This activity is perfect for unleashing artistic expression, fostering teamwork, and spreading Christmas cheer — even with a virtual holiday party! Below is how it works.
- Choose Your Platform: Many online platforms offer virtual whiteboards or collaborative drawing tools that are perfect for this game.
- Assemble Your Teams: Divide your virtual partygoers into teams.
- Start Playing: One team member per group picks a Christmas-related word/phrase and draws it. Their team tries to guess what they are trying to draw within a time limit.
Virtual Christmas Pictionary is the perfect game to practice creativity and teamwork and keep up the holiday spirit at online Christmas parties.
13. Virtual Christmas Charades
Get ready to test your acting skills, communication, and teamwork — all while ensuring everything gets captured by the camera during video calls.
In this classic game, players take turns acting out Christmas-themed words or phrases without speaking a word while their teammates try to guess the answer within the time limit. Below is how to play.
- Have a List of Prompts: Prepare a list of Christmas-themed words or phrases for players to act out. Think “decorating a tree,” “building a snowman,” “singing Christmas songs,” or even classic Christmas characters like Santa Claus or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
- Start Playing: In each round, a designated actor from one team picks a word or phrase from the list and acts it out for a set time limit (usually 1-2 minutes). Their teammates cannot speak or make any noises, but they can use gestures to help each other guess.
- The First to Guess Wins! The group with the most points wins. Alternatively, the host can act out all the words and phrases, and groups will race to be the first ones to guess.
14. Holiday Enigma: Christmas Emoji Quiz
How fluent are you in emoji speak?
Get ready to test your emoji knowledge and decipher festive puzzles with Holiday Enigma: Christmas Emoji Quiz!
Players take turns using emoji combinations to “spell” out Christmas-related words, phrases, or even melodies. The other players then race to guess the correct answer first.
Alternatively, the host can present pre-made emoji combinations one by one and have everyone guess.
Below are some tips for fun with an emoji enigma.
- Thematic Rounds: You can have themed rounds like “Christmas Carols,” “Gift Giving,” or “Holiday Activities” so participants have an idea of what can come up. However, not having a theme can also make things more exciting since players will not know what to expect.
- Bonus Points: Sometimes, players can come up with wrong translations that end up being hilarious while also making sense. Or, some players know their stuff and can answer immediately. You can award bonus points for particularly creative or speedy emoji translations.
- Work in Groups: Allow teams to work together to decipher the emoji messages. The first group to guess correctly wins the round.
15. Typing Tidings: Christmas Typing Speed Race
Typing Tidings combines the thrill of a typing race with the Christmas spirit.
In this holiday party activity, players race to type out passages filled with Christmas-themed content — from historical Christmas trivia to heartwarming stories and even snippets of classic carols.
Below are some tips for a virtually festive typing race.
- Thematic Rounds: You can have themed rounds like “Christmas Traditions,” “Santa’s Workshop,” or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” so that everyone knows what to expect in their typing passages.
- Have Visual/Hearing Companions: For an extra layer of engagement (or distraction), consider incorporating festive images or short video clips related to the typing passages. Or, play some Christmas music so participants can get the holiday feel while typing.
- More Complex Passages: For experienced typists, introduce passages with increasing difficulty, including more punctuation or proper nouns. You can even have them type passages in a different language.
16. Cocoa Conundrums: Blind Hot Cocoa Tasting
This activity is great for those who love their hot chocolate — and the festive season is perfect for it! Cocoa Conundrums infuses the classic hot chocolate experience with a playful twist.
Participants will sample different hot cocoa concoctions and then use their sense of smell and taste to identify the flavors.
From classic milk chocolate to dark chocolate with a hint of fruit, this is a delicious challenge that will surely tantalize your taste buds.
To do this activity remotely, ship different hot chocolate flavors in numbered packages to participants.
During the virtual Christmas party, prepare your hot chocolate together. Ensure that the mixes are in separate mugs and that they are also numbered to make them easier to distinguish from one another.
Participants will taste the same chocolate mixes together, one at a time. The one who guesses the most correct cocoas wins.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It can be hard to feel the holiday season spirit during a virtual Christmas party. If you need more help, we have answered a few frequently asked questions below.
What are Virtual Christmas Games?
Online Christmas games are fun activities to celebrate the holidays virtually. They are like regular Christmas games but played over video conferencing apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Some virtual Christmas party ideas include online games (like charades and Pictionary) and other festive season activities (like cookie decorating and Christmas presentations).
How Do You Play Virtual Christmas Games on Zoom?
Below is how you can play virtual Christmas games on Zoom.
- Choose holiday party games that you would like to play online.
- Invite participants by giving them a link to your Zoom call.
- Use Zoom features like screen sharing for game boards and whiteboards for Pictionary. Use breakout rooms for smaller challenges. A game host can lead the Zoom Christmas games.
REMEMBER: A free Zoom account gives you only 40 minutes. After that, you will have to either end the Christmas party or restart the meeting for another 40 minutes.
How Do You Ensure That Virtual Christmas Games Run Smoothly?
Consider the tips below to ensure that the virtual Christmas games run smoothly.
- Pick the Right Games: If you are playing with the whole family, choose games that can include both young and old players (such as charades). It is also better to pick a game that is versatile enough for any group size.
- Plan Ahead: Share the games and any prep needed beforehand. Do a quick tech check to avoid glitches. Provide clear instructions, a game master to lead, and maybe breakout rooms for smaller games.
- Remember to Have Fun: Keep things short and sweet, be flexible, and most importantly, have fun! Try to go with the flow rather than being too strict about schedules.
Key Takeaways on Virtual Christmas Games
Virtual Christmas games offer a great solution in a world where physical gatherings are not always possible.
Remember, personalization is key! Choose activities that resonate with your virtual guests so everyone feels included and has a chance to shine.
Want to elevate your virtual celebration? Contact Escapely!
With immersive virtual escape rooms, interactive games, and more, we can help you craft a truly unforgettable virtual holiday party or virtual holiday team-building activities, with everyone talking long after the party ends.
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