Christmas games for family: 8 easy ideas you can print at home

The best Christmas games for family time are the ones everyone can join: grandparents, teenagers and the little ones. You don't need to buy a big board game. Most of the ideas below need a printer, a few pencils and a table.

1. A detective advent calendar

Instead of a chocolate a day, open a clue a day. A mystery advent calendar gives the family one small puzzle each morning in December, and the story ends on Christmas Eve when you name the culprit. It keeps everyone talking for weeks.

Christmas Mystery Advent Calendar24 daily puzzles, 6 suspects, 1 stolen star.

2. Christmas charades

Write Christmas movies, songs and things (a reindeer, wrapping a present, a snowman melting) on slips of paper. Split into two teams and act them out without talking. It's free, loud and works for every age.

3. Christmas bingo

Make cards with Christmas pictures instead of numbers: a stocking, a star, a candy cane. Call them out one by one. Use small sweets or buttons as markers. Bingo is perfect for big groups with young kids.

4. Christmas word search race

Print the same word search for everyone and start a timer. The first person to find every word wins. Older kids can make their own word search for the adults.

5. A murder mystery night for the grown-ups

After the kids are in bed, try a logic mystery. In an elimination puzzle you read the clues and cross out suspects until only one is left. Print the same case for everyone and see who solves it first.

Murder Mystery Puzzle Book100 cases, 3 levels, print or tablet.

6. Gift exchange games

Put wrapped gifts in the middle and take turns: open a new one or steal one that's already open. Set a small budget so it stays fair and fun.

7. Christmas movie trivia

Each person writes three questions about a Christmas movie the family has watched together. Mix them up and play in teams.

8. Make-and-play puppets

A craft that becomes a game: make paper puppets of family members from photos, then let the kids put on a Christmas show with them.

Custom Photo Paper Hand PuppetAdd any photo. No Photoshop needed.

Tips for a smooth game night

Print everything the day before. Mix teams so kids and adults play together. Keep each game short, around 20 minutes, and stop while everyone is still having fun.