Thanksgiving is more than just a time to indulge in delicious food; it’s a celebration of togetherness, laughter, and shared memories. While the turkey, stuffing, and pie may be the stars of the dinner table, adding some exciting games can make the gathering even more memorable. Games aren’t just for kids—they’re a fantastic way to bring out the competitive spirit in adults and create some unforgettable moments. Below, we’ve gathered 25 Thanksgiving games that are perfect for adults and guaranteed to get everyone laughing and bonding. Let’s get started!
1. Thanksgiving Trivia Challenge
A Thanksgiving trivia game is an excellent way to get everyone involved, thinking, and laughing. Prepare trivia questions covering holiday history, pop culture, and famous Thanksgiving foods. Divide everyone into teams, making it an exciting battle of knowledge.
Score each correct answer to keep things competitive. At the end, reward the winning team with a prize. Trivia challenges are perfect for breaking the ice and sparking some light-hearted competition.
2. Thanksgiving Charades
Thanksgiving Charades puts a holiday spin on the classic game, turning simple actions into hilarious performances. Write down Thanksgiving-themed phrases like “stuffing the turkey” or “football touchdown” for players to act out.
Split everyone into teams, and let each person take a turn drawing and acting out a phrase while their team guesses. Watching loved ones act out silly scenes always brings a lot of laughter, making it a memorable part of any gathering.
3. Turkey Scavenger Hunt
Organize a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt for a fun adventure that brings everyone together. Prepare a list of items related to Thanksgiving, like a mini pumpkin, a cinnamon stick, or a turkey feather, and hide them around your home or yard.
Divide everyone into teams or pairs and let the hunt begin! Racing to find each item on the list makes it a thrilling game, and the first team to find all the items wins a prize. It’s a playful way to get everyone moving and engaged.
4. Thanksgiving Pictionary
Get creative with Thanksgiving Pictionary, where guests draw and guess holiday-themed phrases and foods. Write phrases like “family gathering” or “pumpkin pie” on slips of paper, then have players sketch the phrases while their team guesses.
Set a timer for each turn to keep up the energy. Every successful guess earns points, and the team with the most points wins. Pictionary is always a crowd-pleaser, especially when the drawings get hilariously abstract!
5. Pumpkin Bowling
For a fun twist on bowling, try Pumpkin Bowling! Instead of bowling balls, use small pumpkins, and set up makeshift pins with empty cans or water bottles. It’s a quirky challenge that’s surprisingly tricky and entertaining.
Each player takes turns rolling their pumpkin toward the pins, tallying their points with each knockdown. This game always brings lots of laughs, and the player with the highest score wins. Perfect for an outdoor or indoor Thanksgiving setup.
6. Guess the Pie Flavor
Bring out the dessert lovers with a fun pie-tasting game that challenges everyone’s taste buds. Serve mini pies in a variety of flavors, then blindfold each player and let them guess the flavor of each slice.
The player with the most correct guesses wins a prize, adding a little competitive flair to dessert time. It’s a delicious game that’s sure to be a favorite for anyone with a sweet tooth!
7. Thanksgiving Word Search Race
Word searches aren’t just for kids! Add a Thanksgiving twist and turn it into a timed competition for adults. Print Thanksgiving-themed word searches for each guest and set a timer to make it a race against the clock.
The player who finds the most words in the set time wins, adding a level of intensity to the word-finding fun. This is a simple game that everyone can enjoy, making it a great warm-up to kick off the Thanksgiving festivities.
8. Cornhole Tournament
Organize a Cornhole Tournament to bring out the competitive spirit in your guests. Set up a cornhole board indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather, and let everyone take turns tossing bean bags toward the board.
Score each toss based on accuracy, and the team or player with the highest points becomes the cornhole champion. Cornhole is a beloved game for a reason—it’s easy to learn, but getting that perfect toss is always a challenge!
9. Turkey Bowling
Turkey Bowling is another hilarious Thanksgiving twist on traditional bowling. Decorate pins or plastic bottles with turkey faces and line them up as bowling pins.
Players roll a small ball to knock down the “turkeys,” making for lots of laughter and competitive fun. Track scores to find out who the ultimate turkey bowler is, bringing out a light-hearted rivalry.
10. Thanksgiving Bingo
Thanksgiving Bingo is a great game that allows everyone to relax while still enjoying a festive activity. Print out themed Bingo cards and provide some small markers like candy corn for each player.
Call out Thanksgiving-related images or words, and the first person to complete a line wins. This game is perfect for winding down after a big meal and works well for guests of all ages.
11. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
For a simple and festive game, set up a Tic-Tac-Toe board using mini pumpkins and gourds as game pieces. Tape a grid onto a table, and let players take turns placing their pumpkins and gourds as X’s and O’s.
It’s a quick game that’s easy for everyone to jump into, and the first player to win three times in a row can claim the Tic-Tac-Toe championship. It’s low-key, easy to play, and perfect for adding some friendly competition to the day.
12. Turkey Feather Relay
The Turkey Feather Relay is an energetic game that has everyone racing to the finish. Divide everyone into teams and give each team a feather that they must carry between their knees.
Players must waddle to the finish line, passing the feather off to the next teammate without dropping it. The first team to make it across the finish line wins, and the game’s quirky movements will have everyone in stitches.
13. Cranberry Relay Race
Add a bit of balance and agility to the Thanksgiving fun with a Cranberry Relay Race. Divide players into teams and hand each team a spoon with a few cranberries balanced on top.
Players must carefully carry the spoon from one side of the room to the other without dropping any cranberries. If they do, they have to start over. The first team to finish wins, making it a lively game that keeps everyone on their toes.
14. Thanksgiving Taboo
Challenge your guests’ descriptive skills with Thanksgiving Taboo, a word-guessing game that’s all about avoiding certain “taboo” words. Create a list of Thanksgiving words, each with a set of words that can’t be used in the description.
Each player has to describe their word without using any taboo words, while their teammates guess what it is. This game brings out everyone’s creativity, and it’s sure to get everyone laughing as they try to avoid those forbidden words.
15. Harvest Hoop Toss
Put a fall twist on ring toss with Harvest Hoop Toss, where players aim to hook rings onto stakes or bottles. You can create DIY hoops or use small hoops if you have them on hand.
Players toss rings, aiming to land them on the stakes, and each successful toss scores points. It’s a fun and festive game, perfect for any Thanksgiving setting, and the player with the most points wins.
16. Thanksgiving Scattergories
Thanksgiving Scattergories is a word game that adds a thoughtful touch to the day. Prepare Scattergories lists with categories like “Thanksgiving Foods” or “Family Traditions,” then set a letter to start each word.
Players or teams think of words that match each category, earning points for unique answers. The team with the most unique responses wins, making this a fun and intellectual game that encourages quick thinking.
17. Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
If you’ve got some competitive eaters, a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest is just the thing. Set out mini pumpkin pies for each player and set a timer to see who can finish their pie the fastest.
The winner takes the title of the pie-eating champion and possibly a prize. It’s a lively and funny way to bring dessert into the festivities and is guaranteed to make everyone smile.
18. Thanksgiving “This or That”
Thanksgiving “This or That” is an icebreaker that’s great for sparking conversation. Prepare a list of “this or that” questions, like “Pumpkin pie or apple pie?” or “Black Friday shopping or sleeping in?”
Go around the room asking each guest for their answers, making it a fun way to learn more about each other. It’s relaxed and doesn’t require any setup, making it ideal for a chill Thanksgiving evening.
19. Turkey Trivia Team Challenge
This team-based trivia game is another way to test everyone’s Thanksgiving knowledge. Divide guests into teams and ask holiday-themed questions on topics like food history, famous Thanksgiving movies, and traditional dishes.
Award points for each correct answer, and the highest-scoring team wins a prize. Turkey Trivia brings out friendly competition while adding an educational twist to the festivities.
20. Cranberry Spoon Relay
The Cranberry Spoon Relay adds a bit of a balance challenge. Each team gets a spoon with cranberries and must race across the room, balancing the cranberries on their spoons without letting any fall.
If any cranberries drop, the player has to return to the starting line. The first team to make it across wins, making it a lighthearted game that’s both tricky and entertaining.
21. Thankfulness Circle
For a reflective moment, gather everyone in a Thankfulness Circle, where each person shares something they’re grateful for. It’s not about winning or losing, but rather appreciating the people around you.
Each person takes a turn sharing their gratitude, creating a warm, heartfelt moment. It’s a lovely way to end the day, fostering a sense of connection among family and friends.
22. Turkey Waddle Race
Get everyone moving and laughing with a Turkey Waddle Race, where players waddle like turkeys from the start line to the finish line. Each player has to hold a small ball between their knees, making the journey a hilarious one.
The first to cross the finish line wins, but the real joy is in watching everyone attempt their turkey waddles. It’s a guaranteed laugh for both participants and onlookers.
23. Thanksgiving Karaoke
Thanksgiving Karaoke is the perfect way to end the night on a musical note. Set up a karaoke machine or use a music app, and let everyone take turns singing their favorite songs or holiday-themed tunes.
There’s no pressure to win—just an opportunity to let loose and have fun. This relaxed game adds a joyful end to the evening, filled with music and memories.
24. Thanksgiving Photo Booth Challenge
Set up a Thanksgiving photo booth with props like pilgrim hats, turkey feathers, and fall-themed accessories. Let guests take festive photos to remember the holiday, creating fun memories they can keep.
It’s a relaxed activity that lets everyone get creative with their poses. The photos make wonderful keepsakes and add a visual element to the day’s memories.
25. Thanksgiving Mad Libs
End the day with a laugh using Thanksgiving Mad Libs. Prepare Mad Libs templates with blanks for adjectives, nouns, and verbs, letting guests fill in the words without seeing the full story.
Once complete, read the Mad Libs aloud for a hilarious ending to the night. It’s a great way to keep the fun going and leaves everyone in high spirits.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and these games bring everyone together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. From trivia and team challenges to silly races and heartfelt reflections, these 25 games offer something for everyone. So, gather your family and friends, pick a few games from this list, and get ready for an unforgettable Thanksgiving filled with laughter, bonding, and holiday cheer. Happy Thanksgiving!