9 Fun Thanksgiving Party Games for All Ages

The turkey is in the oven, the side dishes are warming up, and family and friends are starting to arrive. Thanksgiving is about more than just the amazing food; it's about spending quality time and making memories with your favorite people.

But let's be honest: that quiet time between dinner and dessert can get a little... slow.

That’s where this list comes in. A great game can break the ice, get everyone laughing, and turn a simple gathering into an unforgettable party. We’ve pulled together 9 of our favorite thanksgiving party games that work for all ages—from the kids' table to the grown-ups.

1. Thanksgiving Bingo

You can't go wrong with a classic. Bingo is the perfect low-energy game that everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, already knows how to play.

• How to Play: Find a free printable Thanksgiving-themed bingo card online (they're everywhere!). Print out one for each guest. Use candy corn, dried beans, or pennies as markers. A "caller" draws items from a bowl and announces them. The first person to get five in a row wins!

2. Shake Your Tail Feathers

If you've ever seen a "Minute to Win It" game, you know this one is hilarious. It's active, silly, and gets everyone cheering.

• How to Play: You'll need an empty tissue box, a belt or pantyhose, and craft feathers. Fill the tissue box with the feathers. Have a player tie the box to their waist so it rests on their backside. When the 60-second timer starts, they must jump, shake, and wiggle to get all the feathers out of the box without using their hands.

3. The Gratitude Game (Skittles Version)

This is a simple, sweet way to bring the focus back to the meaning of the holiday. It’s less of a competition and more of a heartwarming activity.

• How to Play: Pass around a bowl of Skittles and have everyone take a small handful. Then, go around the room. For each color candy a person has, they have to name one thing they are grateful for based on a category you set. For example:
  
  • Red: A person you're thankful for.
  • Green: A food you're thankful for.
  • Purple: A place you're thankful for.
  • Yellow: A memory you're thankful for.

4. Explosive Seconds

If your group loves fast-paced word games, this is a must-try. Explosive Seconds is a mobile app (for iOS and Android) that’s perfect for a living room full of people. It’s ad-free, so the fun never gets interrupted.

• How to Play: The game is simple. You split into teams. On your turn, one player has to describe a word on the screen while their teammates try to guess it. The catch? You can't say the word itself, use rhymes, or describe it.
• Why it's great for Thanksgiving: The Team Battle mode is perfect for a competitive crowd. Each team's clock ticks down on their turn. Guess a word, and the turn passes to the next team. If your timer hits zero, you lose a life. It’s a high-energy blast and the last team standing wins!

-> Download the app here

5. Thanksgiving Family Feud

Bring the classic game show to your living room. This is a fantastic team game that gets everyone talking (and sometimes yelling) in good fun.

• How to Play: You'll need a "host" and two teams ("families"). Before the party, the host can search online for "Thanksgiving Family Feud questions" (e.g., "Name a popular Thanksgiving side dish," "Name something you're thankful for"). The host reads the question, and one player from each team tries to guess the most popular answer.

6. Face the Pie

Another "Minute to Win It" classic that's guaranteed to be messy and hilarious. This one is especially loved by kids and teens.

• How to Play: Get a few aluminum pie tins and fill them with whipped cream. Hide a few gummy letters (like P-I-E) or candy corn at the bottom of each tin. Players must put their hands behind their backs and find all the hidden items using only their mouths. First one to find them all wins!

7. Turkey Hunt (Scavenger Hunt)

This is a great game to set up before guests arrive, especially if you have kids who need to burn off energy.

• How to Play: Hide a small stuffed turkey (or even just pictures of turkeys) around the house or yard. You can either have everyone search at once (first person to find it wins a prize) or turn it into a day-long event. One reader on a rival blog mentioned their family hides the turkey, and whoever finds it wins a prize and then re-hides it for the next person to find.

8. Thanksgiving Pictionary

A classic for a reason! You don't need any drawing skills to have fun—in fact, the worse the artist, the funnier the game.

• How to Play: Split into two teams. Have each team write down Thanksgiving-themed words or phrases (like "turkey trot," "pumpkin pie," "stuffing," "pilgrim") on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. On each turn, one player draws a word and must get their team to guess it just by drawing.

9. Traffic Yam

A simple, silly race that just needs a little open floor space.

• How to Play: Give each player a raw yam (or sweet potato) and a large spoon. Players must place the yam on the spoon and race from a starting line to a finish line and back, like an egg race. If the yam falls, they have to go back to the start and try again.