Thanksgiving Games For Families With Adults: Elevate Your Holiday Gathering
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for gratitude, delicious food, and, of course, spending quality time with loved ones. While the feast is undoubtedly the star, incorporating engaging games can truly elevate your family gathering, especially when adults are part of the fun. Finding the best activities that appeal to everyone, from your college-aged cousins to seasoned grandparents, can be a delightful challenge.
This article curates a fantastic selection of Thanksgiving games for families with adults that promise laughter, friendly competition, and memorable moments. We’ve scoured options to ensure a variety of styles, skill levels, and engagement types. Whether you prefer strategic thinking, quick-witted humor, or active challenges, there’s something here for every family.
Our goal is to help you discover the perfect additions to your holiday tradition, offering options across different price points. From budget-friendly card games to more premium board game experiences, this collection highlights some of the top choices available. Get ready to transform your Thanksgiving into an unforgettable celebration filled with joy and connection.
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1. Codenames
Codenames is a brilliant word-association game that fosters teamwork and clever thinking. Two teams compete to find their secret agents among a grid of 25 word cards, guided by one-word clues from their spymasters. It’s a fantastic icebreaker and a game that truly gets everyone’s minds working together.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy a bit of strategy and verbal puzzles. It’s a mid-range priced option that offers immense replayability. The standout feature is its ability to create surprising connections and hilarious misunderstandings, making it a staple for adult family gatherings.
2. Telestrations
Telestrations is often described as “the telephone game sketched out,” leading to uproarious results. Players draw what they see, then guess what they saw, passing notebooks around the table. The hilarious transformations from original word to final drawing are always a hit.
This game is ideal for families who love to laugh and aren’t afraid of their artistic (or lack thereof) skills being put to the test. It’s a premium party game that guarantees belly laughs and memorable moments. Its unique blend of drawing and guessing ensures everyone feels included.
3. Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a classic board game where players collect and play colored train car cards to claim railway routes across a map. The longer the routes, the more points they earn, connecting cities to complete destination tickets. It’s a game of strategy, risk, and a little bit of luck.
It’s an excellent choice for families who appreciate a more strategic yet accessible board game experience. As a mid-range to premium game, it offers hours of engaging play. The beautiful components and straightforward rules make it easy for new players to learn and enjoy.
4. What Do You Meme? Family Edition
What Do You Meme? Family Edition brings the internet’s favorite humor to your Thanksgiving table in a family-friendly format. Players match caption cards to photo cards, aiming to create the funniest meme. A rotating judge picks the winner of each round.
This game is perfect for modern families with a sense of humor who enjoy pop culture references. It’s a budget-friendly to mid-range option that ensures plenty of laughter and creative captioning. Its appeal lies in its relatable humor and quick-fire rounds.
5. Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens is a highly strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. Players draw cards until someone draws an Exploding Kitten, at which point they are out of the game. Unless, of course, they have a Defuse card! Other cards help players avoid the exploding feline.
This fast-paced card game is great for families looking for something quirky and quick to learn. It’s a budget-friendly choice that provides unexpected twists and turns. The absurd artwork and simple mechanics make it an instant hit for diverse age groups.
6. Relative Insanity
Relative Insanity is a hilarious party game created by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Players read a setup card, like “When my family gets together, we all like to…”, and then choose the funniest punchline card from their hand. The results are often ridiculously relatable.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy storytelling and a good dose of Southern humor. It’s a mid-range game that encourages lively conversation and plenty of laughter. Its focus on family dynamics makes it especially fitting for Thanksgiving gatherings.
7. Wavelength
Wavelength is a social guessing game where two teams compete to read each other’s minds. A “Psychic” spins a dial to a hidden target and gives a clue that is on a spectrum between two opposing concepts, like “Hot – Cold” or “Fantasy – Sci-Fi.” Their team tries to guess where the target is.
This unique game is ideal for families who love creative thinking and debating subtle nuances. It’s a mid-range priced game that sparks fascinating discussions and insights into how others think. The elegant design and engaging concept make it a standout.
8. Sushi Go Party!
Sushi Go Party! is a delightful card-drafting game where players try to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they pass by. It’s a race to collect the most maki rolls or make a full set of sashimi, while saving room for dessert puddings.
This quick and charming game is perfect for families looking for something light, strategic, and easy to learn. It’s a budget-friendly option that offers surprising depth for its size. The adorable artwork and fast-paced rounds make it highly addictive.
9. Sequence
Sequence is a classic board and card game where players try to create rows of five chips on the board using cards from their hand. It combines strategy with luck, requiring players to think ahead and block opponents. It’s one of the best choices for multi-generational play.
This game is great for families who enjoy a blend of strategy and traditional card play. It’s a budget-friendly to mid-range game that is simple to understand but offers strategic depth. Its enduring popularity speaks to its broad appeal as one of the top family games.
10. Qwirkle
Qwirkle is an abstract strategy game where players score points by building lines of tiles that share a common color or shape. It’s easy to learn but offers plenty of tactical opportunities, making it engaging for players of all ages.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy puzzle-solving and visual strategy. It’s a mid-range game that encourages logical thinking and pattern recognition. The colorful, chunky tiles are satisfying to play with, adding to its appeal.
11. Scattergories
Scattergories is a fast-paced, creative thinking game where players race against the clock to list words that fit specific categories and start with a given letter. Unique answers score points, leading to hilarious and often debatable responses.
This classic word game is ideal for families who love wordplay, quick thinking, and a bit of friendly competition. It’s a budget-friendly option that guarantees plenty of laughs and creative answers. Its simple rules mean everyone can jump right in.
12. Blank Slate
Blank Slate is a simple yet engaging word association game. Players write down a word that completes a phrase, trying to match one other person at the table. If you match exactly one other player, you score points! It’s all about thinking alike.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy intuitive word games and discovering common ground. It’s a budget-friendly game that sparks interesting conversations and reveals how similar (or different) family members think. It’s a great addition to any collection of Thanksgiving games for families with adults.
13. Mind the Gap
Mind the Gap is a hilarious trivia game that pits generations against each other. Players answer questions about pop culture, history, and current events from different eras. It’s a fantastic way to bridge generational divides with laughter and learning.
This game is great for families with a wide range of ages, creating fun debates and shared memories. It’s a mid-range game that truly celebrates the unique experiences of each generation. It’s one of the best trivia options for a diverse crowd.
14. Pictionary Air
Pictionary Air brings the classic drawing game into the digital age. Players draw in the air, and their teammates see the drawing on a screen. It’s a high-tech twist that adds an exciting, active element to the traditional game.
This game is perfect for energetic families who love technology and physical comedy. It’s a mid-range priced option that encourages movement and creative interpretation. The ability to record and replay drawings adds to the fun, making it a truly modern choice.
15. Beat That! – The Bonkers Battle of Wacky Challenges
Beat That! is a collection of silly, physical challenges that are surprisingly addictive. Players bet on their ability to complete absurd tasks, from bouncing balls into cups to stacking dice using only one hand. It’s pure, unadulterated fun.
This game is ideal for families who enjoy active challenges and aren’t afraid to look a little silly. It’s a mid-range game that gets everyone moving and laughing. Its simple concept and hilarious outcomes make it a top choice for high-energy gatherings.
16. Do You Know Me?
Do You Know Me? is a fun and revealing conversation starter game. Players answer “yes” or “no” to questions about themselves, and then others guess their answers. It’s a great way to learn surprising facts about your family members.
This game is perfect for families looking to deepen their connections and share personal anecdotes. It’s a budget-friendly option that sparks genuine conversations and laughter. It’s a wonderfully inclusive activity for any Thanksgiving games for families with adults list.
17. Never Have I Ever – Family Edition
Never Have I Ever – Family Edition offers a PG version of the popular party game. Players read prompts, and if they’ve done it, they put a chip in. The person with the fewest chips at the end wins, but the real fun is hearing the stories behind the chips.
This game is great for families who enjoy lighthearted sharing and discovering common experiences. It’s a budget-friendly game that encourages storytelling and playful confessions. It’s a simple yet effective way to engage everyone around the table.
18. Utter Nonsense!
Utter Nonsense! challenges players to combine silly phrases with ridiculous accents. One player reads a “Phrase Card,” and everyone else reads a “Voice Card,” trying to come up with the funniest combination. The judge picks the best, or most absurd, pairing.
This game is ideal for families who love to be silly, perform, and laugh at absurd scenarios. It’s a mid-range game that guarantees vocal hilarity and creative improvisation. It’s a unique party game that stands out among other Thanksgiving games for families with adults.
19. Concept
Concept is a fascinating guessing game where players communicate words and phrases using only universal icons. Without speaking or miming, they point to symbols on a shared board to convey ideas. It’s a true test of creative interpretation.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy a cerebral challenge and abstract thinking. It’s a mid-range to premium game that offers a different kind of party game experience. Its elegant design and engaging gameplay make it a highly regarded option.
20. Dixit
Dixit is a beautiful storytelling game that relies on imagination and interpretation. One player acts as the storyteller, giving a clue based on one of their surreal image cards. Other players choose a card from their hand that matches the clue, and everyone votes on the storyteller’s card.
This game is great for families who appreciate creativity, art, and imaginative thinking. It’s a mid-range to premium game with stunning artwork and a poetic feel. It fosters a unique kind of connection and shared storytelling experience.
21. Left Center Right Dice Game
Left Center Right (LCR) is a fast-paced, addictive dice game that’s incredibly simple to learn. Players roll three special dice, passing chips to the left, center, or right based on the roll. The last player with chips wins the pot.
This game is perfect for families looking for a quick, exciting, and highly portable game. It’s a budget-friendly option that requires no strategic thinking, just pure luck and anticipation. It’s one of the best choices for a quick burst of fun between activities.
22. Poetry for Neanderthals
Poetry for Neanderthals is a hilarious word-guessing game from the creators of Exploding Kittens. Players must get their teammates to guess words and phrases using only single-syllable words. If they use a multi-syllable word, they get bopped with a plastic club!
This game is ideal for families who love word challenges and physical comedy. It’s a mid-range game that guarantees loads of laughter and creative communication. Its unique rule set makes it a memorable addition to any list of Thanksgiving games for families with adults.
23. The Chameleon
The Chameleon is a social deduction game where players try to uncover the “Chameleon” among them. Everyone knows a secret word except for the Chameleon. Players take turns saying a word related to the secret word, trying to blend in while also trying to identify the imposter.
This game is great for families who enjoy mystery, bluffing, and clever wordplay. It’s a budget-friendly option that offers high tension and exciting reveals. It’s one of the top social deduction games that keeps everyone on their toes.
24. A Little Wordy
A Little Wordy is a deceptively simple word game where players pick a secret word and then write three clues for it. Opponents try to guess the word, but also guess how many letters are in the secret word. It’s about being clever and concise.
This game is perfect for families who enjoy subtle wordplay and strategic guessing. It’s a budget-friendly game that offers a fresh take on word puzzles. Its compact size makes it easily portable for any holiday gathering.
25. Herd Mentality
Herd Mentality is a party game all about blending in. Players are given a random question, and they secretly write down an answer. If your answer is in the majority, you win cows. If your answer is the odd one out, you get the pink cow and don’t score.
This game is ideal for families who love to see how similar (or different) their thoughts are. It’s a mid-range game that sparks funny discussions and reveals unexpected consensus. It’s a fantastic way to engage everyone in a lighthearted, social way.
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Last Words
Choosing the right Thanksgiving games for families with adults can transform your holiday into an even more joyous occasion. This curated list offers a wide array of options, ensuring you find something perfectly suited to your family’s unique dynamics and sense of fun. From strategic board games to laugh-out-loud party challenges, there’s a game here to create lasting memories.
Remember to consider your family’s preferences—do they love trivia, creative expression, or simply silly fun? Each product on this list offers distinct features and appeals, making any of them a strong contender for your holiday entertainment. You truly can’t go wrong with these selections.
We encourage you to explore these fantastic options further on Amazon, checking current prices and availability. A well-chosen game can be the secret ingredient to a truly unforgettable Thanksgiving celebration, bringing everyone closer through shared laughter and friendly competition. Happy gaming, and happy Thanksgiving!
About the Author
I dig until I hit truth, then I write about it. Diane here, covering whatever needs covering. Rock climbing clears my head; competitive Scrabble sharpens it. My engineering background means I actually read the studies I cite. British by birth, Canadian by choice.
