Best 10 Christmas Board Games of 2025
With the holiday season approaching, it’s the perfect time to explore festive board games. If you want to make your family gatherings more entertaining, our list of the best 10 Christmas board games of 2025 is here to help.
We’ve included games for all ages, from small family groups to big parties. Some are Christmas-themed, while others capture the holiday spirit without a festive theme.
Top 10 Christmas Board Games of 2025
Ultimate Word Fun – Wordsy
Wordsy delivers high-energy word creation where speed meets vocabulary. In this competitive word game, players race against a 30-second timer to form as many words as possible from their available letters. Unlike traditional word games, you don’t need to use all your letters, making gameplay fluid and accessible. Over seven exciting rounds, players accumulate points with bonus opportunities for the quickest thinkers. Perfect for holiday gatherings with up to six players, Wordsy brings fast-paced linguistic fun to your Christmas celebration.
- Fast-paced gameplay keeps everyone engaged
- Every game feels different with varied letter combinations
- Can feel repetitive after many plays
- Limited strategic depth for experienced players
Festive Elf Workshop – Santa’s Workshop
Step into the magical world of Santa’s Workshop where you manage a bustling team of elves to craft gifts and care for reindeer. This engaging resource management game challenges players to strategically assign elves to various tasks, collect essential materials, and optimize their workshop operations. Earn Christmas Cookies as you complete objectives and prepare for Santa’s surprise inspections that can boost your score. With charming holiday theming and strategic depth, this game accommodates up to 5 players and welcomes children as young as 8 with some adult guidance, making it an ideal family holiday tradition.
- Immersive Christmas theme with engaging strategy
- Beginner-friendly rules make it accessible for families
- Component quality is average
- Slightly complex for very young children
Sleigh Racing Challenge – Snow Tails
Experience the thrill of dog sled racing through snowy landscapes in this unique racing game. Snow Tails puts you in control of a musher and their team as you navigate a modular track that changes with every setup. Using action cards strategically, players must balance speed with control, avoiding obstacles while outmaneuvering opponents. The customizable track system ensures no two races are alike, providing exceptional replay value. With gameplay lasting 45-60 minutes, this winter-themed adventure is perfect for families with children aged 10 and up who crave interactive, competitive experiences.
- Build your own track for endless variety
- High replay value with balanced gameplay
- Low interaction between players during races
- Requires a large table for setup
Holiday Mystery – Codenames
Codenames transforms your holiday gathering into an exciting spy thriller where two teams compete to uncover secret identities through clever word association. One spymaster on each team provides single-word clues that connect multiple code words on the board, while teammates debate and strategize to find their agents. The tension builds as teams race to locate all their operatives while avoiding the deadly assassin. With quick 15-minute rounds, this party game is incredibly portable and perfect for family gatherings or travel. Easy to learn yet endlessly engaging, Codenames accommodates up to 8 players and has become a festive favorite worldwide.
- Quick to learn with highly interactive gameplay
- Engaging team strategy for all ages
- Can feel repetitive over multiple games
- Requires creative thinking from spymasters
Holiday Card Swap – 12 Days
Inspired by the beloved Christmas carol, 12 Days transforms the classic song into an engaging card collection game. Players trade and accumulate holiday cards over exactly 12 rounds, with each card representing gifts from the famous song. Special Mr. and Mrs. Claus cards introduce strategic elements that can swing the game in unexpected ways. The player who assembles the most valuable collection of gift and holiday cards claims victory. Simple mechanics, quick gameplay, and universal appeal make this game accessible for children as young as 6 while remaining enjoyable for adults, creating the perfect intergenerational holiday entertainment.
- Quick, portable, and easy to learn
- Thematic and festive with universal appeal
- May be too simple for experienced gamers
- Limited depth for strategic players
Holiday Puzzle Fun – Concept
Concept revolutionizes party games by replacing words with universal icons for creative communication. Teams work together as players arrange icons on a specially designed board to convey words and phrases without speaking. From holiday concepts to everyday terms, the combinations are virtually limitless, ensuring fresh challenges every round. Perfect for gatherings of 4-12 players, this innovative game runs 35-40 minutes and encourages creative thinking and teamwork. The availability of a kids’ version ensures younger family members can join the fun, making Concept a flexible choice for holiday celebrations with mixed age groups.
- Excellent replay value with endless combinations
- Fast-paced team-based fun with unique mechanics
- Limited icons may restrict complex ideas
- Kids’ version needed for younger players
Christmas Train Adventure – Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries
Journey through the breathtaking winter landscapes of Northern Europe in this specially designed Ticket to Ride edition. Players collect train cards and claim railway routes connecting Scandinavian cities, completing destination tickets to earn points. Strategic route planning and tactical card management create engaging decisions while maintaining the series’ accessible charm. Optimized for 2-3 players, games last 30-60 minutes, making it ideal for cozy holiday evenings. The Nordic setting with its snowy vistas perfectly complements the Christmas atmosphere while providing satisfying gameplay that remains fresh across multiple sessions.
- Simple rules with engaging strategic choices
- High replayability and fun for all ages
- Limited to only 2-3 players
- May not accommodate larger family gatherings
Holiday Lights Challenge – Christmas Lights
Decorate your Christmas tree with colorful lights in this charming memory and collection game. Players gather and arrange light cards through clever trading and careful memorization of what’s in everyone’s hands. The vintage-inspired artwork adds nostalgic charm while the straightforward mechanics keep gameplay moving briskly. With sessions lasting just 10-30 minutes, Christmas Lights serves as an excellent filler game during holiday gatherings. Supporting 2-6 players, this family-friendly game offers interactive gameplay and quick setup, making it perfect for families seeking light-hearted seasonal entertainment with minimal complexity.
- Family-friendly with interactive gameplay
- Quick setup and charming vintage artwork
- Not suitable for strategy-focused players
- Limited depth for experienced gamers
Christmas Movie Heist – Home Alone
Relive the iconic movie moments in this asymmetric game where players choose sides in the classic holiday conflict. Take control of Kevin McCallister defending his home with ingenious traps, or play as the bumbling burglars attempting to steal the loot. Each round, action cards determine movements, trap placements, and heist attempts, creating humorous scenarios that capture the film’s spirit. Simple rules and quick 15-20 minute gameplay make it accessible for children aged 8 and up while providing nostalgic fun for parents. The quality components and faithful recreation of movie moments deliver entertaining holiday gaming sessions.
- Perfectly captures the movie atmosphere
- Simple rules with good quality components
- Limited replay value once novelty wears off
- Basic gameplay may not hold long-term interest
History Challenge – Timeline 3: Historical Events
Test your historical knowledge in this educational and entertaining card game focused on major world events. Players draw event cards and must correctly place them in chronological order on the growing timeline. Success requires educated guesses about when inventions, discoveries, wars, and cultural milestones occurred throughout history. The first player to successfully place all their cards wins the round. Supporting 2-8 players with quick rounds, Timeline 3 combines learning with competition. Its portability and expandability through other Timeline sets make it perfect for festive gatherings where you want to mix entertainment with intellectual stimulation.
- Educational while remaining fun and engaging
- Portable with easy-to-learn rules
- Requires interest in history to fully enjoy
- Knowledge gaps can make it frustrating
Wrapping Up
The best 10 Christmas board games of 2025 offer something for everyone, from strategy lovers to kids. Whether you choose holiday-themed games like Santa’s Workshop or competitive fun like Codenames, these games promise hours of entertainment. Perfect for families, friends, and holiday gatherings, these picks make Christmas more festive, fun, and memorable.
