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thanksgiving games
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13 Games To Play On Thanksgiving With Friends & Family

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give thanks for those closest to you. After all, it’s literally in the name. It’s been a long, stressful year for many, so everyone deserves some time off to focus on gratitude (and getting a plate full of Thanksgiving sides into their mouths ASAP). But once the drink glasses are empty and the turkey has been thoroughly demolished, Thanksgiving is also a great time to get your friends and family together, all around one table… and absolutely crush them in some games. 

Game nights are the cornerstone of many a memorable night. And what better time to have a game night than when you already have some of your favorite people under one roof, sitting at one table? There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to balance out all that heartfelt gratitude. Plus, games give everyone — kids, adults, and the relatives you only see twice a year — something fun to bond over. So, for those looking to jazz up your festivities, here are 13 fun games to play on Thanksgiving, ranging from classic parlor pastimes to newer activities that’ll have the whole group invested. (Just try not to brag too hard about winning — you don’t want to end up on the naughty list right before holiday shopping season begins!)

Stir the Pot

Created by the same team behind What Do You Meme?, Stir the Pot is a game designed for anywhere between three to 20 players. In this game, you ask a mix of nice, funny, and risqué questions provided from a card, and then answer with the name of someone in the room. Will they find out what the question was? Flip a coin, and all might be revealed.

Cambio

All you need are two or more people and a deck of cards (or more than one deck, depending on how many people you have). The rules are sort of tricky, but this is one of those games that, for some reason, someone always knows how to play. The TLDR is that you want to get rid of your cards!

Codenames

While Codenames might not seem like the game for a big group, it’s actually so fun to have a bunch of people shouting out silly-sounding words.

Heads Up

If one person has a phone on them (I mean, let’s be honest, everyone always has their phone on them), then playing Heads Up is a given. Divide into teams, pairs, or play as one large group and scream (lovingly, of course) at your friends and family to get them to guess whatever shows up on the screen.

Paranoia

This one is kind of similar to Stir the Pot, but the wild questions come straight from your brain, since no cards are involved. Once again, flip a coin (or ask Siri to “flip” one for you), and see if you can get away scot-free. 

Spades

Here’s another pairs game, and one that brings out the competitive spirit in all players. Pick someone you trust and strategize to the best of your ability, as you and your partner can’t afford to make any mistakes.

Charades

No introduction necessary. It’s not a family affair until someone starts playing Charades, am I right?

Telestrations

Ever played Telephone? Well, if you couldn’t tell, Telestrations is like a cousin of that game. With a sketchpad, start with an image and transfer it to the person next to you. It’s up to them to interpret the drawing and summarize it in a word or two. Then, pass it once again and draw that summary. Keep going until you get back to the original artist, and then reveal what the thing first started as.

Wavelength

Wavelength is a great game to get the night started. It’s relatively chill and doesn’t need much of an explanation, so people can jump in after walking through the door. Plus, it’s a good way to see if everyone is starting the night on the same… wavelength.

Personalized Trivia

Take some time ahead of your gathering to draft up some questions about your Thanksgiving guests and see who knows whom best.

Pin-the-Feathers-on-the-Turkey

If you need some quick decor for your Thanksgiving party and have a corkboard with an empty space calling your name, print out a picture of a turkey and feathers. Blindfold your friends, equip them with a feather and a thumbtack, and push them in the right direction.

Monikers

Never heard of Monikers? Well, it’s about to become your new Thanksgiving staple! The rules are simple: Pick a card with one of the more than 400 nonsensical words and try to get your guests to answer. Be prepared for instant hilarity to follow.

Scrabble

If your Friendsgiving is a more intimate, quiet gathering, Scrabble might be the way to go. It’s a classic for a reason!

Eliza Disbrow

Washington '26

Eliza Disbrow is a senior at the University of Washington, majoring in International Studies: European Studies with a double minor in Spanish and business. Eliza is a writer for both the University of Washington chapter and for National HerCampus, covering a variety of topics, from music, books, social media, politics, to anime.

Beyond Her Campus, Eliza serves as the co-president of the University of Washington Euro Club, participates in the University of Washington Women in Business club, and works part-time at Evereve.

In her free time, Eliza can be seen taking in the sights of Seattle on any of the available forms of public transportation, normally with a book in hand and headphones in her ears. She plays guitar and bass, mainly as an excuse to play either Fall Out Boy or Ghost to family and friends. Additionally, she is perhaps the number-one super fan of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," somehow able to quote or recall episodes ranging from the most recent release or from three years ago.