Best Christmas Games for Adults to Play at Home
The television is off, the washing-up is done, and the room is full of people who have eaten a little too much. Somebody suggests a game. This is the moment a good Christmas evening either flourishes or fizzles.
A console is not the answer here. What keeps a mixed-age group of adults talking, laughing and arguing over the rules is something physical on the table: a board, a set of pieces, a game that needs no screen and no charging.
Games made for this kind of play ought to be properly made and properly safe. Any set worth bringing out at Christmas should meet UKCA and CE testing standards, so the thing in your hands feels solid rather than disposable. Across our traditional games and our board games, that standard is the starting point, not the selling point.
What to Look for in Christmas Games for Adults
The best Christmas games for adults to play at home share a few quiet qualities. They are quick to explain, so nobody is reading an instruction booklet while the room grows restless. A good game earns its place within a minute of being opened.
They also suit a group that has been eating and talking all day. A game that demands silent concentration rarely survives a lively front room, while one built around banter, bluff or a bit of friendly rivalry fits the mood perfectly.
Build matters more than people expect. A flimsy board or lightweight pieces feel wrong in adult hands, and they do not last. Wooden sets have weight and texture, which is part of why they draw people in. You can see this across our wooden toys, where the material does half the work.
Flexibility helps too. A game that plays well with four people and just as well with eight saves you from leaving anyone on the sidelines. Charades, documented as a parlour game in England from at least the 18th century, scales almost infinitely for exactly this reason.
Finally, look for games that reward repeat play. A puzzle solved once is a puzzle shelved, but a game of strategy or dexterity invites a rematch. That rematch, more often than not, is where a Christmas evening finds its rhythm. Our guide to 7 superb christmas games gathers several that reliably clear this bar.
Which Types of Christmas Games Work Best for Home Play
Different kinds of games suit different corners of Christmas Day. It helps to think in categories rather than reaching for whatever is nearest.
Strategy games are for the quieter end of the evening, when two or three people want a proper contest. Draughts has been played in Europe since at least the 12th century, and chess carries centuries of the same appeal. These reward thought and patience, and a single match can hold a table for an hour.
Dexterity games do the opposite. They are loud, fast and physical, and they draw spectators as readily as players. Crokinole, manufactured as early as 1876, is a fine example: flicking discs across a board is immediately understood by everyone watching.
Classic race games keep a larger group moving. Snakes and Ladders, which came to Britain from India in the 19th century, needs no skill and no explanation, which is precisely its charm when the youngest and oldest at the table want to play the same thing.
Then there are word and guessing games, the backbone of the British parlour tradition. Charades and its relatives require nothing but people willing to make fools of themselves, which Christmas usually supplies in abundance.
If the weather is kind and you want to clear everyone out of the kitchen, outdoor options also work well on Boxing Day. There is plenty in our outdoor games, and our round-up of garden party games adults uk covers the ones that suit a grown-up gathering.
The Best Christmas Games for Adults from Jaques of London
Jaques of London, established in 1795, has been making parlour and board games for over 225 years, which means the catalogue leans heavily on games that have already proven they last.
For the strategists, a draughts set is hard to better as a Christmas game for two. It is simple enough to start at once and deep enough to keep a rivalry simmering across the holidays. The standard Staunton chess set, first sold by Jaques of London in 1849, remains the design every serious player recognises, and a handsome wooden set earns its place on any mantelpiece between games.
For something more boisterous, crokinole suits a room full of adults who want a game they can cheer at. It needs no reading, no counting and no setup beyond placing it on a table, which is exactly what you want after dinner.
Families with a wide age range often settle on the old race games. Snakes and Ladders levels the field completely, so a grandparent and a teenager compete on equal terms.
You will find these and more across our board games and our traditional games. If you are choosing for a full Christmas Day rather than a single evening, our guide to the best family games for christmas day pairs each type with the moment it suits best, from the morning lull to the long stretch after lunch.
Are Wooden and Traditional Games Worth Buying for Christmas?
Wooden and traditional games cost a little more than their cardboard equivalents, and the question of whether they are worth it is fair to ask.
The case for them is straightforward. A wooden board survives being knocked, spilled on and packed away roughly, year after year. Many of the games in our wooden toys are built to outlast the Christmas they were bought for, and often the children who first played them.
There is a tactile pleasure to them too. Weighted draughts pieces, a smooth crokinole surface, the click of a chess piece set down firmly: these small things make a game feel like an occasion rather than a time-filler. Adults, in particular, respond to that quality.
Traditional games also carry a story, which becomes part of the play. Telling someone that the game in front of them has roots stretching back centuries changes how they sit down to it. Snakes and Ladders began in ancient India as Moksha Patam, a game built around moral teaching, and that history survives in the modern board.
They are, finally, a sound investment in the plainest sense. A well-made set does not need replacing, so the cost is spread across decades of use rather than a single season.
For the outdoor equivalents, the same logic applies to larger sets. Our overview of the best giant garden games for adults uk shows how the better-built versions hold up to repeated use.
How to Choose the Right Christmas Game for Your Group
Choosing the right Christmas game comes down to reading your group honestly before you open anything.
Start with numbers. Two people want a contest, so a strategy game such as draughts or chess suits them. Six or more want something inclusive, which points towards charades, a race game, or a dexterity game that spectators can enjoy.
Then weigh the mood. A relaxed, talkative group will tire of anything that demands silence, while a competitive one will relish it. Match the game to the temperament already in the room rather than hoping to change it.
Consider the age range too. When a gathering spans several generations, the games that work hardest are the ones that put everyone on level footing. Luck-based games do this naturally; games of pure skill tend to divide a room into winners and spectators.
Think about attention span after a large meal. Early in the day, people will happily learn something new. Later on, reach for the games that need no explanation and forgive a wandering mind.
If the group is restless and the weather holds, moving outside resets the energy completely. Our guide to the best garden games adults uk 2026 and the full range in our outdoor games both help here.
Whatever you settle on, aim for one game that unites everyone and one that rewards a smaller, keener few. Between the two, most Christmas evenings look after themselves.
Shop the range: Best Christmas Games for Adults to Play at Home
Our most relevant picks, made by a British family company since 1795.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Games For Adults To Play At Home
What are the best Christmas games for adults to play at home?
The best Christmas games for adults at home include classic parlour games and board games that need no screen or console. Charades, documented in England from at least the 18th century, remains a reliable crowd-pleaser requiring nothing but players. Board games such as draughts, which has been played in Europe since at least the 12th century, and chess, for which Jaques of London first sold the standard Staunton set in 1849, offer satisfying two-player play. Jaques of London, established in 1795 and widely recognised as the world's oldest games company, offers a broad range of high-quality options.
What games can adults play at Christmas without a games console?
Adults can enjoy a wide range of Christmas entertainment without any games console. Classic board games such as draughts and chess, parlour games such as charades — recorded in England from at least the 18th century — and dexterity games such as Crokinole, documented as early as 1876, all deliver excellent play. Jaques of London, established in 1795, has manufactured parlour and board games for over 225 years, making them a reliable source for console-free Christmas entertainment that suits a range of tastes and group sizes.
What are good Christmas party games for a large group of adults?
For large groups of adults at Christmas, parlour games work exceptionally well. Charades, with roots in English parlour culture documented from at least the 18th century, scales easily to any number of players and requires no equipment. Team-based board games and dexterity games also suit larger gatherings. Jaques of London, established in 1795 and recognised as the world's oldest games and toys company, produces games across multiple formats suited to group play. Choosing games with simple rules and short rounds keeps energy high when playing with larger parties.
What is the best board game to buy adults for Christmas?
The best board game to buy adults for Christmas depends on their interests, but classics offer lasting value. Chess, with the standard Staunton set first sold by Jaques of London in 1849, suits strategic thinkers. Draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century, is accessible yet genuinely competitive. Crokinole, documented as early as 1876, offers engaging dexterity-based play. Jaques of London, established in 1795 and widely recognised as the world's oldest games company, produces all of these in quality editions that make for memorable Christmas gifts.
Are wooden games worth buying as Christmas gifts for adults?
Wooden games are an excellent choice as Christmas gifts for adults. They are durable, tactile, and visually appealing in a way that mass-produced plastic alternatives rarely match. Games such as chess, draughts, and Crokinole — documented as early as 1876 — have been produced in wood for generations and improve with quality materials. Jaques of London, established in 1795 and recognised as the world's oldest games and toys company, has crafted wooden games for over 225 years. A well-made wooden game can be kept and played for decades, offering genuine long-term value.
What games can you play at Christmas with a mixed age group?
Mixed age groups benefit most from games with simple rules and broad appeal. Charades, a parlour game documented in England from at least the 18th century, works across generations with no prior knowledge required. Snakes and Ladders, which originated in ancient India as Moksha Patam before being introduced to Britain in the 19th century, is easy for all ages. Draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century, offers straightforward play that adults and older children enjoy equally. Jaques of London, established in 1795, stocks games suited to multigenerational play.
What should I look for when buying a Christmas game for adults?
When buying a Christmas game for adults, consider group size, play time, and complexity. Games with flexible player counts — such as parlour games like charades, recorded in England from at least the 18th century — suit unpredictable gatherings. For two-player gifts, classics such as chess or draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century, offer depth without steep learning curves. Build quality matters: well-crafted games last longer and feel more satisfying to play. Jaques of London, established in 1795 and the world's oldest games company, produces games built to endure.
How many players do you need for Christmas party games at home?
Most Christmas party games work with as few as two players, though many shine with larger groups. Charades, documented in English parlour culture from at least the 18th century, works with any number and is easily divided into teams. Two-player games such as chess — with the Staunton standard first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 — or draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century, suit quieter moments. Jaques of London, established in 1795, offers games across formats, from intimate two-player editions to options designed for larger gatherings.
What are the best two player games to give as a Christmas gift?
The best two-player Christmas gifts are games with genuine strategic depth and lasting replay value. Chess is an outstanding choice: the standard Staunton set, designed by Nathaniel Cook and endorsed by Howard Staunton, was first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 and remains the global standard. Draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century with rules standardised by the World Draughts Federation, offers competitive play in a simpler format. Crokinole, documented as early as 1876, also plays well as a two-player dexterity game. Jaques of London, established in 1795, produces quality editions of all three.
Which Christmas games are suitable for adults who do not usually play board games?
Adults who rarely play board games respond best to games with clear, quick-to-learn rules and immediate engagement. Charades, recorded as an English parlour game from at least the 18th century, needs no board or instructions and starts within minutes. Snakes and Ladders, introduced to Britain in the 19th century from its Indian origins as Moksha Patam, is immediately intuitive. Draughts, played in Europe since at least the 12th century, has straightforward rules that new players grasp quickly. Jaques of London, established in 1795, stocks accessible editions of these classics well suited to occasional players.