There’s a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: your family, your friends, other little blessings in your life… and the fun you’ve had all year, maybe thanks to games you’ve played over the past several months. And what better way to spend Thanksgiving than to have some more fun with games alongside your friends and family? Whether you’re hosting a laid-back Friendsgiving or a full family gathering, here are 25 Thanksgiving games for adults that’ll keep everyone entertained long after the turkey’s gone.
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CLASSIC THANKSGIVING GAMES FOR ADULTS
These are classic Thanksgiving games for adults that will never fail you and will always be a hit year after year.
1. THANKSGIVING CHARADES
You can’t go wrong with charades, especially when it’s holiday-themed. Before you play, write prompts on slips of paper like:
- Carving the turkey
- Awkward dinner conversation
- Food coma
- Football game meltdown
Put these pieces of paper in a bowl and mix them up. Then, split into two teams and take turns acting them out while your team guesses. Keep score if you’re competitive!
2. TURKEY TAG
This is a fun game you can play throughout the entire Thanksgiving gathering. To play, give everyone three clothespins or Thanksgiving stickers at the start of the night. The goal: secretly tag other players by clipping or sticking one onto them without getting caught. If you get caught, you take your pin back. Whoever has the fewest pins left at the end of the night wins.
3. WHO AM I?
Who Am I? is one of our favorite Thanksgiving games. To play, grab some sticky notes and have everyone write down the name of a famous figure, dead or alive, real or fictional.
Each person then puts their sticky note on the forehead of another player. Now that everyone has a sticky note on their forehead, it’s time to start guessing who they are by asking yes or no questions. Either take turns in a civilized manner or go around asking whoever you want.
Optionally, if you want to turn this into a drinking game, every time you get a “no” answer, you take a sip of your drink.
4. TURKEY HUNT
Before the party, hide small paper turkeys, candies, or mini prizes around the house. Then, have all your guests “hunt” for all these turkeys hidden around your house. Whoever finds the most wins.
5. TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE (THANKSGIVING VERSION)
You might already be familiar with this easy icebreaker game, but here’s a quick reminder of the Thanksgiving version of Two Truths and a Lie: Each person shares three Thanksgiving-related statements. However, the twist is that two of these statements are true, and one is false. It could be a cooking disaster, an awkward family moment, or something heartwarming.
Then, everyone else guesses which story is the lie.
6. TURKEY BINGO
You can never go wrong with a game of bingo. Create custom bingo cards before the big day with Thanksgiving squares like “Someone says ‘I’m stuffed,’” “Football’s on,” “Family argument,” or “Pumpkin pie appears.”
As dinner unfolds, mark them off in real time. First to get five in a row shouts “Gobble!” instead of “Bingo.”
7. THANKFUL CIRCLE
To play this simple Thanksgiving game for adults, just go around the table and have everyone share something they’re thankful for. But to keep it interesting, add a twist each round, such as:
- Say it in a rhyme
- You can’t repeat anything mentioned before
- Say it in one word
THANKSGIVING BOARD GAMES FOR ADULTS
Once everyone’s full and comfy, it’s time to bring out the board games. These are our favorite Thanksgiving board games for adults to play.
8. CATAN
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering...
- STRATEGY AND COMPETITION: Compete with 2-3 opponents to expand your settlements...
- TRADE, BUILD, AND SETTLE: Use brick, wood, wheat, ore, and sheep to construct...
If you think of strategy board games, one of the first that comes to mind is Catan. This award-winning classic is perfect for 3–4 players (though expansions allow more). In this game, players compete to build settlements, roads, and cities by collecting and trading various resources.
The goal? Be the first to reach 10 Victory Points. But watch out! This game can get wildly competitive, and Catan is known to end friendships over betrayals like cutting off your territory, blocking your roads, and even stealing your resources! Yikes.
9. CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY
- A party game for horrible people.
- Comes with 500 white cards and 100 black cards for eternal replayability.
- Includes a booklet of sensible game rules and preposterous alternate rules.
Not in the mood for something so competitive? Then, give Cards Against Humanity a go. This is the perfect Thanksgiving game for adults to play if your party loves a laugh and is not easily offended. The rules are simple: one player reads a prompt card, and everyone else submits their funniest (or darkest) answer card. The reader picks their favorite, and that player wins the round.
10. EXPLODING KITTENS
- In this family card game, draw cards and try to avoid the dreaded Exploding...
- Designed for 2-5 players, ages 7 and up, Exploding Kittens is great for kids,...
- Compact for travel, portable for on-the-go, camping, game nights, road trips or...
Looking for something fast-paced but simple enough to play after a few drinks? Exploding Kittens is a quick, chaotic card game for small Thanksgiving parties. Players take turns drawing cards until someone pulls an Exploding Kitten. That is, unless they have a defuse card to save themselves! Along the way, you’ll use cards to skip turns, peek at the deck, or attack your friends. It’s definitely one of those games you’ll be able to play over and over again.
11. OFF TOPIC
- Creativity Rules: Off Topic is a fun board game that gets the brain juices...
- How To Play: Draw a card to set the topics, and roll the die to set the letter...
- Defend Your Answers: Coming up with answers is only part of the game. Debating...
If your Thanksgiving crowd loves witty banter, Off Topic is perfect. Each round, you roll a die to get a letter, draw a card with categories, and write down answers that start with that letter. And you have to write down your answers before time runs out! And make sure they’re unique, or else they won’t count for any points.
If you want to turn Off Topic into something more fitting for Thanksgiving, make your own categories like:
- Stuffing ingredients
- Things you’re thankful for
12. PICTIONARY
- Celebrate 40 years of the original classic family drawing game Pictionary!
- Sketch and guess your way to the finish line with this board game for family...
- Features 3 levels of clues, including Learn to Draw clues for younger players...
One of the best party games of all time, Pictionary never fails! To play, split into teams, draw a card, and race against the timer to sketch the word or phrase while your team guesses.
For a holiday version, use custom prompts like “carving the turkey,” “food coma,” “burnt stuffing,” or “Black Friday chaos.” But you can also use the classic game if you don’t have time to prep the game beforehand.
13. COUP
- FUN FOR ADULTS, TEENS AND FAMILIES: An extremely fast-paced card game that is...
- BLUFF? CHALLENGE? COUP?: Every turn you take an action, and you can take an...
- EASY TO LEARN: Like all great family card games, it takes only minutes to learn...
One of our favorite hidden role games or social deduction games is Coup. This is a great pick, in particular, for smaller Thanksgiving gatherings (2–6 players). Each player gets two hidden roles with unique powers, and the goal is to eliminate everyone else while bluffing your way through the game.
Each round, you can collect coins, assassinate others, challenge someone you think is bluffing, or even stage a coup. The last player standing wins!
14. TABOO
- FAN-FAVORITE TABOO BOARD GAME: It's the classic Taboo game of unspeakable fun...
- AVOID TABOO WORDS: In the Taboo card game for adults, family and teens, race...
- MODERN AND EXCITING CARD CONTENT: The Taboo word game features fresh cards...
If your group prefers classic party games, Taboo is always a crowd-pleaser. Players take turns describing a word on their card without saying the “taboo” words listed below it. For example, if the word is “Turkey,” you can’t say “Thanksgiving,” “bird,” or “stuffing.”
It sounds easy, I know. But wait till the timer starts. When you’re looking at the words you can’t say, you won’t be able to think of anything else!
15. WHAT DO YOU MEME?
- Better than Ever: Our iconic TikTok viral card game now features GIFs, refreshed...
- Games for Adults: Get more bang for your buck with this fun card game with...
- How To Play: For this party game for adults, gather your crew to make the...
One of our favorite games to play with friends this Thanksgiving is What Do You Meme? If you love a good meme, this game is a must. Players take turns judging the funniest photo-caption combo, using the meme cards in hand. Think Cards Against Humanity but meme-style!
THANKSGIVING DRINKING GAMES FOR ADULTS
If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving gathering of adults, why not also play some drinking games to spice things up a little?
16. NEVER HAVE I EVER
You’re probably already familiar with the Never Have I Ever drinking game, but here’s a refresher in case you need it:
Start with five or ten fingers up, depending on how long you want to play the game. Then, everyone takes turns saying something they’ve never done. But if you want to keep it on theme, make it Thanksgiving-related.
Here are some examples:
- Never have I ever burned the turkey.
- Never have I ever fallen asleep during the parade.
- Never have I ever gone back for thirds.
- Never have I ever gotten drunk on Thanksgiving
If you have done it, put a finger down and drink.
17. DRINK IF…
Before the party, make a list of prompts. Then, when you’re ready to play, read them out loud. Here are some examples to get you started:
- Drink if you’re wearing stretchy pants.
- Drink if you’ve already unbuttoned your jeans.
- Drink if you’re too full to move.
And, of course, if the statement applies to you, you have to drink! Simple as that.
18. MOST LIKELY
Most Likely is another fun drinking game to play this Thanksgiving amongst adults. To play, just go around and ask “Who’s most likely to…” questions like:
- Start talking politics at dinner?
- Eat another piece of pie?
- Fall asleep on the couch?
- Get drunkest tonight?
Everyone points at someone, and each vote equals a sip for that person.
19. THANKSGIVING MOVIE DRINKING GAME
We absolutely love a good movie drinking game. It’s a super easy way to get tipsy with your friends with low effort. Throw on a Thanksgiving-themed or cozy movie like Fantastic Mr Fox or Addams Family Values.
Then, make up some rules for that movie and drink anytime that “thing” happens. For example, if you are watching The Lord of the Rings, your rules could be:
- Drink when there is a close-up of the ring
- Drink when someone says, “Hobbit”
- Drink when Gollum says, “My precious”
- Drink when Sam says, “Mr. Frodo”
20. DRUNK JENGA
Drunk Jenga is an absolute classic drinking game that is fitting for an adults-only Thanksgiving game. To play, write funny dares or rules on Jenga blocks, like:
- Do your best turkey impression
- Take two sips
- Give out five sips
- All girls drink
- Name 3 Thanksgiving sides in 5 seconds or take a shot
Then, play like normal. But whenever someone takes out a block, they must do the dare before they place it back on the tower. The player who knocks over the tower has to take a shot as punishment!
21. THANKSGIVING BEER PONG
No Thanksgiving drinking game list would be complete without Beer Pong, but with a Thanksgiving twist, of course! For this version of the popular drinking cup game, swap the regular beer for fall-themed drinks like spiked apple cider, pumpkin ale, or cranberry cocktails.
Here’s how to play:
- Set up ten cups in a triangle at each end of a long table.
- Fill them about a third of the way with your chosen drink.
- Divide into teams of two, and take turns tossing ping pong balls into the opposing team’s cups.
- If your ball lands in a cup, the other team drinks and removes that cup. The first team to eliminate all of their opponent’s cups wins.
22. I’M THANKFUL FOR…
In this simple Thanksgiving drinking game for adults, everyone takes turns naming something they’re thankful for. If you repeat something already said or hesitate for more than three seconds, you drink.
23. DRINK EVERY TIME…
Before dinner, make a list as a group. Examples:
- Grandpa mentions politics.
- Someone says, “I’m so full.”
- Someone drops food.
Every time it happens, everyone drinks. Don’t forget to get creative with this one!
24. CATEGORIES
Categories is one of our top picks for Thanksgiving games for adults, as it requires absolutely zero prep and zero supplies. To play, pick a category. Try to make it Thanksgiving-themed, like pies, fall drinks, holiday movies, etc. Then, take turns naming something in that category.
If you repeat or can’t think of anything in time, drink!
25. PICOLO
If you want a game that does all the work for you, download Picolo on your phone. It gives you randomized prompts and dares that make it so much easier for you to play a drinking game with zero prep, which is handy for Thanksgiving, in particular, when you have to focus on cooking a lot of food instead.
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