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Family-Friendly Thanksgiving Games for a Memorable Celebration
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to create memories around the dinner table. But after the feast, it's also the perfect time to bring everyone together for some fun and games! Whether you're hosting a big gathering or keeping things cozy with close family, these Thanksgiving-themed and family-friendly games are sure to keep the celebration going. From outdoor classics like flag football to dice and board games for a "family game night" vibe, there's something here for every age and group size. Let's dive into some of the best Thanksgiving games!
Flag Football
Flag football is a Thanksgiving classic, perfect for burning off some of those turkey calories or working up an appetite! This set includes belts for up to 14 players, so you can split into two teams and enjoy a competitive, non-contact game. With bright red and yellow flags, spotting teammates and opponents is easy. Whether kids or adults, flag football adds excitement to your Thanksgiving day, bringing everyone outside for bonding time. Ideal for 7 vs. 7 players, this game encourages teamwork, strategy, and lots of laughter.
Turkey Ring Toss
This Thanksgiving-themed inflatable turkey hat game brings a festive twist to the traditional ring toss! The set includes three turkey hats and 12 colorful rings. It's perfect for all ages, making it an excellent option for indoor or outdoor fun. Players take turns tossing rings onto the turkey hats, and with flexible rules, you can play this game with a few players or larger groups. It's a delightful way to keep everyone entertained between dinner courses.
Bean Bag Toss (Thanksgiving Edition)
This Thanksgiving-themed bean bag toss brings a festive fall backdrop into your game space with pumpkins, scarecrows, and sunflowers. The large gamepad and sturdy bean bags make it easy to set up, whether you're indoors or out. Kids and adults alike will enjoy aiming for the targets as they compete for the highest score. The game is ideal for groups of 2 to 6 players and offers a relaxed yet competitive way to bond over some lighthearted fun.
Mexican Train Dominoes
For a more laid-back Thanksgiving game night, try Mexican Train Dominoes. This classic domino game is easy to learn and offers hours of entertainment. It's perfect for after-dinner relaxation and can accommodate 2 or more players. Gather everyone around the table, and enjoy some friendly competition as you create train lines of dominoes and try to be the first to finish. The game's reusable aluminum carry case makes it convenient to store until the next family game night!
Tapple
For some fast-paced fun, Tapple is a word game that challenges players to think quickly while racing against the timer. Players pick a category each round, like "Thanksgiving foods," and take turns naming items that fit the theme, pressing the corresponding letter on the Tapple wheel. It's a fantastic game for 2 to 8 players, and it will keep everyone laughing while they try to beat the clock. This game is perfect for families who enjoy word challenges and want to keep their energy up after a big meal.
Codenames
Codenames is a strategic word association game perfect for larger groups, making it a great addition to your Thanksgiving festivities. In this spy-themed game, players split into two teams and give clues to help their teammates identify the correct words on the board. The game fosters teamwork, creativity, and some friendly competition as teams race to make contact with all their agents. It works best with 4 or more players and has a quick 15-minute playtime, so it's easy to play multiple rounds!
Taboo
Get ready for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud experience with the Taboo Party Board Game! This classic game challenges players to describe words without using any of the "forbidden" words listed on the card. If you slip up, the electronic buzzer will catch you! Perfect for kids ages 13 and up, this Amazon Exclusive edition features 450 game cards, including a special food and drink category for even more hilarious challenges. With a timer to keep the energy high, it's an ideal game for groups of 4 or more, perfect for a lively Thanksgiving game night!
Wavelength
If your family loves thought-provoking games, Wavelength is the perfect choice. In this game, players work together to decide where their clue falls on a spectrum, like "hot" versus "cold" or "spicy" versus "bland." It's a telepathic party game that gets everyone involved, whether you're playing with 2 or 12 people. The game is easy to set up and can be played in about 30 minutes, offering quick rounds of intriguing discussions and plenty of "aha" moments.
Blank Slate
Blank Slate is a word association game where you try to match your answers with other players without giving any clues. It's simple, quick, and great for sparking creativity. Best played with 3 to 8 players, this game works well with both small family gatherings and larger groups. As each player writes down their word, the anticipation builds to see who will match with whom. It's an easy-to-learn game that will bring lots of laughter and surprises to your Thanksgiving celebration.
Horse Race Board Game
This stunning Horse Race Board Game brings the excitement of the racetrack to your tabletop. Perfect for groups of up to 11 players, the game features a high-quality solid wood board, 11 metal horses (4 gold, 4 rose gold, 3 silver), 4 dice, and two sets of poker chips. With simple rules, players take turns rolling dice to move their horses toward the finish line, making it easy for all ages to enjoy. The luxurious craftsmanship and durable design ensure long-lasting fun, while the waterproof coating prevents wear and tear. Whether for family game night or a unique gift, this racing game is sure to thrill!
Left Center Right Dice Game
Get ready for endless fun with the LCR® Left Center Right™ Dice Game, packaged in a sleek blue tin. With the ability to accommodate anywhere from 3 to 100 players, this fast-paced and easy-to-learn game is perfect for family gatherings, parties, or game nights with friends. Made in the USA, it's lightweight,, making it easy to take on the go. Whether you're a casual gamer or a seasoned pro, LCR provides simple but competitive gameplay that everyone can enjoy!
UNO Card Game
The UNO Card Game is a timeless, family-friendly favorite. Easy to learn and quick to play, it's a race to be the first to empty your hand by matching cards based on color or number. Use special action cards like Skips, Reverses, Draw Twos, and Wild cards to outsmart your opponents! Designed for 2-10 players and perfect for kids, teens, and adults alike, this game ensures hours of entertainment for ages 7 and up. The exclusive collectible tin includes 112 cards and instructions, making it ideal for storage or travel. Plus, it's colorblind accessible with added graphic symbols for easier gameplay!
Dice Games
A 100 Piece White Dice Set is perfect for all your family game nights! Each dice measures 16MM and features colorful dots on an opaque white surface, ensuring readability and durability for long-lasting use. Ideal for large group events, this bulk set provides ample dice to keep everyone engaged. The set includes a convenient pouch for easy storage and transport. Use this set for a variety of games like Liar's Dice or Farkle/10000. Keep reading to learn the rules!
Liar's Dice
Liar's Dice is a fun, bluffing game that involves dice and strategy. Here's how it works:
- Players: 2 or more
- Setup: Each player gets five dice and a cup to roll and hide their dice from others.
- Objective: The goal is to be the last player with dice left.
Basic Rules:
- Roll & Hide: All players roll their dice and keep them hidden under their cups.
- Bidding: The first player makes a bid, guessing how many of a specific number (e.g., "three 5s") are rolled among all the players' dice.
- Next Player: The next player can either raise the bid (guessing a higher number or face value) or challenge the previous bid.
- Challenge: If a bid is challenged, all players reveal their dice. If the bid was correct (i.e., the total number of dice matching the bid is equal to or greater than the guess), the challenger loses a die. If the bid was wrong, the bidder loses a die.
- Continue: The game continues with new rounds until only one player has dice remaining.
Bluffing:
Players can bluff by overestimating the number of certain dice, trying to trick others into either raising the bid too high or challenging prematurely.
Liar's Dice is great for groups, as it combines luck, bluffing, and deduction!
Farkle Dice Game, 2+ Players
Farkle, or 10000, is a fast-paced dice game involving strategy, luck, and risk-taking. The goal is to score points by rolling combinations of dice, but you have to decide whether to keep rolling and risk losing your points or bank them and end your turn. Here's how it works:
- Dice Needed: 6 standard dice
- Objective: Be the first player to score 10,000 points.
Basic Rules:
- Rolling the Dice: Each player rolls all six dice on their turn. After each roll, you must set aside any dice that score points. If you cannot set aside any scoring dice, you "Farkle" and lose all the points for that turn.
- Scoring Combinations:
- 1s and 5s are the only individual dice that score points:
- A single 1 = 100 points.
- A single 5 = 50 points.
- Three of a kind (any number):
- Three 1s = 1,000 points.
- Three of any other number (2 through 6) = that number multiplied by 100 (e.g., three 4s = 400 points).
- Straight (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) = 1,500 points.
- Three pairs = 1,500 points.
- Four of a kind, five of a kind, or six of a kind: Multiply the base score by the number of dice (e.g., four 4s = 800 points, five 4s = 1,600 points).
- Bank or Keep Rolling: After each roll, you must decide whether to bank your points (end your turn) or keep rolling with the remaining dice. If you keep rolling and don't roll any scoring dice, you lose all points earned that turn and get a "Farkle."
- Winning the Game: The game continues until a player reaches 10,000 points or more. After one player reaches 10,000, the other players get one more turn to try and beat that score.
- Optional Rule: Some versions require a player to score at least 500 points in a turn before they can start banking points in future rounds.
Farkle balances luck and risk-taking, as players must decide when to stop rolling and secure their points or take a chance to get even more!
Card Games
Get ready for endless fun this Thanksgiving with the Bicycle Standard Playing Cards, 12 Pack. These high-quality, poker-sized cards are perfect for family gatherings, from poker to rummy, euchre, or blackjack. Whether you're hosting a big game night or want to keep multiple games going at the same time, this 12-pack has you covered. These cards are a must-have for holiday entertainment. Keep reading for some card game ideas that are perfect for Thanksgiving!
Spoons, 4-13 Players
Players pass cards around, trying to get four of a kind. When someone gets it, they grab a spoon, and everyone else rushes to grab one too—whoever is left without a spoon is out.
Why it's fun: High-energy and chaotic; simple but thrilling as spoons disappear quickly!
BS (a.k.a. Cheat), 3-8 Players
Players take turns playing cards face-down and claim a rank (e.g., "two threes"). Others can call "BS" if they think someone is lying about their cards. If caught, the liar has to take the whole pile.
Why it's fun: Bluffing and calling out lies make this game funny and nerve-wracking.
500 Rummy, 2-8 Players
Players aim to form melds (sets or runs) to reach a specific point goal (usually 500). Players can also pick up discarded cards to create or add to their sets.
Why it's fun: A great combination of skill and luck, with strategic choices that keep the game interesting.
Golf (Card Game), 2-6 Players
Players aim to have the lowest total score by swapping cards from their hands with face-down cards in front of them without knowing their value.
Why it's fun: Simple to learn, with just enough strategy to keep it engaging.
Crazy Eights, 2-8 Players
Players try to get rid of their cards by playing them on a central pile, matching the top card's rank or suit, with eights being wild.
Why it's fun: Easy to learn with just the right amount of strategy and unpredictability.
Let the games begin!
No matter what your Thanksgiving plans entail, these games will bring joy, laughter, and a little bit of friendly competition to the mix. Whether you're playing flag football outdoors or cozying up indoors with a board game, these activities will help make your Thanksgiving unforgettable. So gather your family and friends, and let the games begin!
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