Thanksgiving has a few awkward stretches built into it. Dinner needs another hour, the kids have already asked about pie twice, and half the family is drifting between the kitchen and living room looking for something to do.
That is exactly where a few good Thanksgiving family games bring everybody together in under a minute. This includes a driveway basketball hoop, cornhole, charades, or a game that needs nothing more than paper and a pen.
We've compiled 15 Thanksgiving family games, split into backyard and indoor ideas so you can plan around the weather.
Fun Games to Play at Thanksgiving
If the weather cooperates, start outside. A backyard or driveway gives energetic kids room to move before everyone sits down for dinner, and parents usually join once the competition starts.
Some fun Thanksgiving games include:
1. Driveway Knockout
Players: 3 or more
Ages: About 6+
You need: Basketball and a hoop
How to play: Two players line up with basketballs. The second person tries to make a basket before the first; if they do, the first player is out. Keep going until one player remains.
Knockout works especially well on Thanksgiving because people can rotate in without restarting the whole game. If younger children are playing, lower an adjustable driveway basketball hoop or move their shooting line closer.
2. Backyard Flag Football
Players: 6 to 12
Ages: About 7+
You need: Football and flags, ribbons, or tucked-in bandanas
How to play: Split into two teams and play a shortened game without tackling. Keep the field small and use short possessions so nobody spends half the afternoon waiting for the ball. Grandparents can serve as all-time quarterback for both teams.
Backyard football is one of the traditional Thanksgiving games for family gatherings. Just make the rules fit the people playing instead of turning the lawn into a serious football field.
3. Cornhole
Players: 2 to 8
Ages: About 5+
You need: Cornhole boards and bags
How to play: Pair each kid with an adult and take turns tossing bags toward the opposite board. Award one point for landing on the board, three for getting a bag through the hole, and the first team to 21 wins.
Cornhole works particularly well across generations because it doesn't require running or quick reactions. Move the boards closer together for children or relatives who want an easier throw.
4. Gaga Ball Tournament
Players: 5 or more
Ages: About 5+
You need: Gaga pit and soft ball
How to play: Players stay inside the pit and use an open hand to hit the ball toward another player's legs. Once hit below the knee, that player steps out until the next round.
Instead of one long game, run quick rounds and write each winner's name on a simple Thanksgiving tournament bracket. Kids burn some energy, while relatives waiting for the next round become the unofficial cheering section.
5. Trampoline Freeze Bounce
Players: 2 or more, taking individual turns
Ages: 6 to 10
You need: Trampoline and someone controlling the music
How to play: One child jumps while music plays. Stop the music without warning, and the jumper has to freeze as quickly as possible before the next child takes a turn.
Freeze Bounce works best in short turns, so every child gets a chance before anyone loses interest. Make the freezes sillier as the game goes on, like freezing as a turkey, a scarecrow, a sleepy uncle, or a cartoon villain. Kids waiting their turn can judge the best freeze, which keeps them engaged in the game.
6. Turkey Tag
Players: 4 or more
Ages: About 4+
You need: Nothing
How to play: Pick one person to be the "turkey." Everyone else tries to avoid being tagged. Once tagged, that player becomes the new turkey.
For younger kids, create a few safe zones around the yard where they can stop for five seconds. It turns ordinary tag into a Thanksgiving game without requiring props, printables, or a trip to the store.
7. Thanksgiving Themed Scavenger Hunt
Players: Any number
Ages: About 4+
You need: A short list of things to find
How to play: Give family members a list of Thanksgiving-themed items like a red leaf, a pinecone, a smooth rock, or any other gratitude element. It quickly turns into a race, and the first person or team to complete the list wins.
Little kids can hunt with an older cousin or adult instead of competing alone. Grandparents make great judges from a lawn chair. It is one of the easiest Thanksgiving activities to start while dinner is still in the oven.
Should You Play Outside on Thanksgiving Week?
Thanksgiving weather in Ohio and Kentucky can mean sunshine, cold rain, or the first dusting of snow. Active play in the cold months helps kids burn off energy that would otherwise bounce off the living room walls. The right combination of jackets, hats, and 20-minute rounds also keeps everyone from getting too cold.
If the driveway is slick, the yard is soaked, or everyone is spending more time complaining about the cold than playing, move the competition inside. That is also why having a few screen-free activities for kids ready makes Thanksgiving afternoon much easier.
Indoor Thanksgiving Games for a Crowded House
Indoor games for Thanksgiving need a different set of rules. They should work without much floor space, survive constant kitchen traffic, and let relatives join even if they would rather stay seated and keep talking.
8. Thanksgiving Charades
Players: 4 or more
Ages: About 5+
You need: Paper and a bowl
How to play: Write Thanksgiving-related words or phrases on slips of paper. Players silently act out whatever they draw while their team guesses in 60 seconds. Kids who can't read yet can pull picture prompts instead.
Try "burnt turkey," "falling asleep after dinner," "watching the parade," or "stealing the last dinner roll." Personal Thanksgiving-themed references usually get bigger laughs than generic holiday words.
9. Thanksgiving Would You Rather?
Players: Any number
Ages: About 5+
You need: Nothing
How to play: Take turns giving the group two fun Thanksgiving choices. Everyone chooses a side and explains their answer.
Would you rather eat only mashed potatoes for a week or never eat pie again? Would you rather cook dinner for 30 people or wash every dish afterward? There is no score unless your family absolutely insists on turning everything into a competition.
10. Thanksgiving Categories
Players: 3 or more
Ages: About 8+
You need: Paper and pens
How to play: Pick a letter, then give everyone one minute to write answers for categories such as Thanksgiving foods, things found in a kitchen, fall activities, or things people are thankful for.
Players earn a point for each valid answer nobody else wrote, which leads to some interesting debates. Adults tend to get surprisingly competitive with this one, which makes it one of the easier Thanksgiving activities for adults to play alongside older kids. It also sneaks in a bit of learning without feeling like homework.
11. Themed Pictionary
Players: 4 or more
Ages: About 7+
You need: Paper and pens
How to play: Everyone writes a Thanksgiving phrase, passes the paper, and the next person draws it. The following player writes what they think the drawing shows, and the pattern continues.
When the papers finally return to their original owners, read the entire chain aloud. Nobody needs art skills, and a simple "Grandma carving the turkey" can become something completely different within five minutes. The funniest chains are worth an Instagram photo.
12. Family Trivia
Players: 4 or more
Ages: About 8+
You need: A few questions prepared beforehand
How to play: Ask questions about pop culture and your family's history instead of ordinary trivia. Try "What was Grandma's first job?" or "Who traveled the farthest to get here today?"
Let younger players join teams with adults. You may discover that the kids remember far more family gossip than anyone expected.
13. Thanksgiving Bingo
Players: 3 or more
Ages: About 4+
You need: Homemade bingo cards and markers
How to play: Fill cards with Thanksgiving-themed items, such as someone asking when dinner is ready, a football game appearing on TV, somebody taking a family photo, or someone going back for seconds.
Instead of calling numbers, players quietly mark events as they happen. The game can run in the background for most of the afternoon without interrupting anything.
14. Stuff the Turkey Basket Toss
Players: 2 or more
Ages: About 4+
You need: Laundry basket and rolled-up socks
How to play: Simply put the basket several feet away and take turns tossing rolled socks into it. Move one step farther back after every successful round.
Call the basket the turkey and the socks the stuffing if the kids need a Thanksgiving theme. Set up a shorter throwing line for younger children and let older players try sky-high arcs from across the room.
15. Who in the Family?
Players: 5 or more
Ages: About 7+
You need: Nothing
How to play: One person asks a question such as "Who is most likely to eat dessert before dinner?" or "Who would make the best spy in disguise?" Everyone points to the family member who fits best.
It works especially well when a whole bunch of cousins, grandparents, and relatives who do not see one another often are all together.
If the weather keeps everyone indoors longer than expected, you can also play classic card and party games like Uno, Apples to Apples, The Game of LIFE, or Scrabble. Cooperative games such as The Detective, The Mind, Forbidden Sky, and Mysterium keep everyone working toward one goal. Our guide to indoor activities for kids has even more ideas to entertain little ones.
Friendsgiving Games for an Adult Crowd
Friendsgiving games need a little more edge than the kids' table, and several from this list double as Thanksgiving activities for adults.
Trivia works pretty well when the questions are about the friend group instead of family. Who Am I gets harder and funnier with movie and TV characters. For an adults-only round, try Thanksgiving Two Truths and a Lie, where each guest shares two real holiday memories and one invented one.
If you are planning a larger gathering, keep your Thanksgiving party ideas simple and skip the temptation to schedule every minute. A couple of games before dinner and one after dessert are usually enough to have fun with your friends.
Plan Your Play Setup This Season
The best Thanksgiving family games don't need much, just a few willing players and a little room to move. Pick a few backyard games, have an indoor backup ready, and let the afternoon unfold from there.
If this year's games have you thinking about next spring, Thanksgiving weekend is a good time to plan. Browse our current promotions on backyard equipment, or visit our showrooms in Powell and Milford to try a hoop or a trampoline in person. We'd love to help your family find its next favorite game.
