Thanksgiving is all about gathering with loved ones, sharing delicious food, and creating memories that last a lifetime.
But let’s be honest – after everyone’s stuffed with turkey and the conversation starts to wind down, you might find yourself wondering, “What’s next?”
That’s where these fantastic Thanksgiving games come in!
Whether you’re hosting a small intimate dinner or a big extended family celebration, these original games will keep everyone entertained, laughing, and bonding together.
The best part?
They’re all super easy to set up and perfect for mixed age groups!
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Why Thanksgiving Games Are a Must-Have
Before we dive into the fun stuff, let’s talk about why adding games to your Thanksgiving celebration is such a brilliant idea.
Games break the ice, get people mingling, and create those spontaneous moments of laughter that make holidays truly special.
Plus, they’re perfect for working off some of that turkey-induced food coma!
These games are designed to celebrate the spirit of gratitude while bringing out everyone’s playful side.
Ready to make this Thanksgiving unforgettable? Let’s jump in!
7 Original Thanksgiving Games for Family Fun
Game #1: The Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
What You’ll Need:
- Pre-written clue cards
- Small prizes or treats
- Paper and pens
How to Play: This isn’t your typical scavenger hunt – it’s all about finding things that represent gratitude!
Create clues that lead players to discover items around your home that they’re thankful for.
For example, “Find something that brings your family together every evening” (the dining table) or “Locate something that keeps your memories safe” (a photo album).
Give each family member or team a set of clues.
As they find each item, they have to share why they’re grateful for it. The first team to complete their hunt and share all their gratitude moments wins!
Pro Tip: Mix easy and challenging clues to keep everyone engaged, and make sure the final clue leads to something delicious – maybe leftover pie?
Game #2: Turkey Feather Relay Race
What You’ll Need:
- Colorful craft feathers (about 10-15 per team)
- Spoons
- Small bowls or baskets
- Masking tape for starting/finish lines
How to Play: Divide everyone into teams of 3-4 people. Each team gets a pile of “turkey feathers” (craft feathers) at the starting line and an empty “turkey” (bowl) at the finish line about 15 feet away.
Players must transport feathers one at a time using only a spoon – no hands allowed!
The catch?
They have to walk backwards to the turkey while balancing the feather on the spoon. If the feather falls, they start over with that feather.
The first team to get all their feathers safely to their turkey wins! This game guarantees lots of giggles and maybe a few tumbles (all in good fun, of course).
Variation: For younger kids, let them use their hands but they have to hop on one foot!
Game #3: Thanksgiving Story Chain
What You’ll Need:
- A timer
- Comfortable seating arrangement
How to Play: Everyone sits in a circle, and one person starts telling a Thanksgiving-themed story.
They have exactly 60 seconds to begin the tale with something like, “It was the morning of Thanksgiving, and Martha the turkey realized she had a big problem…”
When the timer goes off, the next person immediately continues the story for another 60 seconds, building on whatever chaos or adventure the previous person created.
The story keeps going around the circle until everyone has contributed at least once.
The results are absolutely hilarious!
You’ll end up with wild tales of talking turkeys, mashed potato volcanoes, and cranberry sauce disasters that will have everyone in stitches.
Make It Special: Record the story on your phone – you’ll want to remember these crazy tales!
Game #4: The Great Pie Face-Off
What You’ll Need:
- Whipped cream or shaving cream
- Paper plates
- Plastic spoons
- Towels
- Aprons or old clothes
How to Play: This messy game is perfect for outdoor play or a garage setup! Divide into two teams facing each other about 6 feet apart.
Each player gets a paper plate with a dollop of whipped cream and a plastic spoon.
The goal is to fling whipped cream from your plate onto your opponents’ faces using only the spoon. After 2 minutes of “pie warfare,” the team with the cleanest faces wins!
Safety First: Make sure everyone’s okay with getting messy, and have plenty of towels ready. This game is definitely better suited for older kids and adults who don’t mind a little cleanup afterward.
Indoor Alternative: Use cotton balls instead of whipped cream for a cleaner version!
Game #5: Thankful Memory Palace
What You’ll Need:
- Index cards
- Markers or pens
- A large table or floor space
How to Play: Each player writes down 5 things they’re thankful for on separate index cards, but here’s the twist – they can’t write the actual thing! Instead, they draw simple pictures or write creative clues.
Mix all the cards together and spread them face-up on a table. Players take turns trying to match cards with the people who wrote them by guessing what each person is grateful for.
“I think this drawing of a coffee cup belongs to Dad because he’s always grateful for his morning coffee!” When someone guesses correctly, that person explains their choice and shares why they’re thankful for that particular thing.
It’s amazing how much you learn about your family members through this game!
Game #6: Pilgrim’s Corn Kernel Toss
What You’ll Need:
- Dried corn kernels (or small beans)
- Various sized containers (buckets, bowls, cups)
- Masking tape
- Point value labels
How to Play: Set up containers at different distances from a throwing line, with smaller containers worth more points. Each player gets 20 corn kernels to toss, aiming for the highest point total.
But here’s the Thanksgiving twist – before each throw, players must name something they’re thankful for that starts with a specific letter.
Call out “Things you’re grateful for that start with F” and watch people come up with “family,” “food,” “Friday off work,” and “fuzzy socks!”
Keep track of points, and the winner gets to pick the first slice of leftover turkey the next day!
Make It Challenging: For competitive families, add obstacles or require underhand tosses only.
Game #7: The Thanksgiving Recipe Auction
What You’ll Need:
- Play money (or tokens)
- Recipe cards with family favorites
- Auctioneer’s hammer (or wooden spoon)
How to Play: Write down all the favorite family recipes on individual cards – Grandma’s stuffing, Uncle Bob’s famous gravy, Aunt Sue’s pumpkin pie, etc. Give each player the same amount of play money.
Hold an auction where players bid on the recipes they want “exclusive rights” to make for next year’s Thanksgiving!
The auctioneer (rotate this role) describes each recipe dramatically: “Up for bid now, the legendary cranberry sauce that has graced our table for 15 years!”
Players bid against each other, and whoever wins a recipe gets to be the official maker of that dish next Thanksgiving. The money goes back into a family fund for next year’s celebration!
Bonus Fun: Include some silly “recipes” like “The secret to perfect dinner conversation” or “How to take the perfect nap after dinner.”
Making Your Thanksgiving Games Extra Special
Want to take these games to the next level? Here are some ideas to make them even more memorable:
Create a Tournament: Keep score throughout all the games and crown a “Thanksgiving Game Champion” with a fun trophy (maybe a decorated turkey-shaped award?).
Document the Fun: Assign someone to be the official photographer/videographer. These candid moments of laughter and silliness make the best family memories.
Prepare Prizes: Small, thoughtful prizes make games even more exciting. Think homemade cookies, funny certificates, or the privilege of choosing what leftovers to take home first.
Set the Mood: Create a playlist of upbeat background music to keep energy levels high between games.
Tips for Success
Know Your Crowd: Adjust games based on who’s coming. More elderly relatives? Focus on sitting games. Lots of energetic kids? Bring on the active challenges!
Have Backup Plans: Sometimes games don’t land as expected. Have a few extra simple activities ready to go.
Keep It Light: The goal is fun, not fierce competition. If someone’s getting too serious, redirect with humor and remind everyone it’s all about enjoying time together.
Include Everyone: Make sure every game has a way for different ages and abilities to participate meaningfully.
Wrapping Up Your Game-Filled Thanksgiving
These seven original Thanksgiving games are guaranteed to transform your holiday gathering from good to absolutely unforgettable.
The best part? They’re all designed to bring out gratitude, laughter, and those precious family bonding moments that make Thanksgiving truly special.
Remember, the goal isn’t perfection – it’s connection. Whether your family ends up in fits of giggles over the Turkey Feather Relay or gets surprisingly competitive during the Recipe Auction, you’re creating exactly what Thanksgiving is all about: moments of joy shared with the people you love most.
So this year, after the dishes are cleared and everyone’s settling in, surprise your family with these fantastic games. Trust me, next year they’ll be asking, “What games are we playing this Thanksgiving?” And that’s when you’ll know you’ve started a wonderful new tradition!
What game sounds like the most fun for your family?
Let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear about your Thanksgiving game adventures!
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