Christmas games help teens laugh, connect, and reflect on Jesus’ birth. Fun seasonal games also can ease holiday stress and build bonds among youth group members. The challenge? Finding Christmas games that go beyond the overused Dirty Santa gift exchange or child-like Reindeer Ring Toss.
Below are 22 creative, outside-the-box Christmas games for youth groups. Some are just for fun, while others tie to the gift of Jesus’ birth.
Christmas Games for Youth Ministry
Here are activities you can adapt to your group size and energy level. Have fun with these festive Christmas games!
Faith-Based Christmas Games
1. Nativity Charades
Write scenes from the Christmas story (angels singing, shepherds running, wise men offering gifts). Teens act them out silently while teams guess.
2. Manger-Building Challenge
Provide craft sticks, tape, and straw (or shredded paper). Teams must build a stable or manger sturdy enough to hold a small baby Jesus.
3. Wise Men’s Gift Relay
Create a relay race where teams carry gold, frankincense, and myrrh (wrapped boxes) across the room without dropping them.
4. Silent Night Pictionary
Teams draw phrases or objects from Christmas hymns and nativity passages. For example, “no crib for a bed” and “heavenly hosts.”
Active Christmas Games for Youth Group
5. Christmas Light Limbo
Play Christmas carols and use a string of unlit Christmas lights as the limbo stick.
6. Snowball Dodge
Use soft white balls (rolled-up socks or plush “snowballs”). Split into teams and play dodgeball in the gym.
7. Santa’s Sleigh Race
Teens form pairs. One person sits on a blanket “sleigh” while the other pulls them across the floor. Timed relays determine the winners.
8. Present Stacking
See who can stack wrapped different-shaped boxes the highest without toppling them.
9. Snowflake Stomp
Tape paper snowflakes to the floor. Call out a number or color, and teens must race to stomp that snowflake before anyone else.
Quiet Christmas Games
10. Christmas Emoji Story
Show a Bible verse or carol line represented by emojis. (For example, 👶🌟🐑 for Luke 2:7–8.) Teens try to guess the reference or phrase.
11. Backward Carols
Play recordings of Christmas songs backward. Teams race to guess the title.
12. Christmas Would You Rather
Ask fun but thoughtful questions. “Would you rather be a shepherd or a wise man?” “Would you rather travel by donkey or camel?”
13. Ornament Guessing Game
Fill a clear ornament with candy or beads. Teens guess how many pieces are inside.
14. Who Said It? Christmas Edition
Read quotes from Scripture, carols, or even Christmas movies. Teams must guess the source.
