Thanksgiving is all about spending time together, but let’s be honest, everyone starts looking for something to do after the big meal.
Whether you’re hosting a family gathering, celebrating with friends, or keeping a group of energetic kids entertained, a few fun games can quickly become the highlight of the day.
In this collection, you’ll find everything from hilarious Minute to Win It challenges and team competitions to Thanksgiving trivia, printable games, and activities everyone can enjoy.
Most of these games are easy to set up using everyday household items, making them perfect for last-minute party planning.
So gather your family, turn up the laughter, and get ready to make this Thanksgiving one to remember.
See Also:
The Best Thanksgiving Letter Board Quotes for Your Holiday Decor
45+ Adorable Baby Pumpkin Picture Ideas for Fall
42 Pumpkin Carving Ideas Anyone Can Try
123 Thanksgiving Quotes, Sayings & Messages to Share This Year
30 Heartfelt Thanksgiving in Heaven Quotes for Loved Ones
Printable & Tabletop Games
1. Thanksgiving Bingo
What You Need:
- Printable Thanksgiving Bingo cards (one for each player)
- Bingo markers, small candies, coins, or buttons to cover the spaces
- A set of calling cards or a list of Thanksgiving-themed words and pictures
- A bowl or bag to draw the calling cards from
- Small prizes for the winners (optional)
How to Play:
- Give each player a Bingo card and enough markers to cover their spaces.
- Mix the calling cards in a bowl and have one person act as the caller.
- The caller draws one card at a time and announces or shows the picture to everyone.
- Players cover the matching space on their Bingo card if they have it.
- The first player to complete the winning pattern, such as a row, column, diagonal, or full card, calls out “Bingo!”
- Double check the winning card against the called items, then award a prize and start another round if you’d like.
2. Who Is Most Like the Turkey?
What You Need:
- A printed “Who Is Most Like the Turkey?“ game sheet for each player
- Pens or pencils
- A group of family members or friends
- A small prize for the highest scorer (optional)
How to Play:
- Give each player a copy of the game sheet and a pen or pencil.
- Players read through each prompt and award themselves the listed number of points whenever a statement applies to them.
- Once everyone has finished, add up the total points at the bottom of the page.
- Compare scores with the rest of the group.
- The player with the highest score earns the title of “Most Like the Turkey!” and can win a small Thanksgiving-themed prize if you’d like.
3. Roll-a-Turkey
What You Need:
- A Roll-a-Turkey game card for each player
- Two dice
- A bowl of plain chocolate candies in five different colors
- A flat surface for everyone to play on
How to Play:
- Give each player a game card and place a bowl of colored chocolate candies in the center of the table.
- Players take turns rolling both dice and adding the numbers together.
- Match the total to the color guide printed at the bottom of the game card, then place one candy of that color onto the matching circle on the turkey.
- If a player rolls doubles, follow the special instruction on the card and place a candy as directed.
- Keep rolling and filling the turkey until all the spaces are covered.
- The first player to complete their turkey wins the game.
4. Printable Turkey Hunt
What You Need:
- A set of numbered printable turkey cards
- One Turkey Hunt checklist for each player or team
- Tape or reusable adhesive to hide the turkey cards
- Pens or pencils to check off found turkeys
- Small prizes for the winners (optional)
How to Play:
- Hide the numbered turkey cards around your home, classroom, or party space before everyone arrives.
- Give each player or team a Turkey Hunt checklist and explain that they need to find all twelve hidden turkeys.
- As players discover each turkey, they check off the matching number on their sheet.
- Keep searching until every turkey has been found or set a time limit to make the game more exciting.
- The first player or team to find all twelve turkeys, or the one who finds the most before time runs out, wins.
5. Thanksgiving Finish the Lyrics
What You Need:
- A printed Thanksgiving Finish the Lyrics game sheet for each player or team
- Pens or pencils
- A timer (optional)
- A scorekeeper or answer key to check responses
- A small prize for the winner (optional)
How to Play:
- Hand out a game sheet and a pen or pencil to each player or team.
- Players read each lyric and fill in the missing word or words from the song.
- Award one point for every correct lyric. If the game includes bonus points for naming the song title, add those to the total score.
- Set a time limit if you want to make the game more challenging, or let everyone work at their own pace.
- Once everyone has finished, use the answer key to score the sheets.
- The player or team with the highest total score wins.
6. The Price Is Right: Thanksgiving Dinner
What You Need:
- A printed “The Price Is Right: Thanksgiving Dinner” game sheet for each player
- Pens or pencils
- A calculator for checking totals (optional)
- The answer key with the correct prices
- A small prize for the winner (optional)
How to Play:
- Give each player a game sheet and a pen or pencil.
- Players write down what they think each Thanksgiving grocery item costs, then add up their estimated total at the bottom of the page.
- Once everyone has finished, reveal the actual prices and calculate the correct total.
- Compare each player’s estimated total to the real total.
- The player whose total is closest to the correct amount without going over, or simply the closest overall if that’s your chosen rule, wins the game.
7. Thanksgiving Think Fast
What You Need:
- A printed Thanksgiving Think Fast game sheet for each player or team
- Pens or pencils
- A timer or stopwatch
- A host to keep time and judge answers
- Small prizes for the winners (optional)
How to Play:
- Give each player or team a game sheet and a pen or pencil.
- Set a time limit, such as 60 to 90 seconds, to complete as many categories as possible.
- Players race to write three answers for each Thanksgiving-themed category before time runs out.
- When the timer ends, read through the answers together. Only unique and appropriate answers count if you’re playing with that rule.
- Award one point for each completed category, or simply declare the player or team that finishes the most categories with valid answers the winner.
8. Choose Your Chaos: Thanksgiving Dinner Gone Wrong
What You Need:
- A printed “Choose Your Chaos” question sheet for each player
- A printed results page or personality guide
- Pens or pencils
- A group of family members or friends
How to Play:
- Give each player a question sheet and a pen or pencil.
- Players read through each Thanksgiving scenario and choose the answer that best matches how they would react.
- Count how many A, B, and C answers each player selected.
- Use the results page to match the highest letter total with the corresponding Thanksgiving personality.
- Take turns sharing your results and compare who ends up as the Holiday Hero, Grateful Guest, Feast Instigator, or another fun personality.
9. Thanksgiving Emoji Pictionary
What You Need:
- A printed Thanksgiving Emoji Pictionary game sheet for each player or team
- Pens or pencils
- An answer key for the host
- A timer (optional)
- Small prizes for the winner (optional)
How to Play:
- Hand out a game sheet and a pen or pencil to each player or team.
- Players look at each row of emojis and try to figure out the Thanksgiving-themed word or phrase they represent.
- Set a time limit if you’d like to add a little friendly competition, or let everyone solve the clues at their own pace.
- Once time is up, read through the correct answers and have players score their own sheets.
- The player or team with the most correct answers wins the game.
10. Thanksgiving Secret Mission Cards
What You Need:
- A set of printed Thanksgiving Secret Mission Cards
- One mission card for each player
- A bowl, envelope, or bag for drawing the cards
- A score sheet to track completed missions (optional)
- Small prizes for the best undercover players (optional)
How to Play:
- Shuffle the mission cards and have each player secretly draw one without showing anyone else.
- Players must complete the funny mission on their card naturally during the Thanksgiving gathering without revealing what they’re doing.
- Throughout the celebration, pause for occasional “Spy Checks” where players can guess someone else’s secret mission.
- If a mission is completed without being correctly guessed, that player earns a point. If another player correctly identifies the mission before it’s finished, the undercover player loses that round.
- Keep playing until everyone has had a chance to complete their mission or all the cards have been used.
- The player who successfully completes the most secret missions or earns the highest score wins.
Party and Social Games
1. Poke a Feather Thanksgiving Game
What You Need:
- A large poster board or foam board
- Plastic cups attached to the board to create the turkey feathers
- Colored tissue paper or wrapping paper to cover each cup
- Rubber bands or tape to secure the tissue paper
- Numbered stickers or labels for each cup
- Small prizes, candy, or challenge slips hidden inside the cups
How to Play:
- Fill each cup with a small prize, candy, or a fun challenge, then cover the opening with tissue paper.
- Arrange the cups in the shape of a turkey’s colorful feathers and number each one.
- Players take turns choosing a numbered feather and poking through the tissue paper to reveal what’s inside.
- They keep the prize they uncover or complete the challenge hidden in the cup before moving on to the next player.
- Continue until every feather has been poked or each player has had an equal number of turns.
- The game ends when all the hidden surprises have been discovered, making it a fun activity for guests of all ages.
2. Turkey Head Ring Toss
What You Need:
- Turkey-themed hats with upright feathers or targets attached
- Plastic rings or glow rings for tossing
- An open space for players to stand and throw
- A score sheet to keep track of points (optional)
- Small prizes for the winning player or team (optional)
How to Play:
- Choose one or more players to wear the turkey hats while the other participants become the ring tossers.
- Mark a throwing line a few feet away, adjusting the distance based on the age of the players.
- Players take turns tossing rings and trying to land them around one of the turkey feathers.
- Award points for every successful ring toss, or simply count the total number of rings that land on the hat.
- Rotate hat wearers after each round so everyone gets a chance to participate.
- The player or team with the most successful ring tosses at the end of the game wins.
3. Plinko PlinksGiving Game
What You Need:
- A Thanksgiving-themed Plinko board
- Plinko chips, ping pong balls, or discs
- Plastic cups or bowls to mark the landing spots
- Hidden prizes for each spot, such as cash, candy, gift cards, turkey-themed treats, pie, or other fun surprises
- One grand prize
- One funny “Bad” or “Zonk” prize (optional)
How to Play:
- Set up the Plinko board so each landing spot corresponds to a hidden prize covered by a bowl or balloon.
- Players take turns dropping a chip from the top of the board.
- Wherever the chip lands determines which hidden prize they get to reveal.
- Lift the matching cover to uncover the surprise waiting underneath.
- Every player receives the prize they reveal, whether it’s a small treat, a holiday-themed reward, the grand prize, or the silly “Bad” prize.
- Continue until everyone has had a turn and all the hidden surprises have been claimed.
4. Thanksgiving Bottle Flip Challenge
What You Need:
- A plastic bottle partially filled with water
- Plastic cups or bowls to cover the hidden prizes
- Small prizes hidden under each cup, such as candy, cash, gift cards, or Thanksgiving-themed treats
- One special grand prize (optional)
- A table or flat playing surface
How to Play:
- Arrange the covered prizes on the table, making sure each cup hides a surprise underneath.
- Players take turns flipping the water bottle and trying to land it upright in the center of the table.
- If the bottle lands successfully, the player gets to choose one cup to lift and reveal the hidden prize underneath.
- Whatever prize is under the chosen cup belongs to that player, whether it’s a small treat or the grand prize.
- If the bottle doesn’t land upright, the turn passes to the next player.
- Keep playing until everyone has had a turn or all of the hidden prizes have been claimed.
5. Thanksgiving Money Pumpkin Game
What You Need:
- Plastic pumpkins
- Buckets, baskets, or containers labeled with different cash amounts or prizes
- Play money, real cash, gift cards, candy, or other Thanksgiving-themed prizes
- A long table or smooth rolling surface
- One pumpkin for each player’s turn
How to Play:
- Place the prize buckets at the end of the table, assigning a different cash amount or prize to each one.
- Players take turns rolling a plastic pumpkin down the table, aiming for one of the prize buckets.
- If the pumpkin lands in a bucket, the player wins the prize or cash amount assigned to that bucket.
- If the pumpkin misses, you can either let the player try again or end their turn, depending on your preferred rules.
- Continue until everyone has had the same number of turns.
- Everyone keeps the prizes they win, making it a fun game of luck that’s perfect for guests of all ages.
6. Flip a Cup Tic Tac Toe
What You Need:
- Plastic cups in two different colors
- A Tic Tac Toe board made with tape on a table or poster board
- A flat playing surface
- At least 2 players
How to Play:
- Give each player a set of colored cups that will act as their game pieces.
- Players take turns trying to flip one cup from the edge of the table so it lands upright.
- If the flip is successful, the player places that cup in any open square on the Tic Tac Toe board.
- If the cup doesn’t land upright, the turn passes to the other player.
- Continue taking turns until one player gets three cups in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- If all nine spaces are filled without a winner, the game ends in a tie or you can clear the board and play another round.
7. Thanksgiving Dinner Spinner
What You Need:
- A spinner with Thanksgiving food categories or letters
- Small plates of Thanksgiving foods or treats arranged around the spinner
- A table large enough to display all of the food
- Players willing to sample whatever the spinner lands on
How to Play:
- Arrange the Thanksgiving foods in a circle around the spinner, assigning each dish to a matching color, number, or letter on the spinner.
- Players take turns spinning and wait to see which Thanksgiving dish the spinner lands on.
- Once the spinner stops, the player must eat or sample the matching food before the next person takes a turn.
- Continue taking turns until everyone has sampled several dishes or all of the foods have been selected.
- You can also add fun challenges, bonus points, or special prizes to certain spinner spaces for an extra surprise.
8. Thanksgiving Jeopardy
What You Need:
- Thanksgiving Jeopardy game board (printed or digital)
- Question and answer cards
- Buzzers, bells, or another way to buzz in (optional)
- Score sheet and pen
- Host or game moderator
How to Play:
- Divide players into individuals or teams.
- The first team chooses a category and point value (for example, Pilgrims for $200).
- The host reads the matching clue aloud.
- The first player or team to buzz in has a few seconds to answer. Correct answers earn the point value, while incorrect answers lose that amount and allow the remaining teams to answer.
- The team that answers correctly gains control of the board and chooses the next category and point value.
- Continue until all clues have been played, or add Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy rounds for a longer game.
- The player or team with the highest total score at the end wins.
9. Turkey Baster Leaf Race
What You Need:
- One artificial or real fall leaf per player
- One turkey baster per player
- A long table or smooth flat surface
- Tape to mark the start and finish lines
How to Play:
- Place one leaf at the starting line in front of each player.
- Give each player a turkey baster and have them stand behind the starting line.
- On “Go!”, players repeatedly squeeze the turkey baster to blow air and push their leaf toward the finish line.
- Players may only move the leaf using the turkey baster and cannot touch it with their hands.
- If a leaf blows off course, players continue from where it stopped.
- The first player to blow their leaf across the finish line wins the challenge.
10. Thanksgiving Prize Wheel
What You Need:
- A DIY Thanksgiving spinner or turkey wheel with numbered sections
- A spinning arrow
- Numbered plastic cups
- Small prizes, candy, or treats to hide under each cup
- A table for setup
How to Play:
- Place a different prize underneath each numbered cup and arrange the cups on the table.
- Have each player take turns spinning the arrow on the Thanksgiving wheel.
- Once the wheel stops, match the number it lands on to the cup with the same number.
- Lift the matching cup to reveal the hidden prize underneath.
- Continue until everyone has had a turn or all of the prizes have been claimed.
Minute to Win It Games
1. Stuff the Turkey Pants
What You Need:
- One oversized pair of stretchy pants for each team or player
- Lightweight balls, balloons, or soft stuffed items to use as “turkey stuffing”
- A basket or pile of stuffing items
- A timer (optional)
- A clear playing area
How to Play:
- Have one player on each team step into the oversized pants while their teammates stand nearby with the stuffing items.
- When the game begins, teammates race to place as many balls or soft items into the oversized pants as they can before time runs out.
- Players wearing the pants can help by holding them open, but the stuffing must stay inside.
- When the timer ends, count how many stuffing items each player successfully collected.
- If you’re playing multiple rounds, rotate roles so everyone gets a chance to wear the turkey pants.
- The team or player with the most stuffing inside their turkey pants wins.
2. Pumpkin Candy Whipped Cream Challenge
What You Need:
- Aluminum pie tins or shallow plates
- Whipped cream
- About 5 small pumpkin-shaped candies per plate
- A timer set for 60 seconds
- Napkins or paper towels for cleanup
How to Play:
- Hide about five pumpkin-shaped candies in each plate, then completely cover them with whipped cream.
- Players place their hands behind their backs and can only use their mouths during the challenge.
- When the timer starts, players search through the whipped cream to find as many hidden pumpkin candies as possible.
- Each candy must be picked up using only the player’s mouth and placed on the table before they continue searching for the next one.
- After one minute, count how many pumpkin candies each player collected.
- The player who finds and collects the most pumpkin candies before time runs out wins.
3. Turkey Candle Blow Out Challenge
What You Need:
- Tea light candles (battery-operated candles won’t work)
- A lighter or matches to light the candles
- A long table or countertop
- A timer set for 60 seconds
- Adult supervision when using real candles
How to Play:
- Line up the lit tea light candles in a single row across the table.
- Players stand at one end of the table and have 60 seconds to blow out as many candles as they can.
- Before each blow, the player must loudly yell “Turkey!” while blowing, making it much harder to extinguish the flame.
- Players continue shouting “Turkey!” and blowing until all the candles are out or the timer expires.
- Count how many candles each player successfully blows out.
- The player who extinguishes the most candles within one minute wins the challenge.
4. Turkey Waddle Paper Race
What You Need:
- One short strip of butcher paper or kraft paper for each player
- A DIY turkey costume or turkey-shaped bib for each player
- Chairs for the starting line
- A timer (optional if racing head-to-head)
- An open playing area
How to Play:
- Seat each player on a chair with a strip of paper placed under their feet and extending out in front of them.
- Have players wear the turkey costume or bib before the race begins.
- On “Go!”, players use only their feet to grab the paper and roll it from the front to the back while staying seated.
- Throughout the race, players must continuously make turkey gobbling sounds as they move the paper.
- The first player to roll the entire strip of paper behind them wins the challenge.
- If you’re playing one player at a time, use a 60-second timer and record the fastest completion time to determine the winner.
5. Thanksgiving Match Game
What You Need:
- Two identical sets of Thanksgiving-themed items, such as mini pumpkins, gourds, mugs, and pinecones
- Two game boards or trays
- A table or flat playing surface
- A judge to monitor the game
- A timer set for 60 seconds (optional)
How to Play:
- Arrange the matching Thanksgiving items on both game boards in different positions before the game begins.
- On “Go!”, players race to rearrange the items until both boards match exactly.
- A judge watches the game and confirms when a player’s arrangement is completely correct.
- If any items are still out of place, the player continues rearranging until everything matches.
- The first player to have their entire board correctly matched and approved by the judge wins the challenge.
6. Blindfold Spoon Scoop Challenge
What You Need:
- Mini marshmallows or cotton balls
- One bowl per player
- One spoon per player
- Blindfolds
- A table or countertop
- A timer set for 60 seconds
How to Play:
- Scatter the mini marshmallows or cotton balls across the table and place an empty bowl in front of each player.
- Blindfold each player and give them a spoon.
- On “Go!”, players use only the spoon to scoop the items from the table and transfer them into their bowl.
- Players may not remove their blindfolds or use their hands to pick up the items.
- When the timer ends, count the number of items in each bowl.
- The player who collects the most items wins the challenge.
Physical & Active Thanksgiving Games
1. Balloon Cup Challenge
What You Need:
- Plastic cups
- Small balloons, one for each player
- A table or flat playing surface
- At least 2 players
- A finish line or designated spot for the cups
How to Play:
- Place a row of plastic cups in front of each player and give everyone an uninflated balloon.
- Players place the balloon in their mouth and blow it up just enough so the balloon sticks to the rim of a cup.
- Using only the suction from the inflated balloon, players lift one cup at a time and move it to the finish area.
- If a cup falls, the player simply picks it up and continues from where they left off.
- Continue until all of the cups have been moved.
- The first player to successfully transport every cup to the finish line wins.
2. Thanksgiving Musical Potatoes
What You Need:
- One potato for each player, minus one
- A table large enough to hold the potatoes
- A speaker to play music
- A host to control the music
How to Play:
- Place the potatoes in a line down the center of the table, using one fewer potato than the number of players.
- Players stand around the table with their hands behind their backs while the music plays, walking in a circle around the table.
- When the music suddenly stops, everyone races to grab one potato as quickly as possible.
- The player who doesn’t get a potato is eliminated from the game.
- Remove one potato before the next round begins, then start the music again.
- Continue playing until only one potato and two players remain. The player who grabs the final potato wins the game.
3. Potato Roll Race
What You Need:
- One potato per player
- One wooden spoon or craft stick per player
- Cones or tape to mark the start and finish lines
- An open playing area
How to Play:
- Give each player a potato and a wooden spoon or craft stick.
- Line everyone up at the starting line with their potatoes on the ground.
- On “Go!”, players use only the spoon or stick to roll their potato toward the finish line.
- If a potato rolls off course, players can continue rolling it from where it stopped without picking it up.
- The first player to roll their potato across the finish line wins the challenge.
4. Hungry Hippos Challenge
What You Need:
- Mini marshmallows or other small lightweight items
- One plastic cup per player
- Blindfolds
- A large open floor space
- One teammate for each player
How to Play:
- Scatter the mini marshmallows in the center of the playing area.
- One player from each team wears a blindfold and lies on the floor holding a plastic cup.
- Their teammate grabs their ankles and pushes or pulls them toward the pile of marshmallows.
- The blindfolded player uses only the cup to scoop up as many marshmallows as possible while their teammate guides them around.
- Once the timer ends, count the marshmallows collected in each team’s cup.
- The team with the most marshmallows wins the challenge.
Wrapping Up Thanksgiving Game Ideas
Thanksgiving memories aren’t just made around the dinner table.
They’re also made during the moments when everyone is laughing, cheering each other on, and enjoying a little friendly competition.
Hopefully, these Thanksgiving game ideas inspire you to start a few new traditions that your family and friends will look forward to year after year.
Have fun, enjoy the holiday, and don’t forget to snap plenty of photos because those laughter-filled moments are often the ones everyone remembers most.