Smilebox Blog

Bringing the entire family together for the holidays can be a stressful undertaking. Making sure everyone is happy and well-fed is no small feat, so when it comes to choosing after-dinner activities that everyone will enjoy, you’d better know what you’re doing. After all, you don’t want a repeat of last year’s “Pin the Tail on the Turkey” disaster.

Below are the top 10 choices for games to play on Thanksgiving. Agree? Disagree? Share your comments below!

1. Cranium

An instant classic since its debut in Starbucks stores 11 years ago, Cranium is the game with something for everyone. Although this game puts people on the spot, it’s overall flexibility means that everyone gets a chance to show off their strengths before the game ends.

Gameplay tips

• Make sure the wordsmiths of the crowd are evenly divided between the teams
• If you feel like you’ve played Cranium to death, try Cranium Pop 5, a fun twist on the game that lets you divvy up points based off your competitors’ weaknesses

2. Apples to Apples

This is a great game for people of all ages because it is simple, there’s no learning curve, and players are rewarded for knowing how their family members think.

Gameplay tips

• If you’ve got a player slowing the game down, play the “Quick Picked Apples” version where the last person to play their card must keep the card and not be judged that round
• Don’t forget to fill in the blank cards with your own favorite topics!

3. Pictionary

The classic game that everyone loves. There’s something special about trying to convey a thought without writing down words. For all we know, pictographs are really the mark of ancient family cave games.

Gameplay tips

• The older version of pictionary has less “game plays” making it move along quicker
• Divide up your teams by gender to stir up some boys vs. girls trash talking

4. Spoons

The most physical game of cards one can play, spoons is a long-standing tradition for many families as a way to put those extra calories to use. If you are short on spoons, remember that knives and forks are not safe substitutes.

Gameplay tips

• Faking spoon grabs increases the tension and can get others out if they mistakenly touch a spoon
• To make the game even more physical, increase the distance of the players from the spoons (may result in wrestling matches)

5. Balderdash

With its roots based on a parlor game called fictionary, Balderdash has long been a favorite way to discover obscure words. Players are rewarded for their creative bluffing skills.

Gameplay tips

• For even more fun, purchase Beyond Balderdash to discover obscure movies, acronyms and people
• If someone forgot to bring the game, letting players pick words out of an unabridged dictionary works just as well

6. Texas Hold’em

Sometimes putting a little money on the line adds to the fun. Consider hosting a Texas Hold’em tournament and live out your greatest World Series of Poker fantasies.

Gameplay tips

• Don’t forget to raise the blinds every once in a while to keep the tournament progressing
• Consider picking up a cheap trophy at a nearby thrift shop to let the winner proudly hold onto and relinquish each year

7. Charades or Guesstures

Few things are funnier than seeing your family members act like buffoons trying to act out something without opening their mouths. These games provide a sure way to stir up laughter at Thanksgiving.

Gameplay tips

• Get as many people to participate as possible–getting the grandparents involved is always a blast
• Consider video taping some of the action

8.Scattergories

A lively, fast-paced game that rewards quick and unique thinking. See how many words you can come up with in a variety of categories that begin with a particular letter.

Gameplay tips

• Be creative and make up your own categories (examples: action movies, cartoon characters, or things you find in the garbage)
• You can play Scattegories without the game–just grab some paper and pens, then make your own grid and categories

9. Werewolf / Mafia

A public domain game that is a favorite at geek conventions. Test your investigative skills on your family and discover who is a surprisingly good liar.

Gameplay tips

• Print out your own cards and customize the game for your family, whether it be The Matrix characters or Twilight characters
• The more players that have previous experience, the more fun it will be for everyone involved

10. Uno

The beauty of Uno is that you can play with a large group of people and keep gameplay going at a relatively quick pace. It’s easy to learn, fun to play, and allows the younger ones participate as well.

Gameplay tips

• Depending how the first game went, increase or decrease the number of cards people start with
• Spice it up a bit by purchasing a non-traditional deck like Simpsons Uno or Harry Potter Uno