The Best Guide to Holiday Games in 2022 (For Families, Friends & Enemies)
by Alex J. Coyne © Gifts for Card Players 2022
It’s that time of year again: eggnog, Christmas music, and a lot of time that’s going to be spent with family, friends (or sometimes, people that you have to like). Games are a great way to fuel a get-together, or just to have fun during the holidays.
Here’s a peek at some of the best holiday games (for families, friends, and enemies).
Elf: Snowball Showdown Card Game
Made by Funko, this great little card game is inspired by traditional snap.
Featuring Buddy the Elf, battle several other players at once with a card-powered snowball fight. No actual card throwing necessary. References are from the movie Elf, but it’s still going to make perfect sense even if you haven’t seen the flick.
Laugh until you cry. Moose Master is an easy, fun card game with actions (and penalty cards) for your friends. Advertised as a party game for all ages, players choose what’s called Moose Rules – two things that players must (or must not) do, and penalty cards will trigger actions related to your rules.
Each player has their own role in the game, such as the Copy Cat Master (who has to copy their matching player with a time limit, or pick a penalty card), or the Echo Master (who has to say the word “echo” in three seconds, or get a penalty card).
The Santa Claus Game is a hot seller (more than 1, 000, 000 copies) that’s meant to be played with younger kids (3+), with an educational focus. The game is a turn-based adventure that’s easy to play, with a focus on gift-giving and enjoyment.
Gremlins: Holiday Havoc Card Game
Just like Elf Showdown, this one’s made by Funko. If you are making your way through great cult classics over the holidays, there’s Gremlins: at least for the older kids and nostalgic adults! Here’s a holiday game that everyone in the family can enjoy – and in this one, you can battle your friends as Gremlins (and don’t get them wet!).
Merry Dissmas is a great Christmas game for older kids and adults, from the creators of the popular What Do You Meme? game. It’s one of the only family games where insults fly around the tabletop – and that it’s part of the game.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Card Monopoly
Buy, sell, and trade your way to victory as you collect familiar locations from the film including Clark’s Lighting Display, Griswold Family Christmas Tree Site, and many more
Remember Jumanji? If you don’t know it yet, now is the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit – with the original movie, the remake, and the actual board game (minus the wild animals and curses, of course).
Clue: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Board Game
If you think you know the game Clue, then you’ve got to check out this holiday-themed version of the game – featuring the Grinch! This game turns the familiar Christmas story into a mystery, where you have to solve the question of how the Grinch stole Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot Guidebook
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favourite Christmas movie for many people: if anyone you know counts, then here’s a wonderful Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot Guidebook (including a deck with art inspired by the movie).
A Nightmare Before Christmas Playing Cards
If you’re after a deck of traditional 52-cards, here’s a Nightmare Before Christmas card deck – for poker, bridge, snap, or any other game you can remember the rules for in a pinch!
