Christmas Games to Play on Zoom: 12 Ideas

Christmas games to play on Zoom are virtual party activities that let friends and family celebrate together when they can’t meet in person. You can play them with the free version of Zoom using screen sharing, breakout rooms, and the chat feature. This article covers 12 specific games, how to set them up, and answers to common questions about hosting a virtual holiday party.

Why Virtual Christmas Games Work

Zoom was designed for meetings, but its features translate surprisingly well to party games. The key is that most classic Christmas games rely on talking, showing objects, or quick reactions—all things Zoom supports. A 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 81% of US adults used video calling services during the pandemic, and many continued the habit afterward. Virtual games keep traditions alive when travel is expensive, family is spread across time zones, or someone is sick.

Zoom’s free tier allows 100 participants and unlimited 40-minute meetings for groups of 3 or more. For longer parties, you can either restart the meeting or upgrade to a paid plan. Breakout rooms (which let you split participants into smaller groups) are available on all plans, including free, and are essential for games like virtual scavenger hunts or Pictionary.

12 Christmas Games You Can Play Right Now

Here are specific games that work well on Zoom, with minimal prep. Each one uses a different Zoom feature, so you can mix and match.

• Virtual White Elephant Gift Exchange – Use a random number generator to pick the order. Each person shows their wrapped gift on camera, then the next person chooses a new gift or steals one already opened. The steal rule creates chaos and laughter, just like the real thing.
• Christmas Song Emoji Pictionary – One person types a song title in emojis into the chat (e.g., 🛷🔔 for “Jingle Bells”). Everyone else types their guess in the chat. First correct answer gets a point. You can use a free online emoji list to prepare 20 songs ahead of time.
• Holiday Trivia – Create 15–20 questions about Christmas movies, traditions, and songs. Use Zoom’s polling feature (if you have a paid plan) or just have people type answers in the chat. Award points for speed and accuracy.
• Virtual Scavenger Hunt – Call out an item (e.g., “something red,” “a Christmas ornament,” “a candy cane”). Everyone runs to find it and holds it up to the camera. First one back wins. This is a great icebreaker because it gets people moving.
• Name That Christmas Movie – Play a 10-second clip from a classic movie (like Home Alone or Elf) using screen share. Pause before the title appears. People type their guesses in the chat.
• Two Truths and a Lie (Holiday Edition) – Each person shares two true holiday facts and one lie. Others guess which is the lie. This is a great way to learn new things about family members.
• Pictionary – Use Zoom’s whiteboard feature (under “Share Screen”). One person draws a Christmas word while others guess. The drawer can use the mouse or a stylus. Keep the word list simple: “snowman,” “reindeer,” “gift.”
• Bingo – Send a 5×5 bingo card with Christmas items (e.g., “snowflake,” “Santa,” “candle”) before the party. During the call, the host reads out random items or shows them on screen. Players mark their cards and shout “Bingo!” when they get a line.
• Would You Rather (Christmas Edition) – Ask questions like “Would you rather have a real tree or a fake tree?” or “Would you rather eat fruitcake or mince pie?” People can use the raise hand feature or just unmute to answer. This sparks conversation.
• Virtual Charades – One person acts out a Christmas movie, song, or activity while others guess. The actor can use gestures but not speak. This works surprisingly well on camera because everyone can see the full upper body.
• Memory Game – Show a tray of 10 Christmas items (e.g., a star, a bell, a candle) for 30 seconds, then cover it. Players write down as many as they can remember. The host reveals the list, and the person with the most correct wins.
• Christmas Carol Karaoke – Use screen share to play instrumental tracks from YouTube. Everyone unmutes and sings along. It’s chaotic but fun. To avoid feedback, have everyone wear headphones.

How to Set Up a Zoom Christmas Party

Setting up a virtual party takes a little planning, but the steps are straightforward:

1. Send invitations with the meeting link and password. Include the date, time (with time zone), and a list of any items players need (like a bingo card or a wrapped gift).
2. Test your technology – Check your camera, microphone, and internet connection. Make sure you know how to share your screen and use breakout rooms.
3. Prepare your games – Write out trivia questions, create emoji lists, and have a backup game in case one flops.
4. Set ground rules – Tell guests to mute themselves when not talking to reduce background noise. For games that involve shouting, ask everyone to unmute at the same time.
5. Assign a co-host – If you have more than 10 people, a co-host can manage the chat and keep track of scores while you run the games.

Choosing the Right Games for Your Group

The best game depends on your group’s size, age range, and comfort with technology. For a large group (20+ people), games that use the chat or polls work best because not everyone can talk at once. For a small group (under 10), talking games like Two Truths and a Lie or Charades are more personal. For mixed ages, choose games with simple rules and no reading required, like Scavenger Hunt or Sing-Along. For tech-savvy teens, try Pictionary or Emoji Pictionary. For older adults, stick to Trivia or Bingo, which are familiar and low-pressure.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

Technical issues can ruin a game, but most have simple fixes:

• Audio feedback – Have everyone wear headphones or mute when not speaking. The host can mute all participants by clicking “Manage Participants” and then “Mute All.”
• Lag or freezing – Ask people to turn off their video if they don’t need it. For screen sharing, lower the video quality in Zoom settings.
• People talking over each other – Use the “Raise Hand” feature (under Reactions) to let people signal they want to speak. The host calls on them in order.
• Breakout rooms not working – Make sure you’re using the latest version of Zoom. On the free plan, you can create up to 50 breakout rooms, but you must enable them in settings before the meeting.
• Someone can’t see the screen share – Ask them to click “View Options” and select “Fit to Window.” Also, make sure you’re sharing the correct screen (not a specific window).

Costs and Tools You Might Need

Most of these games require no additional cost beyond what you already have. Zoom’s free tier is enough for a casual party. However, if you want to avoid the 40-minute limit, you’ll need a paid plan (starts at about $15 per month). Some games use external tools that are free:

• Random number generator – Use a free website like random.org or a simple Google search for “random number generator.”
• Emoji lists – Copy and paste emojis from a free site like Emojipedia.
• Bingo cards – Create free cards on a site like Bingo Baker, or just make your own in a word processor.
• Karaoke tracks – Use free instrumental versions on YouTube (make sure they’re not copyrighted for commercial use, but for private parties it’s fine).

Safety and Etiquette for Virtual Parties

Virtual parties are generally safe, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Privacy – Use a unique meeting ID and password. Don’t share the link publicly. Enable the waiting room so you can control who enters.
• Recording – If you plan to record the party, ask everyone’s permission first. Some people may not want to be recorded.
• Alcohol – If you’re serving drinks, remind guests to drink responsibly. Never pressure anyone to drink.
• Accessibility – For guests with hearing impairments, enable live captions (Zoom has free automated captions). For those with vision issues, describe visual elements aloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play these games on the free Zoom plan?

Yes. All the games listed work with the free plan. The only limitation is the 40-minute meeting limit for groups of 3 or more. After 40 minutes, the meeting ends, and you’d need to restart. For longer parties, you can either upgrade or plan to take a break and rejoin.

What if someone doesn’t have a camera?

They can still participate in games that use the chat, like Emoji Pictionary or Trivia. For games that require showing objects, they can describe what they have instead of showing it. For the scavenger hunt, they can type what they found.

How do I keep kids engaged?

Kids love the scavenger hunt and karaoke. Keep games short (10-15 minutes each) and alternate between active and seated games. Let the kids take turns being the “caller” for bingo or the “drawer” for Pictionary. Also, schedule breaks for snacks and bathroom.

What’s the best game for a large family (30+ people)?

For large groups, use games that don’t require everyone to speak at once. Christmas Trivia with a chat-based answer system works well. You can also use breakout rooms to split into smaller teams and have each team compete against the others. Bingo is also great because everyone can play simultaneously.

Do I need to prepare anything in advance?

Yes, a little prep goes a long way. At minimum, send out the meeting link and a list of any items guests need (like a wrapped gift for White Elephant). For trivia, prepare questions and answers. For bingo, send cards. For Pictionary, have a list of words ready. Most prep takes less than 30 minutes.

Can I play these games on other video platforms like Google Meet or Microsoft Teams?

Most of these games work on any video platform that has screen sharing, chat, and breakout rooms. Google Meet has breakout rooms and chat, but no whiteboard (you can use a third-party whiteboard like Google Jamboard). Microsoft Teams has all the features, but the free version has a 60-minute limit for group calls. The instructions here are specific to Zoom, but the games are adaptable.

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