Thanksgiving Games for Family and Adults: 15 Games to Play After Dinner

The best Thanksgiving games work at the dinner table and for every age: Thanksgiving charades, the thankful alphabet, a Thanksgiving survey game, Would You Rather and Two Truths and a Lie. Most need no supplies. One phone can supply the prompts, the timer and the score while the pie goes around.

Below are 15 Thanksgiving games for family gatherings and adult tables, sorted by when you play them, plus a simple plan for the day.

Key takeaways

• At the dinner table, play talking games: the thankful alphabet, Would You Rather and Two Truths and a Lie need no supplies.

• After dinner, split into teams for Thanksgiving charades, the Thanksgiving survey game or Pictionary.

• For adults, add Hot Take Court with Thanksgiving food debates, Never Have I Ever and Imposter.

• CardYard runs every game here free in a phone browser, and you can type "Thanksgiving" as your own theme in most of them.

Thanksgiving games at a glance

Thanksgiving games to play at the dinner table

Table games keep everyone seated and talking between courses.

1. Thankful alphabet

Go around the table and name something you're thankful for, starting with A, then B, then C. Anyone who stalls for more than five seconds gives the next letter to the person beside them. It works for every age and needs nothing.

2. Would You Rather, Thanksgiving edition

Open Would You Rather and type "Thanksgiving" as the theme for questions like "would you rather only eat stuffing or only eat pie." Everyone answers before anyone explains. See our This or That questions for quick-fire pairs.

3. Two Truths and a Lie

Each player shares three Thanksgiving memories, one made up. Two Truths and a Lie lets 2 to 12 players write their statements on one phone behind a privacy screen, then vote and score.

4. Thanksgiving trivia

Open Trivia, type "Thanksgiving" as the theme, and read one question with four options at a time. Teams lock in an answer before you reveal it. Add a family round with questions only your relatives can answer.

5. Most Likely To

Read Most Likely To scenarios with a family twist, such as "most likely to fall asleep before dessert." Everyone points at once. Type "Thanksgiving" or "family" as the theme to keep it clean.

Thanksgiving games for family gatherings

After the meal, split the room into teams and get people moving.

6. Thanksgiving charades

Thanksgiving charades has 60 ideas built around the meal, like carrying a giant turkey, passing dishes or packing leftovers. Split into two teams, and act against the timer in the free Charades generator. Let younger kids act in pairs.

7. Thanksgiving survey game

Survey Feud gives the host a question with five top answers and point values. Type "Thanksgiving" as the theme for questions like "name something on the Thanksgiving table." Two teams take turns guessing the answers on the board.

8. Pictionary

Pictionary needs one phone and some paper. Type "Thanksgiving" as the theme for words like pumpkin pie or pilgrim hat, and let each team's drawer sketch against the timer.

9. Categories

Categories shows a random letter, a list and a timer on one screen. Teams write one answer per category, and answers nobody else wrote score. The classic packs are free and unlimited.

10. Hue Hunt

Hue Hunt is a calm color-guessing game for 2 to 10 players on one phone or tablet. One player gives a short clue like "cranberry," and everyone guesses the color. It suits the quiet stretch after the big meal.

Thanksgiving party games for adults

11. Hot Take Court

Hot Take Court puts a hot take on trial, and the table votes guilty or innocent. Type "Thanksgiving food" as the theme for debates like "canned cranberry sauce beats homemade."

12. Never Have I Ever

Read Never Have I Ever statements, and anyone who has done it puts a finger down. Type "Thanksgiving" as the theme for prompts like "never have I ever burned the turkey."

13. Imposter

In Imposter, everyone but one player sees the same secret word on a single phone. Use the free food pack for a Thanksgiving feel, give clues, and vote out the Imposter. It suits 3 to 12 teens and adults.

Thanksgiving games for everyone

14. Pass the pie

Open Stop the Timer in Random Bomb mode and pass an empty pie tin around the table with the phone. Whoever holds the tin when the hidden countdown ends shares something they're thankful for.

15. Gratitude jar

Everyone writes one thing they're grateful for on a slip of paper and drops it in a jar. Read them aloud during dessert and guess who wrote each one.

How to plan games on Thanksgiving

• Before dinner: Would You Rather or the thankful alphabet while the turkey rests.

• At the table: Two Truths and a Lie, Thanksgiving trivia or Most Likely To between courses.

• After dinner: Thanksgiving charades or the survey game in two teams.

• With dessert: Pass the pie and the gratitude jar.

Hosting friends instead of family? See our Friendsgiving and house party games.