Games for Christmas
Over Christmas, the family often spends several days together, and at some point every story has been told. That’s when games help – ones many people can play at once, where the generations score in different ways: some with knowledge, others with speed.
- for 3–10 people
Because the holidays are long, it pays to alternate between big rounds in front of the TV and small games at the table. Gather runs on the family’s Apple TV, iPad or Mac, and relatives join with their phones – in the browser, without the app if they prefer.
Games that fit
Quiz Night
1–10 players5–10 minIn Quiz Night you pick the categories before you start. Mix “History” for the grandparents with “Nature & Animals” for the kids, and the same person won’t win every year.
Sketch Round
3–10 players10–20 minSketch Round brings the generations together because nobody was ever taught to draw and everybody can guess. Grandma finger-drawing on the screen tends to be the highlight of the afternoon.
Letter Hunt
2–10 players10–25 minLetter Hunt is a familiar classic in many families. The “Family” preset drops the hard categories such as rivers, so children can keep up.
Rummy
2–6 players15–40 minworks without a TVRummy is the game for the quiet evening hours, when only the grown-ups are left at the table. After each round you decide whether to play on or score – which suits an evening that’s in no hurry.
Five Dice
1–6 players10–30 minworks without a TVFive Dice suits the days when people drop in and out. Up to six can play, and anyone sitting alone can roll against the computer.
How it can go
The afternoon before presents
The kids’ waiting time is perfect for a Sketch Round followed by Letter Hunt with the “Family” preset. Both are quick and keep everyone busy.
After the big dinner
A Quiz Night with 15 questions and categories where each generation takes the lead at least once. Afterwards everyone is awake enough for the rest of the evening.
The quiet hours
Late in the evening, or on the days after, Rummy or Five Dice at the table. Neither needs a TV, and both run with an iPhone or iPad as host.
Tips
- Set up the grandparents’ phones on the Wi-Fi once before the holidays – after that, joining via QR code in the browser takes a single scan every year.
- If you’re visiting someone else’s home, check beforehand whether their Wi-Fi is a guest network where devices can’t see each other.
- Anyone without a phone can team up with a grandchild: one reads and calls it out, the other taps.
More occasions
- Game night with friends
- Birthday games for grown-ups
- Kids’ birthday party: games with little reading
- New Year’s Eve with games
- Family gatherings: games for young and old
- Office parties and team events with games
- Game night for two
- Bachelor and bachelorette party games
- Flatshare night with games
- Rainy day: what to play when you’re stuck inside
- Holiday rental evenings: games without a TV
- School trips and youth camps: evening games
- Seniors’ club: familiar games on a new table
- Pre-party: quick games before you head out
- Getting-to-know-you night: games for new groups
- Halloween: games for a dark night
- Easter: games for the long weekend
- Family game night: playing with your kids
- Grandparents and grandkids: games for two to four
- Match night: games before kick-off and at half-time
- Cabin weekend: games for several evenings
- An evening on your own: games against the computer