Friendsgiving Games for Adults That Make Dinner More Fun
Friendsgiving has become one of my absolute favorite traditions! There’s something so special about gathering with your chosen family before the holiday chaos really kicks in. As a mom of three energetic boys, I’ve learned that the secret to a truly memorable gathering isn’t just the food (though that turkey is important!) – it’s the laughter and connection that happens when everyone’s relaxed and having fun together!
That’s why I’m such a huge fan of incorporating friendsgiving games for adults into our celebration! These games transform a nice dinner into an unforgettable evening filled with hilarious moments and inside jokes you’ll be talking about all year. Whether you’re hosting a small intimate gathering or a bigger bash, these game ideas will keep everyone entertained and make your Friendsgiving the event everyone looks forward to!
Gratitude Jar Game
This is hands-down one of my favorite ways to start the evening on a heartfelt note! Before guests arrive, I set out a beautiful jar with small slips of paper and pens nearby. As people come in, they write down something they’re grateful for without signing their name. The mystery element makes it so much more fun!
During dinner or dessert, we pass the jar around and each person draws a slip to read aloud. Then everyone tries to guess who wrote it! You’d be amazed at how well you think you know your friends until you’re trying to figure out who’s grateful for “finally mastering sourdough bread” or “my dog’s ridiculous snoring.”
What I love about this game is that it’s both touching and entertaining. We’ve had moments where someone reads something deeply moving, and other times where we’re all laughing so hard we’re crying! It’s also super low-pressure – nobody feels put on the spot, and it naturally encourages everyone to share and connect.
Pro tip: Keep the jar out all evening and let people add multiple entries throughout the night. The more slips in there, the longer the fun lasts! I usually aim for at least 20-30 entries for a good-sized group.
Two Truths and a Turkey
This is a Thanksgiving twist on the classic “Two Truths and a Lie” game, and it never fails to get everyone engaged! Each person shares three statements about themselves related to Thanksgiving, food, or fall traditions – two true and one false. The group has to figure out which one is the lie!
I love how this game helps everyone learn surprising things about each other. Last year, I discovered that my friend Sarah once ate an entire pumpkin pie by herself in college, and another friend had never tried cranberry sauce until she was 25! These little revelations spark so many fun conversations and stories.
To make it extra special, I sometimes offer a small prize for the person who stumps the group the most times. Nothing fancy – maybe they get first dibs on leftovers or get to skip cleanup duty! With three boys at home, I’m all about creative incentive systems!
The beauty of this game is that it works perfectly whether people are sitting around the dinner table or lounging in the living room with pie. It requires zero supplies and can easily fill 30-45 minutes depending on your group size. Plus, it’s one of those friendsgiving games for adults that naturally gets quieter folks involved without making them uncomfortable!
Thanksgiving Charades
Okay, charades might sound basic, but trust me – when you theme it around Thanksgiving, it becomes absolutely hilarious! I prepare cards ahead of time with Thanksgiving-related phrases, and let me tell you, watching adults try to act out “carving the turkey” or “Black Friday shopping” is entertainment gold!
Some of my favorite prompts include things like “food coma,” “watching the parade,” “burnt rolls,” “awkward family photos,” and “fighting over the wishbone.” The more specific and silly you get, the funnier it becomes. I also throw in some that are surprisingly challenging, like “cranberry sauce can versus homemade debate” – those really get people creative!
What makes this one of the best friendsgiving games for adults is how it gets everyone moving and laughing. After sitting through dinner, people are ready to get up and be silly! I usually split everyone into two teams, which adds a fun competitive element without making it too serious.
I keep a timer handy (just my phone works perfectly) and give each person 60 seconds per turn. The team that guesses the most correctly wins bragging rights! And honestly, the “losers” have just as much fun because the real joy is in watching your friends flail around trying to mime “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon handler.”
Thanksgiving Trivia Challenge
I’m a total trivia nerd, so this game is right up my alley! Creating a Friendsgiving trivia challenge is easier than you might think, and it’s such a crowd-pleaser. I mix up questions about Thanksgiving history, food facts, pop culture references, and even personal questions about our friend group!
Some sample questions I’ve used: “What year was the first Thanksgiving?” “How many calories are in an average Thanksgiving dinner?” “What’s the most popular pie in America?” and my personal favorite category – questions about previous Friendsgivings we’ve shared together! Those inside jokes and memories make everyone feel extra connected.
I usually create about 30-40 questions divided into categories, and we play it game-show style. You can do teams or individuals – both work great! I’ve found that having small prizes for different categories keeps everyone motivated. Maybe a fall candle for the history buff, or a cute kitchen gadget for the foodie winner!
The best part about trivia is that you can adjust the difficulty based on your crowd. If your friends are super competitive, make it challenging! If you want it more lighthearted and silly, lean into funny facts and easier questions. I always include at least a few ridiculously easy “gimme” questions so everyone feels good!
The Thankful Scavenger Hunt
This one takes a tiny bit of prep work, but it’s SO worth it! Before guests arrive, I hide gratitude prompts around my house. Each prompt is a small card with something like “Find something that reminds you of a happy memory” or “Locate an item that represents a goal you achieved this year.”
Guests hunt for these cards throughout the evening (I usually do this before dinner while everyone’s mingling), and when we sit down to eat, each person shares what they found and why it’s meaningful to them. It’s such a creative way to get people talking about gratitude without it feeling forced or awkward!
What I love about this approach is that it gets people moving around and exploring, which is perfect for breaking the ice if you’ve got friends who don’t all know each other well. Plus, it’s always fascinating to see what items people choose and the stories behind them!
You can make this as simple or elaborate as you want. I’ve done versions with just 10-12 cards for a small group, and I’ve done bigger hunts with 20+ cards for larger gatherings. Sometimes I even include a few “wild card” prompts that are just silly, like “Find the most ridiculous item in the house” – because balance is everything!
Friendsgiving Bingo
Bingo is one of those classic games that everyone knows how to play, which makes it perfect for mixed groups! I create custom Friendsgiving bingo cards with squares like “Someone mentions their diet starting Monday,” “Debate about canned vs. fresh cranberries,” “Someone asks for a recipe,” or “Food coma mentioned.”
The genius of this game is that it runs in the background throughout the entire evening! People keep their bingo cards nearby and mark off squares as things naturally happen during the party. It adds this fun layer of awareness and anticipation to the whole night!
I make my cards using free online bingo generators (so easy!), and I print enough for everyone to have one. The first person to get five in a row yells “FRIENDSGIVING!” instead of bingo, which always gets a laugh. You can play multiple rounds throughout the night – maybe one during appetizers, one during dinner, and one during dessert!
This is definitely one of those friendsgiving games for adults that works for any group size and doesn’t require everyone’s full attention. It’s perfect for those friends who might not be into super active games but still want to participate in something fun! Plus, it’s hilarious when someone suddenly shouts “FRIENDSGIVING!” in the middle of dinner conversation.
Story Starters and Mad Libs
As a mom who reads bedtime stories every single night, I can tell you that everyone loves a good story – especially when it’s completely ridiculous! Thanksgiving-themed Mad Libs are absolutely perfect for getting everyone laughing until their sides hurt. You can buy pre-made ones or create your own!
I usually do this during dessert when everyone’s settled in and relaxed. One person holds the Mad Lib sheet and asks for the words (noun, adjective, verb, etc.) without revealing the story. Then they read the completed story aloud, and chaos ensues! Last year, our story involved a “sparkly turkey” who “danced aggressively” to “find the magical gravy boat,” and we laughed for a solid ten minutes!
If Mad Libs aren’t your thing, story starters work beautifully too! I write opening sentences on cards like “The turkey came to life and said…” or “When we opened the oven, we discovered…” and everyone takes turns adding one sentence to build a collaborative story. It gets absolutely wild!
These games are perfect because they require minimal supplies and setup. Just some paper and pens, really! And they’re great for including everyone regardless of age or activity level. Even if you’ve got a friend who’s pregnant or someone recovering from an injury, they can fully participate and have just as much fun as everyone else!
The Leftover Lottery
This game happens at the end of the night, and it’s honestly genius for solving the eternal question of who gets to take home what leftovers! I number all the leftover containers and make corresponding numbered tickets. Throughout the evening, guests earn tickets by participating in games, helping with dishes, or winning various mini-challenges!
At the end of the night, we do a lottery-style drawing. Each person picks a ticket and gets the corresponding container of leftovers! It makes the whole leftover distribution fun instead of that awkward “no, you take it” dance we all do. Plus, it motivates people to participate in all the other friendsgiving games for adults throughout the evening!
I usually include some “mystery containers” that might have the best leftovers (hello, extra pie!) or might be something less exciting like extra dinner rolls. The suspense is half the fun! And honestly, as someone who’s always drowning in leftovers after hosting, this game is a lifesaver.
You can get creative with how people earn tickets too! Maybe they get one for bringing a dish, one for the best gratitude jar entry, one for winning charades, and bonus tickets for helping clean up. It rewards participation and helpfulness, which makes hosting so much easier for you!
Make This Friendsgiving Your Best One Yet
The best part about incorporating these friendsgiving games for adults into your celebration is that they create those special moments that everyone remembers long after the last piece of pie is gone! Trust me, your friends will be talking about that hilarious charades moment or the surprisingly touching gratitude jar entries for months to come. These games transform a regular dinner party into something truly magical and memorable!
Don’t feel like you need to do all of these games in one night – that would be exhausting! Pick two or three that sound perfect for your specific friend group, and just go with the flow. The goal is connection and laughter, not a rigid schedule! Here’s to a Friendsgiving filled with full hearts, full bellies, and the kind of joy that only comes from being surrounded by people who feel like family. Now go plan the best Friendsgiving ever!
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