Festive top fives for 2025: Family games
Got some younger players in the mix this Christmas? No problem! There are oodles of great family games to choose from, but here are are few that stand out from the crowd. If the age group you're looking isn't covered by the games below, you could also check out our kids' games menu for more inspiration.
Nacho Stack has proved almost as popular as our delicious nacho bowl since it entered our library, and that's really saying something! This neat little dexterity game does a lot with a few ingredients, as so many of the best dishes do. In phase one of the game, pick up nacho wedges from the table and add them to the central pile balanced on the box, making sure that nachos with the same topping don't touch. Then in phase two, roll the dice to decide what colour wedge to remove from the pile, and try to gain the most points with the nachos you claim. Great fun with minimal rules for 2 - 6 players aged 8+.
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for the Cheese Thief! This game about hungry little mice is the perfect introduction to the hidden role genre, ideal for those who feel that it's never too early to learn how to lie to your loved ones ;) At the start of the game, all players get a card with their role on - either a well-behaved little sleepy mouse, or the naughty Cheese Thief. With their breakfast cheese placed safely in the middle of the table, all the mice go to sleep, to be woken at different points during the night to check on the cheese. At some point, the cheese will vanish... can the mice piece together their information to discover who stole their breakfast? Adorable, low-stakes bluffing and deduction for 4 - 8 players aged 8+.
Block Party is another Treehouse customer favourite, offering a fresh alternative to Pictionary that will appeal even to those who lack confidence in their artistic skills. In each round of Block Party, one player takes the role of guesser, while the others build a representation of the secret clue on their card using coloured blocks against a time limit. In case that's not tricky enough, there's a different challenge each round that puts the builders in competition with each other, say 'build the tallest object' or 'use the fewest colours'. To be in the running your clue must be guessable though, so don't get too abstract! An accessible, appealing party game for 2 - 6 players aged 8+.
If we were to come up with a silliness ranking for the games in our library, then DroPolter would undoubtedly be near the top! Players start the game each with an identical handful of five tactile objects. Each round, a card is flipped showing some but not all of the objects. The first player to drop only the correct objects from their hand using that hand only, and then grab the ghost, wins a point! Unfortunately, the point comes in the form of a tiny bell, which must also be held in the same hand as the objects, and if you drop it, you've lost it! The first player to five bells wins. An utterly ridiculous time for 2 - 5 players aged 6+.
Sometimes, a game with a strong narrative can help to get people engaged, and Diamant has that covered. This nail-biting push your luck game casts players as Indiana Jones-types, delving into tunnels looking for treasure. The good news is that there's plenty of treasure to be found, and if you time your getaway correctly, you won't even have to share it with your fellow adventurers. The bad news is that there's also lots of scary stuff in the tunnels, and if you spot the same terrifying sight for a second time then you're liable to fling all your gems and trinkets aside and dash for the exit empty-handed! Can you perfect the balance of risk and reward and make it home with the most loot? A memorable adventure for 3-8 players aged 6+.