The festive season is upon us, and for better or for worse, it’s time to relax with your chosen group of people and eat, drink, and be merry.
Filling your family evenings with games like Mario Party keeps the atmosphere fun and lightly competitive, but once everyone is done with that, what are the best games to play this holiday season?
Party games: Fun for all the family
When I turned my family on to the possibility of party games for the festive season, we never looked back. Gone are the days of blowing the dust off Monopoly boards. No more do we play Irish Snap with a less-than-complete deck. Now, we can sit or stand and revel in the glow of the TV as we partake in healthy competition. Anything to avoid the conversation moving to politics. These are a selection of my favorite games, like Mario Party, to play with my family during the holiday season.
Overcooked 2 (All Platforms)
Overcooked 1 was one of my favorite games to play way back, and now the second one is bigger and better than ever. Not only is Overcooked 2 a great party game, it is ideal for players who have never really played video games before. You can play with up to 4 players simultaneously.
I find that the controls are simple enough to pick up, even if a controller isn’t native to your hands. The early stages of the game are a great way to get eased into the rhythm. Also, with the added element of teamwork, if one person is lacking, the other can pick up the slack.
The premise is simple. Cook. You and your family get to blast around a kitchen, working as a team to get the orders out the door. You have to work in perfect harmony at every stage of the preparation process. Communication is key, and the clever and original levels will have you all red in the face with frustration and laughter.
Jackbox Party Pack (All Platforms)
The various Jackbox Party Packs out there are made for family get-togethers and friendly competition. These games focus on tasks that can be played competitively or as a team, and they’re nothing if not inventive with their levels. The group sizes range from 2 up to 10, so nobody is left out of this family party game.
What really sets Jackbox apart from the rest is its ease of use. Jackbox can be joined by everyone in a room, provided they have a mobile device. Granny can use her iPad, your brother can use his phone, and mum can use her laptop. This means you’re no longer restrained by controller numbers.
The challenges and games range from drawing competitions to wacky races. Whatever it is you want to distract your family with this festive season, Jackbox has the game for it.
Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo Switch + Wii U)
No family party games list is ever complete without at least one mention of Mario Kart. Ever since 1992, Mario Kart has been the people’s choice, and for good reason. I feel like Mario Kart is closely approaching Monopoly for argument-causing, rage-quitting, and year-long grudges.
I remember one year after my sister had been consistently last in Mario Kart, she turned up to the family function and ran us all into the ground. Without our knowledge, she had bought herself a Switch and spent the year perfecting her skills in Mario Kart. She, silently and subtly, became unstoppable. It drove my brother, who was reigning champion, mad.
Mario Kart is a game that can be played year after year and will build somewhat healthy rivalries that last decades. The beauty of Nintendo Mario Games is that they often have a way of ensuring that the person in first place always has a much harder time. This levels the playing field somewhat and keeps the competition fair, although my brother may say otherwise.
Gang Beasts (All Platforms)
Once you have finished your traditional festive meal and are ready to unleash hell on your family, Gang Beasts is the perfect party game as dessert. The manic 4-player wrestling game is the perfect excuse to throw your family members off a moving lorry or drop them off a huge precipice.
The control scheme is simple, meaning anyone can pick it up quickly. The aim of the game is to defeat the three other players by using the hilariously designed maps to your advantage. Maybe you can throw them into a giant squid tank, pop them in an incinerator, or drop them off a building? It’s family; they will always forgive you…
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (All Platforms, including Android)
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is the party game that will have you all screaming at each other. But in a good way. The premise is this: One person has an image of a bomb with a timer counting down. The rest of the room has instructions to defuse. The bomb holder can only see the bomb, and the defusers can only see instructions. Using the power of communication, the bomb needs to be defused within the time limit.
This is one of my favorites to play simply for the level of communication needed. I have often found, especially when playing this party game with family, that it creates some amazing moments. Families often have a way of communicating that exists only within their unit. It is fun to see how much can be said with so little, just due to those unique family relationships. It’s amazing what the threat of an impending explosion can do for a family.
Just Dance 2023 (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch)
Dancing isn’t for everyone, but pop Just Dance on, and I challenge anyone in the room not to want to get up and compete. The visuals, music, and competitive nature of Just Dance make it a hilarious and energetic party game for the whole family.
With the newest Just Dance, you can now play with your mobile, so again, the limit of controllers is no longer a problem. There is no excuse not to play. You are going to need a few other things, though. You’ll need a bit of space, a bit of energy, and at least a little rhythm.
This dancing party game is a great way to get the family vibes back up after a heavy meal or a long day. Just Dance will bring the mood back into any situation. It is the perfect party game to get your family up and dancing around the room.
For more great ideas for party games, check out PC Invasion.
