Bowl Game
The Fishbowl party game in teams, for up to 16. Everyone writes names in the bowl, then you describe them, use one word, and finally act them out. The act-it-out round is the one people talk about at New Year.
Christmas party games for the whole family
Put a game on the TV after dinner and hand nobody a controller: everyone plays from the phone already in their pocket, from the kids to the grandparents. Over Christmas week, the host can switch on Christmas mode for snow on every screen.
Our picks for Christmas Day
Start with something everyone can play, then split into teams once the pie is out.
Trivia Board
Jeopardy-style trivia on the TV, with everyone buzzing in from their phone. You can write your own category about the family, which goes down very well after Christmas dinner.
Doodler
Draw on your phone, everyone else guesses. Kid mode swaps typing for multiple choice, so the little ones can play with everyone else. Free.
Best Answer Wins
Fill in the blank with the funniest card in your hand. The Family deck is safe for the whole table; save After Dark for after the kids are in bed.
Who's Lying?
A whodunnit for the cousins: everyone knows the secret except the Liar. Great once the table has had a glass or two.
Wordy Birdy
Everyone cracks the same five-letter word on their phone, and the TV shows the colors but never the letters. Calm enough for Grandma, competitive enough for everyone else. Free.
Christmas mode
From December 18 to December 30, the host sees a Christmas toggle in the lobby. Switch it on and snow falls on the TV and every phone, with a little holiday chime on the big moments. It's free with every game, and you can turn it off any time.
How to start
- Open hangtime.games/host on the TV or a laptop plugged into it, and pick a game. A four-letter room code appears, with a QR code to scan.
- Everyone joins at hangtime.games/play on their own phone. No app, no account.
- Play. The TV is the board and keeps score, and everyone's phone is their controller.
Questions
What are good Christmas party games for a family?
Bowl Game (the Fishbowl game in teams) for big groups, Trivia Board with your own family category, and Doodler, which has a kid mode. Everyone plays from their own phone, so nobody needs a controller.
Are there free Christmas games we can play on the TV?
Yes. Trivia Board, Doodler and Wordy Birdy are free with no account, and Christmas mode works in every game. Four more games are in the Launch Pack, a one-time $5 for the host.
Can relatives who aren't with us join?
Yes. Most games have a remote mode that runs on phones, so family in other cities can join over a video call. They just need the room code.
Do we need a console or an app?
No. Any TV or laptop with a web browser works, and players join at hangtime.games/play on their phones.
How many people can play?
Up to 16 in Bowl Game, and up to 10 in most other games.
More game night ideas: Free game night games · A cheaper Jackbox alternative · Party games for large groups · Thanksgiving games · Diwali party games · Games to play on Zoom · Team building games · Classroom games · The blog
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