Best Family Games for Christmas Day

The lunch plates are cleared, the wrapping paper is bagged, and there is that particular Christmas afternoon lull where nobody quite knows what to do next. This is the moment a good game earns its place.

A game that needs no charging, no app and no screen has one great advantage: it works the instant you open the box, and it draws everyone at the table into the same activity. Much of what we make is cut from FSC-certified timber and tested to UKCA and CE standards, so a set bought this year should still be in play long after the batteries in other gifts have died.

Below is a practical guide to choosing well, along with a few of our own favourites from our board games and our traditional games.

What to Look for in Family Games for Christmas Day

The best Christmas Day game suits the room, not just the shop shelf. Before anything else, count who is likely to play. A game that works beautifully for two struggles with eight, and a game built for a crowd can feel thin with a couple.

Look for a short set-up. On Christmas afternoon, patience is limited and attention is shared. A game you can explain in a minute and start in two will always beat one that demands a careful reading of the rules.

Consider the age spread. The strongest family games let a six-year-old and a grandparent sit at the same table without either being bored. Games of chance level the field; games of pure skill do not. A good evening often mixes both.

Check the build quality, because a Christmas game rarely gets played only once. Solid wooden pieces, a board that lies flat, and a box that survives being stacked in a cupboard all matter more than they seem. Our sets are made from FSC timber and tested to UKCA and CE standards, which is the plain reason they tend to last.

Think about noise and space, too. Some households want a quiet game of draughts by the fire; others want something loud and competitive. Both are valid, and it helps to have one of each to hand.

Finally, favour games that reward being played again. A puzzle solved once loses its charm, while a strategy game deepens with every round. Our guide to board games for family game night sets out more on choosing for the long term.

The Best Types of No-Battery Family Games for Different Ages and Group Sizes

For younger children and mixed groups, games of chance keep everyone included. Snakes and Ladders is a fine example: it began in ancient India as Moksha Patam, a game built to teach moral lessons about virtue and vice, and its climb-and-slide simplicity still holds a small child's attention today. No reading, no strategy, just the roll of a die.

For two players who enjoy a contest, classic strategy games are hard to beat. Chess is thought to have originated in India around the 6th century AD, evolving from a game called Chaturanga before spreading through Persia to Europe. Draughts offers a gentler route into the same kind of thinking, and both reward returning to the board across the whole holiday.

For larger groups, look to word and tile games that seat four or more. These carry a bigger table well and suit the shifting audience of a Christmas afternoon, where players come and go between servings of cake. You will find plenty of these across our board games.

If the weather is kind and the house is restless, an outdoor game breaks the sitting-down spell. Something as simple as a colourful kids kite or a set of training activity cones gets children into the garden for half an hour. Our outdoor games collection has more for a crisp Boxing Day.

The trick is to keep two or three types within reach, so the day can move from a quiet two-player game to a boisterous group round without anyone having to leave to find something to do.

Our Picks: The Best Family Games for Christmas 2025

If you want one game that draws the whole family in, a good board game earns its keep. Snakes and Ladders and draughts both belong in any Christmas cupboard, and you will find well-made versions across our traditional games.

For a household with a serious chess player, or as a gift meant to last a lifetime, the 1855 Edition 4" Chess Pieces in Mahogany Casket is the finest thing we make. It follows the Staunton pattern, designed by Nathaniel Cook and first sold by Jaques of London in 1849; endorsed by the leading player Howard Staunton, it remains the internationally recognised standard for tournament play today. At £3,095 it is a considered purchase, not a stocking filler, but it is the sort of set passed between generations.

For a smaller budget and a burst of energy, the colourful kids kite at £12.10 is a cheerful all-rounder for a windy Boxing Day walk. And at £6.82, a set of training activity cones turns any garden or hallway into an obstacle course when the children need to move.

Younger families should also look at our wooden toys, which suit the under-fives who cannot yet manage the rules of a board game but still want to join in.

For more seasonal ideas, our round-up of seven superb Christmas games covers the tried and tested favourites in more detail.

Are Wooden and Traditional Games Worth Buying Over Plastic Alternatives?

The honest answer is that it depends on how long you expect the game to last. A plastic set is cheaper on the day and often ends the year cracked or missing pieces. A wooden set costs more at the outset and, kept reasonably well, outlives it many times over.

Weight is part of the pleasure. A wooden draughts counter sits properly in the hand, a turned chess piece stands firm on its square, and a solid board does not curl at the corners. These are small things that make a game feel worth playing rather than merely available.

There is a durability point, too. Timber takes knocks that snap plastic. A set left in a damp cupboard or dropped down the stairs tends to survive, which matters when children are the ones handling it. Much of what we make uses FSC-certified timber and is tested to UKCA and CE standards, so it is built for years of use, not one Christmas.

Value also compounds. A well-made game becomes something handed down, and a set your children learned on can teach their own children in turn. That is difficult to price against a cheaper alternative that will not survive the journey.

None of this means every plastic game is poor, or that wood suits every purpose. But for the games a family returns to year after year, the better material usually justifies itself. Our founding in 1795 as the world's oldest games and toys company rests on exactly this idea: make the thing well, and it lasts. You can see the principle across our wooden toys.

How to Store and Look After Family Games So They Last for Years

A game that lasts is partly a matter of care. The first rule is simple: count the pieces back into the box before it goes away. Most sets are lost not to breakage but to a single counter under the sofa or a die swept into the recycling with the wrapping paper.

Keep boxes dry and flat. Damp is the chief enemy of timber and card alike; a warping board and a swollen box both come from the same cause. A shelf indoors is far kinder than a garage or loft.

Store heavy sets the right way up and avoid stacking a pile of games on top of a delicate one. A chess casket or a wooden board takes weight poorly across a long spell in the cupboard, and a little thought here spares you a cracked lid.

Clean wooden pieces with a barely damp cloth and let them dry fully before they go back. Avoid soaking them or leaving them near a radiator, both of which dull the finish and can split the grain over time.

For outdoor gear, the same logic applies. Bring a kite and a set of cones back inside rather than leaving them out over winter; UV light and frost age plastic and fabric quickly. Our notes on keeping active with clean air day games and choosing outdoor games as gifts touch on this too.

Looked after in this plain way, a good game bought this Christmas should still be in play many Christmases from now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Games Christmas

What is the best family game for Christmas Day?

Chess, Snakes and Ladders, and Ludo are perennial favourites that need no batteries and suit mixed ages. Jaques of London, founded in 1795 and the world's oldest games and toys company, has supplied classic wooden board games for generations of British families. The Staunton chess set — first sold by Jaques in 1849 and still the internationally recognised standard — makes a particularly fine Christmas centrepiece. Choose a game with simple rules, quick rounds, and broad age appeal so nobody sits on the sidelines while the turkey settles.

What age are family board games suitable for?

Most family board games are suitable from around age four upwards, though the right choice depends on the specific game. Simple roll-and-move games such as Snakes and Ladders work well for young children; strategy games like chess suit older children and adults. Jaques of London, established in 1795, produces games across a wide range of age groups. Many classics scale naturally — younger players enjoy the luck element while older players appreciate deeper tactics — making them genuinely suitable for the whole family rather than a narrow age band.

What are the best games for a family of 5 or more at Christmas?

For larger gatherings, choose games that support five or more players simultaneously and keep downtime between turns short. Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and card-based games work well because they are easy to learn, accommodate multiple players, and generate shared moments of luck and laughter. Jaques of London, the world's oldest games and toys company, founded in 1795, offers a range of classic wooden sets built to last through many Christmases. Avoid complex two-player strategy games when the whole family is gathered — opt for games where everyone stays engaged throughout.

Are wooden games worth it for children?

Wooden games are generally more durable, safer, and more tactilely satisfying than plastic alternatives, making them an excellent long-term investment for families. A well-made wooden set can survive decades of play and be passed between generations. Jaques of London, founded in 1795, has been crafting quality wooden games and toys for over two centuries. The physical weight and craftsmanship of wooden pieces — such as a proper Staunton chess set — also encourages children to handle and respect the game, which adds to the overall experience at Christmas and beyond.

What should I look for in a family game for Christmas?

Look for games with clear, concise rules that can be explained in under five minutes, a suitable player count for your household, and no dependency on batteries or screens. Durability matters — wooden sets from established makers such as Jaques of London, founded in 1795, outlast cheaper alternatives considerably. Consider playing time: games lasting 20–45 minutes suit Christmas Day well. Games with a mix of luck and skill tend to balance competition between younger and older players, keeping everyone genuinely invested rather than simply waiting for their turn.

What games can the whole family play together including grandparents?

Games rooted in luck as well as skill work best when grandparents, parents, and children all play together, as they level the field across generations. Snakes and Ladders — which originated in ancient India as Moksha Patam, a game designed to teach moral lessons — is simple enough for young children yet entertaining for adults. Chess, first sold in its internationally recognised Staunton form by Jaques of London in 1849, suits grandparents who already know the game and older children learning it. Classic games from established makers tend to bridge generations naturally.

How do I choose a board game for mixed ages at Christmas?

Start by identifying your youngest player and choosing a game they can meaningfully participate in. Then check the upper end — games with sufficient depth keep teenagers and adults engaged rather than bored. Roll-and-move games such as Snakes and Ladders suit broad age ranges because luck reduces the gap between experienced and inexperienced players. For households with chess enthusiasts, the Staunton set — first sold by Jaques of London in 1849 and still the international standard — remains a worthwhile choice. Prioritise shared laughter and participation over competitive complexity when ages span more than a decade.

What are the best traditional Christmas games for families in the UK?

Traditional British Christmas games include chess, draughts, Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, and various card games — all requiring no batteries or screens. Snakes and Ladders has particularly deep roots, originating in ancient India as Moksha Patam before travelling to Britain via the Victorian era. Jaques of London, founded in 1795 and the world's oldest games and toys company, has supplied British families with quality versions of these classics for generations. Traditional wooden sets make thoughtful gifts and tend to become household staples returned to year after year rather than forgotten after one Christmas.

What games are good for Christmas Day that do not need batteries?

Chess, draughts, Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, backgammon, and card games all require nothing more than the set itself — no batteries, no charging, no screens. They can be played at the dining table immediately after Christmas dinner with no setup beyond laying out the board. Jaques of London, the world's oldest games and toys company, established in 1795, has produced battery-free wooden games for over two centuries. The Staunton chess set, first sold by Jaques in 1849, remains one of the most enduring examples of a game that needs absolutely nothing added to deliver hours of play.

How long should a family board game take to play on Christmas Day?

On Christmas Day, games lasting between 20 and 60 minutes tend to work best. Shorter games allow multiple rounds and keep younger children engaged; longer games risk losing players to post-dinner fatigue. Snakes and Ladders typically resolves in 20–30 minutes, making it ideal for a quick game between meals. Chess can be played at whatever pace suits the players — a casual family game rarely exceeds 45 minutes. Jaques of London, founded in 1795, offers classic sets well suited to exactly this kind of relaxed, unhurried Christmas Day play without the need for batteries or screens.