Five family Christmas games that reveal how we think, communicate and connect |
For many families at Christmas, the one time of year when everyone finally ends up in the same room, suggesting a game is often the best strategic move for a fun evening. At its best, this sparks an hour of genuine connection. At its worst, it revives old rivalries faster than you can say “draw four” or break into your favourite victory dance.
Games endure at Christmas because they offer structure. They give people a shared activity that’s not work or chores. Psychologists have long noted that shared play strengthens social bonds through joint attention, where people’s focus aligns around a single task. Research also shows that play can reduce stress and support wellbeing by increasing positive emotion and laughter, which are key ingredients in social bonding.
Play allows families to step outside their usual roles for a while. A normally serious parent might relax into silliness. A teenager might surprise everyone with a clever strategic move. These small shifts make interaction feel new again during a season when emotional expectations are high.
But the choice of game matters. Some games draw people closer. Others reveal how differently we communicate. And a few are almost scientifically engineered to start arguments. With that in mind, here are five psychologically informed recommendations to help you choose the right kind of festive fun.
Codenames looks simple. In the game two teams, red and blue, compete to describe their team’s words on a 5x5 grid of tiles with one on each space such as “disease”, “Germany” or........