Gigs, cake and karaoke: the eight best party games to play with the family this Christmas | games

KickBash (PC, PS4/5, Xbox)

The multiplayer melee games are a lot of fun and there are plenty to choose from, including the somewhat similar Gang Beasts and Party Animals. However, I chose this game, which lets everyone choose a cake to play with like before competing in food battles and playing mini-games like baking marshmallows and putting fruit in the pie. If you want the Great British Bake Off to be a little more lighthearted, this is the game for you.

Heave Ho (PC, Switch)

Have you ever wanted to use a friend or family member as a temporary bridge to navigate the canyon? Now – finally! – It’s your chance. Heave Ho is a puzzle and platformer in which up to four players participate as sprawling creatures who navigate increasingly complex and deadly levels by dragging, throwing, and expanding each other in ridiculous ways. Communication and experimentation are important – and also don’t get too upset when Uncle Kevin accidentally catapults you to your certain doom.

Jackbox Party Pack 11 (Apple TV, PC, PS4/5, Switch, Xbox)

The latest in a long line of excellent quiz games returns for its eleventh round, allowing up to eight players to compete in a series of themed rounds that involve doodling, making sound effects, and of course, trivia. Participants must be calm (i.e., sober) enough to focus on the rules of each game, and this is perhaps the case It starts Evening with this.

Let’s Sing 2026 (PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox)

Where would Christmas be without karaoke? He can’t bear to think about it. Let’s Sing 2026 comes with 35 songs from the likes of Chappell Roan, Lola Young and Lewis Capaldi, but you also get a month’s free access to the game’s online jukebox where you’ll find hundreds more, including plenty of classics. You can purchase a package containing two USB microphones or download an app that allows you to use your phone as a microphone. Instead, Just Dance 2026’s version is lively and fun, but requires more space and coordination – it’s all fun and games until someone moonwalks in your Ming Dynasty vase.

Lovers in Dangerous Spacetime (PC, Xbox, playstation, convert)

For those quirky families who prefer cooperation over competition, here’s a great shooter game for up to four players where everyone works together to keep the spaceship running, with each player racing between different stations to shoot enemies, repair damage, and charge shields. If you’ve ever wanted to shout “Protect the Supermotor!” In your nan, now is your chance.

Mario Kart World (switch 2)

The ultimate accessible driving game, featuring simple (yet deep) controls, fun characters and crazy circuits, all within an explorable open world map. The presence of weapons such as guided missiles means that even newcomers have a chance of winning, but the real victory is the absolute chaos they cause along the way. If you don’t have a Switch 2 yet, Mario Kart 8 works too.

Moving Out 2 (PC, PS4/5, Switch, Xbox)

If you’re looking to experience the ultimate fun of moving house without any of the cost or hassle, this is the co-op puzzle game for you. You play as a moving company, carefully working together to move sofas, tables, and other fragile household items to your truck, as quickly as possible without breaking anything. Give it three minutes before every Friends fan in your house screams “Pivot!!”

spaceTeam (iOS, Android)

Described perfectly by the developer as a “cooperative shouting game,” SpaceTeam allows up to eight players (each of whom has a copy of the game on their phone) to disguise themselves as the bridge crew of a malfunctioning starship, shouting commands at each other according to on-screen prompts. It’s loud and cheerful and will fit the mood of any rowdy Christmas Eve get-together.