Christmas Drawing Game

What it is

Christmas Drawing Game is a festive drawing-and-guessing game in which players try to communicate Christmas-themed prompts using pictures instead of words. One player draws while their teammates race to identify the Christmas character, object, tradition or activity before the turn ends.

No artistic skill is required—in fact, unexpected drawings are often what make the game funniest. It works well for families, friends and office Christmas parties, and the prompts can easily be adjusted for the ages and Christmas knowledge of the group.

Setting up

Write Christmas-themed prompts on small slips of paper, fold them and place them in a bowl or container. Divide the group into two teams, provide paper or a drawing surface and something to draw with, and decide how long each turn will last; about one minute works well. Choose familiar prompts appropriate for the people playing.

You may need: paper or drawing board, pens, pencils or markers, small slips of paper, bowl or container.

How to play

1. Divide the group into two teams and place the folded Christmas prompts in a bowl or container.
2. Choose one player from the first team to draw and have them select a prompt without showing it to anyone else.
3. Start the turn and have the player draw clues for the prompt while their teammates try to guess the answer.
4. If the team guesses correctly before the turn ends, award one point.
5. Switch teams and choose a new player to draw.
6. Continue alternating turns until everyone has drawn or the group has completed the agreed number of rounds.
7. Add up the points after the final round. The team with the most points wins.

Rules

• The person drawing may not speak, mouth words or make sound effects.
• Do not write letters, words, numbers or recognizable abbreviations as clues.
• The person drawing may not use gestures to act out the answer; clues should come from the drawing.
• Teammates may make as many guesses as they like while the turn is active.
• A prompt scores only if the team identifies the intended answer before time runs out.
• Use prompts that are appropriate for everyone playing, especially with children or coworkers.

Winning

Each correctly guessed prompt earns one point. After the final round, the team with the most points wins. If the scores are tied, give each team one final prompt and use the fastest correct guess as the tiebreaker.

Variations

• Family Drawing Game: Use simple Christmas objects, characters and activities that younger players can recognize.
• Christmas Movie Drawing Game: Use characters, objects and situations associated with Christmas movies and television specials.
• One-Line Drawing: Once the player starts drawing, they may not lift the pen or marker from the drawing surface until the team guesses or time expires.
• No-Score Drawing: Skip teams and points and let the whole group guess each drawing for a more relaxed version.