Best Games To Play On Thanksgiving

by

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! While many are busy preparing turkeys and getting ready for family gatherings and big meals, you might be looking for something to do if you’re not a football fan. Luckily, there are tons of multiplayer games that are perfect for keeping everyone entertained – not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the whole weekend. They’re sure to bring some fun, conversation, and friendly competition!

Get your game controllers ready – whether it’s for a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, or even just phones! Let’s explore some modern multiplayer games that can make your Thanksgiving even more fun. We’ll look at a variety of options, because every family enjoys different things.

We are going to focus on games available on modern systems rather than classics like Wii Sports.

Super Mario Party Jamboree (Or Mario Kart)

The Ultimate Party Game For The Ultimate Thanksgiving

  • Required Hardware: Nintendo Switch (1 or 2) and a controller/Joy-Con for each player.
  • Number of Players Supported for Local Games: 4
  • Why Super Mario Party Jamboree is Great for Family Gatherings: Very easy to pick up and play, even for people who might not game often. While a casual experience, Mario Party has more direct gameplay than most other options. Also, it is just messy fun.
  • Mario Kart World or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: These games scratch the same itch as Mario Party and are better options for bigger groups since races only last a couple of minutes, so everyone will get multiple turns if they want to play. If you have four Switch 2 consoles, 8 players can play Mario Kart World at the same time. On one console, 4 players can join in on the fun.

Most Mario spin-off games are great for playing with friends and family. Mario Kart works best with bigger groups who have multiple consoles, while Mario Party is perfect for four players. We’ve been focusing on Super Mario Party Jamboree because it’s the newest game, so more people probably have it. After a few disappointing games, Jamboree feels like a return to what makes Mario Party so fun – it went back to the classic formula that fans love.

Despite being a more classic game compared to others on this list, Super Mario Party Jamboree is easy to pick up and play. The game’s boards and mini-games are intuitive, so anyone can understand them, even if they’ve never played a Mario Party game or video games before. While matches can be competitive, the unpredictable nature of the game leads to more laughs than frustration.

Just Dance

(Just) Dance The Thanksgiving Weekend Away

  • Required Hardware: Any modern console (Switch, PS5, or Xbox Series) and a controller/smartphone per person. That said, Just Dance Now requires nothing.
  • Number of Players Supported for Local Games: 6
  • Why Just Dance is Great for Family Gatherings: A lively and energetic game perfect for setting a positive and fun mood. The gameplay is also self-explanatory.
  • Alternative: Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival or a classic like Guitar Hero.

Ubisoft releases many games every year, and Just Dance is perfectly suited for this approach. Starting in 2023, instead of releasing new games annually, the series now offers yearly song packs, letting you choose the music you want.

Even though I have no rhythm at all, I still have fun with Just Dance, and it’s perfect for parties. Just Dance Now is a fantastic option for phones or computers because you don’t need a game console or controllers. If you want to get everyone relaxed and energized, Just Dance could be the best game to play at Thanksgiving – it’s easy to learn, fast-paced, and gets everyone up and moving.

Gang Beasts

Throw Your Family Off A Skyscraper Or Feed Them To A Shark

  • Required Hardware: PC and most modern consoles (Native on PS5, Switch, and Xbox One, but backward compatible with their successors).
  • Number of Players Supported for Local Games: 4 (Possible to get 8 working on some systems)
  • Why Gang Beasts is Great for Family Gatherings: Sheer laugh-out-loud madness that can get competitive but also is just a bit too silly to be taken all too seriously. Skill is involved but not required.
  • Alternatives: Party Animals, Move or Die, and Pummel Party

Let’s move on to a game that’s a bit more competitive than Just Dance, but not as chaotic as Mario Party. Gang Beasts is a hilarious multiplayer game where you control wobbly characters and try to knock each other out—it’s a struggle to even control your own character, let alone win!

While skill and experience can help, the simple and unpredictable nature of the game means anyone can win at Gang Beasts, even if they’ve never played before – and it’s hilariously shocking when it happens! The game offers several modes, but the most popular is a multiplayer mode where players battle across different stages until someone reaches a predetermined number of wins. You can customize how many wins are needed, letting you control how long the game lasts.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

A Great Game For A Family Of Gamers

  • Required Hardware: PC and most modern platforms, along with a controller for each player.
  • Number of Players Supported for Local Games: 6
  • Why Shredder’s Revenge is Great for Family Gatherings: Honestly, this one requires someone to be at least slightly familiar with gaming, and I would not recommend it to complete beginners. However, if everyone is a gamer, then this is a fantastic beat ’em up that can be completed in a few hours.

This article mainly focuses on games that anyone can enjoy, which feels right for the holidays. Since so many families already love gaming on consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, a more challenging and classic game could be a great fit. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a perfect example – it’s a fast-paced action game that’s also fun for groups.

Compared to other games in the genre, Shredder’s Revenge is surprisingly accessible, even for beginners. It features fun, energetic combat that feels great. You can play as one of seven different characters, with six available right away. The game controls well, but things get really wild and hectic – in a good way – when you play with more people, as the screen fills with exciting moves and team-ups. Even if you don’t finish the whole story, each level is short and enjoyable on its own.

Other Games That Might Be Better Suited For A Group Of Gamers

  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
  • Most Modern Call of Duty Zombie Modes
  • Street Fighter 6 (Or Most Traditional Fighting Games)
  • Rocket League
  • Overcooked!
  • Move or Die

The Jackbox Party Pack

The Definitive Party Game Franchise To Bring Out On Thanksgiving

  • Required Hardware: Depends on the pack, but the newest ones are available on most modern systems. You can even use something like an Apple TV. If the option is available to you, Amazon Luna has a Jackbox Games subscription that has basically everything. Players will also use personal devices like smartphones.
  • Number of Players Supported for Local Games: Varies from game to game; a few support 2, others 6, and some even allow 8 or 10.
  • Why The Jackbox Party Pack is Great for Family Gatherings: A robust franchise with dozens upon dozens of party games that are designed to be short and accessible.

Besides Mario Party, The Jackbox Party Pack is a leading choice for party games, and it might be even better for families because of its variety. Each pack includes five different games, typically falling into categories like drawing, trivia, or team challenges. These games aren’t connected, so you can easily pick and choose just the ones your group enjoys.

The number of people who can play these games changes depending on the title, but most are designed for groups of 3 to 8. A big reason they’re popular is because almost everyone has a smartphone, which makes it easy to participate. There are tons of fantastic Jackbox games available, with Fibbage, Trivia Murder Party, and Fain’ It being some of the most popular.

Read More

2025-11-25 15:35