16 Thanksgiving Games & Activities for Work and Adults

Thanksgiving games for work give coworkers a way to spend part of a gathering drawing, guessing, solving a puzzle, or sharing appreciation. These 16 games include seated options, team challenges, and virtual rounds, with instructions and supplies for each.

These games are part of Thanksgiving team building activities and are similar to virtual Thanksgiving ideas and gratitude activities. They also fit a broader holiday team building plan. You may know them as company Thanksgiving games, Thanksgiving office games, or fun Thanksgiving office activities.

Choose an autumn or appreciation theme if Thanksgiving is not a shared tradition. Participation and personal sharing should be optional; a player can pass, keep score, or watch.

This list includes:

1. How to choose Thanksgiving games for work
2. Easy Thanksgiving games for work
3. Thanksgiving games for adults
4. Thanksgiving table games
5. Thanksgiving team building games
6. Thanksgiving party games for large groups
7. Thanksgiving minute-to-win-it games
8. Virtual Thanksgiving games
9. Thanksgiving gratitude games
10. Thanksgiving office party plan

How to choose Thanksgiving games for work

For a five-minute opener, choose Word Scramble. For a seated lunch, choose Pass the Story. For a mixed remote group, use Fall Colors Hunt. For a longer party, combine one puzzle, one team game, and one optional appreciation round.

Easy Thanksgiving games for work

1. Turkey Sketch Relay

Best for: 4–24 people in teams of 2–4
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens and a timer; use existing supplies.

Build one turkey drawing through four quick turns, with each artist adding a different feature.

1. Give each team a sheet. Announce four features in order: a turkey; a pair of boots; an umbrella; and exactly three pumpkins. Each team takes four drawing turns, rotating through its two to four players.
2. Allow 30 seconds per turn. The artist adds only the feature for that turn, then passes the sheet. The drawing stays visible throughout.
3. After the fourth turn, award one point for each recognizable feature, up to four points. Tied teams share the win. Play again with a fresh brief if time allows.

Make it work: Keep the paper visible during the relay. This is a shared drawing challenge, so no one needs to be good at drawing.

2. Thanksgiving Word Scramble

Best for: Pairs or tables of 3–5
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: The puzzle below, paper and pens; no purchases required.

Give every team the same puzzle and a short deadline. The supplied answer key keeps the game ready to run.

1. Show only the scrambled column. Give teams three minutes to write their answers.
2. Award one point per correct word, then reveal the key. Ignore spelling slips if the intended answer is clear.
3. If teams tie, give them 30 seconds to make the longest word they can from THANKSGIVING, using each letter no more often than it appears.

Make it work: Read the letters aloud if the screen is hard to see. Keep the answer column off the shared slide.

Thanksgiving games for adults

3. The Leftover Pitch

Best for: 6–30 people in teams of 3–5
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: Paper and pens; no food needed.

Teams turn a fictional pile of leftovers into an unlikely product, then sell the idea in a one-minute pitch.

1. Assign every team the same three ingredients: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and roasted vegetables. They may add one imaginary ingredient.
2. Allow four minutes to invent a product name, describe how it works, and write a two-sentence advertisement.
3. Give each team one minute to pitch. After every presentation, each person votes for one other team. Most votes wins; tied teams share the title.

Make it work: Judge the idea, not a person’s cooking skills. No one has to bring, taste, or buy food.

4. Turkey Relay

Best for: 6–24 people in equal teams
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: One tray and one crumpled-paper turkey per team; floor tape; existing supplies are enough.

A walking relay adds a little movement without requiring a running race or a novelty toy.

1. Mark a short, clear route with a turn point about three meters from the start. Give each team a tray carrying a crumpled-paper turkey.
2. One player walks to the turn point and back, then hands the tray to the next player. If the turkey falls, stop, replace it, and continue from that spot.
3. Time each team over the same number of trips. Lowest time wins. For a seated version, pass the tray along a row and back; compare only teams using the same format.

Make it work: Use a stable tray and a clear room. Anyone can take the timer or scorekeeper role instead of walking.

5. Thanksgiving Trivia

Best for: 4–30 people in teams of 2–5
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: The five questions below, answer paper and pens.

This short round mixes parade, football, and calendar questions with a ready-to-read answer key.

1. Read one question at a time and allow 30 seconds for teams to write an answer. Ask players to keep phones away for the round.
2. After all five questions, reveal the answers and award one point per correct response. Accept equivalent wording.
3. The highest score wins. Tied teams share the win.

Make it work: Use the supplied wording: Detroit’s tradition began in 1934, but the team did not play on Thanksgiving in every subsequent year.

1. Which Thursday in November is the U.S. federal Thanksgiving holiday? Answer: The fourth Thursday. National Archives.
2. In what year did Congress establish the current federal Thanksgiving date? Answer: 1941.
3. Which U.S. president issued a Thanksgiving proclamation in 1863? Answer: Abraham Lincoln.
4. In what year did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begin? Answer: 1924. Macy’s.
5. Which NFL team began its Thanksgiving game tradition in 1934? Answer: The Detroit Lions. Detroit Lions.

Thanksgiving table games

6. Autumn Categories

Best for: 3–8 people per table
Time: 10–12 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens and the category list.

A letter and three seasonal categories turn the table into a quick word game.

1. Use three categories: something at a gathering; something outdoors; something you can cook with. Pick the letter P and allow 90 seconds.
2. Each person writes one answer per category beginning with P. Examples include plate, pinecone, and pepper.
3. Read answers around the table. Score one point for each valid answer nobody else used. Play two more rounds with S and B; highest total wins.

Make it work: Agree that brand names and proper names do not count before starting. Accept clear everyday words and settle borderline answers by a quick table vote.

7. Pass the Story

Best for: 4–10 people per table
Time: 6 minutes
Materials: None; optional paper for a written version.

Build a Thanksgiving dinner story one sentence at a time, with a deliberately odd starting point.

1. Start with: “Just as we sat down, the doorbell rang and a turkey in a business suit asked for the Wi-Fi password.”
2. Go around the table once. Each person adds one sentence that continues the previous sentence. Passing is fine.
3. Go around a second time to bring the story to an ending. One volunteer gives the finished story a title. There is no winner.

Make it work: Keep the story fictional. Jokes about real coworkers, family conflict, or a colleague’s food habits can derail an otherwise light game.

Thanksgiving team building games

8. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Best for: 4–30 people in pairs or small teams
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Paper or a shared document; a camera is optional.

A short search turns appreciation into concrete examples without requiring personal photos or private stories.

1. Give teams five clues: a tool that saves time; a shared space that helps people work; an object someone repaired; a useful instruction; and something that makes a break more pleasant.
2. Allow five minutes to find or name one example per clue. Describe objects rather than taking photos if colleagues or confidential information would be visible.
3. Invite three teams to share one discovery in 45 seconds each; collect the rest in a shared document or display. Count completed clues if you want a score, but do not rank how grateful people are.

Make it work: A remote teammate can use items in their own workspace or name shared digital tools. No one needs to disclose who gave them an object.

9. Paper Centerpiece Challenge

Best for: 6–30 people in teams of 3–5
Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Per team: six sheets of scrap paper, one meter of tape and scissors; existing supplies are fine.

Teams build a freestanding autumn centerpiece under the same simple constraints.

1. Give every team identical supplies and eight minutes to build. The centerpiece must stand without someone holding it and include a leaf, a turkey, and a pumpkin made from paper.
2. Each team introduces its design in 30 seconds. Award one point for standing for ten seconds and one point for each of the three recognizable shapes.
3. Use a final shared round of applause instead of subjective beauty judging. Teams with the highest four-point score share the win.

Make it work: Offer pre-cut shapes or a no-cut folding option. A seated teammate can direct assembly, sketch a design, or keep track of the requirements.

Thanksgiving party games for large groups

10. Thanksgiving Pictionary

Best for: 8–40 people in teams of 4–6
Time: 15 minutes
Materials: A whiteboard or large paper, pens, a timer and clue cards.

Use clear, drawable clues so every table can join, including people who do not celebrate Thanksgiving.

1. Divide the room into table groups of about eight, with two small teams at each table. Prepare these clues: turkey, pumpkin pie, falling leaves, serving tray, corn on the cob, oven mitt, parade balloon, recipe book, leftovers, and a napkin ring.
2. Tables play simultaneously. The two teams at each table alternate 45-second turns. A new artist draws each turn without letters, numbers, or speaking; only that artist’s team guesses. Use one fresh clue per turn. A pass ends that turn without a point; set used or passed cards aside.
3. Award one point per correctly guessed clue. Give each team three turns, six turns total per table. The highest score at each table wins.

Make it work: Keep table voices low or use separated areas if tables have identical decks. Read clue cards privately to anyone who needs that option.

11. Thanksgiving Charades

Best for: 8–40 people in teams of 4–6
Time: 12 minutes
Materials: The prompts below and a timer.

Action clues create a more playable round than asking someone to mime abstract words such as “gratitude.”

1. Divide the room into table groups of about eight, with two small teams per table. Make cards for: carrying a very full serving tray; peeling potatoes; watching a parade; carving a pretend turkey; looking for a missing oven mitt; packing leftovers; setting a wobbly table; and raking leaves.
2. Tables play simultaneously. At each table, teams alternate one-minute turns. A volunteer acts without words or props while their team guesses. Give each team four clues total, eight turns per table, with a different actor whenever possible.
3. Award one point per correct clue. If a team passes, set that card aside and stop its turn; give the next team a fresh clue. Each table has its own winner. Ties stay tied.

Make it work: Let anyone choose to guess instead of perform. Actions can be mimed from a chair.

Thanksgiving minute-to-win-it games

12. Pumpkin Cup Stack

Best for: 2–24 people, with one identical kit per competitor
Time: 5–8 minutes
Materials: Six reusable cups per player, a timer, and an orange paper pumpkin per kit.

Build a small pyramid and balance its pumpkin before the minute ends.

1. Give each player six cups and the same size paper pumpkin. Demonstrate a 3–2–1 pyramid with the cups upside down.
2. Start a 60-second timer. Players stack the cups, balance the paper pumpkin on top for three seconds, then return the cups to one nested stack.
3. Count completed cycles. If a tower falls, rebuild it before counting that cycle. The most completed cycles wins; repeat once with roles swapped if people share kits.

Make it work: Use sturdy cups and a table at a comfortable height. Reset all kits before the next round.

13. Soft Pumpkin Toss

Best for: 2–24 people, individually or in equal teams
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: Three rolled socks per player, a basket, and floor tape.

Rolled socks stand in for pumpkins, making the toss practical in a meeting room.

1. Place a basket on the floor or a stable chair and mark a throwing line about two meters away. Choose the same seated or standing position for each scored round. For more than four players, use multiple identical stations at the same time.
2. Give each player 60 seconds for three tosses. A sock that stays in the basket earns one point; retrieve all socks after the turn. Unused throws at the buzzer do not count.
3. Play two rounds. Highest six-throw total wins. For team play, use equal numbers of players or compare each team’s average score.

Make it work: Adjust the distance before the game to suit the group. Keep the throwing area separate from people, walkways, and screens.

Virtual Thanksgiving games

14. Fall Colors Hunt

Best for: 3–30 people on a video call
Time: 7 minutes
Materials: Existing objects near each player; cameras optional.

A remote scavenger hunt works best when the search stays within easy reach.

1. Give one clue at a time: something orange; something with a leaf shape; something that keeps you warm; something you use at a gathering; and something you can reuse.
2. Allow 30 seconds per clue. People can hold up an object, type its name, or describe where they would find it without leaving their seat.
3. Invite two or three volunteers to explain an unexpected match. Treat it as a shared challenge, or award one point per suitable match without a speed bonus.

Make it work: Do not ask players to show their whole room. A typed answer should count as fully as an object held to the camera.

15. Guess the Harvest Word

Best for: 4–20 people in two teams
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Private chat and a timer.

Teammates describe a seasonal word while avoiding three obvious clues.

1. Privately send the clue giver a card: TURKEY (no bird, gobble, dinner); PUMPKIN (no orange, pie, Halloween); LEAF (no tree, green, fall); PARADE (no march, balloon, street); LEFTOVERS (no food, fridge, next); APRON (no clothes, cooking, wear).
2. Give each team 45 seconds per card. The clue giver can talk but cannot say the answer, a form of the answer, a forbidden word, or a spelling clue.
3. A correct guess earns one point. A forbidden word or pass ends the turn. Play three cards per team, alternating teams and clue givers. Ties share the win.

Make it work: The host should read the card privately to a player who cannot use the chat. Keep cards out of the public chat until their turns end.

Thanksgiving gratitude games

16. Thank-You Chain

Best for: 4–24 people in tables of 4–6
Time: 8 minutes
Materials: Paper strips, pens and tape; existing supplies are enough.

Teams build a paper chain from specific examples of useful help, with no requirement to name a person.

1. Ask each player to write one short thank-you for a helpful action, tool, or shared practice. Examples: “Clear handover notes” or “Someone showed me the shortcut.”
2. Volunteers read their notes, then loop the strips into a paper chain. People may add a blank colored link or simply listen.
3. Give each table a minute to choose one helpful practice it wants to keep. Read those practices aloud to close the game. There are no points or prizes.

Make it work: Keep notes about observable help. Do not require people to thank their manager or disclose a difficult personal experience.

Thanksgiving office party plan

For a 30-minute gathering, allow two minutes to explain the plan, five for Word Scramble, twelve for The Leftover Pitch, eight for Thank-You Chain, and three for transitions. For more than 30 people, run the pitch at separate tables and invite only a few tables to present to the room.

Provide the supplies, announce that joining is optional, and keep competitive prizes small. Skip eating races, blindfolded spinning, and games that require people to discuss private family traditions. For a mixed group, use “autumn gathering” or “team appreciation” in the invitation.

To continue the conversation, try holiday icebreaker questions, explore word games for adults, or plan a virtual holiday party.