17 Fun Thanksgiving Games That Provide Instant Family Bonding

Calling all word nerds: This Thanksgiving game is all about unscrambling the letters in each word to figure out which Turkey Day themes they are supposed to spell out. This pack of 25 is printed on thick matte card stock, so it feels extra fancy.

More: Inspiring Thanksgiving Table Ideas for the Biggest Feast of the Year

Every celebration has its own variation of a pin-the-tail game, and Thanksgiving is no different. This one is the perfect game to get the kids off their iPads and doing something that's a bit more old-school. Winner gets the biggest piece of apple pie!

The general rule we follow for swimming and eating should definitely follow for potato sack race contests. Wait at least an hour after dinner before getting your kids to jump across the lawn in these festive Thanksgiving-themed sacks.

Say what you will about math games, but sudoku slaps: It's a quietly-played game that engages so much of your brain. That means it's the perfect thing to help you momentarily forget about your uncle who was just a little bit of a jerk about the quality of your mom's stuffing. 

Take a break from the cornhole boards and use your bag-tossing skills to score points with this Thanksgiving game. Hang the polyester banner from a tree or the top of a swing set with its included cord, and stake the bottom into the ground so that it doesn't move around in the wind.

There's nothing like breaking apart a wishbone at the end of a delicious Thanksgiving dinner: It's just too bad there's only one per turkey! This set of six reusable, 3D-printed wishbones ensures that there's more than enough luck to go around.

Give your dinner conversation a quiz-show spin. This laser-engraved plywood spinner wheel has 12 topics that each person in your family can answer in turn. 

If you'd prefer a custom-engraved spinner board to keep it less holiday-specific — or a blank one so that you can use sticky notes to write your own questions for different occasions — you can ask the Etsy seller for those, too.

This printable Thanksgiving game is a great last-minute idea if you suddenly hit a lull on Turkey Day. These clever rebus puzzles display 16 different Thanksgiving themes using emojis, and it's your job to figure out what they're trying to say.

This easy, but super fast-paced game of Take the Turkey (aka “Spoons”) is great for excited little ones around the kids' table. Available as hi-res, printable PDFs, all you need is some tape and a few popsicle sticks to start playing.

This memory game consists of 20 wooden coins that are flipped facedown to start. Try to match two fall designs of one kind (without peeking!) at the same time. This well-designed set comes in its own pouch for easy storage.

What will be the hot topics around the Thanksgiving table this year? With TableTopics, you can ensure that it stays family-friendly and that everybody gets their say.

This Thanksgiving game centers around fond memories and personal interests. It's a great opportunity to share and learn more about the people you're closest to.

Puzzles are great Thanksgiving games that everyone in your family can enjoy collaborating on. This 70-piece puzzle depicts a colorful U.S. map, and is easy enough for youngsters to piece together. It's also sort of fun to match the state facts with the state puzzle piece. 

Thanksgiving is all about sharing your gratitude, and Turkey on the Table is a great reminder to let the folks around your table know how much they mean to you. This kit comes with one turkey and 13 paper feathers, which you can place at each table setting as a name card. 

Have your family members write something that they're grateful for on their feather and then stick it in the turkey, so that everyone at the table can take turns reading the sweet message.

When everyone is overstuffed from feasting on the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, this is the perfect game to play until dessert is served.

Family members of all ages can stay seated around the dining table or move the party over to the living room to play some good ol' Thanksgiving bingo. (But note that the holiday host should plan to have some fun prizes lined up.) Stock up on these cards and make it a family tradition.

This word search is perfect to have hanging out on the coffee table during the Thanksgiving festivities. The large print makes it easier on everybody's eyes (yes, even the grandparents).

Before you get called in for dinner, toss around this classic regulation-sized football out in the backyard. You'll love the football's easy-to-grip, scuff-resistant exterior. Plus, you'll get use out of it for years to come.

You know there will be plenty of extra whipped cream left over on Thanksgiving, so why not put it to good use? Be sure to keep the paper towels on hand for this silly game of chance. 

Each player turns the handles of the pie-thrower, passing it back and forth until one unlucky person gets a pile of whipped cream (or a wet sponge) in the face.