Overview
- Cooperative party games like Overcooked! 2, Moving Out, and It Takes Two create teamwork-focused experiences where families laugh through manageable chaos and shared success, while accessible competitive games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offer friendly competition with difficulty options preventing skill gaps from creating frustration.
- Successful family gaming during Thanksgiving requires choosing titles with immediate accessibility over complex tutorials, utilizing assist features to balance mixed skill levels, creating rotation systems for inclusive participation, and maintaining focus on fun and connection rather than serious competition that might strain holiday harmony.
Because Watching Netflix on Thanksgiving Is Too Mainstream
Thanksgiving weekend brings families together, often creating long stretches of downtime between meals when everyone’s looking for activities that include rather than isolate. Video games have evolved far beyond solitary experiences, offering some of the best opportunities for multigenerational fun where grandparents, parents, and kids can all participate, laugh, and compete together.
The key to successful family gaming during Thanksgiving isn’t choosing the most complex or graphically impressive titles – it’s finding games with accessible controls, inclusive difficulty options, and gameplay that encourages interaction rather than silent focus. Whether your family includes hardcore gamers or people who haven’t touched a controller in years, the right games create memorable moments and genuine connection.
This guide recommends proven family-friendly titles across different game types and genres and video game platforms, ensuring your Thanksgiving weekend includes gaming experiences everyone can enjoy together.
Cooperative Party Games: Everyone Plays Together
Cooperative party games work brilliantly for families because they emphasize teamwork over competition, accommodate varying skill levels, and create shared success moments rather than winners and losers that might create holiday tension:
1. Overcooked! 2 (All Platforms)
Overcooked! 2 puts players in chaotic kitchens where communication and coordination determine success or hilarious failure. Teams of up to four players chop ingredients, cook dishes, plate meals, and wash dishes while navigating absurd kitchen layouts, including ones on moving trucks or separated by portals.
The game’s genius lies in creating manageable chaos – tasks are simple (chop, cook, serve), but coordinating under time pressure generates comedy. Families find themselves shouting instructions, frantically passing ingredients, and laughing at disasters when orders burn because nobody washed the plates. The difficulty scales appropriately, challenging experienced gamers while remaining accessible for family members new to games.
2. Moving Out (All Platforms)
Moving Out delivers similar cooperative chaos but replaces cooking with furniture moving. Teams work together hauling couches, TVs, and appliances from houses to moving trucks, navigating obstacles, and solving physics-based puzzles collaboratively.
The slapstick physical comedy appeals across age groups – watching grandpa’s character accidentally throw a lamp through a window or aunt’s avatar get stuck in a doorway holding a couch generates genuine laughter. The game never feels mean-spirited, even when things go wrong, making it perfect for family play where frustration needs avoiding.
3. It Takes Two (PC, PlayStation, Xbox)
It Takes Two requires exactly two players working together through a story about parents navigating relationship challenges, though the narrative depth takes a backseat to inventive gameplay. Each level introduces completely new game mechanics and gameplay styles, keeping the experience fresh across the 10-15 hour adventure.
This works beautifully for parent-child pairs or couples wanting more substantial cooperative experience than quick party games provide. The game’s design ensures both players contribute meaningfully – neither can succeed without the other, creating genuine collaboration rather than one player carrying the other.
Accessible Competitive Games: Friendly Competition
Sometimes families want competition but need games where skill gaps don’t result in complete domination, creating frustration rather than fun. These titles balance competition with accessibility:
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch)
Mario Kart remains the gold standard for accessible competitive racing. The steering assist and auto-acceleration options allow complete beginners to compete, while experienced players can disable assists for additional challenge. Item-based chaos ensures races remain unpredictable – even leading players aren’t safe from last-minute upsets.
The game accommodates up to four players locally or eight online, with tracks designed for maximum fun rather than simulation realism. Families consistently report Mario Kart as reliable Thanksgiving entertainment, generating excitement without excessive frustration.
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo Switch)
Smash Bros. simplifies fighting game complexity into accessible button-mashing fun while maintaining depth for experienced players. The game character roster spans gaming history, giving every family member characters they recognize and want to play.
Casual ruleset options reduce complexity, items create unpredictable moments that level playing fields, and the chaotic multiplayer format means losses don’t feel personal – everyone’s getting knocked around, creating shared comedy rather than serious competition.
3. Jackbox Party Packs (All Platforms)
Jackbox games use smartphones as controllers, eliminating the “we don’t have enough controllers” problem while ensuring everyone already knows how to use the interface. These party game collections include trivia, drawing games, word games, and creative challenges that range from family-friendly to adult humor, depending on the pack chosen.
The games accommodate large groups (often 8+ players) and even allow audience participation for unlimited observers. This flexibility makes Jackbox ideal for extended families where 10-15 people might want to participate simultaneously.
Puzzle & Strategy Games: Thoughtful Play
Not every family wants chaos – some prefer thoughtful, strategic experiences where discussion and planning create the engagement:
1. Unravel Two (All Platforms)
Unravel Two offers gentle puzzle-platforming requiring two players to cooperate in solving environmental puzzles using their game characters’ yarn abilities. The game’s beautiful visuals, emotional storytelling, and non-violent nature appeal to families preferring contemplative experiences.
The puzzles require communication and coordination, but never create time pressure, causing stress. Families can progress at comfortable paces, discussing solutions and enjoying the atmospheric journey together.
2. Snipperclips (Nintendo Switch)
Snipperclips presents adorable paper characters that solve puzzles by cutting each other into different shapes. Players cooperate by cutting partners into appropriate shapes for challenges like carrying objects, popping balloons, or forming specific silhouettes.
The whimsical creativity and gentle difficulty curve make this accessible for young children while remaining engaging for adults. The cooperative requirement ensures shared problem-solving rather than one person solving while others watch.
3. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (All Platforms)
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime seats players inside a spaceship with multiple stations – shields, weapons, engines, and a map – requiring constant coordination, as only one player can control each station at a time. Teams navigate through colorful levels rescuing space bunnies while defending against enemies.
The frantic station-switching creates communication needs similar to Overcooked but in a more forgiving, less stressful framework. Families find themselves naturally developing strategies and roles, creating genuine teamwork moments.
Classic Board Game Adaptations: Familiar Fun
Digital versions of classic board games offer advantages over physical versions – automated rule enforcement, faster gameplay, and no lost pieces – making them excellent Thanksgiving choices for families who already enjoy traditional games:
1. Monopoly (All Platforms)
Digital Monopoly eliminates the tedious money counting and rule arguments while speeding up gameplay through automation. Various rule variants and themed boards provide variety, while online play allows distant family members to participate.
The game remains polarizing – some families love the competitive property trading, while others find it relationship-straining. Know your family dynamics before suggesting Monopoly for Thanksgiving gaming.
2. UNO (All Platforms)
Digital UNO maintains the simple card game’s accessible appeal while adding visual flair and online connectivity. The rules take minutes to explain, games last 10-15 minutes, allowing easy rotation of players, and the straightforward competition works across age groups.
The game’s light strategic elements provide just enough depth to remain interesting without overwhelming casual players, making it reliable entertainment for mixed-skill family groups.
3. Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo Switch)
Mario Party combines board game structure with minigame collections, offering variety that prevents boredom across longer play sessions. The updated classic includes five remastered boards and 100 minigames spanning series history.
The minigame variety ensures different skill sets matter – some require reflexes, others memory or luck, preventing any single player from dominating every challenge. The board game progression between minigames creates a narrative arc, keeping everyone engaged even when not actively playing minigames.
Casual & Relaxing Experiences: Low-Stress Fun
Some family members might prefer watching or participating in low-pressure experiences without competition or coordination stress:
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch)
Animal Crossing doesn’t require active participation from everyone – one person can play while others watch and offer suggestions about island design, interact with charming animal villagers, and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere together.
The non-violent, goal-free structure makes this perfect for family members who find traditional gaming stressful. Grandparents often particularly enjoy Animal Crossing’s gentle pace and creative expression without pressure.
2. Minecraft (All Platforms)
Minecraft in creative or peaceful mode offers collaborative building experiences where families can work together constructing elaborate structures, recreating real-world locations, or simply exploring procedurally generated worlds.
The game’s creative potential engages artistic family members, while the exploration and building game mechanics appeal to those enjoying more structured activities. The lack of mandatory objectives means families can play at whatever pace and style suits them.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving weekend provides a rare opportunity for multigenerational family time, and video games have evolved into excellent vehicles for creating shared memories and genuine connection. Whether your family prefers cooperative chaos in Overcooked, friendly competition in Mario Kart, thoughtful puzzle-solving in Unravel Two, or relaxed creativity in Animal Crossing, options exist that match every family dynamic and preference.
The key is choosing games prioritizing accessibility, inclusion, and appropriate challenge levels over showcasing gaming prowess. The goal isn’t proving who’s the best gamer in the family – it’s creating moments of laughter, teamwork, and shared experience that strengthen family bonds during precious time together.
This Thanksgiving, consider swapping some screen time isolation for screen time togetherness. The right games transform what could be awkward post-dinner downtime into highlight moments your family remembers far longer than what was served for dinner. Grab some controllers, gather the family, and discover that gaming together creates connections as meaningful as any traditional holiday activity.
FAQs
1. What types of games are best for family play during Thanksgiving?
Cooperative party games, accessible competitive games, puzzle & strategy games, classic board game adaptations, and casual experiences are all great options to accommodate different family preferences and skill levels.
2. How can families balance different skill levels while gaming together?
Choosing games with assist features, adjustable difficulty, and inclusive control options helps balance skill gaps. Also, using rotation systems ensures everyone gets a turn and feels included.
3. Are there games suitable for both younger children and adults?
Yes, titles like Overcooked! 2, Moving Out, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Jackbox Party Packs offer gameplay that is accessible and enjoyable across multiple age groups.
4. What makes cooperative party games particularly good for Thanksgiving?
They emphasize teamwork and shared success rather than competition, which fosters laughter and connection without creating tension or frustration among family members.
5. Can video games help create memorable family moments beyond just entertainment?
Absolutely. Games that prioritize fun, interaction, and inclusivity turn post-meal downtime into engaging shared experiences that strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.