23 Fun Family Reunion Games for 2024

There’s nothing quite like getting the extended family together for some much-needed bonding and catching up while playing family reunion games. Whether it's sports-related, trivia or some good old-fashioned charades, you name it, you’re guaranteed an orchestra of laughs, friendly competition and a strong sense of camaraderie.

If you’re looking for games to play at a family reunion that are suitable for all ages and interests, you’re in luck. This list of 23 fun family reunion games will give you plenty of inspiration. You can explore classic outdoor activities or keep it cozy indoors with engaging and fun challenges. These family reunion games will ensure everyone has a great time while strengthening family bonds. Which one of these fun family party games will you play first?

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• The Benefits of Playing Family Reunion Games
• 23 Fun Games for Family Reunions
• More Team Building In Cities Near You

The Benefits of Playing Family Reunion Games

Your family reunion ideas should aim to bring relatives together after what may be a long time apart it’s normal to experience some stilted conversations and awkward interactions when you first re-meet. Encouraging everyone to let their guard down, be a bit silly and childish, and work in teams with family gathering games means that those bonds can reforge more quickly. They give your family reunion some structure, too.

Family reunion games work like magic to ensure everyone has a good time at your family gathering. Whether you're eager to make the gathering more meaningful, you want to break the ice or you’re using it to heal age-long rifts, these family reunion games serve as perfect solutions. Use them to reconnect after time spent apart and to create fresh, cherished memories together. 

23 Fun Games for Family Reunions

1. Team Building Games

Team building family reunion games are an easy way to encourage communication and bonding. These team building activities can include paper airplane competitions, ice breaker games and cooking competitions. 

So, dust off your aprons and get the entire family involved in a light-hearted cooking competition where you'll show off your creativity in the kitchen. Why not pair the older and younger family members together to encourage bonding across generations? Each person will contribute their unique skills and perspectives, making the entire experience memorable. The best part? You can all share the food you make at the end.

2. Online Cooking Competition

Online alternatives to in-person family reunion games are a great way to make family gatherings inclusive for everyone, no matter where in the world your relatives reside. Virtual activities like trivia, online team building games or even online cooking classes allow family members of all ages to participate. 

So, why not shake things up with a fun online cooking competition to see who can make the most impressive-looking dish remotely? This adds a little excitement and competitiveness to the reunion. There are also plenty of other online experiences to choose from so that no one in the family feels left out.

3. Guess the Baby

Don’t forget the baby photos at your next family gathering. This family reunion game combines nostalgia with a guessing game. The game begins when each family member submits baby photos; the photos are pinned to a board and then each team works together to match each baby picture to the right family member. 

Whichever team has the most correct guesses wins. From discussions about diapers to emerging first teeth, nothing encourages family bonding like reminiscing and engaging in thoughtful conversations about times gone by.

4. Water Balloon Toss

If your family reunion is happening on a hot summer's day, then what could be more refreshing that a game of water balloon toss? To play, pair up with your favorite cousin or uncle, stand two feet apart and face each other.

When you're in position, toss the water balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each toss. The team that can toss the water balloon from the furthest distance without it popping is the winner. This family reunion game is a fun way to challenge your coordination and communication.

5. Sack Race 

Relive your childhood summer camp days with the classic sack race. This nostalgic family reunion game will get your heart rate pumping and the laughter flowing. 

To set up for the sack race, each family member will stand inside a large burlap sack, holding onto the edges with both hands. The aim of the game is to race (or rather, hop) from the start to the finish line and of course, whoever crosses the line first wins. Sack race is a simple and effective way to unleash your inner child.

6. Family Trivia

Let everyone know who has the brains in the family with a good old-fashioned game of family trivia. To play this family reunion game, start by appointing a family member as the host well ahead of the family reunion, and have them create trivia questions based on family history, general knowledge, fun facts and more. 

When the time comes, split into teams and have the host ask each team a question. Family trivia is a great family reunion game to test your family's knowledge about one another and its ability to work together.

7. Scavenger Hunt

Get your thinking caps on with a fast-paced scavenger hunt. During this exciting family reunion game, you'll work in two teams to find items from a pre-written list. But there's a twist — you'll need to follow clues to discover the location of each item. 

To set up for this family reunion game, create a list of objects found around the house and garden, hand each team their list and let the games begin. Scavenger hunts are a race against time and encourage everyone to think on their feet. Most importantly, this energetic game promotes effective communication and even stronger family bonds.

8. Relay Race

Are you looking for fun games for family reunions that encourage plenty of movement and teamwork? If so, plan a family relay race. 

To play, divide everyone into teams and have them line up at a starting point. Each team member will take turns running to a marked spot where they’ll complete a task and then run back to pass a baton to the next teammate. To make it as fair as possible, make sure teams are evenly balanced in terms of age and ability.

9. Ludo

Next on the list is Ludo, a family reunion game that needs no introduction. Ludo is a timeless board game where each player selects a color and starts with four tokens. You’ll each take turns rolling the dice and the number on the dice determines how far you’re allowed to move your tokens. 

To win this game, you need a nod from Lady Luck to be the first player to move all four of your tokens around the board and into the coveted home base. Ludo is the perfect family gathering game because it's fun for all ages and easy to learn — and for large family groups, you can even play in teams.

10. Decorate The Cake

Calling all baking enthusiasts in the family — it’s time to don your chef hats for a creative family reunion game. All you need are a few ingredients to get the fun started. 

Divide everyone into teams and provide them with a plain cake, frosting, fruit and sprinkles. Set a timer and let the cake decorating begin! The team with the best-looking cake when the alarm goes off wins. This family reunion game is a great way to encourage teamwork and an excuse to enjoy a sweet treat at the end.

11. Karaoke Competition 

Warm up your vocal cords for your next family reunion with a karaoke competition. Nothing says family bonding quite like a duet or group performance singing your favorite songs.

Use a karaoke app or machine and take turns singing your heart out. You can split into teams or go solo to shine in the spotlight as you compete to see who has the best vocals. This musical family reunion game is a fantastic way to showcase your talent while reminiscing about music you’ve loved as a family through the years, helping to forge stronger bonds with loved ones you don’t often see.

12. Pictionary

When you need a lively game to play at the family reunion, Pictionary is a fantastic option because it’s simple and encourages quick thinking and plenty of laughter. 

The rules for this family reunion game are simple: divide everyone into teams and let each member take turns drawing a word or phrase in the form of a picture while their teammates try to guess what it is. Who knew that all you need is some paper, pens and a little creativity to foster some serious family bonding?

13. Ultimate Frisbee

Looking for a family reunion game that doesn’t take place at home? If so, walk to your local park and enjoy a game or two of ultimate frisbee. The rules are simple and all you need is a frisbee. 

Split into two teams and try to score in the opposing team's end zone by catching the frisbee. There’s one catch, though — players can’t run with the frisbee. You’ll need to pass it to teammates to get it across the field, so make sure to practice your forehand throws during the warm-up. 

This family reunion game encourages communication and teamwork when passing the frisbee and fosters a sense of togetherness as you work together to score points, making ultimate frisbee one of the best team building games out there.

14. Family Feud

Playing Family Feud at your family reunion makes perfect sense! This family reunion game involves splitting into two teams and trying to guess the most popular answer to survey questions. 

Family Feud is the ideal game to play at a family reunion because everyone can collaborate and discuss answers together while having a blast. You can get creative by using family-specific questions or inside jokes and watch as your family members' faces light up.

15. Monopoly

It’s unthinkable not to include Monopoly in this list of fun family reunion games because it sparks laughter, conversation and more than a little competition. What's more, most people have played it, so it's an easy game to get going.

Even if you haven't played it before, it's very straightforward to learn. Each family member will take turns rolling dice and moving around the board, buying properties and renting or selling along the way to amass the most wealth by the end of the game. If someone lands on your property, they have to pay rent, but if you run out of money, you risk going bankrupt. 

This one works for a family reunion because it’s nostalgic and wholesome, and it doesn’t involve screens or loud noise. All you need is a group of family members keen to make time for each other. Oh, and you'll need a Monopoly board!

16. Four Corners

All you need for this fun and easy family reunion game is a spacious room and a bit of luck. Label the four corners of the room with numbers or colors and assign someone to be the “caller.” That person will stand in the middle with their eyes shut, while the rest of the players pick a corner to stand in. The caller then announces a number or color and anyone in that corner is out. The game keeps going until only one person is left and that person becomes the next caller.

17. Paper Airplane Competition

Take it back to the classroom with a paper airplane competition — it’s as simple as it sounds. Give each family member a piece of paper and let their creativity run wild as they compete to craft the most aerodynamic paper airplane. 

The goal of this family reunion game? To fly the furthest and claim victory. Feel free to make additional rules or just go with the flow. You can even create a mini awards ceremony at the end — the younger kids will adore this wholesome addition to reward their folding skills! 

18. Out of the Loop

If you need fun games for family reunions that you can access at the click of a button, look no further than Out of the Loop. In this engaging mobile app game, players take turns answering fun questions about a secret word in an attempt to figure out who in the group is “out of the loop.” 

The player who is not in the know must figure out what the secret word is without the others realizing it. This is one of the best family reunion games for encouraging quick thinking, providing plenty of laughter between loved ones. 

19. Charades

Challenge your family's quick thinking and creative abilities with a classic game of charades. In this family reunion game, teams take turns acting out a word or phrase (written beforehand and placed inside a bowl) using only movements and gestures, while the rest of the team tries to guess the answer. 

A game of charades promises lots of energy and is always filled with excitement as teams begin to decipher the clues. Whether you guess them or not, it doesn't matter — what matters are the memories you'll make together as you bond and have fun. 

20. Poker

This next entry to our list of family reunion games is definitely one for the grown-ups. Combining strategy with more than a little competition, poker is also a fantastic social game, giving players the chance to chat, drink and snack over a simple game of cards.

The best poker players in the family will use their skills to bet and bluff their way to victory, and the younger players are sure to learn a thing or two from wiley elders. To keep things friendly, use chips instead of real money, and see who can — or can't — keep their cool when the chips are down.

21. Giant Jenga

Few family reunion games allow you to bond quite like the shared anticipation of a giant wooden tower collapsing. This family reunion game is best played outdoors, so assemble all the cousins, aunts and uncles in the garden and prepare for some giant Jenga fun. 

All you need to play this family party game is a giant Jenga set, dexterity and a competitive family spirit. You’ll start by building up the tower before taking turns to carefully remove blocks and place them on top. If the tower collapses during your move, you lose!

22. Family Jigsaw Puzzle

Wind down at the family reunion with a relaxing jigsaw puzzle. The entire family will work together to find and fit the pieces while appreciating each other's company, fostering a much-deserved sense of accomplishment as the picture comes together. 

Why not use this as an opportunity to catch up, share stories and reminisce about past gatherings? This shared experience fosters teamwork but also creates a sense of belonging and togetherness.

23. Egg and Spoon Race

One of the oldest family reunion games on this list is the egg and spoon race, which dates back to the 1890s in England. To play this energetic game, all you need are boiled eggs and your racing shoes! 

Players place the egg on a spoon and hold it in their mouth or hand (make sure to unanimously determine this before starting) before racing to the finish line. The goal? To do it without dropping the egg. While often chaotic, this family gathering game is always lots of fun — just make sure to boil the eggs first!

More Team Building In Cities Near You

Check out more exciting team building activities in cities near you:

• A Guide to Team Building Activities in Boston
• A Guide to Team Building Activities in San Francisco
• A Guide to Team Building Activities in Miami
• A Guide to Team Building Activities in Indianapolis
• A Guide to Team Building Activities in NYC

Family reunions are about having fun, reconnecting with distant loved ones and enjoying endless conversations that typically start with “I remember when you were a baby…” With this list of fun family reunion games, you’ll have plenty of choices to keep everyone entertained, regardless of age or interests. 

Whether the entire family is coming to town or you're planning an online reunion, these family reunion games will not only help bring your family closer together, they'll create fond familial memories to last everyone a lifetime.

For even more fun team building inspiration, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.