What's in the Christmas Most Likely To deck
Each card finishes the question “Who's most likely to…?” with something from the holidays. There are 90 cards in six categories of 15, all clean enough for a family party, a classroom or the office. They match our online list.
Gifts
Shoppers, wrappers, shakers and peekers. Who's most likely to use half a roll of tape on one present?
Decorating
Lights, ornaments and a tree that may not fit. Who's most likely to untangle the lights without losing their patience?
Cookies & treats
Sprinkles, cocoa and gingerbread. Who's most likely to eat the gingerbread house before it's finished?
Holiday movies
Movie nights under a blanket. Who's most likely to cry at the end of every holiday movie?
Santa
Cookies, reindeer and the nice list. Who's most likely to build a trap to catch Santa in the act?
Snow & travel
Snowball fights and cars packed with presents. Who's most likely to start a snowball fight with no warning?
How to play Most Likely To on paper
- 1Shuffle the cards and stack them face down in the middle.
- 2The reader takes the top card and reads it out loud: “Who's most likely to…” and the line on the card.
- 3Count to three. On three, everyone points at one person.
- 4The person with the most fingers pointing at them keeps the card. If there's a tie, the reader decides.
- 5Pass the stack to the next reader. When the cards run out, whoever holds the most cards wins.
Give each card keeper one sentence to defend themselves. The room can vote on whether it worked, but the card stays with them either way.
Printing and party tips
- Print on cardstock. The cards get handed around a lot.
- Laminate a set and keep it with the ornaments for next year.
- Hang a stocking for each player and drop the cards they win inside. Count them at the end of the night.
- Start with Santa or Cookies & treats to warm up. Gifts and Holiday movies tend to start the best debates.
- Keep it kind. If a card doesn't fit your group, skip it and draw another.
Variations
Secret vote
Hand out scraps of paper. Everyone writes a name, folds it and drops it in a bowl. The reader counts the votes out loud.
Holiday awards
Write each winner on a slip of paper. At the end of the night, read the slips out loud like an awards show.
Christmas Eve tradition
Play ten cards after dinner, then tuck the winners' slips into the ornament box. Read them again next December.
Table stacks
At a big party, give each table its own stack. Tables trade stacks halfway through.
For families, classrooms and office parties
Most Likely To works best with people who know each other a little, like a family, a class or a team that's worked together all year. Every card is about something harmless, like baking twelve kinds of cookies or tracking Santa's sleigh all night, so nobody is put on the spot in a bad way.
In a classroom, the teacher can read the cards and students vote with a show of hands. At the office, pick the categories that fit and keep it short: fifteen cards make a nice break before the gift swap. For more ideas, see our Christmas games and office holiday party games.
Play the same deck on one phone
Skip the printing and play the same Christmas deck in our Most Likely To game. Pass one phone around, and switch to Secret vote if you'd rather nobody sees who picked whom. The full set is also on the online list.
For another holiday deck, print the Christmas would you rather cards.
Questions
How do you play Most Likely To with cards?
Read a card out loud, count to three, and everyone points at one person. Whoever has the most fingers pointing at them keeps the card. Most cards at the end wins.
How many cards are there?
90 cards in six categories of 15. They print 8 to a page, so the full deck takes 12 pages. Pick fewer categories for a shorter game.
Are these OK for family and work parties?
Yes. The cards are about gifts, decorating, cookies, holiday movies, Santa and snow. Nothing is mean, personal or about how people look.
How many players do you need?
Four or more works best. With a big group, split into tables and give each one its own stack.
What happens if there's a tie?
The reader decides who keeps the card. Or slide it to the bottom of the stack and try it again later.
Can we play without printing?
Yes. Open the Most Likely To game, pick the Christmas deck and pass one phone around.