Best Video Games for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving games at a glance

1. Overcooked! 2

Best for a lively Thanksgiving kitchen

Overcooked! 2 turns food preparation into a cooperative communication test. Players divide jobs such as chopping, cooking, plating, and washing while kitchens shift around them and orders continue to arrive.

That structure fits Thanksgiving particularly well. The theme matches the day, rounds are easy to understand, and a failed order usually creates a funny story rather than ending a long campaign. It works best when the group assigns simple roles before each level instead of having everyone chase the same task.

The game supports both local and online co-op, so it can serve a shared living-room session or connect people who cannot attend the same gathering. Its pace can become demanding, however, so it is better for groups that enjoy time pressure than for anyone seeking a quiet wind-down.

Choose it if: the group wants quick rounds, constant communication, and friendly kitchen chaos.

2. Stardew Valley

Best for a cozy harvest-season evening

Stardew Valley is a farming and life simulation about restoring a neglected farm, growing crops, raising animals, crafting, exploring, and becoming part of a rural community.

Its seasonal farming loop gives it a natural Thanksgiving connection without depending on a temporary promotion. A shared farm lets players divide work according to preference: one person can tend crops while another fishes, explores, organizes storage, or gathers materials.

There is less pressure than in a party game, which makes Stardew Valley suitable for a long evening after dinner. It is not ideal for a crowd that wants everyone involved immediately, because its systems take more time to learn and its best cooperative moments develop gradually.

Choose it if: two or more players want to build something together at a relaxed pace.

3. The Jackbox Party Pack

Best for a large Thanksgiving gathering

The Jackbox Party Pack collects five party games built around trivia, drawing, bluffing, and group responses. Players use phones or tablets as controllers, which removes one of the biggest barriers at a family gathering: finding enough gamepads for everyone.

The pack works well when people move in and out of the room. A round can begin quickly, and spectators can still follow the jokes and answers even if they are not playing. That makes it a practical bridge between dinner, dessert, and conversation.

This first pack includes different group sizes and formats, so check the selected game before inviting everyone into the same round. It also works best when the group agrees on the tone of its answers, especially when children and adults are playing together.

Choose it if: accessibility and whole-room participation matter more than traditional game mechanics.

4. Cooking Simulator

Best for solo Thanksgiving kitchen experimentation

Cooking Simulator offers a more detailed kitchen than the Overcooked games. Ingredients react through physics, tools need to be handled directly, and the player can follow recipes in Career mode or experiment more freely in Sandbox.

This is the list’s choice for someone who likes the food theme but does not want multiplayer pressure. It can also become an informal group activity when one person controls the kitchen and everyone else suggests what to cook or watches an experiment go wrong.

The game is single-player, so it should not be treated as the main entertainment for a large gathering. Its appeal comes from detailed interaction and unpredictable kitchen results rather than coordinated teamwork.

Choose it if: one player wants a food-focused simulation while others watch, advise, or take turns.

5. Flower

Best for a peaceful break after dinner

Flower replaces scores and complex objectives with movement through fields and dreamlike landscapes. The player guides the wind, collects petals, and brings color back to the environment.

Its simple structure makes it useful when the holiday becomes noisy or tiring. A session does not require a large commitment, lengthy explanation, or competitive mindset. It is also easy to watch, which allows other people in the room to enjoy the scenery without actively playing.

Flower is entirely single-player and offers none of the direct social interaction found elsewhere on this list. Its role is different: it provides a quiet reset between busier parts of the day.

Choose it if: the goal is relaxation, atmosphere, and a low-pressure solo experience.

6. Overcooked

Best for classic couch co-op

Overcooked established the series’ cooperative kitchen formula. Up to four local players prepare dishes, serve orders, and deal with layouts designed to disrupt an otherwise simple workflow.

The original remains a worthwhile choice when local couch play is the priority and the group wants a more compact introduction to the series. Its short stages make it easy to pass controllers between relatives or stop after a few rounds.

For most gatherings, Overcooked! 2 is the stronger first recommendation because it adds online co-op and expands the formula. The original still earns a place for groups that specifically want straightforward local play and already own it.

Choose it if: the gathering wants the original couch-co-op kitchen experience without committing to a longer campaign.

How we picked them

We looked for PC games we price that suit a holiday gathering: cooking chaos, calm farming, party quizzes and short sessions that work for family members of different skill levels. We checked each game’s modes so the list covers both shared-screen play and solo relaxation.

How to choose a Thanksgiving game

Start with the number of people who genuinely want to play, not the number of people in the house.

• For two to four active players: choose Overcooked! 2 for energy or Stardew Valley for a slower pace.
• For a larger mixed-skill group: choose The Jackbox Party Pack so people can join with familiar devices.
• For taking turns: choose Cooking Simulator and let the room suggest challenges.
• For quiet downtime: choose Flower.
• For local co-op with simple goals: choose the original Overcooked.

Also consider how much explanation the group will tolerate. Party games and short cooking levels work well between other activities. Farming games reward longer sessions, while a calm single-player game is better when only one person wants to play.

Which Thanksgiving game should you start with?

Choose Overcooked! 2 when the gathering wants laughter and communication, The Jackbox Party Pack when many people need an easy way to participate, or Stardew Valley when the evening calls for something warm and unhurried.

The holiday connection comes from how people play together. Food themes can mirror the real kitchen, farming games can reinforce the harvest atmosphere, and party games can give everyone a shared activity without replacing conversation.