Happy Thanksgiving! While technically only lasting 24 hours, Thanksgiving basically stretches until the rest of the week, especially since it is followed by Black Friday, a day that almost feels like a holiday in its own right. Depending on the household, gaming might be a priority, and it is always useful to have a few group games ready to go if the opportunity arises.
Co-op options are plentiful, but not all that many games support more than 4 players (or are suitable for large parties). Suppose you are expecting to have plenty of people over, or are just looking for something to play with your immediate family, these upcoming games should be able to get the laughs rolling while just being wildly entertaining.
Jackbox Party Pack
A Big Selection Of Party Games For A Big Group
- Number of Players: Varies depending on the game, but most of the recent packs prioritize large groups.
- Required Hardware: PC, consoles, or Amazon Luna, along with smartphones or tablets
- Why Jackbox Party Pack Is Great For More Than 4 Players: The series has produced so many minigames that there should be multiple options that suit every person. A single pack comes with 5 games, which tend to fall under different categories. You can also buy individual games (although not every game is available).
- Best Jackbox Game Series For Big Groups: Quiplash (3–8 Players); Fibbage (2–8 Players); Trivia Murder Party (1–8 Players); Drawful (3–8 Players)
Mario Party is likely the first thing that comes to mind when somebody thinks of a "party game," but Nintendo's franchise is generally only for four players; consequently, when it comes to releases designed with larger groups in mind, The Jackbox Party Pack should be the default option. Whether you opt to pick up a pack with a few games, subscribe to Amazon Luna's Jackbox channel to get access to everything, or just buy one of the standalone releases, you are pretty much guaranteeing a fun night filled with laughter, playful competitiveness, and lies.
5 Games to Play With Your Family This Thanksgiving Instead of Arguing Over How Dry the Turkey Was
Thanksgiving can be both fun and stressful, and these games will make sure the former takes center stage.
While the most beloved Jackbox games are safe bets for most circumstances, I recommend doing some research to make sure you find one or two games that are best suited to your group's sensibilities. For example, Drawful might not hit the mark if nobody in your group likes to draw or wants to really show their creations, but it could be absolutely perfect for a family of artists.
Among Us
Find The Impostor In Your Thanksgiving Party
- Number of Players: 4–15
- Required Hardware: Either a console or a mobile device for each player. The mobile release is free, but the console/PC versions are paid. Among Us supports full crossplay, too.
- Why Among Us Is Great For More Than 4 Players: While not as accessible to non-gamers as something like Jackbox, Among Us can be a more riveting time if the group wants something a touch more intensive and, potentially, hilarious. Also, the game is so popular that most players will already have experience with it.
One of the most popular multiplayer projects of all time, Among Us is right up there with the best social deduction games, and it has a unique identity through its sci-fi setting, character designs, and funny animations. Although things vary slightly depending on the map, Among Us's core formula is fixed: A group of Crewmates must complete tasks, while a few secret Impostors must slowly kill them off. If the Crewmates manage to unmask the Impostors, they also win the game; however, they can and likely will eject a few allies along the way.
Among Us is an absolute blast to play locally, even if it might not encourage direct interactions as much as some other multiplayer games. Everyone will always have something to do, as long as they have not been ejected, and matches frequently devolve into laughter, arguments, and backstabs.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Say What You Are Thankful For, Then Pummel Your Family & Friends
- Number of Players: 2–8
- Required Hardware: A single Nintendo Switch will do the trick, but you will obviously need a Joy-Con for each player.
- Why Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Is Great For More Than 4 Players: It is Super Smash Bros. Seriously, when have these games ever failed to entertain a party? Ultimate makes it very easy for (up to) 8 players to play together.
Generally, I avoid recommending fighting games for a Thanksgiving-like setting, as the players' knowledge levels would likely vary too much to allow everyone to have fun. However, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate moonlights as a party game, and you do not need to know its controls to have a great time.
Best Free Co-Op Games You Can Play On Steam
Are you and your friend looking for free-to-play co-op fun? Then, try out the following fantastic games on Steam.
Now, that's not to say that familiarity and mastery do not make a difference, as they definitely do, but the game rewards chaos just as much as precision and skill. Someone who has never picked up a Joy-Con might be at a disadvantage, but they could easily button-mash their way to a few knockouts. Even if that does not happen, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate seems to be inherently capable of inspiring smiles in all of its players.
Mario Kart World Or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Local Wireless Or Just Cycle Through Players)
The Perfect Crowd-Pleaser For Any Gathering, Not Just Thanksgiving
- Number of Players: 2–8 through local wireless, with 2 players on each console. If you only have a single Switch (and 4 Joy-Cons), you can opt for 4-player matches and swap out after a race. LAN play is also supported in Mario Kart World.
- Required Hardware: A console for every duo, with Joy-Cons for each player. If you are a party of 8, you will need 4 Nintendo Switches (Or Switch 2 for Mario Kart World).
- Why Mario Kart Is Great For More Than 4 Players: Mario Kart might just be the best "pick-up-and-play" franchise of all time. The games have intuitive controls, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Mario Kart World are near-perfect group games. I personally prefer the former, but the latter might be more accessible, depending on the group's hardware. The Switch is such a portable console that it is somewhat likely that a group will have access to a couple.
Who doesn't love Mario Kart? Even if it is not somebody's favorite series ever, they probably still relish the occasional race, especially in a multiplayer setting where everybody can enjoy a lighthearted but still competitive experience. Heck, you can even throw out a battle every once in a while, just to allow players to blast each other into oblivion.
Now, admittedly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and World are slightly more complicated to set up for 6 or 8 players than something like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the group needs to coordinate ahead of time to ensure they have the necessary hardware. However, a lot of people have not only a Switch, but also these games specifically, so it should not be impossible to get everyone on board.
Other Multiplayer Games That Allow More Than 4 Players
Punch, Bomb, Or Dance Thanksgiving Away
While the above recommendations are the pick of the bunch, there are plenty of other games that might be better suited to specific audiences. Let's go through a few quickly.
- Gang Beasts – A really fun physics-based PvP game that is sure to inspire laughter. Generally, the game supports 4-player local co-op, but online play allows up to 8 users to join in.
- Just Dance – Just good-old-fashioned rhythm fun, and the series is specifically suited for group fun, with 6 players trying to synchronize as they bust a move.
- Super Bomberman R 2 (Or Super Bomberman R) – Supports 8 players locally, and the gameplay is chaotic but also arcadey and intuitive.
Best 6-Player Co-Op Games
Co-op games come in all shapes and sizes, and these great titles support 6-player groups.