This fun Thanksgiving wishes game is the perfect table game to play after your Thanksgiving feast or while the turkey is still cooking! It’s perfect for any age so grab your family and friends to answer I wish questions in this fun free printable game!
Thanksgiving Wishbone Wishes Game
One of the best Thanksgiving traditions (other than playing some Thanksgiving games) is pulling the wishbone and making a wish!
This fun printable Thanksgiving game plays on that idea by having people choose from one of four I wish statements to try and match what they think the majority will choose!
It’s a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving would you rather questions and so much fun!
Why this game is perfect for thanksgiving
- Good for all ages – whether you’re hosting a Friendsgiving with all adults or a Thanksgiving dinner with multiple generations, everyone can play this one together!
- Good for any size – as long as you have four or more people, you can play this game! It works well with any size – you’ll just have a little more cutting to do for a large group!
- Easy table game – even people who want to take it easy after a big Thanksgiving feast of turkey and mashed potatoes can play this simple table game!
Supplies
This game is simple but does require a few things to play. Here’s what you’ll need:
- I wish statements – download them for free at the bottom of this post or get them in my shop here!
- Number cards – you’ll need cards that say 1, 2, 3, and 4 for each person. They’re included in the download at the bottom of this post or in my shop.
- Bag, bowl, or box – you just need somewhere to put the I wish statements after they are cut up so people can pick them out randomly from somewhere.
- Markers – you’ll need 10 per person. I used these bingo markers (I use them for EVERYTHING) but you could use Cheerios, beans, pennies, etc.
- Scissors – use these to cut up the I wish statements and cards
Do I really need markers?
While technically you could just keep score and the first person to ten points wins, it’s a really fun part of this game for people to be able to visually see how close people are to winning! It can change the strategy of the game (kind of like Uno) – so I highly recommend some sort of actual physical markers people put in front of them.
How to Set Up the game
This game is pretty simple to setup, which is why it’s so great for Thanksgiving! No one needs to be spending a ton of time on setting up games when you have homemade crescent rolls and pumpkin slab pie to make!
- Print and cut the I wish statements – you’ll need just one copy of the I wish statements (get them at the bottom of this post), cut them each out individually, fold, and place into the bowl or box you’re using for your pile of statements.
- Print and cut out card numbers – you’ll need one 1, 2, 3, and 4 card per person playing. These should be all printed on the same color paper (even though my pictures are colorful – print all of them on the same color!).
- Get your table ready – place a pile of whatever markers you chose on either side of the table, so that everyone sitting at the table can reach them. Then place the box with I wish statements on one side of the table.
And that’s it – you’re ready to play!
How to Play this I wish Game
This game is very simple. The basic idea is that everyone will be choosing one of four I wish answers and trying to match the majority to win a marker.
Here’s how it works!
Have everyone sit around a table and give everyone their four 1, 2, 3, and 4 number cards. Then choose someone to go first.
The person who is going first randomly picks out one of the I wish statements from the box you put on the table earlier and reads it out loud, slowly, so that everyone can hear the answers. If they need to read the answers again, they can.
All of the players (including the person who read the statement) chooses the card that corresponds to the answer they want to go with.
Then the person who read the statement counts to three and on three everyone flips their chosen number card over on the table.
Anyone who matches the majority choice (the one that was answered the most) wins a marker and places it in front of them so everyone can see.
What is there’s a tie?
If there isn’t a true majority and instead two or more numbers end up in a tie, all of the players that tied win a marker. The only exception is if you everyone ends up in a tie (e.g., in a game of six people if you have two 2’s, two 3’s, and two 4’s), then you’ll just go to the next question and no one gets a marker.
How to Win
The first player to reach ten markers wins the game! If there’s a tie for the winning marker, keep playing until one of the players who ended up in a tie breaks out of the tie and wins!
Want a shorter game? Play to just five or seven markers!
More Thanksgiving Games
If you need more Thanksgiving activities to play with the entire family, try one of Thanksgiving ideas!
- Thanksgiving floor game – this is easily my favorite Thanksgiving game we’ve played this year, it’s so fun!
- Thanksgiving family feud – a Thanksgiving inspired version of the classic gameshow!
- Thanksgiving bingo – printable Thanksgiving themed bingo cards that are perfect for Friendsgiving or a Thanksgiving feast!
- Turkey hunt game – this is a simple yet so fun Thanksgiving activity for any age!
- Thanksgiving trivia – a printable Thanksgiving trivia game with options for young and old!
want more Thanksgiving Games?
Download the Thanksgiving Wishes Game
Enter your first name and email address in the form below to get the printable free download PDF. You will receive a link to download the PDF to your email within minutes. Print on card stock and you’re on your way.
If you’d prefer to not provide your email address, you can get a copy in my shop here.
If you do not see the form, click here to get to it.
If you do not see the email with the printable design templates immediately after you fill out the form, make sure to check your promotions, spam, and junk folders!
The file will include:
- Instructions
- Thanksgiving I wish statements (75+)
- Number cards (1-4)
- Use policy – everything is for personal use only, no commercial (for profit) use
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