Debatable Holiday Edition: Rules and Family Play Guide

By Brass Monkey Goods | Vintage Inspired Smartassery | Online | Published: 2026-11-03

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to play Debatable Holiday Edition at your next family gathering. A step-by-step guide to setup, arguing, and keeping the peace over 400 holiday topics.

Quick Answer

To play Debatable Holiday Edition, gather two or more players, draw a card, and let each side argue their assigned position on a holiday topic like whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The game works best when you keep rounds short and enforce the no-politics, no-religion rule.

Why This Version Works for Mixed-Age Tables

The holiday-specific deck deliberately avoids politics and religion, which makes it safer for tables that include grandparents, teenagers, and in-laws who disagree on everything else. The 400 topics focus on low-stakes holiday arguments—movies, food, traditions—so the debate stays playful instead of personal.

Because it supports two or more players, you can play it as a one-on-one argument or split a larger group into teams. That flexibility matters at gatherings where people arrive late or drift in and out of the kitchen.

Where the Game Slows Down

The catalog does not list a timer, scoring pad, or official round limit, so you will need to decide those details yourself before you start. Without a time cap, one passionate player can turn a single card into a twenty-minute filibuster. Agree on a round length and a simple win condition in advance so the game keeps moving.

Also plan for the fact that not every topic will land with every group. Skip cards that fall flat and move on—there are enough topics in the deck that you will not run out.

How to Play Debatable Holiday Edition: Step by Step

Set the ground rules before drawing a card: Agree on a round time limit (60–90 seconds per side works well) and a simple scoring method, such as the group voting for the winner of each debate. Common mistake: skipping this step and letting the loudest person control the pace. Write the time limit and scoring rule on a napkin so there is no mid-game argument about the argument.
Split into sides or teams: For two players, each person argues one side of the card. For larger groups, divide into two teams and have one speaker per team per round. Common mistake: letting people choose their own side every time—assign sides to keep it fair and funny. Rotate speakers each round so one person does not dominate the whole game.
Draw a card and read the holiday topic aloud: Pick a card from the deck and read it to the group. Topics are holiday-focused and avoid politics and religion. Common mistake: letting someone argue a topic they have not heard clearly—read it twice if the room is noisy. If a card does not fit your group, set it aside and draw another; do not force a dud.
Argue your assigned side for the agreed time: Each side gets the same amount of time to make their case. Keep it light and do not interrupt the other side. Common mistake: treating the debate as a real conflict—remind players this is a game, not a family referendum. Use a phone timer so both sides get equal time and the game does not stall.
Let the group vote and award a point: After both sides argue, the non-playing players vote for the winner, or if everyone is playing, use a show of hands. Award one point per round. Common mistake: arguing about the vote—accept the result and move to the next card. Keep score visibly so the game has a clear winner after a set number of rounds.
End after a set number of rounds: Decide in advance how many rounds you will play (five is a good default) and stop when you reach that number. The player or team with the most points wins. Common mistake: playing until everyone is tired—set the round count early so the game ends on a high note. Announce the final round before it starts so no one feels cut off.

Product Facts

Debatable Holiday Edition Social Game: Includes 400 holiday-ish things to argue about and is suitable for 2 or more players. You can run a quick two-person debate or scale to a full room without needing extra equipment.
Debatable Holiday Edition Social Game