Car and Taxi Games for a Group Heading Home After a Christmas Do

The best part of a Christmas do can be the journey home. Everyone is still talking, the playlist is sorted, and a few people are working out who is sharing a ride. The worst part can be the silence that falls when the car pulls away and the group runs out of things to say. A few simple games can fill the gap without any equipment at all.

This guide is for passengers. It covers games that work in a taxi or minicab with a mixed group, and how to keep the driver out of the game so that the journey stays safe and calm.

Keep the driver out of it

The first rule is that the driver is not part of the game. A driver needs to watch the road, junctions and pedestrians, so anything that makes them look away, turn around or answer a question is a problem. Keep the game in the back, speak quietly enough that the driver is not involved, and do not ask for help with a question during the journey.

It is also polite to keep the volume down. A game that gets loud can be hard for a driver to concentrate through, particularly on a busy road at night. Agree on a short game before you get in, and if the group gets noisy, pause and check whether everyone is still comfortable.

Twenty questions

Twenty questions needs nothing but a few people willing to play. One person thinks of a person, place or object, and the others ask yes or no questions to work out what it is, within twenty questions. It works well with a mixed group because people of different ages and backgrounds know different things.

Keep the subject broad at first, such as a film, an animal or a famous building, so the game builds up gradually. A quiet person can often win this game because they have been listening carefully to the earlier questions. If the group finds the first round too easy, switch to a narrower subject, such as a film everyone has seen or a town that most of the car has visited. The later rounds usually become more interesting once people start to share their own memories.

I spy and the alphabet game

I spy is a favourite for a reason. One person chooses something they can see, says “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…” and gives the first letter. The others guess. Keep the choices visible from the back seat, so that nobody needs to look at the driver’s view or the dashboard.

The alphabet game is a good alternative for a quieter group. Players take turns naming a word in a chosen category, such as film titles, cities or foods, and each new word has to start with the next letter of the alphabet. It is simple, fast and works well after a long evening.

Would you rather

Would you rather is a low-effort game that gets people talking. One person asks a question with two options, such as “Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?”, and everyone gives an answer and a reason. It has no winner, so it suits a group where some people do not like competition.

Keep the questions light and avoid anything that could make someone uncomfortable. A question about a shared work colleague or a recent event can start a conversation that is difficult to end inside a small car. A simple question about holidays, food or films is usually the safest choice.

Name the tune

Name the tune is a good game for a group that knows the same songs. One person hums or sings a short part of a song, and the others try to name the artist or the title. Do not play through a speaker in a taxi, and do not use an app that needs the driver’s attention. Humming is enough, and the awkward attempts are part of the fun.

Choose songs that most of the group will know, and use the chorus or the best-known line as the clue. If nobody guesses correctly, the person humming can give a hint, and the group can move on to the next round.

Making the journey comfortable

A taxi ride with a group works best when the group agrees on a few things early. Decide who sits where, who gets dropped off first, and how the fare will be shared. Those points can cause more tension than any game, so settle them before the car leaves the venue.

Keep the luggage and coats tidy, and check that nothing has been left in the car when you get out. If someone is feeling unwell, let the driver know quickly, and agree a short stop if it is needed. A relaxed journey is one where everyone can speak up without feeling pressured. If the group is splitting between two cars, agree the arrangement before the event, and let each driver know who is in their vehicle. That makes the end of the night quicker for everyone, and nobody is left waiting on the kerb while the details are sorted out.

If you are planning a group journey home after a Christmas do, get in touch with us to book a vehicle in advance. A pre-booked ride means you do not have to wait at the kerb, and the group can enjoy the games and the conversation without worrying about the next stage.