9 New Year Family Photo Games for Kids at Home
When family gathers around New Year, a few familiar photos can become a game everyone joins. These nine low-prep ideas work with children, parents and grandparents—and often with just one phone.
Published and information checked: . Written by 39Kids, the developer of PhotoPuzzle. App availability and pricing may change; check the stores before installing. The cover is an AI-generated illustration, not an app screenshot.
Choose three to five photos, then ask one question. “Whose baby picture is this?” lets a child, parent or grandparent take a turn as the guesser or storyteller. You do not need to sort the whole family archive.
This guide is about playing together across generations during a New Year gathering. For an activity built around one Christmas picture, see our Christmas photo ideas. For everyday one-on-one play, see ways to use growth photos.
Begin with three to five pictures from different moments
Before everyone gathers, pick two or three pictures from this year and one or two older family photos. They do not need to include every guest. Leave out embarrassing pictures or ones a person does not want shown, especially intimate baby photos.
- One photo: Zoom into a detail and ask what it is.
- Three photos: Put them in order and share one story about each.
- Several family members: Rotate who answers, gives a clue and chooses the next picture.
A child who prefers pointing to speaking can still join. The aim is not to keep score; it is to hear a story that someone else remembers.
One device and a simple turn rule are enough
An adult can hold the phone and show pictures. If children want to touch the screen, decide the order first. Ask people in the room whether they are happy for a picture of them to be used. An older relative may prefer to choose one of their own photos to show.
| Bring | Keep it simple |
|---|---|
| Pictures | Three to five clear photos; local copies are easier to open without waiting for cloud downloads |
| Screen | One phone or tablet; an adult may hold it for everyone |
| Time | Start with one question; continue only while people want to play |
If someone does not want to discuss an event, skip that photo. A “favorite photo” game need not rank anyone’s memories or make a reluctant person explain themselves.
Nine family photo games for a New Year get-together
1. Guess the baby
With that person’s permission, show an old childhood picture and ask who it is. Once revealed, invite them to tell one story from that time. Do not use an embarrassing picture as the joke.
2. Put three moments from the year in order
Pick photos from different seasons. Let a child and grandparent decide what came first, then check the dates together. Remembering the exact order is not required for enjoying the stories.
3. Reveal a close-up clue
Zoom into a shirt or background and ask, “Which day was this?” If it is hard, reveal more of the picture a little at a time. Show the whole photo as soon as someone guesses.
4. Make a photo word chain
Name an object in one picture. The next person looks for an object in another photo whose name begins with the final letter of the first word. For younger children, drop the letter rule and simply find something of the same color.
5. Pick one picture you like from this year
Each willing person chooses a photo and offers one reason: “I liked the blue sky” counts. There is no winning picture and no need to explain a memory that feels private.
6. Ask about what happened outside the frame
Show an older relative’s chosen picture and ask what happened just before or after it was taken. Let a child listen or ask the next question rather than treating the story as a quiz. A parent or other relative can take this role too.
7. Copy a family-photo pose
Choose a picture of people together and copy a hand shape or seated pose. You need not take another photo. Keep it safe and simple—no climbing furniture or running around the room.
8. Take turns with a four-piece photo puzzle
Choose a family-approved picture in PhotoPuzzle and start with four pieces. A child can move one piece while someone else offers a color clue. For difficulty options see our piece-count guide; for the controls see how to play PhotoPuzzle.
9. Make a “same pose, today” picture
Use one of the earlier photos as inspiration for a new family pose or hand gesture. Not everyone has to be in the frame. Ask whether people want the new picture taken and saved before reaching for the camera.
For a short visit: question, story, then a puzzle if wanted
Open with one close-up clue. After the answer, let someone tell the story behind that photo. If the group wants more, try a four-piece puzzle. If looking for pictures takes longer than playing, stop after the first question. It is fine to pause for a meal or a break before a game is finished.
With siblings of different ages, decide turns first and offer different roles. A younger child might choose the next photo or spot a color while an older child reads a clue.
Looking together is different from posting or forwarding
Do not forward a relative’s picture to a group chat or social account just because it was used in a game. Ask the owner and the people pictured; consider who will see it and whether a school name, address or other identifying detail is visible. UNICEF’s guidance on sharing children’s photos also emphasizes children’s views and the audience for a post.
Before using a picture in any app, check photo permissions and data handling. Our children’s photo privacy guide separates those settings from your phone’s own cloud sync.
New Year family photo games: frequently asked questions
Can we play with only one or two family photos?
Yes. One photo is enough for a close-up clue or a pose-copying game. With two, you can compare “then and now” or talk about which came first. Photos taken during this year’s gathering work too.
A grandparent is not comfortable using a smartphone. Can they join?
An adult can hold the phone and show the pictures. A grandparent can tell the story behind a photo, offer a clue or choose the next question without touching the device.
How do we avoid children arguing over the screen?
Decide whose turn it is before starting. Anyone waiting can be the clue-giver or look for a color. If turns become difficult, switch to a spoken story or a pose game with no screen.
Can we play a photo puzzle without internet?
PhotoPuzzle’s store descriptions say it can play offline with pictures already on the device or its included images. Download the app and photo first, then test a round with your connection off. Retrieving a cloud-only photo may still need internet.
May I send an old family picture to the group chat?
Showing a photo together in one room is different from sending it to a chat or posting it online. Check with the photo owner and the people pictured, then agree on who will receive it.
Takeaway: one question can bring everyone into the story
Choose a few old and new family pictures and begin with “Who is this?” or “What is in this close-up?” If people want to keep going, add a memory, a pose or a photo puzzle. It is just as good to stop after one enjoyable round.
PhotoPuzzle
Play together with a family-approved picture from four pieces. Available free on iPhone, iPad and Android.
