Christmas Family Fun: Dartboard Games Guide

Darts Games That Shaped Our Festive Fun 🎄🎯

By the time Christmas rolled around at Tiger Darts, the big dinner had been polished off, the leftovers were doing the rounds, and the cracker jokes were… well, exactly what you’d expect. Like most families, we somehow managed to squeeze more games into that one festive week than we do in the rest of the year combined.

And just like in many homes across the country, a lot of that time was spent around a dartboard.

Between family visits, late evenings, and the odd competitive flare-up, darts became the constant. Not practice sessions. Not drills. Just fun. But it’s worth remembering that for many players – especially younger ones – this is often where the spark starts. Casual Christmas games, played for laughs, are how confidence builds, technique develops, and a genuine love for the game takes hold.

Below are the darts games we found ourselves playing over Christmas, why they’re great fun, and how even the most relaxed formats can quietly influence future talent.

The Games We Always Come Back To...

501

Why we played it: You can’t escape tradition.

With the World Championships on it was hard to not to pretend to compete! It’s familiar, competitive, and a great way to naturally introduce finishing doubles without it feeling like practice.

Best for: Traditionalists, competitive players

How it works:

• Each player starts on 501 points

• Players take turns throwing three darts

• Whatever you score is subtracted from your total

• The aim is to reach exactly zero

Key rules:

• You must finish on a double (or bullseye)

• If you go below zero, it’s a bust and your score reverts

Christmas twist: Shorten it to 301 for quicker games, or play in teams so everyone stays involved.

For younger or newer players, shortening the format keeps it fun while still teaching proper match structure - But if you're mean like me, forcing the kids to still hit the doubles to finish!

Cricket

Why it works at Christmas: Everyone stays involved.

Cricket was a firm favourite in busy rooms. Closing 15–20 and Bull rewards accuracy and tactical thinking, not just big scoring, which makes it ideal for mixed abilities.

Best for: Tactical players, small groups

How it works:

• The numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Bull are used

• Each number must be hit three times to be ‘closed’

• Singles = 1 mark, doubles = 2 marks, triples = 3 marks

Scoring:

• Once you close a number, you score points on it until all players have closed it

• The winner is the player who closes all numbers and has the highest score

This is one of those games where awareness and decision-making develop naturally.

The Games That Keep Things Light...

Around the Clock

Why we love it: Pressure-free improvement.

Best for: Beginners, mixed-ability groups

How it works:

• Players must hit 1 through 20 in order

• You can move on only after hitting the current number

• First to hit all numbers wins

Variations:

• Add bullseye at the end

• Require doubles only for a tougher challenge

Hitting 1 through 20 in order is simple, but it quietly builds board knowledge and accuracy. My kids love this and have been playing it obsessively!

Killer

Why it appeared most nights: Pure entertainment.

Best for: Larger groups, lots of laughs

How it works:

1. Each player is assigned a random number (often drawn from the board)

2. Players must hit their own number three times to become a ‘Killer’

3. Once a Killer, you can hit other players’ numbers to remove their lives

Winning:

• Last player with lives remaining wins

Killer turns darts into a social event. Assigning numbers, becoming a Killer, and knocking out lives leads to laughter, alliances, and the occasional dramatic celebration.

Behind the fun, though, players learn control – hitting specific targets under pressure.

Shanghai

Why it’s sneaky good: High focus in short bursts.

Best for: Short, exciting games

How it works:

• The game lasts 7 or 20 rounds

• Each round is a specific number (Round 1 = number 1, Round 2 = number 2, etc.)

• Players score only on that number

The Shanghai:

• If a player hits single, double, and triple of the round’s number in one turn, they win instantly

Fast-paced, dramatic, and great for rotating players in and out. With each round tied to a single number, Shanghai encourages repetition and confidence. And when someone lands a Shanghai (single, double, triple in one turn), the room always knows about it.

Games That Teach Without Trying To...

Baseball

Best for: Casual play, family tournaments

How it works:

• The game lasts 9 innings (like baseball)

• Each inning corresponds to numbers 1–9

• Players score only on the current inning’s number

Scoring:

• Singles, doubles, and triples score as normal

• Bullseyes often count as home runs (house rule friendly)

Baseball keeps everyone throwing at the same targets. It’s easy to follow, easy to score, and great for building consistency without anyone realising they’re doing it.

Halve-It

Best for: Nerve-testing fun

How it works:

• A list of targets is set (e.g. 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, Bull)

• Each round focuses on one target

• You must hit that target at least once in your turn

The catch:

• If you miss entirely, your score is halved

This one showed us how quickly momentum can swing. Miss the target for the round and your score is halved – suddenly focus matters. It’s brilliant for learning composure and recovery.

Snooker Darts

Best for: Dart and snooker fans

How it works:

• Players must hit a red (usually any single) before attempting a colour

• Colours follow snooker values; Yellow (2), Green (3), Brown (4), Blue (5), Pink (6), Black (7)

Rules:

• Hit a red, then a colour

• Colours are played in order once reds are gone

Snooker darts slows things down. Reds before colours, points that reward precision, and a rhythm that suits quieter evenings. It’s a great reminder that darts isn’t always about speed or power.

From Christmas Fun to Future Talent

Looking back, many of us at Tiger Darts can trace our own darts journeys back to moments just like these – relaxed games at home, thrown for fun, with no thought of averages or results.

That’s the beauty of Christmas darts. These games aren’t just entertainment; they quietly build familiarity, confidence, and enjoyment. For some players, that’s where a lifelong passion starts.

As the decorations come down and the dartboard gets a little less attention, the memories stick around – and often resurface again next Christmas.

Happy throwing 🎄🎯 (and congratulations Luke Littler!)