There’s just something magical about an Advent calendar. Our whole family looks forward to December 1st almost as much as Christmas itself, because it means the start of little daily surprises and traditions that carry us through the season. Each year we do a couple—there’s always an Exit Advent Calendar on our table, plus a new one or two to keep things fun and fresh. It’s become one of our favorite ways to slow down, connect, and make December memories together.
And here’s a little bonus: Advent calendars also make fantastic Christmas gifts. Even if you don’t use them to count down the days, gifting one on Christmas morning is always a hit—unique, thoughtful, and something everyone loves to open.
This guide to the best Advent calendars for 2025 includes family-friendly picks, unique ideas, and fun options for kids and adults alike.
Advent Calendar Games and Puzzles
Exit The Game Advent Calendar
Our yearly tradition. These advent calendars work like a 24 day exit game. Each day you’ll unravel a little more of the mystery. Games take an average of 5-15 minutes each day and are great for solo, couples, or families!
In case this year’s calendar sells out, (they tend to do that!) here’s more advent calendars in this series:
The Silent Storm | The Hunt for the Golden Book | Mystery of the Ice Cave | The Missing Hollywood Star
Hidden Games – Professor Charlie’s World Tour
Professor Charlie is missing. To find him, you’ll go on a 24 day journey reading letters that help you follow his trail. Each day has a new puzzle to solve taking anywhere from 5-15 minutes. This calendar is not to be overlooked! The puzzles are unique and have many cool elements I haven’t seen in these types of games before! My teen loved it!
Merry Murdle: 25 Fiendishly Festive Logic Puzzles
While not technically an Advent Calendar, this new edition to the Murdle logic puzzle books is perfect for Advent. The book has 25 logic puzzles to complete. I ordered a copy and plan to complete one puzzle a day during Advent. It’ll be the perfect excuse to remind me to slow down and take time to do things I enjoy during the busy Christmas season.
Clue Advent Calendar
I’ve been loving how Clue is getting in on the fun of escape room style games. This 24 day long mystery would be great for families. The Clue escape room games we’ve played have had a good mix of easy to medium difficulty puzzles. Not too hard, just fun.
HABA My First Advent Calendar
If you’re wanting a calendar for your littles, HABA’s are adorable. Known for making some of the best games for toddlers on the market, their advent calendar features high quality wooden pieces and a fun story to read together every day. Our kids loved playing with all the animals each day. After Christmas, as we’re packing up everything for the year, we put the animals back in the calendar box to reuse for next Christmas. Three years and it’s still going strong!
Brain Teaser Puzzles Advent Calendar
As a teen, I became absolutely obsessed with metal brain teaser puzzles. I’d work on one till I had it mastered, then immediately get another one and do the same. This would have made my whole Christmas!
Ravensburger Advent Calendar Puzzle
We’ve done a few puzzle advent calendars over the year and they’ve always been some of my favorite memories. Ravensburger makes our favorite puzzles so I’ve definitely got my eye on this one.
Some other fun Puzzle Calendars to check out:
National Parks | Christmas Jigsaw | Nativity |
Dice Advent Calendar
A fun idea for a DnD family!
Advent Calendar Crafts
Stitch a Day Advent Embroidery Calendar
This adorable cross stitch advent calendar would be perfect for a crafty teen or adult.
Woobles Crochet Advent Calendar
Our oldest has found a passion for crochet and loves nothing more than completing a new Wooble anigurumi. The sets really are worth the cost. This calendar would be so cute to work on during Advent or open up Christmas Day.
DIY Ornament Advent Calendar
I’ve realized that I like crafts a whole lot more when I don’t have to gather all the stuff for the crafts. Give me a ready to-go craft! My girls did a DIY Ornament Calendar last year and it was our 5 year olds favorite thing! We saved it till the last week of Christmas and she did a few a day, or you can go crazy and do it all together at the same time.
We got our toddlers their own mini tree to decorate with their ornaments.
Be on the look out for Target’s Mondo Llama ornament kit! That’s a favorite!
Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar
I love that this calendar comes with two bracelets to attach the charms to! If you have multiple kids who’d like to make a charm bracelet, there’s also one that comes with four!
Mini Coloring Advent Calendars
These mini coloring cards give you the perfect excuse to slow down each day and take a few minutes to relax.
Advent Calendar Activity Sets
Lego Advent Calendars
These Calendars need no introduction. They’re fantastic and always a delightful experience. If you haven’t tried one yet, this is the year!
Christmas Village Building Set Advent Calendars
This set looks so cute! Add a little bit more to it every day and end with an adorable Christmas Village after 24 days!
Super Mario Advent Calendar
We did this one with our kids a few years back and it was the perfect daily surprise for Advent. The small action figures are fun to play with and at the end you have a great Super Mario set to add to any playset you might be gifting. (We gifted our kids a Bowser Castle; hence the Advent Calendar subtly hinting at their future gift!)
Hot Wheel Advent Calendar
My kids can play with hot wheel cars all day! This set would be so fun as both am advent calendar and a gift.
Food and Treat Advent Calendars
Aldi Advent Calendars
I’d be remiss if I didn’t tout my love affair with Aldi’s Advent Calendars! I do the most damage here every year. From their delicious food calendars, character calendars like Harry Potter and Pokemon, candles, puzzles, and of course, the best, their $1.50 Chocolate calendars! You can find me at Aldi each week looking for the new drops in my Aldi Christmas sweater!
Thoughtfully Gourmet Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar
The perfect excuse to enjoy some hot cocoa together throughout Advent!
Bonne Maman Mini Spreads
I love this cute advent calendar! A new mini spread to enjoy each day with your breakfast or snack that day. Plus when you’re done, you can wash and reuse the jars and boxes for crafts, spices, or gifting! Worth getting for those mini jars alone!
If you enjoyed this post on the Best Advent Calendars for Families and Kids you may also enjoy:
Kids Games Recommendations by Age
Quick Games for Busy Families
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