This season is all about giving. So why not give — and get — some laughs along the way? If you're tired of the standard Secret Santa exchanges and want to change things up a bit this year, there are plenty of fun gift exchange games you can play with your friends in person or even virtually. Plus, it will be a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the year.
Whether you've always exchanged gifts in a group chat or it's your first time exchanging gifts with a new coworker, it's important to find the balance of a light-hearted gift exchange while still celebrating the values of the season. It doesn't need to be super serious, but it still needs some structure so everyone knows how to work together. These gift exchange ideas are even perfect for extended family holiday gatherings, making everyone (even your great-grandfather and fun single aunt) happy. Read on to find out what gift exchange games you can play this year and add to your annual traditions. Some of these games are more well-known than others, so make sure everyone knows the rules brief before the game starts to keep everything fair. and happiness.
1.White elephant
If you're not familiar with how to play White Elephant, the basic process is this: Everyone prepares a wrapped gift and places it in a designated gift pile. Everyone will get a number. This is the order in which you choose your gifts. While the first person picks, those following will either steal the gift or pick from the pile. This sentiment continues until all the gifts have been picked. Want to organize a virtual gift exchange? Let Baixiang Online handle all logistics for you.
2. Hot Gift Potatoes
If you have a small group, you can take them back to the good old days with a game of hot potato. First, to the beat or beep of the timer, throw gifts around the room. When the timer goes off, the person holding the gift gets to keep it. Keep playing until everyone involved has a gift! You'll be surprised how, over time, anxiety can lead to focus and laughter. Hey, when you go out, at least you go out with a gift.
3. Musical chairs
Like a hot potato, Musical Chairs is the low-stakes tension we need this year. Start playing as usual: everyone circles around a set of chairs as the music plays. In the first round, after the music stops, everyone tries to grab a seat and those left standing get to pick a gift. Those who exit in each subsequent round then have the option of picking a gift from the pile or stealing someone else's gift. The last person left has the benefit of seeing what everyone else has picked out, giving them the option to steal from anyone or choose the last gift to open.
4. Holiday Dice Exchange
Have a small group of people? This could be a perfect match. All you need is a pair of dice and a rules sheet printout. Apparently, everyone has gifts ready. From there, roll the dice one at a time. The number you reach comes with instructions indicating the fate of your gift, such as opening your gift or everyone passing your gift to the left.
5. Number Facts Game
How well do you know your team? This is a great way to learn or learn some interesting facts about other people. Let your most enthusiastic panelist moderate it. When everyone brings a gift, it is marked with a number and you receive a piece of paper with the same number on it. Write down an interesting fact about yourself. Factual documents will be placed into the hat and the moderator will read out the facts. Whoever guesses who the coordinating fact is about first gets a number-related gift!
6. Q&A gift exchange
Similar to the numbers game, play a round of trivia at the office. It can even be tailored to your office, whether it's holiday-specific trivia or just general random facts. When you answer correctly, you will get a gift. Simple, informative and hilarious.
7. Swapping Game
You will need to distribute a set of rules cards, one to each person. The cards will have instructions such as "Give your gift to the person wearing the hat" or "Each person must exchange their gift with another person." As Gifts.com warns, gifts will be taken away from you and delivered to you in a whirlwind, crazy, and festive fashion.
8. The “Never Have I Ever” Game
Tailor this classic game for the holidays with the cue "I've never had eggnog." When you go out, you can pick out a gift and your last touch of dignity.
9. Bingo
Get out those bingo markers and fire up the virtual bingo number caller. When playing the game, the first winner can pick from a fresh pile of gifts, and the second winner can easily steal that gift or pick another gift. Continue this cycle until everyone has a gift that makes them yell "Bingo!"
10. Coffee cup
Take the guesswork out of gift-giving by exchanging mugs. Have everyone bring a mug to give away – bonus points for creativity. Then, inspired by Gifts.com , mark each wrapped cup with a number and have everyone in the participating office choose a number from the hat. Grab your cup and enjoy the holiday cheer.
11. Redeem at dollar store
Set your budget to a dollar or two. You and your colleagues may only exchange gifts within these limits. These gifts, no matter how small, will bring a big laugh.
12. Mysterious gift
Remember when you were younger and at a Halloween party you had to blindly reach into a bowl of something and guess what it was? Usually, a bowl of pasta is filled with bugs, you know? Take the essence of a mystery game and transform it into a holiday gift exchange. When you watch your loved ones blindly trying to figure out what they are bringing home, you will at least smile.
13. Gift Card Redemption
Make sending gifts as easy as possible by limiting your gift exchanges to gift cards. To reduce hassle, only exchange virtual gift cards so people can easily email the gift to the recipient.
14. Be mean to your neighbor
For the Scrooge Your Neighbor gift exchange, everyone gets a pre-assigned character card. (For example, Scrooge lets you stop someone from stealing your gift, and The Ghost of Christmas Future lets you take a look before choosing a gift.) Go around in a circle and each person chooses a gift, but remember Live: You can also use your character cards. Continue to bully your co-workers without any remorse.
15. Front/Back
All this exchange requires is a coin and a person who is good at flipping coins. If you get heads, you can steal other people's gifts. If you get tails, you get to pick from the unwrapped pile.
16. Wiki Contest
If you have a small group of people on Zoom, wiki contests are a fun way to decide who gets to pick out a gift and when. Pick a random Wikipedia page to start. The first person to visit the Wikipedia page for Santa Claus (or Christmas or Eggnog, really any holiday) can then pick a gift. What's the gain? You can only click hyperlinks within Wikipedia pages, and clicking the back button is not allowed.
17. Guess the gift giver
Add some "mystery" by having each person receive a gift from another participant anonymously using a traditional gift exchange. Then, take turns opening gifts via Zoom and try to guess who gave whom what.
18. Find gifts
Turn your space into a treasure trove. This game can easily be combined with Secret Santa. However, you must bring a set of clues with the gift. Hide the recipient's gift somewhere in the house. Your clue map will bring them closer to the gold.
19. Majority/Minority
While playing the game, a person is given two contrasting options. It can be any two choices: vanilla or chocolate, day or night, winter or summer, Santa or Scrooge and so on. Then, everyone walks around and says which one they choose, no explanation needed. When returned to the original person, they will speak of their choice. If the majority of people choose the same thing as the original person, then that person can steal a gift. If they are in the minority, they pick from the pile. Honesty is key.
20. Mute/unmute
Turn the dreaded Zoom microphone into a game by putting one person in charge of the "mute/unmute all" function. Make sure everyone is viewing in Active Speaker mode, which highlights who is speaking. Have the moderator ask questions to the group and then unmute everyone. Whoever's video is highlighted in speaker mode can open their gift.
