Guide ·
What games work for an office Christmas party?
Short answer: The games that work at the office are short, optional and easy to explain in one sentence. Coworker bingo, team trivia, a scavenger hunt and a round of would you rather all fit. Skip anything with physical contact, personal secrets or a drink in hand. Two or three games is plenty, and nobody should have to play.
You got handed the party. Congrats. Here's how to make the games the easy part.
Why bother with games at a work party?
Left alone, a work party has two stations: the snack table and the bar. A planned activity gives people a reason to talk to someone outside their own team. SHRM's office party guide makes the same point about activities breaking up time at the bar. It also warns off games built on secrets, dares or contact.
Which games are safe bets?
- Coworker bingo. Everyone hunts for the colleague who matches a square. People talk across teams and nobody is on stage.
- Team trivia. Small tables, one answer sheet each. Keep questions general and seasonal. Inside jokes leave the new hire out.
- Scavenger hunt. Works in the office, and at home on a video call ("show us something red on your desk").
- Would you rather. Zero setup. Good filler while food comes out.
- Gift exchange rules. If you're running one, write the rules before anyone shops: the price cap, how steals work and when it ends.
What should you skip?
- Anything with physical contact or dares.
- Games that make people share personal stuff.
- Drinking games. Not everyone drinks, and the UBC inclusion office suggests making non-alcoholic options just as visible.
- Long elimination rounds where half the room sits out for 20 minutes.
How do you run games for a remote or hybrid team?
Send the PDFs the day before so people can print or keep them open. On the day, one host shares the cards on screen and keeps time. Bingo and scavenger hunts translate best, because everyone plays at once instead of waiting for a turn.
What does a simple run of show look like?
Here's an example for a party of about 90 minutes. Adjust to your room.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0:00 | Arrivals, food, bingo cards handed out |
| 0:20 | Trivia, round one |
| 0:40 | Would you rather while people refill |
| 0:50 | Scavenger hunt |
| 1:10 | Bingo winners, gift exchange or wrap-up |
Keep the clock visible. A party that ends on time gets remembered well.
When a printable pack fits, and when it doesn't
Our Office Christmas Party Games pack is 11 pages: coworker bingo, office trivia, a scavenger hunt, would you rather and gift exchange rules. It's built to work over screen share too. It's a $4.99 PDF, delivered through Etsy.
It fits if you're the one running the party and you have a week, not a month. Print, cut, done.
Skip it if your team already has a tradition that works, or the party is a 30-minute lunch. One round of would you rather from memory costs nothing and does the job.
Running a gift swap too? The Gift Exchange Party Kit ($4.99) has sign-up sheets, name slips and a white elephant dice game. Hosting a family-style party at home? The Christmas Party Games Bundle has 12 games for mixed groups. For a side-by-side look at our holiday packs, see printable Christmas, office party and New Year's Eve games: what to pick.
FAQ
How many games should you play at an office Christmas party?
Two or three is plenty for a party of an hour or two. More than that starts to feel like a mandatory workshop.
Should office party games be mandatory?
No. Make every game opt-in and give people an easy way to watch, cheer or keep score instead of playing.
What office party games work over a video call?
Bingo, trivia, scavenger hunts and would you rather all work on a video call. Share the cards on screen and send the PDFs ahead of time.
Published October 19, 2026 by Greenskeeper.studio. General information only, not financial advice.