Brace yourself. The silly season is here. And so are the Christmas gift exchange games that turn even your quietest colleagues into fierce and festive competitors.
Whether your workplace loves gentle fun or full-blown holiday chaos, the right game can turn a simple gift swap into the much-loved highlight of the office calendar.
We've rounded up 18 Christmas giving games for 2026. From quick and quirky to clever team-building, plus options for large groups, families and remote teams. Help your office (and everyone else) celebrate in style. And maybe discover who's been practising their rock-paper-scissors strategy all year.
No matter the size or vibe of your end-of-year party, these games for gifts at Christmas are guaranteed to bring it: laughter, connection and a little (friendly) competition.
What is Oxfam Unwrapped?
Before we dive into the gifting games, meet the charity cards that make Christmas feel twice as good.
Every funny, thoughtful Oxfam Unwrapped card represents a real donation to Oxfam, and can provide practical tools and life-changing programs that can change people’s lives. From clean water to sustainable farming, women in business and more, every gift supports communities working to overcome inequality and poverty.
It’s an easy way to make someone feel really good about their gift. You can personalise your cards with a message, send them as e-cards or printed cards, and yes, they're tax-deductible.
Ready to mix purpose with play? Let the games begin.
13 Christmas gift exchange games to remember
1. White Elephant
White Elephant is a classic Christmas gift game where players unwrap presents, "steal" their favourites, and compete for the most sought-after surprise. It's fast, funny, and delivers just the right amount of festive mischief. Perfect if you enjoy a bit of strategy with your shortbread.
How to play
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift and places it in a central pile.
- Players draw numbers to determine the order of play.
- Player 1 picks and unwraps a gift.
- Each following player can either unwrap a new gift or "steal" an opened one.
- If your gift gets stolen, you choose a new wrapped one (or steal from someone else, if allowed).
- Continue until every participant is holding a gift.
Tips for success
- Set a clear budget so no one accidentally becomes the office philanthropist.
- Limit how many times a gift can be stolen to keep things moving.
- Encourage fun, quirky gifts (every good White Elephant game needs at least one mysteriously rattly present).
Optional idea
Slip in an Oxfam Unwrapped card as one of the wrapped gifts. It's the one steal that makes everyone feel like they've won because whoever ends up with it, the donation still does good.
Best for: 6–20 people. Budget: any. Time: 20–30 min.
2. Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a Christmas gift game where each person anonymously buys a present for one colleague, then reveals (or keeps secret) who gifted what. It's as simple as they come. Christmas gifting, but with plot twists.
How to play
- A few weeks before the party, everyone writes their name on a slip of paper.
- Participants draw a name at random, and that's who they'll buy a gift for.
- If someone draws their own name, they redraw.
- On the day: gifts are exchanged anonymously, revealed in a group, or delivered stealthily to desks — whatever suits your team's vibe.
- You can decide whether Secret Santas reveal themselves or remain forever mysterious.
Tips for success
- Give people plenty of notice so no one panic-buys from the servo on the way in.
- Use an online name-drawing tool if your team is remote or hybrid.
- Make participation optional; gifting should feel fun, never pressured.
- Share a budget so everyone's on equal footing.
Read our guide to Secret Santa gift ideas for our thoughts on how to make the game unforgettable.
Best for: Any group size. Budget: organiser sets the limit. Time: depends on format.
3. Rock, Paper, Scissors Switch
Rock, Paper, Scissors Switch is another one that brings the laughs. Everyone randomly receives one gift. But the fate of each present is decided by a quick round of rock-paper-scissors. It's part strategy, part luck and entirely unpredictable.
How to play
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift and receives one at random.
- Player 1 opens their gift.
- Player 2 can either open theirs or challenge Player 1 to rock-paper-scissors for the opened gift.
- If Player 2 wins, they take the opened gift and pass theirs back. If they lose, they keep and open their own.
- Continue around the circle; every player chooses: open, or challenge someone for their gift.
- The game ends once every gift is opened and everyone is holding one.
Tips for success
- Make it "best two out of three" for dramatic effect.
- Get everyone counting down the rock-paper-scissors rounds so the whole team becomes the drumroll.
- Throw in a fun consolation prize for anyone whose gift changes hands a little too often.
Shop for an office goat to lift their spirits.
Best for: 6–16 people. Budget: any. Time: 20–30 min.
4. Dice Exchange
Dice Exchange is a Christmas gift exchange game powered entirely by the roll of the dice. Every turn decides whether you unwrap or swap. Try not to be smug when you find yourself holding the gift everyone's been eyeing off — it may not be yours for long.
How to play
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift and receives one at random.
- Players take turns rolling one or two dice (depending on how chaotic you want it).
- Each number corresponds to an action, for example:
- 1: Switch gifts with the person on your right
- 2: Switch gifts with the person on your left
- 3 or 4: Swap with anyone in the circle (and unwrap if it's still wrapped)
- 5 or 6: Unwrap your gift
- The game ends once all gifts are unwrapped and everyone is holding one.
Tips for success
- Print a simple action sheet so people can follow along.
- Use oversized dice for extra novelty.
- For big groups, have two dice rolling at once to keep the pace up.
Best for: 8–20 people. Budget: any. Time: 20–30 min.
5. Musical Gifts
Musical Gifts works like a festive mash-up of hot potato and musical chairs. Gifts get passed around the circle while the music plays — when it stops, whoever's holding the present opens it. Don't underestimate this one. Your choice of music can make it a surefire hit. 90s mash-up, anyone?
How to play
- Everyone brings a small, wrapped gift and places it in a central pile.
- Choose a DJ (ideally someone with decent taste or at least good comedic timing).
- The DJ hands a wrapped gift to the first player.
- When the music starts, players pass the gift around the circle.
- When the music stops, the person holding the gift opens it and steps out of the circle.
- Continue until every player has opened a gift.
Tips for success
- Encourage your DJ to add surprise pauses. It keeps everyone on their toes.
- Use upbeat songs that suit your workplace vibe: festive hits, 90s throwbacks or whatever gets people smiling.
- Avoid breakable gifts (unless your insurance policy is better than most).
- For bigger teams, pass multiple gifts at once to keep things moving.
Best for: 8–30 people. Budget: any. Time: 20–30 min.
6. Christmas Chaos
Christmas Chaos is an unpredictable and spontaneous Christmas gift game (in the best possible way). Every player draws instruction cards that tell them who to swap gifts with, using fun prompts like "trade with someone wearing red" or "swap with the person who loves spreadsheets."
How to play
- Print a stack of instruction cards (or, even better, write your own tailored to the office).
- Place all wrapped gifts in a central pile and distribute one to each person.
- Players take turns drawing a card and following its instructions (swap left, swap right, trade with a colleague who matches a prompt, etc).
- Continue until all cards are drawn.
- Once the final action is complete, everyone unwraps the gift they're holding.
Tips for success
- Personalise the prompts with office in-jokes ("swap with someone who always remembers the Wi-Fi password") or prompts that celebrate people ("trade with someone who helped you this year").
- Keep the pace brisk so the energy stays high.
- For hybrid teams, prompts like "swap with someone on the next screen over" also work.
Best for: 8–20 people. Budget: any. Time: 20–30 min.
7. Gift Scavenger Hunt
You guessed it — Gift Scavenger Hunt turns your office (or party venue) into a festive treasure map. Your team will follow clues, solve riddles and race to discover where their gift is hidden. It's playful problem solving, one office in-joke at a time.
How to play
- Collect all wrapped gifts ahead of time and give them to the organiser.
- The organiser hides the gifts around the office or venue.
- Prepare clues or riddles, each one leading players to their gift's location.
- Hand out the first clue and let players (or pairs/teams) begin the hunt.
- The game finishes when every gift has been found.
Tips for success
- Tailor clues to your workplace: the meeting room where everyone forgets their mugs, the printer no one admits to jamming, the "too cold" side of the office.
- Pair people up to make it more social.
- Include a mix of clue styles: riddles, photos, word puzzles, map fragments.
- Make sure all hiding spots are safe and accessible.
Optional idea
Hide an Oxfam Unwrapped card as a bonus "golden gift" at the end. What says holiday spirit more than a team trio of chickens?
Best for: 6–20 people. Budget: any. Time: 30–45 min (longer if your clues are harder).
8. Gifts by Number
Gifts by Number is just about the most simple Christmas gift exchange game you can imagine. Everyone brings a wrapped gift that gets assigned a number, then players draw numbers to discover which one they'll unwrap. It's orderly. And now we're all grown-ups, that's pretty satisfying, right?
How to play
- Assign each wrapped gift a unique number.
- Place all the numbers in a bowl or hat.
- Team members draw a number at random.
- Everyone retrieves the gift matching their number.
Tips for success
- Unwrap the gifts in numerical order to add a bit of suspense.
- Track who brought which number to avoid accidentally giving yourself a reel-y punny Christmas fish.
- For extra fun, wrap tiny gifts in giant boxes (an oldie but a goldie).
Best for: Any group size. Budget: any. Time: 10–20 min.
9. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange
Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange makes your team earn their pick from the gift pile with their trivia smarts. You might be surprised by the colleagues who've been storing Christmas movie facts all year.
How to play
- Prepare a list of holiday-themed trivia questions (movies, music, history, pop culture).
- Set up the wrapped gifts in a central pile.
- Participants take turns answering trivia questions.
- A correct answer lets them choose and unwrap any gift.
- Continue until all gifts have been selected and opened.
Tips for success
- Mix easy and tricky questions so everyone has a chance to shine.
- Try team-based trivia if your office loves collaboration.
- Add a lightning round — song clip, then guess the next line — with bonus points for singing it.
- Use visual questions too (identify the Christmas movie by a cropped screenshot, etc.).
Best for: 8–25 people. Budget: any. Time: 30–45 min.
10. Left-Right Christmas Story
Left-Right Christmas Story is a Christmas gift game that follows a story. Everyone passes their wrapped present left or right every time those words appear in a story read aloud. It brings a playful dash of chaos to the day. The key is to tell a memorable story.
How to play
- Each person starts with a wrapped gift on their lap.
- The organiser reads a short Christmas-themed story filled with the words "left" and "right."
- Every time "left" is read, everyone passes their gift to the left.
- Every time "right" is read, everyone passes their gift to the right.
- When the story ends, participants unwrap whichever gift they're holding.
Tips for success
- Write a personalised story with office in-jokes ("right when the printer jammed…").
- Keep the pace steady — fast enough for fun, slow enough that gifts don't fly.
- Choose a story with a good mix of lefts and rights to keep everyone on their toes.
Best for: 3–30 people. Budget: any. Time: 15–20 min.
They're ten of our favourites. But in case nothing feels quite like your team yet, here are some more quick ideas.
11. Speed Swap
Speed Swap is a rapid-fire gift shuffle that turns into cheerful chaos in about thirty seconds. Everyone passes their wrapped gift to someone nearby while the music plays, and nobody knows where anything will end up.
How to play
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift and holds it to start.
- When the music starts, pass your gift to someone nearby. Keep passing.
- When the music stops, freeze. Whatever you're holding, that's yours.
- Unwrap and reveal.
Tips for success
- Choose a song everyone knows — someone will belt it out, and that's the point.
- Keep the timing unpredictable. Stop the game when the chaos turns into giggles.
- Bonus points for pausing just as everyone hits the chorus.
Best for: 8–30 people. Budget: any. Time: 10–15 min.
12. Sneaky Santa
Sneaky Santa is a fun twist on the classic Secret Santa. Everyone still buys a gift for the person they draw, but instead of tagging it with their name, they add one short, anonymous clue about themselves.
How to play
- Everyone draws a name and buys a gift for that person.
- Attach one short clue about yourself, not who you're buying for, but who you are. Think "Has a desk plant that lives on thoughts and prayers" or "Always freezing under the office air-con."
- Gifts go into a pile. Clues are read aloud, one at a time.
- The group guesses which colleague matches each hint.
- Once the giver is identified (or stumps everyone), the recipient gets their gift.
Tips for success
- Make clues specific enough to be solvable, but not so obvious they give it away in two seconds.
- The funnier the clue, the better the moment. Office in-jokes are gold here.
- Keep a small prize for anyone whose clue stumps the whole room.
Best for: 6–20 people. Budget: organiser sets the limit. Time: 20–30 min.
13. Pass the Parcel: Team-building edition
A nostalgic classic with a workplace twist. We all know how Pass the Parcel goes: wrap one gift in several layers, pass it while the music plays, and whoever's holding it when the music stops unwraps a layer.
How to play
- Wrap one central gift in multiple layers (one for each round you want to play).
- Between layers, add a small note card with an instruction for passing. Think: "Pass this to someone who went from strength to strength this year" or "Hand it to the person who distracts you when they really shouldn't."
- When the music starts, the parcel gets passed around the circle.
- When the music stops, the holder opens that layer and reads the note card, then follows the instruction.
- The game continues until the final layer is unwrapped and the central gift is revealed.
Tips for success
- Mix the warm prompts with the funny ones. Too sincere gets awkward; too silly misses the point.
- Nominate a DJ who'll create genuine suspense — long pauses, fake-outs, the works.
- The gift in the middle matters. Make it count.
Optional idea
Choose an Oxfam gift card for the centre. The team gets closer. The donation does good. Your contribution to people experiencing poverty: awesome.
Best for: 8–20 people. Budget: mid (cost of Oxfam card + wrapping materials). Time: 20–30 min.
Christmas gift exchange games for large groups
When the headcount goes above 15, some games stall. These three scale well and keep everyone in the action.
14. Deck of Cards Exchange
Each player draws a playing card that determines what happens to their gift. Every suit triggers a different action; face cards trigger the biggest moves. It sounds complicated, but it isn't.
How to play
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift. Print a cheat sheet; one per player.
- On your turn, open your gift, then draw a card and follow the action:
- Numbered hearts: swap right. Numbered spades: swap left.
- Numbered diamonds: everyone passes right. Numbered clubs: everyone passes left.
- Kings: everyone passes left or right (your choice).
- Queens: swap with someone in the same colour, or right (red) / left (black).
- Aces: swap with anyone you choose.
- Jokers: everyone passes 1–3 spaces left (your choice).
- If you end up with an unopened gift, open it immediately.
- Game ends when everyone has a gift that isn't their own.
Tips for success
- Always use a cheat sheet or the game will stall.
- Mix obvious desirables with genuine mysteries. The card mechanic is more fun when the stakes feel real.
Best for: 10–30 people. Budget: any. Time: 30–45 min.
15. Gift Auction
Everyone gets the same amount of play money. Gifts get auctioned one at a time. Highest bidder wins. Makes for a surprisingly competitive afternoon.
How to play
- Give each player the same amount of play money before the game starts.
- The host picks up the first gift and opens the bidding.
- Players bid openly. Highest bid takes the gift.
- Continue until every gift has been auctioned and everyone is holding one.
Tips for success
- Keep bids moving by setting a 30-second limit per auction or the energy drops.
- Save the most anticipated gift for last. It makes the final auction worth every note.
- Keep the opening bid low so everyone stays in the game for longer.
Optional idea
An Oxfam Unwrapped card tends to attract surprisingly competitive bidding once people know how important their donation is to people lifting themselves out of poverty.
Best for: 8–25 people. Budget: any (play money only). Time: 30–45 min.
16. Guess the Giver
Gifts are numbered. Givers are secret. Recipients guess who gave them what (and it's harder than it sounds).
How to play
- Each person brings a gift and assigns it a number.
- Every giver records their number with the host before the game starts.
- The host distributes gifts by number (drawn from a hat or pre-assigned).
- Each recipient opens their gift, then tries to guess who gave it.
- The host confirms or denies. First correct guess wins a small bonus prize.
Tips for success
- Works best when the group has spent time together and people use in-jokes and shared knowledge in their gift choices.
- Offer a small prize for correct guesses to keep everyone invested.
Best for: 10–25 people. Budget: any. Time: 30–40 min.
Christmas gift exchange ideas for adults
Most games above suit adults well. White Elephant and Gift Auction reward strategy. Left-Right Christmas Story and Holiday Trivia land well when the group has shared history to draw on. For something more personal and a little less chaotic, Sneaky Santa and Gifts by Number both work beautifully, and an Oxfam Unwrapped card fits neatly inside most adult gift exchange budgets.
Christmas exchange games for families
Families mean mixed ages, mixed energy levels, and at least one person who takes games slightly too seriously.
17. Cling Wrap Ball
One person unwraps a ball of cling wrap as fast as they can while the person to their left rolls dice trying to get doubles. When doubles land, the ball passes. Every layer hides a small prize. The chaos is the point.
How to build the ball
- Start with a small grand prize at the centre.
- Wrap layers of cling wrap around it, tucking in small prizes (chocolates, coins, scratch tickets) and challenge cards as you go.
How to play
- Players sit in a circle on the floor. Roll a die — highest number starts with the ball, next highest starts with the dice.
- The ball holder unwraps as fast as possible; the dice roller rolls for doubles.
- When doubles land, the ball passes to the dice roller, and the dice pass left.
- Any prize that falls out on your turn is yours. If you unwrap a challenge card, stop and follow it; the dice roller keeps rolling.
- Game ends when the centre prize is reached.
Tips for success
- Challenge cards are the best bit. Try: "unwrap with one hand" or "sing a Christmas song until your turn ends."
- For mixed ages, don't tear the wrap; small hands need the end to be findable.
- Maximum 8 people per ball. For bigger groups, make two.
- For more eco-friendly wrapping, use someone’s newspaper (preferably after they’ve read it).
Best for: 6–16 people (one ball per 8). Budget: low–mid (prizes + wrapping). Time: 20–30 min.
18. Favourite Things Swap
Everyone brings several identical copies of one thing they love. A tea they swear by, a good chocolate bar, a pen that writes properly, a small plant that won't die. Names go in a hat. Everyone leaves with a few new favourites.
How to play
- Set a price limit and item count before the event (three or five copies per person works well).
- On the day, each person presents their item and tells the group why they love it.
- Names are drawn from a hat to decide who receives each item.
- Allow a trading round at the end for anyone who wants to swap.
Tips for success
- The "why I love it" moment is the warmest part of the game, so give people enough time to share it.
- Suggest a loose category (food, stationery, small plants, candles) so the gifts feel cohesive without being prescriptive.
- Skip gag gifts. The point is genuine favourites, things people use and love.
- It's a natural fit for a Kris Kringle gift card if it's someone's favourite way to give.
Best for: 6–15 people. Budget: low. Time: 30–45 min.
Virtual and hybrid Christmas gift games
The easiest approach: run two formats in parallel. In-office participants exchange physically. Remote participants receive a digital gift — an Oxfam Unwrapped e-card works perfectly here. Use an online name-draw tool so the draw works across locations.
What works over video:
- Left-Right Christmas Story: share your screen, read the story aloud, everyone holds their gift on camera.
- Sneaky Santa: clues read aloud, whole team guesses together. The guessing round becomes the best bit.
- Secret Santa reveal: everyone holds their unopened gift to camera, then opens on the host's count.
- Musical Gifts: the host controls music via screen share with a randomiser tool for passing. Needs a little setup, but it works.
What doesn't translate: Cling Wrap Ball, Gift Scavenger Hunt and Christmas Chaos need a shared physical space.
Which game is right for your group?
| Best picks | |
| Under 10 people | White Elephant, Secret Santa, Sneaky Santa, Dice Exchange |
| 10–20 people | Left-Right Christmas Story, Musical Gifts, Deck of Cards Exchange, Guess the Giver |
| 20+ people | Gift Auction, Left-Right Christmas Story, Deck of Cards Exchange |
| Under 15 minutes | Speed Swap, Gifts by Number |
| 30–45 minutes | Deck of Cards Exchange, Holiday Trivia, Gift Auction |
| Mixed ages | Cling Wrap Ball, Favourite Things Swap, Musical Gifts |
| Remote or hybrid | Sneaky Santa, Left-Right Story, Secret Santa reveal |
| Competitive adults | White Elephant, Gift Auction, Holiday Trivia |
Ready to wrap things up?
If you're planning Christmas gift exchange games in 2026, why not pair the fun with something that actually does good? Oxfam Unwrapped cards can be personalised with your company logo, sent as e-cards or print, and they're tax-deductible.
Explore the full Christmas range, pick something that fits your team's spirit, and give a gift that keeps the goodwill going long after the last game ends.
Looking for more ideas? Try our guides on corporate Christmas gifts or unique Christmas gift ideas for 2026.
Christmas gift exchange FAQ
How many people do you need for a Christmas gift exchange game?
Most games work from six people. The sweet spot for office games is 8–20; enough energy, but not so many the game stalls. For 20+, Deck of Cards Exchange, Gift Auction and Left-Right Christmas Story all scale well.
What's a good budget for a Christmas gift exchange at work?
Most workplace exchanges set a limit of $20-50 per gift. Stick to whatever's set, because going over makes everyone else feel like they underspent. The Kris Kringle gift collection has options from $10 upward.
How do I keep a gift exchange inclusive at work?
Make participation opt-in, set a budget everyone can meet, and keep the theme neutral. Charity cards sidestep dietary, religious and cultural sensitivities that can make general food gifts complicated.
How do I run a gift exchange with a hybrid or remote team?
Run two formats: in-person participants exchange physically, remote participants receive a digital gift. Use an online name-draw tool. See the virtual and hybrid section above for which games work over video.
What's the difference between White Elephant, Secret Santa games and Kris Kringle games?
White Elephant is the game format (steal mechanic, open gift pile, competitive element). Secret Santa is the exchange format (you draw a name, buy specifically for that person, giver stays anonymous). Kris Kringle is the same as Secret Santa, it’s just what many Australians call Secret Santa in a workplace context. You can easily turn your Kris Kringle or Secret Santa into a game of White Elephant. Browse the Kris Kringle gifts collection for ideas at every budget.
