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Office holiday party games

Holiday games for coworkers should be quick to explain, easy to join and comfortable for everyone in the room. These free ones run on one phone or a shared screen, so the host can start in under a minute.

  1. Phone-on-your-forehead guessingForehead GuessSecret Santa, ugly sweater, stocking stuffer: the Christmas deck is full of words every office knows. Play in 2 to 4 teams mixed across departments, with 60-second rounds.In the deck: Christmas lights, Ugly sweater, Secret Santa, Gingerbread house, Stocking stuffer, Snowball fight…
  2. Act it outCharadesFrom untangling Christmas lights to stealing a gift in a gift swap, every prompt is easy to act out and fine for work. Let volunteers act while everyone else guesses.In the deck: Untangling Christmas lights, Writing a letter to Santa, Wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, Sneaking downstairs on Christmas morning, A cat climbing the Christmas tree, Building a gingerbread house…
  3. Most Likely ToMost Likely To Questions for WorkOffice superlatives about habits, never performance: who's most likely to decorate their desk for every holiday, or fix the printer when nobody else can?For example: Who’s most likely to say "let's circle back on that" at least once a day? · Who’s most likely to turn an hour-long meeting into a two-line summary?
  4. Would You RatherWould You Rather Questions for WorkFree snacks but no coffee, or free coffee but no snacks? Light questions about meetings, remote life and dream jobs that anyone can answer in one sentence.For example: Would you rather work from a beach with bad Wi-Fi or work from a basement with perfect Wi-Fi? · Would you rather have your cat walk across your keyboard on every call or have your dog bark at every delivery on every call?
  5. Secret word, one liarImposterEveryone gets the same secret word except one bluffer, and the table has to work out who. It takes 3 to 12 players, and categories like Food and Places are easy for any team.
  6. Forbidden-words gameDon’t Say ItDescribe Secret Santa without saying gift, exchange, mystery, names or swap. Two teams and a watcher from the other side make it the most competitive game here.In the deck: Santa Claus, Reindeer, Stocking, Ugly sweater, Secret Santa, Gingerbread house…
  7. Never Have I EverNever Have I Ever Questions for WorkVideo calls, inboxes, office kitchens and commutes. Fingers go down, nobody has to explain, and no question asks anyone to admit a real mistake.For example: Never have I ever had a pet join a video call uninvited. · Never have I ever joined a video call with a funny filter still on.
  8. Secret numbers, one teamIn OrderEveryone describes a secret number on a scale like “How scary is it?”, then the group lines up without saying the numbers. The whole room is one team, so nobody gets singled out.
  9. Three rounds, one bowl of wordsFishbowlFor a longer party with 4 to 20 people. Use Our words for a quick start, or Write your own and add inside jokes the whole team is in on.
  10. Secret location, one spyFind the SpyA table game for 3 to 12. Everyone knows the location except the spy, and the questions get sharp fast, which makes it a good pick for the table that finishes dinner first.

How to run games at an office party

Office party games work when someone is clearly in charge and nothing runs too long. A few decisions before the party make the rest easy.

  • Pick a host. One person holds the phone, explains each game in a sentence and keeps time. It doesn't have to be a manager, and it often works better when it isn't.
  • Match the game to the size of the group. Up to 12 people can play Imposter or Find the Spy around one table. With a bigger crowd, play team games like Forehead Guess, charades or Fishbowl, or question games where everyone answers at once.
  • Make teams on purpose. Count off by number so departments and desk neighbors get mixed, and keep teams to five or six people so everyone gets a turn.
  • Set a time limit. Two or three games in 30 to 45 minutes is plenty, and 60-second rounds keep the energy up.
  • Put the screen where everyone can see it. In a big room, show it on a TV or projector, or turn the brightness all the way up.
  • Start with something people can play from their seats, like the would you rather questions for work, before you ask anyone to act.

Keeping office party games inclusive

The goal is a party where nobody dreads the games. A few habits go a long way.

  • Make every game opt-in. Some people would rather watch, and that's fine. Give them a job, like keeping time or judging close calls.
  • Skip dares, anything physical and anything personal. The work question lists stay away from salary, health, age, relationships, religion and politics.
  • Call it a holiday party if your team celebrates different things. The Christmas decks stick to Santa, snow, lights, gifts and cookies, and the regular decks work just as well.
  • Think about language. Word games are harder in a second language, so put those players on a team instead of alone.
  • Offer seated games for anyone who would rather not stand. Imposter, Find the Spy and the question games all work from a chair.
  • Keep the teasing gentle. Most Likely To is best for teams that already know each other. With a lot of new hires in the room, start with Would You Rather.

For quick games to open a meeting instead of a party, see our icebreaker games.

Holiday games for remote and hybrid teams

On a video call, one person opens the game in a browser and shares their screen. Everyone else plays out loud or in the chat.

  • Forehead Guess: the host shares the screen, the guesser looks away, and the team gives clues on camera.
  • Charades: the actor opens the game on their own phone so the prompt stays private, then acts it out for the camera.
  • Most Likely To, Would You Rather and Never Have I Ever: share the card and have everyone type their answer in the chat on three, so the quiet people get heard too.
  • Hybrid parties: put the call on the conference room screen and mix remote and in-office people on every team.

Leave Imposter, Find the Spy and In Order for the people in the room, since each player needs to see the phone in private. Our video call games have more setup tips.

Add a gift exchange

Plenty of office parties end with gifts. Our free Secret Santa generator draws names and gives each coworker a private link to their match, with no sign-up for anyone. That helps when half the team works from home or another office.

If your team would rather open and steal, the White Elephant gift exchange draws the turn order and tracks every steal on the host's phone. Either way, keep the budget the same for everyone, around $20 to $25, and make taking part optional.

Questions

What are good games for an office holiday party?

Forehead Guess and charades with their Christmas decks, Imposter and Don't Say It for competitive teams, and the work editions of Most Likely To, Would You Rather and Never Have I Ever for everyone at once.

Are these games appropriate for work?

Yes. Every deck is clean, and the work question lists are written to be HR-safe: nothing about salary, health, relationships, religion or politics, and nothing that makes anyone admit a real mistake.

How do you run games for a big office party?

Use 2 to 4 teams, one host with the phone and a TV or projector so the whole room can see. Forehead Guess and Fishbowl take up to 20 players, and charades and the question games have no real limit.

Can remote coworkers play?

Yes. Forehead Guess, charades and the question games work on a video call when the host shares their screen. Imposter, Find the Spy and In Order need everyone in the same room.

How long should office party games last?

About 30 to 45 minutes, with two or three games. Stop while people are still laughing, and let the rest of the party be a party.

What works for coworkers who barely know each other?

Would You Rather and In Order. People share opinions instead of anything personal, and In Order puts everyone on the same team.

Do we need to download anything?

No. Every game runs free in a browser on one phone and is supported by ads. There's no app and no sign-up.

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