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Ugly sweater party games and ideas

At an ugly Christmas sweater party, the sweaters start the conversation. These free games keep it going once everyone has seen everyone else's sweater, and one phone runs all of them, from the first guest to the gift swap.

  1. Act it outCharadesWearing an ugly Christmas sweater is right there in the Christmas deck, along with untangling the lights and a cat climbing the tree. Bulky sweaters make acting harder in a fun way, so play in teams and let anything on a sweater count as a prop.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…
  2. Phone-on-your-forehead guessingForehead GuessHold the phone to your forehead and guess ugly sweater, gift tag or snowball fight from your team's clues. Play 2 to 4 teams with 60-second rounds, and one house rule: pointing at your own sweater doesn't count as a clue.In the deck: Christmas lights, Ugly sweater, Secret Santa, Gingerbread house, Stocking stuffer, Snowball fight…
  3. Most Likely ToChristmas Most Likely To QuestionsWho's most likely to put up so many lights the house glows from a mile away, or to wear a sweater with lights that actually work? Everyone points on three, and it gets people talking while the last guests arrive.For example: Who’s most likely to finish all their holiday shopping in July? · Who’s most likely to wrap a tiny gift in a box inside a box inside a box?
  4. The Danish Christmas present gameDice Gift GameEveryone brings a small wrapped gift, a six takes one from the pile, and then sixes steal until a secret timer rings. The phone does the rolling and keeps the timer hidden, so the gift swap runs itself for 3 to 20 players.
  5. Secret word, one liarImposterEveryone gets the same Christmas word except the imposter, who has to bluff through ugly sweater, tinsel or matching pajamas. It takes 3 to 12 players and works sitting down, which helps once the room warms up.In the deck: Christmas tree, Santa Claus, Reindeer, Candy cane, Snow globe, Ugly sweater…
  6. Would You RatherChristmas Would You Rather QuestionsWear an ugly sweater that lights up, or one that plays music? The Christmas list has questions about sweaters, gifts, cookies and snow that anyone can answer from their seat.For example: Would you rather get one big gift or get ten small gifts? · Would you rather wrap all the presents or write all the holiday cards?
  7. The whisper question gameParanoiaOne player reads a secret question and says a name, and a coin flip decides if the room hears why. Use the Silly pack, or the Work pack at the office, so every question is one people are glad to be named for.

An ugly sweater party game plan

The sweaters do the warm-up for you. A loose plan of three or four games, with the contest in the middle, fills the evening without anyone having to run it.

  1. 1As guests arrive, read Most Likely To with the Christmas questions. It's easy to join with a mug of cocoa in one hand.
  2. 2Once everyone is there, hold the sweater contest. A show of hands for each category takes about ten minutes.
  3. 3Split into teams for charades or Forehead Guess with the Christmas deck. Twenty to thirty minutes is plenty.
  4. 4Swap gifts with the Dice Gift Game, or run a White Elephant gift exchange on the host's phone.
  5. 5Wind down at the table with Imposter or a few rounds of Paranoia.

Hosting a small group? Skip the team games and play Imposter and Would You Rather for most of the night.

A sweater contest done kindly

The contest is the main event at most ugly sweater parties, and it works best when every category celebrates something someone did on purpose. Vote for a sweater, never against one.

Read a category out loud, let anyone who wants to enter step forward, and count a show of hands. Nobody has to enter, and with enough categories, most sweaters win something.

  • Most lights
  • Most handmade
  • Best use of tinsel
  • Best animal on a sweater
  • Loudest sweater, for anything that jingles, plays music or squeaks
  • Best vintage find
  • Best matching pair or group
  • Most last-minute, for the sweater put together on the way over
  • Coziest

Small prizes keep it light: a candy cane, an ornament or the right to pick the next game. Skip any category like worst or ugliest, and keep every comment on the sweater, not the person wearing it.

Games for an office ugly sweater day

An ugly sweater day at work usually means a short party in the break room or at the end of a meeting. Keep the games quick, make them opt-in, and pick ones everyone in the room can join.

  • Forehead Guess with the Christmas deck, in teams mixed across departments. Two or three 60-second rounds are plenty.
  • Most Likely To with the Christmas questions. They're about lights, cookies and holiday shopping, never about anyone's work.
  • Paranoia with the Work pack, for a team that already knows each other well.
  • The sweater contest by show of hands. Remote teammates can hold their sweaters up to the camera and vote in the chat.
  • Christmas bingo cards, up to 60 different ones, for a game the whole office can play at once from their seats.

For more games coworkers enjoy, see our office holiday party games.

A family ugly sweater night

Matching family sweaters, or a pile of thrifted ones, make a good excuse for a game night at home. Keep the games short enough for the youngest player and simple enough for grandparents.

  • Charades with the Christmas deck, kids against grown-ups. Wearing an ugly Christmas sweater is one of the prompts, and everyone already has the costume on.
  • Would You Rather with the Christmas questions, read out loud while everyone gets dressed.
  • The Dice Gift Game with small wrapped gifts like candy, socks or a new ornament, so the youngest can play too.
  • A family sweater contest with enough categories that every kid wins one.

More games for the season are on our Christmas games page.

Tips for the host

  • Say in the invitation that any sweater counts, whether it's homemade, thrifted or borrowed, so nobody has to buy one.
  • Keep a box of tinsel, stick-on bows and a spare sweater or two by the door for guests who forget.
  • Turn the heat down a little. A room full of wool sweaters warms up fast.
  • Turn the phone's brightness up, and keep it away from the cocoa and the cookies.
  • Drawing names ahead of time? Our free Secret Santa generator gives each guest a private link to their match. For a White Elephant swap, print the White Elephant numbers and rules.

Questions

What games do you play at an ugly sweater party?

Charades and Forehead Guess with their Christmas decks, Imposter, the Dice Gift Game and a sweater contest decided by a show of hands. Most Likely To and Would You Rather make easy warm-ups while guests arrive.

How do you run an ugly sweater contest kindly?

Use lots of categories that celebrate effort, like most lights, most handmade and best use of tinsel. Let people opt in, vote by a show of hands, and skip any category about the worst sweater.

What are good ugly sweater contest categories?

Most lights, most handmade, best use of tinsel, best animal, loudest sweater, best vintage find, best matching pair and most last-minute. With eight or nine categories, most sweaters in the room win something.

What games work for an office ugly sweater day?

Forehead Guess with the Christmas deck in mixed teams, the Christmas Most Likely To questions, Paranoia with the Work pack and a show-of-hands sweater contest. Each one fits in 10 to 15 minutes in a break room.

Can kids play?

Yes. Every card is family-friendly. Charades, Would You Rather and the Dice Gift Game work well for kids, with a grown-up reading the cards for anyone who can't read yet.

Do these games need an app or a sign-up?

No. Every game runs free in your browser on one phone and is supported by ads. There's nothing to install and no account.

More game night ideas