15 Christmas Party Games for Work, Family & Zoom

Easy games with a festive twist for office parties, family gatherings and online holiday calls—most need nothing but paper and pens.

The best Christmas party games are quick to explain, work-safe and give everyone a reason to laugh together, whether they know each other well or not.

Start with a no-prep game while people arrive, add a team game once the group has warmed up, and use the online section when colleagues join remotely. Each game below includes a Christmas version you can run as written.

No-Prep Christmas Party Games

#1Charades

Need charades words? Get 150+ funny, hard, and easy acting prompts for adults & kids. Includes a free "Generator" to pick words for you. Play now!

Steps

1.Split into two teams (or play all together).
2.One player draws a prompt (movie, action, object, etc.) and acts it out without speaking or spelling.
3.Teammates guess within the time limit (usually 60–90 seconds).
4.Rotate players so everyone gets a turn. Keep score if playing in teams.

Christmas version:Act out holiday scenes such as decorating the tree, wrapping a present badly or Santa stuck in the chimney. Write 20 prompts on slips of paper and play in two teams.

#220 Questions

20 Questions is a classic deductive reasoning icebreaker suitable for teams of any size. One player thinks of a secret person, place, or object, and others guess it by asking up to 20 "Yes" or "No" questions. This game requires no props, can be played anywhere, and effectively sharpens logical thinking, communication skills, and collaborative problem-solving.

Steps

1.The host (or a volunteer) thinks of a specific person, place, object, or concept.
2.Others take turns asking questions to narrow down the possibilities. The host can only answer "Yes," "No," "Maybe," or "Partially."
3.Guessers can attempt to solve the riddle at any time.
4.The group has a total of 20 questions (guesses count as a question).

Christmas version:One player thinks of a Christmas object—a nutcracker, a snow globe, a gingerbread house—and the group has 20 yes-or-no questions to guess it.

#3Two Truths and a Lie

The classic game where players guess which of three statements is false. A simple, fun way to reveal surprising facts about teammates.

Steps

1.Each person prepares three statements about themselves: two that are true and one that is false.
2.Taking turns, each person shares their three statements with the group.
3.The rest of the group votes on which statement they believe is the lie.
4.The person reveals the lie after everyone has voted. It's a great way to learn surprising facts about each other!

Christmas version:Each person shares three Christmas memories, such as the strangest gift they received or a family tradition, and the group spots the invented one.

#4Would You Rather

The ultimate list of Would You Rather questions for every occasion. From funny and creative to deep and hard dilemmas. Featuring a random question generator for instant fun.

Steps

1.Choose a category (e.g., Couples, Kids, Funny, Hard).
2.Read the question aloud to the group: 'Would you rather Option A or Option B?'
3.Everyone must choose one option. No 'neither' or 'both' allowed!
4.Discuss 'why' you made your choice. The best conversations come from the reasoning.

Christmas version:Ask holiday dilemmas: Would you rather open every gift on Christmas Eve or wait until Christmas afternoon? Keep each question light and work-safe.

#5This or That

A fast-paced decision-making game. Participants choose between two options to reveal preferences. Great for energizing meetings and finding common ground.

Steps

1.The host calls out two related options (e.g., 'Coffee or Tea?', 'Beach or Mountains?').
2.For in-person, designate two sides of the room for each option and have people move to the side they prefer.
3.For virtual, have people use a specific emoji reaction for each choice.
4.It's a great way to see who shares similar tastes.

Christmas version:Call out festive pairs—real tree or artificial, cookies or pie, ugly sweater or matching pajamas—and let people move to one side of the room.

#6Telephone Game

Learn how to play the Telephone Game, then use the random phrase generator for funny, hard, and kid-friendly whispers. Rules, variations, and 100+ phrases included.

Steps

1.Players must sit in a circle or stand in a straight line, close enough to whisper but not so close they can hear the person before them.
2.The first person whispers a word or phrase into the ear of the person to their right.
3.Players continue whispering the phrase to their neighbors until it reaches the last player.
4.The last player says the word or phrase out loud so everyone can hear how much it has changed from the original.

Materials:No special materials required, Optional: Paper and pen for the facilitator to write down the original phrase

Christmas version:Whisper a holiday sentence down the line, such as “The gingerbread house collapsed before dessert,” then compare the last version with the original.

Office Christmas Party Games

#7Human Bingo

Play Human Bingo for work, school, or events with simple rules, 50+ prompt ideas, and a free card generator for printable or virtual bingo cards. No signup required.

10+

Steps

1.Create bingo cards with different characteristics or experiences in each square (e.g., 'Has traveled to Asia', 'Speaks more than two languages', 'Is left-handed'). You can use our free generator to make this easy.
2.Distribute the cards and pens to all participants. Explain the rules: You must find a different person for each square (if possible), and you cannot sign your own card.
3.Start the timer! Players mingle and find people who match the descriptions in the squares, getting their signature.
4.The first person to get a 'Bingo' (a full row, column, or diagonal) shouts it out! Verify their card and award a prize.

Materials:Pre-made bingo cards, Pens

Christmas version:Fill the squares with festive facts: has never seen Home Alone, has already finished their shopping, owns a Christmas sweater. You can also print one of our Christmas bingo cards.

#8Pictionary

The ultimate Pictionary guide for work teams. Includes 200+ work-safe words, step-by-step rules, and best tools for virtual play. Perfect for meetings and team building.

Steps

1.Split the group into two teams.
2.One person from a team gets a word and must draw clues for their teammates to guess within a time limit.
3.For in-person, use a whiteboard. For virtual, use the whiteboard feature in a video conferencing tool or a dedicated online Pictionary game.
4.Teams earn points for correct guesses.

Materials:Whiteboard and markers, or a digital whiteboard tool

Christmas version:Draw Christmas words against the clock—reindeer, mistletoe, snow globe, Advent calendar—in teams of four to six so everyone has a turn.

#9Scavenger Hunt

A high-energy team building game where teams race to find items. Perfect for boosting collaboration and fun in virtual or in-person meetings.

Steps

1.Prepare a list of 10–20 items or photo challenges (mix easy and tricky).
2.Split participants into small teams (3–5 people).
3.Set a time limit (e.g., 10–20 minutes). Teams search and document their finds.
4.Award points per item. Bonus points for creativity or first to finish.

Christmas version:Hide paper snowflakes or candy canes around the office and give each team a list of clues; the first team back with every item wins.

#10Snapshot Throwback

Share a childhood or early-career photo; partners chat to learn the story behind it.

Steps

1.Ask participants to bring or upload an old photo.
2.Pair up to swap photos and share 1–2 minute stories.
3.Rotate pairs once or twice.

Materials:Childhood or old photos (physical or digital)

Christmas version:Collect childhood holiday photos before the party, show them one at a time and let colleagues guess who is hiding behind the tinsel.

#11Never Have I Ever (SFW)

50+ work-safe "Never Have I Ever" questions covering office life, travel, and fun facts. Includes an interactive online card generator for instant play. Perfect for team building and icebreakers.

Steps

1.Everyone holds up ten fingers.
2.Taking turns, each person says something they have never done, starting with 'Never have I ever...'.
3.If someone in the group *has* done that thing, they must put one finger down.
4.The game continues until only one person has fingers left up, or for a set number of rounds.

Christmas version:Keep statements festive and harmless: Never have I ever wrapped a present on Christmas morning, or never have I ever regifted something.

Virtual and Hybrid Christmas Games

#12Draw Your Neighbor

A complete guide to the hilarious 'Draw Your Neighbor' challenge. Includes facilitator scripts, rules for 'blind drawing', and variations like 'Gallery Walk'. Perfect for energizing remote teams.

Steps

1.On a video call, have everyone pin the video of the person to their right.
2.Without looking down at their paper/drawing tool, everyone tries to draw a portrait of that person in 60 seconds.
3.At the end, everyone holds up their masterpiece for a good laugh.

Materials:Paper and marker, or a digital drawing tool

Christmas version:Everyone draws the person next to them on screen as an elf, an angel or Santa, then all drawings are revealed at the same time.

#13Virtual Scavenger Hunt

High-energy remote icebreaker: Find and show household items in 30 seconds. Includes 100+ difficulty-rated items. The best way to beat Zoom fatigue and energize your virtual meetings.

Steps

1.The host calls out a common household item (e.g., 'your favorite mug', 'something red', 'a book you'd recommend').
2.Participants have 30 seconds to find the item in their home and show it on camera.
3.The first person back gets a point. Play for a few rounds!

Christmas version:Call out items to fetch from home—something red, an ornament, a holiday mug—and the first person back on camera scores a point.

#14Emoji Story

Tell stories or guess phrases using only emojis. Includes collaborative storytelling and 'Emoji Charades' modes. Perfect for remote teams to spark creativity and break communication barriers.

Steps

1.Mode 1: Storytelling. One person starts with a theme or an opening emoji.
2.Each person takes a turn adding ONE emoji to continue the plot.
3.Continue until the story reaches a conclusion, then try to narrate it back in words.
4.Mode 2: Emoji Charades. One person picks a prompt (Movie, Song, etc.) and types it out using ONLY emojis.

Christmas version:Retell the plot of a Christmas movie in emojis in the chat while the others guess the film.

#15Show and Tell

Looking for funny show and tell ideas for adults? Get 100+ creative, embarrassing, and meaningful object ideas for work meetings and team building.

Steps

1.Ahead of time, ask everyone to choose one object from their home or desk that has a special meaning.
2.Each person takes a minute or two to 'show' the object on camera and 'tell' the story behind it.
3.This is especially effective for remote teams to feel more connected.

Materials:One meaningful object per participant

Christmas version:Each person shows their oldest ornament or favorite decoration and tells its story in under a minute.

How to Plan Games for a Christmas Party

Plan two or three games of 10 to 20 minutes each rather than one long activity.
Keep prompts light and work-safe, and let anyone pass without explaining why.
For groups larger than 12, play in teams or run several rounds at the same time—the random group generator splits a list of names in seconds.

Christmas Party Game FAQs

What are good Christmas party games for work?

Christmas human bingo, Pictionary with holiday words, an office scavenger hunt, guessing childhood holiday photos and a Christmas trivia round are work-safe and need little preparation.

Which Christmas party games need no materials?

Charades, 20 Questions, Two Truths and a Lie, Would You Rather, This or That and Telephone all work with nothing more than a few slips of paper.

How can we play Christmas games on Zoom?

Try Draw Your Neighbor, a virtual scavenger hunt, emoji movie stories or show and tell with favorite decorations. Use breakout rooms when the group has more than 12 people.

How many games should I plan for a Christmas party?

For a one-hour party, plan two or three games of 10 to 20 minutes each and keep one no-prep game in reserve.