05 July 2021

15 Christmas Party Games for The Office Party

Updated: October 2023

Looking for work Christmas party game ideas? You’ve landed on the right page! This article is going to take you through our list of top 15 Christmas party games in the office that are actually fun. We’re confident that you will be able to find a festive, fun and quirky Christmas party game for the office that the whole team will love. Christmas party games for the office are a great way to boost morale, but they can also help increase productivity. 

Did you know that socialising between team members improves communication patterns by more than 50%? Or how about 54% percent of employees stated that a strong sense of community (great coworkers, celebrating milestones) kept them at a company longer than was in their best interest? 

With statistics like the above, it is important to utilise seasonal events like Christmas to encourage socialising and improve communication between employees and departments.

Contents: 

• The Importance of Christmas Party Games
• Office Party Game Ideas for Christmas
• How do you Start Christmas Celebrations in the Office?
• How do you Make a Staff Christmas Party Fun?

The Importance of Christmas Party Games

Office party games for Christmas extends beyond simply getting everyone into the festive mood. These games also serve as excellent team-building activities, fostering connections and interactions outside of official working hours. They provide a perfect opportunity for coworkers to unwind, relax, and share quality time together, contributing to a more cohesive and harmonious work environment. 

Research shows that 89% of workers at companies that support well-being initiatives are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work, highlighting the importance of Christmas games to enhance employee satisfaction and company reputation.

Office Party Game Ideas for Christmas

What better way to start the holiday season than with some picture perfect work Christmas party game ideas! Here are our favourites to get you in the Christmassy spirit.

1. Christmas Pictionary

A classic Christmas party game idea that won’t take much explaining. Each team (or individual) will be competing to make the others understand what they are drawing to score points. 

Pictionary is a popular game across the globe and will be a hilarious option for the office. Your team can get creative and competitive with this classic party game.

You can limit this one to Christmas themes as well and if it is not your cup of tea, try the variation below.

2. Blindfolded Christmas Drawings

A more unique Christmas party game idea for the office is blindfolded Christmas drawings.

In this game, you are competing for the most accurate drawing. Everyone bar one person will be wearing a blindfold and trying to draw the picture being described by the non-blindfolded person. 

You can be kind and make the drawings simple, such as a Christmas tree, or you can challenge your fellow revellers and ask them to draw a complicated Christmas scene.

This will get the whole office laughing and will definitely put everyone in a jolly mood. 

To make it competitive, hand out prizes for the most accurately drawn and dares or challenges for the most badly drawn.

3. Pairs/Christmas Memory Game

To play this game, you will need pairs of cards set out face down in a grid. You can have the pairs be identical or related, such as Santa and Elves. 

You can take it in turns for each team to try guessing a pair or to make it more interesting, only allow a team to turn over a pair of cards when they have answered a question correctly.

4. Charades

If you’re looking for Christmas party games for the office party that the whole team will be familiar with, then Charades is probably your best bet.

This is a classic game for an office Christmas party and most people will know how to play, meaning that you won’t have to spend ages explaining the rules to the players. 

You can limit the options to Christmas movies, songs and shows to keep it extra festive. 

5. Christmas Bingo

Another festive twist on a classic, why not opt for Christmas Bingo? This doesn’t have to be your typical numbers game, it could be songs or festive phrases for a seasonal bingo game throughout the working day.

6. Two Truths and a Lie – Christmas Edition

One of our favourite office party games for Christmas and also a great icebreaker is Two Truths and a Lie! 

This Christmas game for the office party involves each player, in turn, saying three statements, two of which are true and one is false. The other guests must either guess or use their knowledge of the speaker to correctly guess the lie. 

You can do this for points or just for fun to get to know each other. Make the questions Christmas themed by making statements based on Christmas family traditions, strange gifts you’d received or your favourite parts of Christmas.

This Christmas party game idea will promote team bonding as it will get your employees to know each other on a more personal level. 

7. How Many Ornaments?

This is a good background/beginning game, as the guests can make a guess of how many ornaments there are on the tree and whoever is the closest will win a prize, perhaps from the tree itself. Just don’t forget to count the ornaments as you’re decorating the tree!

Similar to the classic ‘How many sweets are in the jar’ game, with a festive twist! This is one of our favourite office party game for Christmas because it is quick and simple! 

8. Christmas Quiz

Entertain your guests with a Christmas quiz and let them showcase their knowledge. Divide the game into categories, like songs, movies and books, and let the contestants play for themselves or teams. 

A prize for the winner or winning team wouldn’t be a bad idea for this game, especially as it can be a long one.

9. Christmas: Who am I?

A popular office party game for Christmas as an icebreaker at dinner parties – each person has the name of a Christmas character or item against their forehead and must ask their companions yes or no questions to work out who they are.

This is a fun game for Christmas and will encourage your staff to communicate with each other. 

10. Name that Carol or Christmas Song

Christmas carols will be everywhere during the festive season so hopefully, your guests will have a few in mind for this office game idea for Christmas.

You can play this Christmas game for the office party in a number of ways, including humming or singing a few lyrics so that others will guess the song. Another option could be making up clues and asking your party guests to guess the song, such as ‘it’s starting to really resemble December 25th’ for ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ or perhaps ‘female parent caught in an embrace with famous deliverer of Christmas presents’ for ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus’.

11. Christmas Limbo

Find a Christmas scarf and either two volunteers or convenient points for tying and see who can go the lowest. Make this Christmas party game idea a little more interesting by strapping either a balloon or a cushion to everyone to give them a Santa belly to make the task harder.

This is a festive twist on the classic limbo game and is ideal as silly fun for large groups.

12. Photobooth Competition

The photo booth is always a popular destination during any party. Why not make it a little more exciting with a competition for the best photo? 

You can set whatever rules you like, whether that’s that all participants must be wearing headgear or that they must be acting out a scene from a Christmas movie, it’s your competition.

Or how about who can find the most festive, largest Christmas tree? Or a throwback to the early 2000s and get your employees to ‘plank’ outside Santa’s Grotto? 

Whatever it is, it won’t be your classic Santa hat and jingle bells!

13. Secret Santa Gift Exchange

A Secret Santa gift exchange is a fantastic office party game for Christmas because it fosters camaraderie and adds an element of surprise and excitement to the celebration. Colleagues draw names to become each other’s Secret Santa, and by setting a budget, it ensures everyone can participate comfortably. 

This tradition encourages thoughtful gift-giving and creates a sense of anticipation as employees exchange and unveil their presents during the party. It’s a heartwarming and inclusive activity that brings coworkers closer together, making it a cherished and memorable part of the holiday office festivities.

14. Christmas Trivia

This Christmas party game for the office combines festive fun with mental engagement. It allows colleagues to test their holiday knowledge in a light-hearted competition. Creating and answering questions about Christmas traditions, movies, music, and more not only sparks laughter but also encourages teamwork and friendly rivalry when employees are divided into teams.

It’s a versatile game that can be adjusted for various skill levels, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the festive spirit while learning new facts about the season.

15. Office Scavenger Hunt

An office scavenger hunt injects energy and enthusiasm into the workplace while embracing the festive theme. This activity encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity as employees work together to decipher clues and find hidden items related to Christmas decorations or Christmas traditions around the office.

It not only adds an element of adventure and excitement to the work environment but also allows coworkers to bond while exploring their workplace in a unique way. The competitive aspect and the thrill of discovery make it a memorable and enjoyable addition to any office Christmas celebration.

How do you Start Christmas Celebrations in the Office?

To kick off Christmas celebrations in the office:

• Decorate the workplace to add some Christmas cheer.
• Play Secret Santa for a fun gift exchange
• Have an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day to add humor and festivity
• Host an awards ceremony to recognise outstanding achievements
• Enjoy Christmas treats to keep the festive spirit high
• Organise different Christmas-themed games for team bonding
• Hold a cubicle or department decoration contest for a creative challenge
• Engage in charity work as a team to give back to the community

How do you Make a Staff Christmas Party Fun?

To ensure a fun-filled staff Christmas party, incorporate office Christmas party games and consider hosting your celebration at a dedicated party venue like Eastwood Hall. Our games are designed to add excitement and laughter to your event, encouraging team bonding and enjoyment. 

Choosing a specialised party venue ensures a festive atmosphere, complete with festive decorations, catering, and entertainment options that cater to your staff’s preferences. With the combination of engaging activities and a well-suited location, your staff Christmas party is guaranteed to be a memorable and enjoyable occasion for all.

Work Christmas Party Game Ideas – The Last Word! 

We hope you have enjoyed this list of office game ideas for Christmas! To quickly recap, our list of the very best work Christmas party game ideas to play with your employees are: 

1. Christmas Pictionary
2. Blindfolded Christmas Drawing
3. Pairs/Christmas Memory Game
4. Charades
5. Christmas Bingo
6. Two Truths and a Lie
7. How Many Ornaments? 
8. Christmas Quiz
9. Christmas: Who am I?
10. Name that Carol
11. Christmas Limbo
12. Photobooth Competition
13. Secret Santa Gift Exchange
14. Christmas Trivia
15. Office Scavenger Hunt

Don’t forget, you can also include Christmas gift exchange games for small groups like Secret Santa. 

We hope you’ve found our Christmas party game ideas list helpful and that you have a wonderful festive season, whatever you end up playing. 

If you’re looking to take the stress out of Christmas party planning, why not explore our private and sharer party options in Nottingham with comfortable bedrooms and accommodation offers available for those from afar.