Holiday party games for work: 20 games with one-card run sheets (alcohol-free and low-mobility options included)

Jump to pick a game in 30 seconds, the run cards or the games to skip.

Pick a game in 30 seconds

Find your group size, check how much setup time you have, and pick one icebreaker and one main game. Group size, setup time and run time are approximate planner estimates, shown as rounded ranges; they are not timed results.

Props cost uses two relative bands. Lower means office supplies, print-outs or things you already have. Mid means bought kits, food materials, or a paid app or host.

How to read it. Setup is the organizer's preparation time before the party, such as writing questions or printing cards. Run time is how long the game takes on the night. If two games fit, choose the one with the shorter setup; it is the one you are more likely to run well.

The run cards

Every card has the same fields, so you can print one, hand it to a volunteer and know they have everything they need. The text is plain and ungated, so copy any card into your run of show. The group sizes, setup and run times on each card are approximate planner estimates, and the inclusive versions are planner recommendations.

A few defaults apply to every card, so they aren't repeated each time: every game is optional, watching counts as joining, play is team-based, there is no physical contact, prizes are non-alcoholic by default, and a calm corner is always available (see our guide to quiet rooms and sensory breaks).

Icebreakers for the first 20 minutes

1. People bingo

• What it is: a bingo card of light, work-safe squares that people fill by finding a colleague who matches each one. It gets people talking to colleagues they rarely meet.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 15–150 people · 30–60 min to write and print the cards · 10–20 min to play, until the first lines are filled.
• Props (lower): printed cards, pens, a small prize.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Hand out cards at the door. 2) Players find a colleague for each square and write their name in it. 3) The first full line wins; call time after about 15 minutes.
• Alcohol-free version: no squares about alcohol, and a non-alcoholic prize.
• Low-mobility version: play "table bingo" with neighbors, or answer squares by a show of hands from the front.
• Hybrid or remote version: a digital card, with answers posted in the chat.
• Watch-outs: use work-safe squares only, such as "has worked in two of our offices" or "prefers tea to coffee", and skip anything about religion, family, health or alcohol. Our 80 ideas guide has a short version of this game. Say when you hand out the cards: "Skip any square you like, and you can always say 'pass' when someone asks you one."

2. "Find someone who…"

• What it is: a shorter list than bingo, with the same mingle mechanic: "Find someone who has never seen snow" or "who can name three holiday films from the same decade."
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 15–100 people · 20–40 min · 10–15 min.
• Props (lower): one printed sheet per person.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Hand out the sheet with 8–10 prompts. 2) Players collect a different name for each prompt. 3) The first complete sheet, or the most names at the time limit, wins.
• Alcohol-free version: no prompts about alcohol.
• Low-mobility version: players complete the sheet at their own table.
• Hybrid or remote version: a chat or breakout-room version.
• Watch-outs: use non-personal prompts about tastes and trivia, never "has kids", "celebrates [holiday]" or anything about health or relationships. Introduce it with: "Every prompt is optional, and 'pass' is always a fine answer."

3. Caption the photo

• What it is: teams write the funniest caption for a company-approved photo shown on screen.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 10–80 people · 30–60 min, mostly collecting and clearing photos · 10–20 min.
• Props (lower): a screen or printed photos, caption cards, pens.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a volunteer.
• How to play: 1) Show a photo. 2) Each table writes one caption in two minutes. 3) The host reads them out and the room votes by applause or a show of hands.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated by default.
• Hybrid or remote version: share the screen, and remote players post captions in the chat.
• Watch-outs: use company-approved photos only, with the consent of anyone pictured, and no captions about anyone's appearance.

4. Two-sentence holiday story swap

• What it is: each person at a table answers a light prompt in two sentences.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–40 people, in tables of 4–6 · 10–20 min to prepare a prompt list · 10–15 min.
• Props (lower): prompt cards.
• Who runs it: a volunteer host at each table.
• How to play: 1) Each table draws a prompt card. 2) Anyone who wants to answers in two sentences. 3) Draw a new card after each round.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated by default.
• Hybrid or remote version: breakout rooms of four to six.
• Watch-outs: this game can drift into personal disclosure, so keep every prompt non-personal: "your favorite winter food", "the best holiday film", "a song that should be on tonight's playlist". Avoid prompts about family, childhood or how people celebrate. Say at the start: "Answer any card you like, or just say 'pass'; listening is joining in too."

Table games during or after dinner

5. Holiday trivia in rounds (and table-vs-table for big rooms)

• What it is: four short rounds of general questions plus one round about the company's year, played in mixed-department teams. For 60–300 people, each table is a team and a host collects answer sheets by table.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 10–200 people (60–300 as table-vs-table) · 1–3 h to write the rounds · 20–40 min, at about 5–8 min per round plus scoring.
• Props (lower): answer sheets and pens; a screen and a mic for big rooms.
• Who runs it: the organizer, a confident MC or a hired host.
• How to play: 1) Seat mixed-department teams. 2) Run four rounds, such as winter around the world, holiday films and music, a picture round and the company year. 3) Mark between rounds and show the scores on screen. 4) Announce the winning team.
• Alcohol-free version: no alcohol rounds or forfeits.
• Low-mobility version: seated by default.
• Hybrid or remote version: remote players form their own team and answer in a quiz app or the chat.
• Watch-outs: keep the company round light and free of in-jokes, so new hires can win too. For big rooms, check the host has a mic. Our 80 ideas guide's trivia hour gives the short version; this card is the full run sheet.

6. Song intro quiz

• What it is: teams name the song from the first few seconds of a clip.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 10–150 people · 30–60 min to build the clip playlist · 15–25 min.
• Props (lower): a speaker or the venue's AV, answer sheets.
• Who runs it: the organizer or the DJ.
• How to play: 1) Play 15–20 short intros. 2) Teams write the title and artist. 3) Score one point for each, and a bonus for the year.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: streamed audio can lag, so remote teams answer in the chat and are scored on a separate sheet.
• Watch-outs: keep the volume comfortable, skip songs with explicit lyrics, and mix holiday and non-holiday songs.

7. Holiday movie emoji quiz

• What it is: teams decode film titles written as strings of emoji.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–150 people · 30–60 min to make 15–20 clues · 10–20 min.
• Props (lower): a screen or printed clue sheets.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Show each clue for about 30 seconds. 2) Teams write their answers. 3) Reveal the answers at the end.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: share the screen.
• Watch-outs: mix holiday and non-holiday films so everyone has a chance.

8. Drawing relay at the table

• What it is: one teammate draws a prompt while the rest of the team guesses, and the pad passes to the next person each round.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–60 people, in teams of 4–6 · 15–30 min · 20–30 min.
• Props (lower): pads, markers, a timer, prompt cards.
• Who runs it: a volunteer at each table.
• How to play: 1) A drawer takes a prompt card. 2) The team has one minute to guess. 3) Rotate the drawer, and keep score per team.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated by default.
• Hybrid or remote version: see card 19.
• Watch-outs: keep prompts work-safe, and nobody is forced to draw; a team can nominate its drawers.

9. "Guess the year" company timeline quiz

• What it is: teams place company moments, such as a first office, a launch or a team photo, in the right year.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 10–150 people · 1–2 h to gather dated moments · 10–20 min.
• Props (lower): a screen or printed cards.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Show each moment. 2) Teams write the year. 3) Score exact years highest and near misses lower.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: share the screen.
• Watch-outs: fact-check every date, and don't single out long-tenure colleagues.

Team challenges

10. Gingerbread or ornament build

• What it is: teams decorate a gingerbread house or build an ornament against the clock. For the room and decor of a gingerbread workshop theme, see our office holiday party themes guide.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–60 people, in teams of 3–5 · 45–90 min for kit prep, allergen labels and table covers · 30–45 min.
• Props (mid): kits, icing or craft supplies, table covers.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a volunteer.
• How to play: 1) Give each team a kit and a theme. 2) Set a 30-minute timer. 3) Judge on design, structure and teamwork. 4) Display the builds.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated, with pre-assembled bases so there is no heavy handling.
• Hybrid or remote version: ship mini kits ahead so remote teams build at the same time on camera.
• Watch-outs: check every kit for allergens. The FDA lists the major food allergens as "milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame". Offer a non-food ornament option, and see our dietary and allergy workflow and our guide to severe food allergies at company events.

11. Paper-snowflake or wreath design-off

• What it is: teams make the most impressive snowflake or paper wreath in a set time.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–80 people · 20–40 min · 20–30 min.
• Props (lower): paper, scissors, glue, ribbon.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Hand out supplies. 2) Set a 15–20 minute timer. 3) Judge quickly, with categories such as most detailed and most creative.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated, with easy-grip or safety scissors and pre-cut shapes for anyone with limited hand dexterity.
• Hybrid or remote version: each remote player makes one at home and shows it on camera.
• Watch-outs: skip glitter unless your venue allows it; check with your venue or building.

12. One-minute seated challenges

• What it is: a series of quick challenges, each lasting about a minute, such as stacking cups or flipping cards, played at stations.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 10–60 people · 30–60 min to lay out stations · 20–30 min.
• Props (lower): cups, cards, a timer.
• Who runs it: the organizer plus a volunteer.
• How to play: 1) Set out four to six stations. 2) Teams rotate, and each team chooses who plays each challenge, in pairs if they like; nobody has to take a turn. 3) Score each challenge and total by team.
• Alcohol-free version: challenges never involve alcohol.
• Low-mobility version: choose only seated challenges that can be done with one hand, and score them equally.
• Hybrid or remote version: pick challenges that use household items, so remote players can play along.
• Watch-outs: no physical contact and no mouth-based challenges, for hygiene.

13. Tabletop escape box

• What it is: each team solves a boxed or printed puzzle kit at its own table, inside a time limit. This is a tabletop game in the room, not a venue escape room; for those, see our 80 ideas guide's escape room and virtual escape room ideas.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 4–40 people, in teams of 4–6 · 30–90 min · 30–45 min.
• Props (mid): printable or boxed kits, one per team.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a hired host.
• How to play: 1) Give each team a kit. 2) Start the timer. 3) The first team to open the final lock wins, and offer hints at set times.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: a digital escape kit.
• Watch-outs: test one kit yourself before the night.

14. Survey showdown

• What it is: two teams guess the most popular answers to questions from an anonymous survey of colleagues, sent a week ahead.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 20–200 people · 1–2 h, plus a survey sent a week ahead · 20–30 min.
• Props (lower): a survey tool, a screen, a scoreboard.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a hired host.
• How to play: 1) Survey colleagues anonymously a week before. 2) Tally the top answers. 3) Teams take turns guessing, with volunteer players answering for their team and teammates calling out help, and score on screen.
• Alcohol-free version: no survey questions about alcohol.
• Low-mobility version: seated contestants.
• Hybrid or remote version: a remote team buzzes in through the chat.
• Watch-outs: keep the survey anonymous and optional, and ask about tastes and trivia, such as "the best holiday snack", never about colleagues, bodies, religion or relationships. Our 80 ideas guide's hosted game show covers the hired-host version.

Company Christmas party games for large groups (80+)

For 80 or more people, run games from the stage or the screen, let tables play as teams and put the scores on screen. Holiday trivia also scales as table-vs-table trivia (card 5).

15. Phone-based live quiz on the screen

• What it is: a quiz run through a live quiz app, with questions on the big screen and answers on phones.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 30–500 people · 1–2 h to build questions and test the Wi-Fi · 15–30 min.
• Props (lower to mid): a quiz app (free or paid tier), a screen, the venue's Wi-Fi.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a hired host.
• How to play: 1) Put the join code on screen. 2) Run 10–15 questions. 3) Show the leaderboard after each round.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: remote players use the same app link.
• Watch-outs: test the Wi-Fi load in advance, and offer paper answer sheets for anyone without a phone.

16. True-or-false with cards

• What it is: the host reads a statement and everyone answers at once with a two-color card or a show of hands, so nobody has to stand.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 30–500 people · 30–60 min · 10–15 min.
• Props (lower): two-color cards, or the quiz app.
• Who runs it: the organizer or an MC.
• How to play: 1) Hand out cards. 2) Read a statement. 3) Everyone raises a card, the host reveals the answer, and players keep their own score.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: cards or hands by default; everyone plays from their seat.
• Hybrid or remote version: answer in the app.
• Watch-outs: keep statements about the season or the company year, never about individual colleagues.

17. Prize draw tied to the games

• What it is: each game earns a ticket, and one draw at the end of the evening gives out the prizes.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): any size · 15–30 min · 5–10 min.
• Props (lower to mid): tickets and prizes.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Give a ticket for taking part in each game, including watching. 2) Collect the tickets. 3) Draw at the end.
• Alcohol-free version: non-alcoholic prizes by default.
• Low-mobility version: bring prizes to winners at their seats.
• Hybrid or remote version: include remote names in the draw.
• Watch-outs: keep prize draws free to enter, and check your state and local rules on raffles and prize draws first. Never sell tickets. For the tax side of prizes, see the gift card tax question in our 80 ideas guide.

Games for remote and hybrid teams

Give remote players their own team rather than tacking them onto a room table, and test the link with a remote colleague first. For the wider approach, see our guide to hybrid and remote inclusion and the virtual and hybrid ideas in our 80 ideas guide.

18. Online quiz with breakout huddles

• What it is: a quiz on video in which teams confer in breakout rooms before answering.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 6–200 people · 1–2 h for questions, breakout setup and a test call · 30–45 min.
• Props (lower to mid): a video platform, a quiz app.
• Who runs it: the organizer or a hired host.
• How to play: 1) Ask each question in the main room. 2) Send teams to breakouts for a minute. 3) Collect answers in the app and show scores between rounds.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: built for remote; room teams can join on their own laptops.
• Watch-outs: pick a time that works across time zones, and keep cameras optional.

19. Remote drawing relay on a shared whiteboard

• What it is: the drawing relay (card 8) on a shared online whiteboard.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 4–30 people per room · 15–30 min · 15–25 min.
• Props (lower): a whiteboard tool, a prompt list.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Send the drawer a prompt privately. 2) The team guesses in the chat or out loud. 3) Rotate the drawer.
• Alcohol-free version: no change needed.
• Low-mobility version: seated, with a typing or emoji alternative to drawing.
• Hybrid or remote version: built for remote.
• Watch-outs: test everyone's access to the tool in advance.

20. "Show something festive on your desk" round

• What it is: volunteers show one festive or wintry object, such as a mug, a plant or a card, in a few seconds each.
• Group size, setup and run (approximate planner estimates): 4–40 people · 5–10 min, as only an invite note is needed · 10–15 min.
• Props (lower): none.
• Who runs it: the organizer.
• How to play: 1) Mention it in the invite. 2) Go around volunteers only. 3) Keep each turn to a few seconds.
• Alcohol-free version: a mug of cocoa is welcome; there is no drinks showcase.
• Low-mobility version: seated.
• Hybrid or remote version: built for remote.
• Watch-outs: home spaces show on camera, so make this opt-in only and camera-optional, and a festive virtual background counts. Put it in the invite: "Want to join the festive desk round? Bring one object, or just switch on a winter background. Cameras are optional, and it's fine to watch."

Work Christmas party activities for adults that don't feel forced

These rules apply to every card above, and they are what keep games fun rather than awkward.

• Optional by default. Say so in the invite and again when you start each game. Watching counts as joining.
• Teams, not spotlights. Nobody plays alone on the spot, and nobody has to perform.
• No physical contact. Choose games played with cards, pads, phones or voices.
• No personal disclosure. Use prompts about tastes, trivia and the season, and give every prompt a "pass".
• Nothing centered on alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's holiday hosting tips say: "Avoid games or activities that center around alcohol." Prizes are non-alcoholic by default, and SHRM suggests setting ground rules ahead of time "by letting people know that no alcohol or substance-related gifts are allowed."
• Seated versions that score the same. Every active game has a seated version, and players choose which to play. A University of Florida IFAS Extension guide to icebreakers for adults advises: "be cognizant of possible mobility concerns or issues."
• Keep it short. Aim for about 30 minutes or less per game, as an approximate planner guide rather than a rule.
• A calm corner. Keep a quieter space open for anyone who needs a break; see our guide to quiet rooms and sensory breaks.

For the wider approach to optional programming, see inclusive company retreats for People Ops, and for the bar plan itself, our holiday party alcohol and safety guide.

Where games go in the evening

1. As people arrive: an icebreaker (cards 1–4) for the first 20 minutes or so, while the room fills.
2. After the main food service: the main game (cards 5–16), for about 20–30 minutes as an approximate planner guide.
3. Near the end, before the soft close: an optional, low-key table game or the prize draw, then let the evening carry on without a program.

Our holiday party checklist has the full run of show, and the alcohol and safety guide covers the soft close.

Holiday team building activities during the party

Games are an easy way to mix departments without making a speech about it. Draw team names at the door, or seat mixed tables before the main game, so people who rarely work together end up on the same side. Card 5 and card 14 work well for this because every team needs a range of knowledge.

If you would rather give the team a full day of team building than games at a party, see our team building day and team building pages.

Prizes that work at work

Small, useful and non-alcoholic prizes are a safe default, and team prizes, such as a breakfast delivered to the winning team, avoid singling anyone out. Card 17 covers the prize draw. For how cash-like prizes are treated for tax, see our 80 ideas guide's gift card tax question; this page doesn't give tax advice.

Games to skip at a work party

• Games that center on alcohol, including forfeits and rounds that reward having a drink.
• Anything with physical contact.
• "Most likely to…" rounds and roast awards, which single people out.
• Games that need personal disclosure, such as baby photos or relationship questions, unless there is an explicit opt-in and a non-personal alternative.
• Anything that needs running or lifting with no seated version that scores the same.
• Gambling with real money, including paid buy-ins.

Running White Elephant or Secret Santa? Our ideas guide has the short rules.

When a local planner or host helps

For a large group, a first party in a new city, or a night when you would rather not hold the microphone, a local planner can book a host or quizmaster, source props and AV, and fold the games into the rest of the evening. Vantly matches your brief with a local planner, who produces a turnkey event proposal with prices. We send it within 48 hours, at no cost. Any price still waiting on a vendor's confirmation is marked as an estimate.

The plan is tailor-made, and our intent is one vendor, one PO for the event. You can see sample events as examples a planner tailors to your team, or browse local event planners. For New York teams, see corporate parties in New York; for themes and decor, see our office holiday party themes guide. When you're ready, get a custom quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Christmas party game for work?

Team holiday trivia is one of the simplest games to run well: four short rounds, mixed-department teams, and general questions plus one about the company's year. It works seated, without alcohol and on video, and nobody has to perform alone. Setup takes the longest, so write the rounds a week ahead.

What games work for a large company Christmas party?

Games that run from the stage or the screen: a phone-based live quiz, table-versus-table trivia or a true-or-false round answered with cards or hands. Keep rounds short, put scores on screen, let each table play as a team, and test the Wi-Fi and the host's microphone before guests arrive.

What are work Christmas party activities for adults that aren't cheesy?

Short team challenges with a real result: a gingerbread or ornament build, a song intro quiz, a drawing relay at the table or a company timeline quiz. Keep them optional, team-based and under about half an hour, and let people choose whether to play or watch, because watching counts as joining.

What party games work without alcohol?

All of them should. Pick games built on teamwork, music, drawing or trivia, never on alcohol, and make prizes non-alcoholic by default. NIAAA's hosting advice is to avoid games or activities that center around alcohol, and a strong zero-proof menu helps everyone feel part of the evening.

How do you include colleagues with limited mobility in party games?

Choose games that can be played seated, such as trivia, drawing or table challenges, and give every active game a seated version that scores the same. Answer rounds with cards or hands rather than standing, and tell people in advance what each game involves so they can choose how to take part.

What games work for a remote or hybrid holiday party?

An online quiz with breakout huddles, a remote drawing relay on a shared whiteboard or a camera-optional "show something festive" round. Give remote players their own team rather than tacking them onto a room table, keep cameras optional, and test the link and the tools with a remote colleague first.

How long should games last at a work holiday party?

About 20–30 minutes for a main game and 10–20 minutes for an icebreaker, as approximate planner estimates. Run one as people arrive and one after the main food service, then let the evening carry on without a program. Stop each game while people are still enjoying it.

How do you make an office Christmas party fun?

Give the evening two short, team-based games: an icebreaker as people arrive and one main game after food. Keep both optional, seated-friendly and alcohol-free by design, mix departments in the teams, and stop while people are still enjoying it. Our 80 ideas guide covers formats and venues.

What to do for a staff Christmas party?

Pick the format first, such as a meal, an activity venue or the office, then plan one or two games the host can run in the room, such as team trivia or a table build challenge. Our 80 ideas guide covers formats and venue outings, and the run cards here cover the games.

Ready to plan the games?

Share your date, headcount and room, and a local planner can put the games, host and props into one proposal. Get a custom quote.

Related guides

• Office holiday party themes by team size, budget and venue
• 80 office Christmas party ideas for work
• Holiday party checklist
• Holiday party alcohol and safety for office managers
• Quiet rooms and sensory breaks
• All holiday party guides

Sources

• NIAAA (NIH), Director's blog, holiday party hosting tips (December 2022)
• SHRM, Here's How Managers Can Make the Office Holiday Party Recovery-Friendly (November 2022)
• University of Florida IFAS Extension, Icebreakers for Adults (WC356)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Food Allergies

All sources checked October 2026.