Office Christmas Party Games: Ideas for Every Team

Someone has asked you to sort the office Christmas party games. You have a mixed room, a small budget and very little time. The safest plan is three games: an icebreaker as people arrive, a table game over food, and a big finale that involves the whole room.

The games below are grouped by how much effort they take, so you can mix free options with a hosted one. We note who each suits and what tends to go wrong.

How to choose office Christmas party games

Choose games by group size, space and who is in the room, not by how funny they sound on a list.

Ask four questions before you commit:

• How many people? Under 20, almost anything works. Over 50, you need team-based games, not individual turns, or half the room waits and drifts off.
• What space do you have? Seated tables suit quizzes and bingo. Relays and active challenges need clear floor.
• Who is attending? Allow for non-drinkers, quieter colleagues, people with mobility needs and anyone who dislikes being the centre of attention.
• Is anyone remote? Hybrid staff need a game they can join on a screen, such as a quiz.

Quick-pick table

Easy Christmas party games you can run yourself (free)

These need a printer, a phone and a volunteer with a loud voice. They are the best free office Christmas party games because they cost nothing and scale from a team of ten to a whole floor.

Christmas quiz and music bingo

A team quiz is the most reliable game for a mixed office. Put people on tables of 4-6, mix departments on purpose and keep questions light: festive films, general knowledge, “guess the colleague” baby photos. Music bingo works the same way: play 10-second clips, and people tick off songs on a card.

Both work on video for remote staff. What goes wrong: a quiz that runs past 45 minutes.

Taboo-style and charades with work-themed cards

Write cards with office in-jokes, job titles and festive words (“mince pie”, “the all-hands meeting”, “the broken printer”) and play in teams of 4-6. It suits teams who know each other well, and is a poor fit for a newly merged group. Let teams choose who acts, so nobody dreads their turn.

Secret Santa and guess-the-giver

Run Secret Santa as normal, then turn the opening of gifts into a game: the recipient has three guesses at who gave it. It takes ten minutes and gets people talking to colleagues they rarely meet. Set a price cap and let anyone opt out.

Two truths and a lie, Christmas edition

Each person shares two true and one false Christmas fact about themselves, and the group guesses the lie. It needs no kit and suits groups under 30 and new starters. Skip it for large rooms, where it runs too long.

Funny games for adults and big rooms

For big rooms, the funniest games are short, team-based and played in front of the group, not between pairs. Table-versus-table formats work well because the whole table cheers for its player, so nobody is alone.

Good ones to try:

• Minute-to-win-it challenges: stack mini mince pies, unwrap a gift wearing oven gloves, move baubles with a spoon. Each takes 60 seconds, so you can run a dozen.
• Name that tune: a team representative hums a song and the table guesses.

You need a timer, a few props and a scorekeeper. Keep every challenge doable stone-cold sober.

Hosted and tech-led games

A hosted game is worth it when you want one polished main event, have more than about 30 people, or do not want to run the room yourself. A professional presenter runs the game, so you can enjoy the party. Our corporate events include setup, breakdown, all equipment and professional hosts, for groups from 20 people to 2,000.

Game shows and quizzes

Our game shows and quizzes include Taskmaster-style challenges, Cube-style challenges, quizzes and bingo, and we can theme them around your company. Setup is included, and they suit an end-of-day social. Teams can stay seated at tables while a few players take on each challenge on stage, as pictured below.

The Betrayers

The Betrayers is inspired by the TV show The Traitors. Secret roles, voting and suspicion carry the game, as in the TV show. It is adapted to your space and group size, from boardroom to conference hall, and a professional presenter and all AV are included.

Driving simulators and arcade corner

A games corner lets guests play in turns, without everyone joining at once. Our driving simulators run from 1 to 16 simulators with 55-inch screens and force-feedback wheels, with optional VR headsets. Our classic arcade games include retro arcade (Street Fighter, Pong, Pac-Man), air hockey, table football, darts and shuffleboard, in a free-flow, drop-in format. Both let people compete without performing in front of a crowd.

Fatima Mnasri of SpaceMade said this about their Christmas party with us:

“We hired Gold Tier Events for our Christmas party, and it was a huge success! The Gold Tier team were incredibly professional, handling everything seamlessly. Our members had an amazing time and absolutely loved the entertainment.” Fatima Mnasri, Community Manager, SpaceMade

What goes wrong with office party games

Most failures come from a few avoidable mistakes.

• Asking for volunteers on stage. Shy colleagues feel pressured, and the loudest people dominate. Use team games, where the team picks its player.
• Long rules. If you need more than 60 seconds to explain a game, simplify it or hire a host.
• Games that depend on drinking. They exclude non-drinkers and can make a work event awkward. Keep alcohol out of the rules entirely.
• Running too long. Aim for 45-90 minutes of games, then let the music take over.

Inclusive options

Build in choices from the start. Offer a role to people who do not want to perform, such as scorekeeper or question reader. Pick seated games such as quizzes for anyone with limited mobility, and avoid anything that needs physical contact. Our indoor team building options are another place to start; ask us which suit your group. Make sure non-drinkers have a proper drink and a role in every game. The same goes for a wider team building day.

Check accessibility and dietary needs with your venue and supplier. If you have remote colleagues, run the quiz on video so they can join in the same round.

FAQs

What are some fun and engaging Christmas games I can play?

For adults at work, a Christmas quiz, music bingo, work-themed charades, two truths and a lie, and a Secret Santa guess-the-giver round all need almost no kit. For something bigger, a hosted game show or a Traitors-style game gives a whole room one shared event, with a presenter doing the explaining.

What do you do at a work Christmas party?

Most work parties follow the same shape: arrivals and drinks, food, one main activity, an awards or thank-you moment, then music and mingling. Games fit best between food and dancing, when people have settled in but energy is still high. Keep the main activity to 45-90 minutes.

What are some good party games for work?

Pick games that need no skill, no embarrassing solo moments and no drinking. Team quizzes, table-versus-table challenges, music bingo and hosted game shows work well for mixed groups because everyone can join in at their own level and nobody has to perform alone.

How do you celebrate Christmas in the office?

Keep it simple: a shared lunch or afternoon finish, a Secret Santa, a quiz or two, and some decorations. Include remote colleagues with a video quiz or a posted treat. For a bigger event, we can plan the whole party for you.

Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal. Send an enquiry and we’ll reply within one business day, or call 020 3355 5453.