20 Fun Christmas Games for Work

By: | Updated: August 23, 2024

Welcome to our list of Christmas games for work.

Christmas games for work are holiday activities that boost morale and holiday spirits. For example, Holiday Movie Bingo, Gingerbread Man Relay Race, or Pin the Nose on Rudolph. The purpose of these activities is to improve workplace happiness during the festive season. These activities are also known as “holiday games,” “Christmas office party activities” and “company Christmas game ideas.”

These Christmas games for work are similar to virtual Christmas games, Christmas spirit week ideas, holiday team building activities, Secret Santa games, and Halloween games.

christmas-games

This list includes:

  • Christmas games for employees
  • Christmas office party activities
  • Christmas party work games
  • company Christmas game ideas
  • company Xmas party games
  • corporate Christmas games

Let’s get to it!

List of Christmas games for work

From Holiday Movie Bingo to Penguin Waddle Race, here are some of the top games to play at your next Christmas party.

1. Gingerbread Games (Top Choice)

Gingerbread Games is a delicious twist to your holiday team outing. During this experience, your teams will compete in delicious gingerbread-themed activities. We provide gingerbread kits that contain all the necessary ingredients for this contest.

Here is what you can expect:

  • 90 minutes with world-class hosts
  • holiday trivia and challenges
  • decorating themes and secret ingredients
  • a fast-paced gingerbread decorating contest

We can host this experience at any venue of your choice, or virtually. For the in-person version, teams decorate a Gingerbread house with a wacky theme. Virtually, team members decorate gingerbread people in a series of mini-games and activities to win points for their teams and earn the title of gingerbread champions. All versions of the event are non-holiday specific and are great fun no matter what occasion team members celebrate in December.

To add a fun team building competition to your holiday party, check out Gingerbread Games!

Learn more about Gingerbread Games.

2. Holiday Movie Bingo

You can add some festive fun to your work holiday celebration with Holiday Movie Bingo! This simple and enjoyable game brings coworkers together. To play this game, create Bingo cards with holiday movie themes. Examples include “Ugly Christmas Sweater” or “Snowball Fight.” Then, watch holiday films together and mark off the squares when you spot these themes. The first player to fill in a line wins!

Here is a Bingo card for you to use:

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Holiday Movie Bingo builds camaraderie among coworkers, fostering a positive work environment. Plus, folks get to enjoy their favorite holiday movies together!

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  • icebreaker games
  • bingo cards
  • DIY guides

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3. Holiday Decoration Race

The Holiday Decoration Race is a lively workplace activity. Teams compete to decorate a tree.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather materials, including trees, garlands, and ornaments.
  2. Split players into teams.
  3. Set a timer for ten minutes.
  4. Players will rush to decorate their trees.
  5. The team with the most well-decorated tree wins!

You can also offer prizes for different categories, like funniest or most decorations. This game encourages creativity and collaboration as colleagues work together. By the end of this event, you will have several decorated trees to place around the office!

Similarly, here are ideas for office Christmas decorating contests.

4. Gingerbread Man Relay Race

The Gingerbread Man Relay Race is one of the most exciting company Christmas game ideas.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather gingerbread man decorating supplies.
  2. Divide participants into teams.
  3. Set a timer for one minute.
  4. One player from each team will start decorating the cookie.
  5. When time is up, the next team member gets one minute to decorate the cookie.
  6. After teams finish decorating, give prizes for your favorite cookies.

This game is a great way to add festive cheer to your workplace. Plus, participants all get to enjoy a tasty snack in the end!

5. Pin the Nose on Rudolph

Pin the Nose on Rudolph is a Christmas twist on a childhood classic.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Print out a large cutout of Rudolph.
  2. Make a large red nose.
  3. Add double-sided tape to the back of the nose.
  4. Players will put on a blindfold, spin around three times, and pin the nose to Rudolph.
  5. Whoever places the nose closest to the right spot wins!

This joyful game will relieve stress and make players laugh. Plus, this exercise is easy to DIY!

6. Holiday Headbands

Playing Holiday Headbands is one of the most fun and easy corporate Christmas games for the team to enjoy during the festive season.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather headbands and cards with pictures of holiday items or symbols.
  2. Each player puts on a headband and puts a random card in the band.
  3. Participants will ask colleagues yes-or-no questions to find out what is on their card.
  4. The goal is to guess what the holiday image is.

Optionally, you can give out awards to the first few players who figure out what is on their cards. Folks will have interesting conversations as they try to figure out their mystery pictures. This game is great for holiday parties!

7. Penguin Waddle Race

The Penguin Waddle Race is a super silly and enjoyable game for holiday fun. During this activity, the team pretends to be penguins.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Make a race track with columns and a finish line.
  2. Give participants a balloon or ball.
  3. Players will put the ball between their knees, pretending it is a penguin egg.
  4. When the race begins, participants will waddle as fast as they can to the finish line.
  5. If participants drop their eggs, then they need to restart from the beginning.
  6. Whoever reaches the end first wins!

This simple and entertaining game will get the whole team laughing. You can even hold a tournament-style version of these races to make them more challenging!

8. Snowball Toss Challenge

The Snowball Toss Challenge is a fun and engaging Christmas game. You can add this activity to your list of company Xmas party games.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather soft balls or sets of stuffed socks.
  2. Set out buckets at varying distances.
  3. Players will throw ten snowballs each into the buckets.
  4. Participants earn more points for scoring in farther buckets.
  5. Whoever earns the most points wins!

This challenge will put participants’ coordination to the test. Teams will have a blast with this Skee-Ball-inspired game!

9. Santa Hat Stacking

Santa Hat Stacking is one of the best quick games to add to your holiday party.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Split participants into groups.
  2. Give each team several Santa hats.
  3. Choose one player to sit in a chair.
  4. Set a timer for two minutes.
  5. Players will stack as many Santa hats on the sitting player as possible.
  6. When time is up, whoever stacks the most hats wins!

You can make this game more challenging by adding additional rules. For example, you could mandate that when a hat falls over, teams have to start the stack from scratch. This fast-paced experience is a great way to help teams bond!

10. Reindeer Ring Toss

Reindeer Ring Toss is a fun Christmas game perfect for your workplace. All you need are reindeer antler headbands.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Divide players into pairs.
  2. Have one player from each team wear a reindeer antler headband.
  3. Give the remaining player a set of rings.
  4. Participants will throw the rings to hook them onto the headband.
  5. Whoever successfully hooks all their rings first wins!

This game is a great way to break the ice, encourage teamwork, and add holiday cheer to the office. Plus, Reindeer Ring Toss is easy to set up.

11. Candy Cane Fishing

Candy Cane Fishing is one of the most delightful Christmas party work games that brings fun to your office.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather some yarn, candy canes, and ornaments.
  2. Tie yarn to the straight end of the candy cane to make a fishing pole.
  3. Add extra yarn to the ornaments to create loops.
  4. Put the ornaments into an empty kiddie pool.
  5. Set a timer for five minutes.
  6. Players will fish out as many ornaments as possible.
  7. Whoever snags the most ornaments wins!

This game is a fun Christmas alternative to bobbing for apples. Plus, this friendly competition encourages strategic thinking and coordination.

12. Gift-Wrap Relay

The Gift-Wrap Relay is a fun Christmas game perfect for the workplace. In this game, teams compete to see who can wrap a present the fastest and the neatest.

Here is how to play this game:

  1. Split players into teams.
  2. Give each team wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, and empty boxes.
  3. The first player wraps their present as fast as possible.
  4. Once player one finishes, the next player wraps the same box.
  5. Play continues until the last participant wraps the gift.
  6. Whichever team completes the relay first wins!

Gift-Wrap Relay is excellent for team bonding, as it promotes communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Plus, this game provides a chance for coworkers to build stronger relationships.

13. Ornament Guessing Game

The Ornament Guessing Game adds a festive touch to your Christmas office party activities.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather a clear jar and several small Christmas ornaments.
  2. Fill the jar with the ornaments. Be sure to count the decorations.
  3. Players will guess how many ornaments are in the jar.
  4. Whoever guesses closest wins!

This friendly competition is a great addition to any Christmas party. You can even set a jar out for customers to play along!

14. Christmas Carol Pictionary

Christmas Carol Pictionary brings a festive vibe to your workplace holiday celebrations.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Divide players into teams.
  2. Give each team a set of cards with Christmas carol titles on them.
  3. One player picks a card and draws clues about the song.
  4. Teammates guess which carol the player is drawing.
  5. Participants earn one point for each correct guess.
  6. Whoever ends up with the most points wins!

This game promotes creativity, teamwork, and laughter. Also, colleagues will get to work together, bond, and share some holiday joy.

Here are the best online drawing games.

15. Stocking Guessing Game

The Stocking Guessing Game is one of the top Christmas games for employees that keeps players on their toes.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Put different objects inside of stockings.
  2. Players take turns feeling the outside of the stocking.
  3. Participants earn one point for each item they guess correctly.
  4. Whoever earns the most points wins!

You can put Christmas- or office-themed objects inside the stockings. To make this game more challenging, find the most unexpected items you can. This step will put players to the test!

16. Candy Cane Hunt

The Candy Cane Hunt is a fun and festive Christmas game. This activity is a fun Christmas twist on an Easter egg hunt.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Hide mini candy canes around the office.
  2. Give participants Christmas stockings.
  3. Players hunt around the office and look for candy canes.
  4. Folks can put the canes they find in their stockings.
  5. Whoever finds the most candy wins!

This lighthearted activity is a great break from work. In addition, colleagues will get to eat tasty treats after playing!

Here are more holiday scavenger hunt ideas.

17. Elfie Selfie Scramble

Elfie Selfie Scramble is a speedy contest that will capture hilarious memories!

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Write a list of holiday-themed selfie challenges. For instance, “Take a picture with a wrapped present.”
  2. Participants race to complete each task.
  3. Whoever takes all their selfies first wins!

You can provide fun props and silly outfits to make these pictures even better. This competition is a fun way to capture pictures of your team. After the experience, you can print out the best photos and hang them around the office.

18. Snowman Building Contest

If you live in a snowy area, then host a classic Snowman Building Contest!

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Split players into teams.
  2. Offer players snowman decorations, such as carrots, hats, and scarves.
  3. Set a timer for ten to 15 minutes.
  4. Participants will race to build the best snowman.
  5. Give awards to your favorite snowmen.

This game encourages creativity and teamwork. In addition, teams will have a blast playing in the snow!

19. Merry Memory Game

The Merry Memory Game is a fun and simple activity for your work Christmas celebration. This exercise brings joy and laughter while boosting memory skills.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Gather participants in a circle.
  2. Place several Christmas-themed objects on a tray in the center.
  3. Let players look at the objects for a few minutes, and then cover the tray.
  4. Each player tries to remember as many items as they can.
  5. Whoever has the most correct answers wins!

This activity is a great way to build teamwork and mental agility during the holiday season. Playing this game also encourages employees to improve their memory skills.

20. Popcorn Stringing Contest

A Popcorn Stringing Contest is an engaging game for a Christmas party.

Here is how to play the game:

  1. Give each participant a string, a plastic sewing needle, and a bowl of popcorn.
  2. Set a timer for five to ten minutes.
  3. Players string as many pieces of popcorn onto the garland as possible.
  4. Whoever gets the most pieces on their garland wins!

This activity promotes teamwork, creativity, and friendly competition among colleagues. Also, this contest encourages bonding and camaraderie among coworkers during the holiday season.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season is a great time to foster camaraderie within teams. Christmas games involve team members in joyful activities that reinforce positive dynamics. You can host these activities during team building events or holiday parties. Some of these exercises are even a great break from the regular workday. From Pin the Nose on Rudolph to Candy Cane Hunt, these activities will delight your workforce.

Next, check out our posts on Christmas contest ideas, holiday gifts for employees, Christmas escape rooms, and office Christmas party ideas.

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FAQ: Christmas games for work

Here are frequently asked questions about Christmas games for work.

What are some fun Christmas games for the workplace?

One great option is Holiday Movie Bingo, where employees have to mark off popular Christmas tropes as they watch a movie. Another option is a gingerbread man relay race that adds fast-paced fun to your office celebrations.

What are the best Christmas games for an office party?

If you are planning an office party, then Reindeer Ring Toss or Santa Hat Stacking could be big hits with your employees. These games spice up your celebration and contribute to team building.

What Christmas games do not need any materials?

For Elfie Selfie Scramble, you could use nothing but employees’ smartphones. During the Merry Memory Game, supplies from around the office work great.

Are there any easy, quick-setup Christmas games for work?

Games like Candy Cane Hunt and Merry Memory Game do not require extensive setup. However, these engaging games create a lot of fun.

What are the benefits of hosting Christmas games at work?

Playing Christmas games at work has multiple benefits. These exercises increase employee engagement and reinforce team spirit. Plus, these activities boost morale, break the routine, and make holiday celebrations fun-filled for the whole team.

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Author:

CEO at teambuilding.com.
I write about my experience working with and leading remote teams since 2010.

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