Christmas Game Ideas With Gifts – Christmas games that involve gifts add an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to holiday celebrations, transforming simple presents into memorable experiences. These games often center around gift exchanges, surprise reveals, and playful competition, making them especially popular at family gatherings, workplace parties, and friend get-togethers. Common examples include Secret Santa games, gift-stealing games, and mystery gift challenges where participants select, swap, or win presents through various activities. The thrill of not knowing which gift one will end up with keeps everyone engaged and encourages lively interaction among players. Gift-based Christmas games can be tailored to suit different budgets, themes, and age groups, ensuring inclusivity and fairness.
They also promote creativity, as participants may wrap gifts in humorous ways or include clues, riddles, or dares to unlock them. Beyond entertainment, these games foster a sense of togetherness, generosity, and shared joy, reinforcing the spirit of giving that defines the Christmas season. By combining fun activities with thoughtful or playful presents, Christmas gift games help create lasting memories and strengthen bonds among participants.
Christmas Game Ideas With Gifts
Secret Santa Gift Swap
Credit@ellsinmotion
Description:
A classic Christmas game where players anonymously exchange gifts.
It builds excitement, surprise, and laughter as gifts are revealed.
Perfect for family gatherings or office Christmas parties.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Ask every participant to write their name on a slip of paper and place it in a bowl, then let each person randomly pick one name without revealing it.
-
Each player buys a gift specifically for the person whose name they picked, staying within an agreed budget to keep things fair.
-
On Christmas day, gather everyone in a circle and distribute gifts one by one, allowing guesses before revealing the Secret Santa.
-
Encourage reactions, thank-you speeches, and photos to make the moment memorable.
-
Optional rules like stealing gifts or bonus challenges can be added for extra fun.
Christmas Gift Scavenger Hunt
Credit@johnstownscheels
Description (3 lines):
An adventurous game that turns gift-giving into a fun treasure hunt.
Players follow clues to find hidden presents.
Great for kids and adults who love puzzles.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Prepare a series of clever Christmas-themed clues that lead participants from one location to another within the house or yard.
-
Hide gifts at the final destination or spread smaller gifts along the way to keep excitement high.
-
Divide players into teams or allow individuals to play depending on group size.
-
Read the first clue aloud and let players race or cooperate to solve it.
-
The first team or person to find the final gift wins, or everyone receives a prize for completing the hunt.
Pass the Present
Credit@savvyswarey.com
Description:
A fast-paced and energetic game filled with suspense.
Players pass a wrapped gift while music plays.
Whoever holds the gift when music stops gets a surprise.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Wrap a gift in multiple layers of wrapping paper, optionally adding small challenges or notes between layers.
-
Seat players in a circle and start playing Christmas music while passing the present around.
-
Randomly stop the music, and the person holding the gift removes one layer of wrapping.
-
Continue the game until the final layer is removed and the gift is revealed.
-
The winner keeps the gift, or players can take turns winning smaller prizes hidden inside.
Christmas Gift Bingo
Credit@blogs.glowscotland.org.uk
Description:
A festive twist on classic bingo using Christmas gifts.
Easy to play and suitable for all ages.
Creates excitement with every called item.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Prepare bingo cards with pictures or names of Christmas items such as candy canes, socks, mugs, or candles.
-
Place small wrapped gifts or tokens corresponding to the bingo items in a bowl.
-
Call out items one by one while players mark their cards.
-
The first player to complete a row, column, or full card shouts “Christmas Bingo!”
-
The winner selects a gift, and the game can continue for multiple rounds.
Gift Guessing Game
Credit@smartertravel.com
Description:
A fun and interactive guessing game using wrapped gifts.
Encourages creativity and laughter.
Perfect for mixed-age groups.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Wrap several gifts and place them on a table without revealing what’s inside.
-
Allow each player to pick up, shake, or feel a gift without opening it.
-
Give players a limited time to write down guesses about the contents of each gift.
-
Reveal the gifts one by one and award points for correct guesses.
-
The player with the most correct answers wins a bonus Christmas gift.
Christmas Gift Relay Race
Credit@thepioneerwoman.com
Description (3 lines):
An active and energetic Christmas party game.
Combines teamwork with gift delivery challenges.
Ideal for large groups and outdoor spaces.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Divide players into teams and give each team a wrapped gift.
-
Set up a relay course with simple obstacles like cones, chairs, or boxes.
-
Players take turns carrying the gift through the course using only one hand or wearing mittens.
-
After completing their turn, they pass the gift to the next teammate.
-
The first team to finish the relay wins and gets to keep the gift or choose prizes.
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Credit@katdunn
A humorous gift exchange filled with surprises.
Gifts can be swapped, stolen, or kept.
Encourages laughter and playful competition.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Ask each participant to bring a wrapped gift, either funny or useful.
-
Place all gifts in the center and assign numbers to players.
-
Players take turns choosing a gift or stealing one already opened.
-
A stolen gift can be taken only a limited number of times to keep things fair.
-
Continue until everyone has a gift, creating plenty of funny moments.
Christmas Dice Gift Game
Credit@instamattygram
Description (3 lines):
A simple luck-based game using dice and gifts.
Fast-moving and exciting.
Perfect for short attention spans.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Place wrapped gifts in the center of the table and seat players in a circle.
-
Give one die to the group and set a timer for 10–15 minutes.
-
Players take turns rolling the die; specific numbers allow them to take, swap, or unwrap a gift.
-
Continue until the timer ends, and everyone keeps the gift they have.
-
Add extra rules for certain dice numbers to increase excitement.
Christmas Trivia Gift Game
Credit@gominno.com
Description:
A knowledge-based game with festive trivia questions.
Combines learning and fun.
Rewards correct answers with gifts.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Prepare a list of Christmas-themed trivia questions of varying difficulty.
-
Arrange wrapped gifts on a table, visible to all players.
-
Ask questions one at a time and allow players to answer by raising hands or buzzing in.
-
Correct answers earn the player a gift or the chance to steal one.
-
Continue until all gifts are distributed, ensuring everyone has fun.
Naughty or Nice Gift Game
Credit@vivekashish11
A playful Christmas game based on Santa’s theme.
Players complete tasks to earn gifts.
Full of laughter and surprises.
How to Play (Steps):
-
Prepare cards labeled “Naughty” and “Nice” with tasks written on each.
-
Players take turns drawing a card and completing the task.
-
Nice tasks earn better gifts, while naughty tasks are silly but harmless.
-
Encourage cheering and laughter as tasks are completed.
-
Continue until everyone has played and received at least one Christmas gift.