White Elephant Gift Exchange Games and Fun Twists to Try This Christmas

Several years ago, I was at a work Christmas party and we had a white elephant gift exchange. And the kids got to play too, fun!

One girl opened a pretty cool gift, and she was thrilled! But a few turns later, someone swiped it from her.

Because... 'dem the rules!

I still laugh when I think about it. The snatching, the strategy, and the trash talk make white elephant one of the best Christmas party games out there.

Here are my favorite ways to play, plus a few fun twists to keep it interesting.

Start with the rules everyone knows:

• Each guest brings one wrapped gift within the price limit.
• Everyone draws a number.
• Person 1 opens a gift from the pile.
• Each person after that can open a new gift or steal one that's already been opened.
• If your gift gets stolen, you pick a new one or steal from someone else (just not the gift that was taken from you).

Most groups set a steal limit of 3. Once a gift is stolen the third time, it's frozen and stays with its owner.

This version keeps things moving and adds a fun dose of luck.

Everyone picks a gift from the pile. Then take turns rolling a die:

• 1: unwrap your gift
• 2: swap with the person on your left
• 3: swap with the person on your right
• 4: swap with anyone you choose
• 5: everyone passes gifts to the left
• 6: roll again

Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes. When it goes off, the gift in your hands is yours to keep.

This one is perfect for big groups. Everyone sits in a circle holding a wrapped gift.

One person reads a Christmas story out loud. Every time they say "left," everyone passes their gift to the left. Every time they say "right," pass to the right.

When the story ends, you open whatever is in your lap. You can find printable left right stories online, or write your own with inside jokes for your group.

Think musical chairs, but with gifts.

Play Christmas music while everyone passes their gift around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding a gift gets to steal, swap or keep. Then the music starts again.

After a few rounds, everyone opens what they're holding. It's quick, it's fun, and the kids love it.

This one gets competitive fast!

Before the party, wrap small prizes (candy, gift cards, lip balm, scratch-off tickets) inside a giant ball of plastic wrap. Players take turns trying to unwrap it while the person on their left rolls a pair of dice. When they roll doubles, the ball passes on.

Whatever falls out while you're unwrapping is yours. Have a few extra prizes in the middle for big laughs.

Want to make guests earn their steals? Before each turn, ask a Christmas trivia question.

Answer it right and you get to steal. Miss it and you open a new gift from the pile.

Movie lines, carol lyrics and family trivia work great here. Your group will be yelling answers across the room.

Everyone brings something already in their house that they've never used. The candle you got last year, the mug you never drink from, the gadget still in the box.

It's budget friendly, a little hilarious and nobody has to go shopping. Play it with the classic white elephant rules.

Flip the whole game around. Guests bring the funniest, weirdest gift they can find within the price limit.

Play the classic rules, then vote on the very worst gift at the end. The winner gets a real prize, like a gift card or a bottle of wine.

Get ready to laugh until you cry.

Pick a theme to keep gifts fun and useful:

• Something red or green
• Something you'd use in the kitchen
• Something that makes a great self-care night
• A favorite book with a note inside
• Something under $10

A theme helps guests who never know what to buy, and it makes stealing way more strategic.

Remember my little friend at the work party? This one's for her.

Give the kids their own pile and their own round. Steals only happen kid to kid, and every gift is something any child would be happy to take home.

The grown-ups can still swipe from each other all night. 'Dem the rules!

Grab two decks of cards. Give each guest a card from deck one as they arrive, and they pick a gift.

Then draw cards from deck two one at a time. If your card is called, you can open your gift or swap with anyone.

It's a little random, a little sneaky and everyone stays on their toes.

Add this to the end of any version. After everyone has a gift, person 1 (who never got to steal) gets one final chance to swap with anyone in the room.

It's the most dramatic part of the night. Give them a big countdown!

Family spread across the country? You can still play.

Everyone ships their gift to the host ahead of time (or buys one online and sends a photo). On a video call, draw numbers and play the classic rules. The host opens each gift on camera, then mails the gifts out after the party.

• Set a price limit. $20 to $30 works for most groups. Put it on the invite so nobody guesses.
• Pick your steal limit. Three steals per gift keeps the game moving.
• Write the rules on a card or a little chalkboard so nobody argues halfway through.
• Plan on about an hour for a bigger group, and less for a small one.
• Have one or two extra gifts on hand for surprise guests.
• Set out snacks close to the gift circle. My easy Christmas appetizers are perfect for grazing while you play.

Oh, and by the way! If the morning of a big party usually starts with a mad dash, my free Magical Morning Formula walks you through 7 simple steps to start the day calmer, so you're ready for game time.

Pick a version, set your rules and get ready for some friendly trash talk. A white elephant gift exchange turns any Christmas party into the one everyone talks about next year.

Need more ideas for your get-together? My Friendsmas party ideas and Friendsgiving games work for Christmas parties too.

And if you love the style of this blog, you can grab my template right below.