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Gift exchange games and ideas

There's more than one way to swap gifts. Some games are about choosing the perfect present for one person; others are about chaos, stealing and laughter. Here are ten gift exchange games, how each one works, and which kinds of groups they suit.

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Quick comparison

Game	Best for	Group size
Secret Santa	Offices, families, remote teams	3+
White elephant	Parties	6 to 30
Dice game	Families, friends	6 to 20
Left-right story	Any party	6 to 25
Theme swap	Book clubs, friends	4+
Guess the Santa	Offices, families	5+

1. Secret Santa

Everyone is secretly assigned one person to buy for. It's the most personal option, because each gift is chosen for someone, and it works even when people can't be in the same room. Draw names with our free Secret Santa generator; read how Secret Santa works for the full rules.

2. White elephant (Yankee swap)

Everyone brings one wrapped gift. Players take turns opening a new gift or stealing an opened one. It's loud, competitive and great for parties. See our white elephant rules, including steal limits.

3. The dice game

Everyone brings a wrapped gift and sits in a circle with the gifts in the middle. Players take turns rolling dice. Common rules: roll a 6 and take a gift from the middle; roll a 1 and swap with someone; roll a 3 and pass your gifts to the left. When the middle is empty, set a timer for a few minutes of "steal rounds", then everyone opens what they're holding.

4. Left-right story

Everyone holds a wrapped gift. The host reads a short holiday story full of the words "left" and "right". Each time a word is read, everyone passes their gift in that direction. When the story ends, you keep what you're holding. Search for a ready-made left-right story, or write one about your own office or family.

5. Theme swap

Pick a theme and run any exchange around it: favorite books, ornaments, mugs, local treats, handmade gifts or "something under $10". Themes make shopping easier and the gifts easier to compare.

6. Guess the Santa

Add a guessing round to a Secret Santa. Each Santa leaves a clue on the gift tag, and the giftee has one guess (or three) before the reveal. Our Secret Santa card messages include clue ideas.

7. Trivia for turns

Run a short quiz before a white elephant game. Whoever answers first chooses their turn number. It rewards quick thinkers and breaks the ice at office parties.

8. Pass the parcel

Wrap one main prize in many layers, with a small treat or a forfeit between layers. Pass it while music plays; when the music stops, the holder unwraps one layer. It's a classic for kids, and it works for grown-ups with sillier forfeits.

9. Regift or "upcycle" exchange

Everyone brings something unused from home: a gift they never opened, a book they loved, a kitchen gadget they don't need. Combine it with white elephant rules. It's free, sustainable and often surprisingly good.

10. Cookie or treat swap

Each person bakes a batch and brings containers. Everyone goes home with a mix. Ask people to label ingredients for anyone with allergies.

Choosing the right game

• People don't know each other well? Secret Santa with a questionnaire, or a theme swap.
• Want laughter and noise? White elephant, the dice game or left-right story.
• Team is remote? Virtual Secret Santa is the easiest to run across locations.
• Tight budgets? A regift exchange or cookie swap costs little.

Whatever you choose, set one budget for everyone and explain the rules before the first gift is opened.

Frequently asked questions

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