Looking for easy, fun, and unique Christmas gift exchange games? Here are 18+ of our favorite Christmas gift exchange games that you’re sure to love!
Whether you’re looking for Christmas gift exchange ideas for adults or more inclusive family games, you’ll definitely find some great ideas here!
18. The Secret Santa Game
This is one of the most classic Christmas gift exchange games that’s great for large groups. To play, have everyone write their name on a slip of paper and put it into a hat or bowl. Then, have each person draw a name from the hat. The catch is that they can’t tell anyone whose name they drew!
Set a spending limit and then have each person go out and buy a gift for the person whose name they drew. On Christmas day or at your party, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns opening their gifts. The person who drew the name of the gift-giver can choose to reveal themselves at the end or stay anonymous.
This is one of the most well-known Christmas gift exchange ideas because it’s super easy and friendly.
17. The White Elephant Gift Exchange
This is a fun game that’s perfect for groups of friends or family members who enjoy a good laugh. To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gift can be something funny, cheesy, or just plain bad. It’s up to you! Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts. The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
16. The Dirty Santa Gift Exchange
This is a popular variation of the white elephant. However, it’s definitely one of the Christmas gift exchange games designed for adults!
To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gifts should be something naughty or risque. Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts. The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
15. The Yankee Swap Gift Exchange
This is a fun twist on the white elephant gift exchange. To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gifts should be something unique or unusual.
Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts. The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
This is one of the most classic Christmas gift exchange ideas, but make sure you’re playing with the right group: it’s easy for people to get offended if someone doesn’t like a gift they brought.
14. The Left/Right Gift Exchange Game
This is a popular Christmas gift exchange game that’s perfect for large groups. To play, have everyone sit in a circle and pass around a wrapped gift. As the gift is being passed, each person opens it and looks at the contents.
When the music stops or when the person holding the gift says “left” or “right,” that person must choose to either keep the gift or pass it to the person on their left or right. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
13. The Gift Grab Bag Gift Exchange Game
This is one of the Christmas gift exchange games that are perfect for groups of friends or family members who enjoy a good laugh.
To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gifts can be something funny, cheesy, or just plain bad. It’s up to you! Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts. The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
Just remember: the worse gifts the better!
12. The Mystery Gift Exchange Game
This is a fun game that’s perfect for groups of friends or family members who enjoy a good mystery. To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gifts should be something mysterious or unusual. Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts.
The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
Bonus points if the gift is SO mysterious that people can’t even figure out what it is. This is definitely one of the most interesting Christmas gift exchange ideas because it’s so unique!
11. The Dice Gift Exchange Game
This is a fun game that’s perfect for groups of friends or family members who enjoy a good laugh. To play, have everyone bring a bunch of random, super small wrapped gifts to the party.
Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns rolling a pair of dice. The first person rolls the dice and whatever number they roll, that’s how many gifts they can choose from the pile (e.g., if they roll an 8, they can choose 8 gifts). They can either keep the gifts or trade them with other players. The game continues until everyone has had a turn. Whatever is leftover gets donated to charity.
10. The Re-Gifting Gift Exchange Game
This is a fun game that’s perfect for groups of friends or family members who enjoy a good laugh. Plus, it’s one of the best Christmas gift exchange ideas for a group with no budget – it literally costs nothing!
To play, have everyone bring a wrapped gift to the party. The catch is that the gifts should be something that they’ve received before but don’t want or need. Then, have everyone sit in a circle and take turns picking gifts. The first person can either open their own gift or steal someone else’s. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal another gift or open a new one. The game continues until everyone has had a turn.
9. Twelve Days Of Christmas Gift Exchange
In this game, you draw a card that tells you what to do with your gift. Rather than random sayings, these cards are themed based on the 12 days of Christmas song. This is perfect for a 12 days of Christmas party!
Alternatively, you can do a Secret Santa but play that each person must bring gifts related only to the Twelve Days Of Christmas.
8. Heads Or Tails Gift Exchange Game
Looking for Christmas gift exchange ideas with a twist? This game is played with a group of people and can be done with any size group. Everyone brings one wrapped gift to the party. Gifts can be gag gifts, useful gifts, or anything in between!
To start, have everyone sit in a circle. One person at a time opens a gift, then flips a coin once the gift is open. Heads you choose a gift to unwrap, tails you get to steal from another person. Keep playing until the circle has been completed and everyone ends up with a gift!
7. Musical Gifts
This is a take on the classic game of musical chairs. Instead of chairs, though, you have gifts!
To set up, put all the wrapped gifts in the middle of the room. Have everyone sit in a circle around the gifts. When the music starts, everyone should walk around the circle and look at the gifts. When the music stops, everyone should grab a gift and sit down. The person who doesn’t get a gift is out, and one gift is removed from the pile.
Keep playing until there’s only one person left, and they’re the winner!
6. Coffee Mug White Elephant
This is a take on the traditional white elephant gift exchange, but with a twist – all of the gifts must be coffee mugs!
To set up, have everyone bring a wrapped (or unwrapped) coffee mug to the party. Then, put all the mugs in the center of the room. One person at a time draws a number and gets to choose a mug. The next person can either choose a new mug or steal the previous person’s mug. If their mug is stolen, they can choose to steal from someone else or choose a new mug. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
This is a great game for coffee lovers! Not only will you get some new mugs, but you might also find some new coffee friends.
5. Charity Gift Exchange
In this game, everyone chooses a charity from a list to donate to. To add a twist, you can set a limit on how much money people can donate (for example, $5).
Then, everyone brings their donation to the party and puts it in a hat or bowl. One person at a time draws a name out of the hat and donates their money to that charity.
This is a great way to get people thinking about giving back, especially during the holidays! If you’re into charity during the Christmas season, this should be one of your top Christmas gift exchange ideas.
4. Gift Exchange Scavenger Hunt
In this game, everyone hides their gift somewhere in the house. Then, they write clues leading up to the location of their gift on slips of paper.
One person at a time draws a slip of paper and tries to follow the clues to find the hidden gift. The first person to find their gift gets to keep it!
This is a great game for kids and adults alike. It’s also a great way to get people moving around and interacting with each other.
3. Christmas Never Have I Ever Gift Exchange
Do you remember the traditional Never Have I Ever game? In this holiday gift exchange, participants read Never Have I Ever statements, and if they’ve done the thing – they move seats (and leave their gift).
Getting people to switch is hilarious, and you won’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
2. Alcohol Only White Elephant
As one of the adult-only Christmas gift exchange games, this party is all about alcohol. Every participant must bring a wrapped bottle of liquor, wine, or beer. Then, gifts are placed in the center of the room and everyone draws a number.
The person who drew #1 picks first and unwraps a gift. The next person can either unwrap a new gift or steal the previous person’s gift. If their gift is stolen, they can choose to steal from someone else or unwrap a new gift. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
1. Houseplants White Elephant
This is a take on the traditional white elephant and grab Christmas gift exchange games, but with a twist – all of the gifts must be houseplants!
To set up, have everyone bring a wrapped (or unwrapped) houseplant to the party. Then, put all the plants in the center of the room. One person at a time draws a number and gets to choose a plant. The next person can either choose a new plant or steal the previous person’s plant. If their plant is stolen, they can choose to steal from someone else or choose a new plant. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
Not only is this a fun game, but it’s also a great way to get some new plants for your home!