12 Ideas of Christmas Party Games for Large Companies

This roundup features contests and games you can run even at a very large holiday party. The rules are simple, and engagement is guaranteed.

Classic Christmas Games That Always Work

No big party is complete without classic activities. They are easy to organize, familiar to everyone, and reach a large crowd fast. Below are detailed rules and variations for each game so you can lift them as is and launch them right at your corporate party.

"What Do We Know About Christmas?" Quiz

A team or individual quiz about Christmas facts, traditions, music, and movies. It draws everyone in, especially if you style it as a TV game shows such as Jeopardy!, Name That Tune, or a similar format.

You can add tech: a microphone, projector, or mobile apps.
Suitable for 50 to 500+ people.
You’ll need a host, a screen, and a list of questions.

Rules:

1. Split participants into teams of 4–6 (for very large groups, divide by department).
2. Round 1: 10 quick questions (10 points for each correct answer).
   Round 2: 8 medium questions (20 points each).
   Round 3: 5 bonus questions (30 points each).
3. The host displays a question and teams write their answer on paper or respond via the app.
4. Tally scores between rounds and show the final leaderboard.

This is an engaging, low-cost contest anyone can run.

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Dance Battle to Random Tracks

If your party has a dedicated space with music, a team dance battle to a randomized playlist practically runs itself.

You’ll want a dance floor and a DJ — or, appoint someone to build a mixed-genre playlist.

Rules:

1. Make teams of 2–4.
2. Each team gets 40–60 seconds to perform.
3. Music is random, so everyone has to improvise.
4. Judges score technique, charisma, and originality (0–10 points for each).

Give your team a heads-up. If only 10 of 100 people are willing to dance, the point is lost. Ask attendees to wear comfortable shoes and set up a viewing area — your music-heavy party will run smoothly and feel good for all.

Costume Contest: “Christmas Tree vs. Snowman”

A themed contest for the most creative costume is a favorite at corporate parties. Participants prepare holiday looks and do a mini catwalk. It’s always a showstopper, even if outfits are made from simple materials.

To make it more fun, set a specific theme. Here are a few options:

1. Fairy-tale characters — from Santa Claus and classic storybook heroes to characters from Harry Potter.
2. Looks by era — 70's or 80's retro, or 2050's futurism.
3. Eco-friendly costumes — made with recycled materials, paper, or fabric.
4. Ugly Sweater Runway — The classic office favorite. Add a bonus category for Most Over-the-Top Accessories.
5. Holiday Movie Icons — Buddy the Elf, the Grinch, Kevin from Home Alone, Clark Griswold, Jack Skellington.

A clear theme prevents chaos, keeps the contest visually sharp, and makes judging easier.

Team Contests: Built for Collaboration

Team-based formats pull departments together and deliver clear group results.

Gift-Wrapping Challenge

A fast, funny icebreaker that fills the room with laughter and makes great photos. Pairs try to wrap a box while their adjacent hands are tied together, so each person has only one free hand. Works on a stage or in several lanes for large crowds.

Rules:

• Prepare 1 small box (shoebox size), ribbons, gift tags, tapes, and scissors
• Players stand side by side. On “Go,” they wrap the box, tape seams, tie a ribbon, and fill out the tag—using two free hands together.
• Juries evaluate speed and style (coverage, neat seams, bow, and readable tag)

Scavenger Hunt

A team scavenger hunt around the office with clues and tasks. Map a route of 10–12 stops and prepare envelopes, passwords, and QR codes.

Rules:

1. Teams start simultaneously from different points to avoid crowding.
2. Each station provides a clue to the next, or a piece of a puzzle.
3. The winner is the team that first assembles the holiday symbol (for example, a snowflake or ornament) or collects the most pieces within the time limit.

Plan stops in advance — they shouldn’t disrupt work areas.

Build-A-Snowman With Office Supplies

Teams make a snowman from paper, boxes, bottles, and other on-hand materials. You’ll need to buy some supplies and prep a workspace.

Rules:

1. Each team receives the same set of materials.
2. The task is to make the most creative snowman within the time limit.
3. Score on four criteria: concept, originality, and presentation.

For Laughter and Light Mood

These contests deliver an instant mood lift: people can relax, lean in, and start mixing more freely. They also generate candid photos you’ll enjoy long after the party.

Holiday Charades

Classic pantomime — guess holiday words and phrases. Prepare prompt cards such as ornament, Santa in an elevator, magical table that sets itself (fairy-tale trope), or Home Alone.

Rules:

1. Split the group into teams.
2. One person acts out and the team has to guess in 60 seconds.
3. Award points for each correct guess.

Name That Holiday Tune

A fast, low-prep crowd favorite that works in person or hybrid. You’ll need a playlist of holiday hits (instrumental or regular), timer, and score sheet.

Rules:

1. A short snippet of a holiday song is played.
2. Teams or individuals compete to be the first to correctly identify the song title and artist.
3. Points are awarded for each correct answer, and the team/individual with the most points at the end wins.
4. Award bonus points for singing along or mentioning an artist name.

Holiday Stand-Up

If you have storytellers on staff, run a quick stand-up set. Each person gets 1–2 minutes to share a funny work moment or riff on a prompt.

The key rule is light, good-natured humor — no personal digs. It needs no prep and makes the party feel like it’s coming from the team itself.

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Tech-Driven Activities

Modern formats scale easily, and they lower the barrier to join in. Even employees who usually hold back get involved more readily: it’s simpler to tap an app, vote in a quiz, or submit a photo for a challenge than to step on stage.

Live Quiz Apps

Participants connect by smartphone and answer questions, while the leaderboard updates in real time. Few things beat the thrill of racing a coworker for first place.

You can mix questions: part about Christmas traditions and part about your own company with a couple of tricky ones.

Structure:

1. 15–25 questions with multimedia.
2. Turn on the leaderboard and quick bonuses. Award prizes to the top three.

QR Code Prize Lottery

Each participant gets a ticket with a QR code, or a number is assigned by a generator — each code corresponds to a prize.

Prep:

1. Prizes pre-mapped to specific numbers.
2. QR codes link to a page revealing the gift.
3. The host scans and announces winners.

It’s fast, flashy, and eliminates debate — results are random.

Secret Santa at the Company

In large teams, a simple gift exchange can turn chaotic: someone forgets to bring a present, someone else gets a random gift, and HR gets a fresh wave of complaints.

Playing Secret Santa in an online generator (such as the MySanta app) solves several problems at once. It adds intrigue, makes the process fair and equal, and most importantly — reduces disappointment.

Employees know the budget and preferences in advance, and the game turns gift-giving into an event, not a formality.

Rules:

1. Invite participants to the online game and draw names.
2. Everyone prepares a gift.
3. On the set day, everyone receives their gifts.

If you want a themed Secret Santa, set the theme ahead of time. Tie it to company values or shared interests — for example, books or sports.

Theme Ideas:
1. Books Only
2. Eco-Friendly Gifts Only
3. Gadgets Under $15
4. A Pick-Me-Up for the Workday

To run the game, use the MySanta service. It automates everything: gathers participants, draws pairs, and stores wishlists.

Try our MySanta app

You can create wishlists, add exclusions, and communicate with your gifree secretly. Moreover, there is an option to track gifts and ensure that everyone buys a present on time.

Start

Why it’s convenient for large companies:

1. Players can create Wishlists, which eases choosing gifts.
2. HR can track who bought a gift and who hasn't and send reminders.
3. Anonymous chat between Santa and recipient.
4. Add links to gifts to online retailers to the wishlist.
5. Scales from 10 to 1,000+ participants.

HR then only needs to send the join link, and the app will do the rest. For big companies, that’s a lifesaver: you can include hundreds of people without endless Excel lists.

Conclusion

A holiday party in a large company isn’t just about food and music — it’s about shared emotions that bring people together. Any of these contests can be adapted to the size and style of your team, turning your corporate celebration into a bright, memorable event.

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