9 Ideas to Play White Elephant with a Twist
Looking to add some extra spice and excitement to your White Elephant gift exchange? Look no further. In this guide, you will find unique and exciting variations of the traditional gift exchange that will transform your game into a memorable experience.
White Elephant is a popular tradition for Christmas gatherings with friends and family. It brings an element of surprise and excitement, as players steal and swap gifts trying to get the best present!
There are countless variations of the White Elephant game that can spice up the gift exchange process, and you will find them in this article. Whether you're a seasoned White Elephant pro or a curious newcomer, you will surely find new inspiring ideas in this guide.
How does the White Elephant game work?
The traditional rules for the White Elephant game are pretty simple.
- Each player contributes a gift, usually within the agreed amount (say, $25). All gifts must be wrapped.
- Players draw numbers from the hat or use an online generator. There must be as many numbers as players in the game.
- The player who draws the first number picks a gift from the pile and unwraps it.
- The next player has a choice: to unwrap a new gift or to steal the open gift from the previous player. The game continues until all gifts are unwrapped.
- In the end, the first player can steal the gift from someone as they didn’t have the opportunity to steal at the beginning.
People love the White Elephant because it is hilariously chaotic and encourages communication, laughter, and jokes between players. Plus, it takes off the pressure of finding perfect gifts, especially if you agree to exchange fun or trendy presents.
If you play White Elephant gift game every year, using different variations of rules can keep this tradition exciting and fun for everyone.
White Elephant gift exchange with a twist
Here are some popular White Elephant rules with a twist that will sparkle up any gathering:
1. Set the gift theme
The most popular way to sparkle up your White Elephant exchange is to set a gift theme. Ask everyone to bring books, self-care items, re-gifts, or DIY presents. Introducing a theme encourages creativity and increases the odds that everyone gets a desirable present.
White Elephant gift exchange ideas
- Book or movie theme – if you have a full room of Harry Potter fans, encourage everyone to bring themed presents.
- Homemade gifts and crafts – save on gifts and inspire everyone to get creative.
- Regifting the unwanted gifts – instead of storing unwanted presents at home, bring them to the party – some people might be excited about getting them.
- All things 80s – bring the 80s nostalgia to life and exchange themed gifts that remind you of the 80s.
- Travel souvenirs – gifts should be items that represent a specific location or travel experience, or souvenirs from vacations.
- Bad jokes – ask everyone to bring humorous items that are intentionally bad jokes or puns. Fun and ridiculous gifts are perfect for having a lot of laughter!
2. Keep all gifts wrapped until the end
Why not add the element of mystery to your White Elephant exchange this year? Use the traditional rules with one exception that all gifts stay wrapped until the end of the game. All players pick gifts from the pile and steal from each other based on the gift packaging, so creative wrapping is encouraged! After the last player picks a present, everyone can unwrap their gifts. There will be a lot of fun and laughter when everybody opens their gifts!
3. Flip a coin
If you would like to add the element of surprise in the White Elephant gift exchange, try this popular variation. In it, each player picks a gift and then flips a coin.
Flip a coin: White Elephant rules
- Heads mean that the player must steal the current gift
- Tails mean that they must pick a new gift from the pile
The game continues until all gifts are unwrapped. This variation will also help you avoid severe competition between players for the best gifts.
4. No extra swapping
According to traditional White Elephant rules, the first player can swap gifts at the end, and the swap continues until someone decides to keep the gift they already have. To make the game run quicker, prohibit the first player from swapping, or only allow them to swap once.
To keep the game moving, you can allow only one or two swaps for each player. It would be helpful if someone brought a super desirable gift, otherwise, the exchange could last for hours.
5. Hot potato
To move a little aside from the White Elephant and make it less competitive, try the Hot Potato variation. In it, people sit in a circle and pass the gift around like a hot potato. When the music stops, the person holding the present opens and keeps it. The game then continues with each gift in the pile. As nobody steals gifts in this game variation, your guests are less likely to feel upset in the end.
6. White Elephant dice game
This variation is very similar to the traditional White Elephant. In addition to the standard game setup, you will need a dice and a sheet with rules. Each player picks a present and rolls a dice to determine what they should do. The game continues until all gifts are unwrapped and all players have rolled the dice. You can print out the rules for everyone’s convenience.
7. White Elephant trivia
Combine your White Elephant exchange with traditional Christmas trivia! As players take turns to pick gifts, they should also answer a question. If the player answers correctly, they can steal a gift or choose a new gift. This adds a brain-teasing element to the game, making the competition even more exciting.
8. White Elephant and Secret Santa combination
The traditional Secret Santa exchange includes drawing names and bringing a personalized present for one assigned person. As players unwrap their gifts, they have to guess who their Secret Santa is. Why not include this element in your White Elephant game? As players unwrap gifts, they should guess who brought them to the party.
Whether you prefer playing White Elephant or Secret Santa, our MySanta online service can streamline your gift exchange and even organize a remote game. Add players, draw names, create wishlists, and track gifts to organize a memorable gift exchange.
9. Reward the top gifter
Introduce the Top Gifter award for someone who brings a really good gift. Award this person with the extra swap at the end of the game.
