Christmas party games: 15 ideas that actually bring a team together
From Bavarian curling to Christmas bingo – games that work at a company Christmas party. Sorted by group size, effort and venue. Plus a tried-and-tested plan for the evening.
The best Christmas party games fall into three groups: active winter games (Bavarian curling, ice skate relay, log sawing), Stage and quiz formats for large groups (Christmas karaoke, Christmas bingo, pub quiz), and icebreaker games for small teams (Secret Santa variations, “two truths, one lie”). What you choose depends mainly on team size and whether you're celebrating indoors or outdoors.
Active winter games – when you want everyone moving
Nothing breaks the ice between departments faster than an activity where the boss misses the target just as often as the intern. These three are tried and tested at company parties:
Bavarian curling
The classic. It works on real or synthetic ice, indoors or outdoors. Two teams, one target stick, instant competitive spirit. Run it as a tournament with group rounds and a final, and it keeps whole teams occupied – even groups of more than 100. No skill required: everyone can join in straight away.
up to 100+ · indoors/outdoors · staffing recommendedIce skate relay
A few cones turn an ordinary ice rink into a team contest: relay races, puck slalom or the “slowest race”. Not keen on skating? Cheer from the side or keep time – nobody sits this one out.
any size · rink neededWinter games: log sawing, nail hammering and hat throwing
The “Alpine Olympics”: saw through a log in pairs, hammer a nail in with as few strikes as possible, or throw a hat onto the target pole. Short stations, plenty of laughs, ideal as a rotating circuit for several teams at once.
Stations · several teams at onceFor indoors and large groups – stage, music, guessing games
Games need a stage or a host from around 40 people upwards, so everyone can follow. These formats scale up into the hundreds:
- 04 · Hosted Christmas karaoke. A hosted karaoke session takes the edge off: duets between departments, “the boss sings first”, a Christmas song ranking. With a professional host, it works even when the first few hold back.
- 05 · Christmas bingo. Bingo cards with Christmas terms, or – more fun – with classic office party moments (“someone spills the mulled wine (Glühwein)”, “the boss talks for more than 5 minutes”). Runs quietly in the background all evening.
- 06 · Pub quiz, winter edition. Teams compete round by round: guess the music, Christmas trivia, “how much does it cost” rounds. It works because you guess as a team – so you're talking automatically.
- 07 · The company year in review, as a quiz. Write your own questions about the year at the company (“Which month was the team trip?”). It takes 30 minutes to prepare, but it's the most personal part of the evening.
Icebreaker games for small teams (up to ~25)
Games that would get lost at a big party come into their own in a small group. Here it's about talking, not putting on a show.
- 08 · Secret Santa, with a twist. Classic Secret Santa, a junk-gift version (the sillier the better), or “thief Santa”, where you're allowed to steal gifts. It caps the budget neatly (say, €15) and laughs are guaranteed.
- 09 · Two truths, one lie. Everyone names three things about themselves and the team guesses which one is the lie. You'll learn things about colleagues that ten meetings never bring to light.
- 10 · Guess-off. Quirky guessing questions about the company or about Berlin – everyone takes a guess, and whoever comes closest wins. Ideal while you're waiting for the food.
- 11 · Guess the wish. Everyone writes down one (made-up) wish anonymously, and the team matches it to the right person.
Four classics that always work
- 12 · Drawing Telephone – Draw the word instead of whispering it. The results are guaranteed to be ridiculous.
- 13 · Christmas Charades – Act out films, songs and traditions without speaking.
- 14 · Booth Challenge – Task cards at the photo booth (“everyone with their eyes closed”) produce the best souvenir photos.
- 15 · “Most likely to …” – A light-hearted vote on who is most likely to do what. Choose the questions carefully in a corporate setting.
Running order for the evening: which game, when?
Order matters. This rhythm works well:
- Arrival 18:00–19:00: Something low-key that runs in the background – bingo, a guessing duel, photo booth. No one has to step onto a stage straight away.
- After the first drink: the active main event – a Bavarian curling tournament (Eisstockschiessen) or winter games. By now the mood is open enough for it.
- After dinner: the stage highlight – karaoke or a hosted quiz.
- Closing: Open dance floor or an afterparty. Don’t force any more programme after this.
Prefer a turnkey package?
If you'd rather not organise the programme yourself, head to Winterquartier Berlin (the Napoleon Komplex, a former industrial site in Friedrichshain), Berlin, Germany: Bavarian curling with a tournament setup, a 1,000 m² real-ice rink and supervised winter games. Extras include Christmas karaoke, Christmas bingo and a pub quiz. It works for small teams and for up to 2,000 guests, and everything is looked after from set-up to tear-down.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas party games
Which Christmas party games work well for large groups?
Large groups of around 40 or more do best with formats built around a stage or a host: Christmas karaoke, Christmas bingo and a pub quiz. Once you pass 100 guests, station-based circuits (winter games) and Bavarian curling tournaments work best, because several teams play at the same time.
Which games work with no preparation?
Christmas bingo needs almost no set-up – the cards come ready-made. The same goes for “Two truths and a lie”, quick guessing rounds and Secret Santa. All four can start on the spot with barely any materials, which makes them ideal for a spontaneous evening or a last-minute slot in the programme.
What can you play outdoors in winter?
Bavarian curling, ice-skating relay races on the ice rink and winter games such as log sawing, nail hammering and Alpine hat throwing all work well outdoors. A winter coat is all anyone needs, and the games keep guests moving on cold evenings.
How long should a game last?
Individual programme slots shouldn't run longer than 20 to 40 minutes – keep them short and snappy, then back to food and conversation. A tournament or a station-based circuit can run longer with breaks, because not everyone is “on” at the same time.
How much budget should you set aside for games?
Party games on their own cost almost nothing. Activities such as Bavarian curling, ice skating or a hosted programme are usually priced per person. Tip: look at programme and catering together – many venues bundle the activity, food and support into one package.