The White Elephant Gift Game and Gift Exchange Ideas

Looking for a Christmas game that gets everyone laughing, from the office party to the family get together? Look no further than turning a white elephant gift into a game.

So, What Is a White Elephant Gift Game?

Here's the short version: everyone brings one wrapped gift, then takes it in turns to either open a new present or steal one somebody else has already unwrapped. That's it. Our favourite way to play is Roll and Steal, where a single die decides whether you open or steal, so there's no dithering and it's all done in about 15 minutes. Below, we'll show you how to play it, plus gift ideas people will actually fight over.

Where Does the Name Come From?

Here's one for the pub quiz. Legend has it the Kings of Siam gave rare white elephants to anyone who'd got on their wrong side. Sounds like a treat, right? The catch: the elephant was sacred, so you couldn't put it to work or pass it on, and feeding it would leave you completely skint. A white elephant soon became shorthand for a gift that's more trouble than it's worth. Thankfully, today's version is a lot friendlier, and nobody goes home with a bill for hay... usually. Historians reckon the story's probably a myth, but we're not letting that spoil a good pub quiz fact.

White Elephant vs Secret Santa: Which Should Your Group Play?

How does Secret Santa work? Everyone is secretly given one name to buy for, and gifts are handed over anonymously. It's quiet, personal and lovely for groups who know each other well. (Need to draw names? Our free Secret Santa generator does the hard bit for you.)

A white elephant gift swap flips that on its head. Nobody buys for anyone in particular, so gifts need to work for most people, and the fun is all in the stealing. If your group includes people who don't know each other that well, like a new team member, or the in-laws, white elephant wins every time.

The Rules for the White Elephant Game: Roll and Steal Edition

Here's how to play Roll and Steal in six easy steps. All you need is a die and a pile of presents:

1. Agree a budget. £10 to £20 works for most workplaces and families. Everyone brings one wrapped gift within that budget.
2. Pile up the presents. Put every gift in the middle of the room so nobody knows who brought what, and sit everyone in a circle.
3. Grab a die. If playing with family, the youngest player goes first, , if playing with co-workers, best Christmas jumper gets to start the game, then pass the die around the circle.
4. Roll and do what the die says. Roll a 1 or 2 and you open a new gift from the pile. Roll a 3 or 4 and you steal any gift that's already been opened. Roll a 5 or 6 and it's your call: open or steal.
5. Had your gift nicked? Grab another. If someone steals from you, pick a new gift from the pile straight away.
6. Keep rolling until every gift is open. Once the last gift is unwrapped, head back to whoever went first. They get one final steal from anyone in the room, then the game's over and whatever you're holding is yours.

House Rules That Keep It Friendly

• No instant steal backs. Had your gift nicked? You can't take it straight back on the same turn.
• One steal per turn. Only one steal can happen before someone has to open a new gift, so the game keeps moving.

No dithering, no lengthy debates, just the dice doing the dirty work. A group of twelve can be done and dusted in about 15 minutes, which makes it perfect for the office Christmas party or a family gathering before the turkey comes out.

So, What Makes a Good White Elephant Gift?

Here's the plot twist: the best white elephant gift isn't the funniest one. It's the one that gets stolen! Aim for something most people would genuinely want, or something daft enough that the whole room wants to see it unwrapped.

Gifts Everyone Will Want to Steal

• A soft throw blanket. Cosy home gifts are some of the most stolen every year, and nobody has ever said no to another blanket.
• A mini Bluetooth speaker. Small, useful and a proper crowd pleaser. Plenty of decent ones come in under £20.
• A power bank. Everyone's phone dies eventually, and you can pick up a good one for around £15.
• A houseplant. Easy to look after, looks lovely on any desk, and the person who brings one usually watches it get nicked.
• Coffee treats. A mug warmer or a big tin of chocolate covered espresso beans will have the caffeine fans circling.
• A card game. Something the group can play straight away, so the fun carries on after the swap.
• A gift card for somewhere everyone goes. A coffee shop, the cinema or a big online shop works for anyone.

Top tip: wrap something small in a big box. Mystery parcels get picked first, and it makes the unwrapping twice as fun.

Funny Gifts That Still Get Used

• A mug with a ridiculous slogan
• A cheeky desk toy
• A pair of ridiculous novelty socks
• A retro sweets box full of childhood favourites

The Gifts to Leave at the Shop

Skip anything too personal (perfume, or anything with a clothing size), anything that could raise eyebrows at work, and anything wildly over budget. Nobody wants to be the one who brought a £40 gift card when everyone else spent a tenner, or the one who turned up with a regifted bath set. The whole point is that every gift feels like a fair swap.

Need more inspiration? Our roundup of cheap gifts for Christmas is packed with ideas that won't blow the budget, and if you're playing with coworkers, these funny Secret Santa gifts for work colleagues work just as well in a white elephant swap.

Let the Stealing Begin!

Got your gifts sorted? Grab a die, round everyone up and let the stealing begin. Sorting the rest of the party too? Start a free Collctiv pot and let everyone chip in for the snacks, drinks, venue and a couple of spare gifts in seconds. No chasing, no awkward money chat, just more time to plot whose gift you're nicking first.