Christmas Minute to Win it Games
The holiday season is a magical time filled with family, friends, and let’s be honest… a little chaos. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, classroom celebration, or cozy family game night, nothing brings people together quite like a good laugh, and Minute to Win It Christmas games deliver exactly that!
These fast-paced, hilarious games only take a minute to play but offer hours of fun. Best of all, they’re easy to set up, use inexpensive supplies (most of which you probably already have at home), and work for kids, teens, and even adults. Add a sprinkle of holiday music, some lighthearted competition, and maybe a few candy cane prizes, and you’ve got yourself a jolly good time.
Ready to deck the halls with laughter and friendly competition? Here are 30 Christmas Minute to Win It games that are sure to sleigh.
Supplies to Have On Hand
Before we get into the games, here’s a quick list of helpful items to gather. You won’t need everything for every game, but having a stash ready makes it easy to play several games in a row.
- Candy canes (full-size and mini)
- Red and green cups
- Marshmallows (mini and regular)
- Christmas cookies
- Ping pong balls
- Wrapping paper, bows, and tape
- Ornaments (shatterproof recommended)
- Jingle bells
- Spoons, straws, and chopsticks
- Christmas stockings
- Holiday paper plates
- Santa hats, reindeer antlers, elf ears
Let’s get this snowball rolling!
30 Minute to Win It Christmas Games
1. Candy Cane Hook ‘Em
Players hold a candy cane in their mouth and try to hook and transfer as many mini candy canes as possible from a pile into a bowl, no hands!
2. Snowball Toss
Set up red and green cups and toss mini marshmallows (aka “snowballs”) into them from a distance. Most snowballs in cups wins.
3. Jingle Bell Shake
Fill a tissue box with jingle bells and strap it to a player’s waist. They have to shake, shimmy, and dance until the bells are out, within 60 seconds!
4. Wrap It Up
Two teammates work together to wrap a present with paper, tape, and a bow… one using only their left hand, the other their right. Hilarious and harder than it sounds!
5. Christmas Cookie Face
Place a cookie on each player’s forehead. They must move it into their mouth using only facial movements, no hands!
6. Ornament Roll
Use a candy cane or pencil to roll an ornament (non-breakable!) across the floor and into a designated target zone.
7. Santa Hat Stack
Players try to stack as many red Solo cups topped with cotton balls (to look like Santa hats) as possible in one minute.
8. Elf Toss
Toss mini plush elves or bean bags into stockings hanging on a wall or chair. Most elves in the stocking wins.
9. Gift Wrap Relay
Players unwrap a wrapped gift wearing oven mitts, fastest time wins!
10. Candy Cane Pickup
Using a candy cane in your mouth, try to “hook” and transfer as many other candy canes from a table into a bowl as you can in 60 seconds.
11. Marshmallow Stack
Stack mini marshmallows as high as possible using only one hand. If your tower falls, start again!
12. Christmas Tree Cup Stack
Use green plastic cups to build a Christmas tree tower. Tallest standing stack at the end of the minute wins.
13. Snowman Wrap
One person is the snowman, and teammates wrap them in toilet paper and add accessories like a scarf and carrot nose. Best snowman in one minute wins.
14. Reindeer Nose Dive
Tie a red pom-pom to a string and attach it to a headband. Players must swing it up to land on their nose (use Vaseline if needed!).
15. Jingle Bell Balance
Stack as many jingle bells as you can on a popsicle stick held in your mouth.
16. Stuff the Stocking
Fill a stocking with small toys or candy using a spoon. Players race to fill the stocking without using their hands.
17. Silent Night Sing-Along
Players wear noise-canceling headphones and try to guess which Christmas carol they’re hearing based only on teammates’ mouthing the lyrics.
18. Snowball Scoop
Using a spoon in their mouth, players transfer cotton balls from one bowl to another. Most scooped wins.
19. Wreath Toss
Toss small wreaths (or green pipe cleaner rings) onto bottles or cones from a distance. Most successful tosses wins.
20. Gingerbread Smash
Players try to break a cookie into as many even pieces as possible, without crumbling it, using only one hand.
21. Nutcracker Nibble
Each player must stack five nuts (like walnuts or pecans) in a tower using chopsticks. First to finish or tallest stack wins!
22. Tinsel Tug
Two players must unravel a roll of tinsel as fast as possible using only one hand each, working together.
23. Christmas Tree Cone Stack
Stack sugar cones into a pyramid without them tipping over.
24. Gift Balance
Balance a wrapped present on your head and walk a set path. Fastest time or furthest distance without dropping wins.
25. Stocking Stuffer Hunt
Place small items inside Christmas stockings. Players guess what each one is by feel only, quickest correct guesses win.
26. Reindeer Antler Ring Toss
Wear reindeer antlers while others try to toss rings onto them. Switch roles for fairness!
27. Wrap Race
Each team gets a roll of wrapping paper. Wrap as many boxes (or empty cereal boxes) as you can in 60 seconds. Bonus for bows!
28. Santa Beard Blow
Players blow a cotton ball across the table using a straw, racing against each other to get it to the finish line.
29. Elfie Selfie
Snap a silly “elf selfie” using props like pointy ears, hats, and big glasses. Fastest team to dress up and snap a photo wins.
30. Present Stack
Stack as many wrapped presents as you can without them toppling over. Tallest stack that stays standing wins!
Ideas for Prizes
You don’t need big or expensive gifts, just something small and festive to add to the excitement. Here are some ideas:
- Mini stockings with candy
- Christmas-themed socks
- Hot chocolate kits
- Reindeer antler headbands
- Holiday stickers or tattoos
- Santa stress balls
- Cookie cutters
- DIY ornament kits
- Christmas pencils and erasers
You can also hand out funny awards like “Fastest Wrapper”, “Marshmallow Master”, or “Sleigh All Day Champion”!
Hosting Tips for a Holly Jolly Game Night
- Play Christmas music: Create a background playlist with holiday classics and upbeat carols to keep the vibe festive.
- Use a timer: Set a loud, clear 60-second countdown for each game. A smartphone or kitchen timer works perfectly.
- Keep score: Use a chalkboard, whiteboard, or printable scorecards if you’re tracking wins.
- Decorate the space: Tinsel, lights, ornaments, and red/green tableware make it feel more magical.
- Encourage teamwork: Many of these games work well in pairs or teams, great for family bonding!
- Offer snacks: Hot chocolate, cookies, and candy canes make perfect game fuel.
These Minute to Win It Christmas games are proof that the most memorable moments often come from the silliest challenges. Whether it’s balancing marshmallows, shaking out jingle bells, or racing to wrap a gift with one hand, it’s the laughter, teamwork, and togetherness that make the holiday season truly special.
So grab your candy canes, gather your crew, and get ready to jingle all the way through a night of festive fun!
