A Peek at the Fun: If you are looking for a fun Christmas party game, look no further. This gift grab game is so fun and perfect for all groups.
Every year my in-laws host a super fun Christmas party that we look forward to so much. As part of this party, they play a really fun gift grab Christmas party game that we absolutely love! My husband and his family started to play this game when he was young and they have kept the tradition alive.
It’s perfect for all ages and any size group, making it the perfect Christmas party game to incorporate at your next holiday party.
Gift Grab Christmas Party Game:
Everyone loves the excitement of getting gifts, which makes this a really fun game to play. Everyone will walk away with some fun gifts so it’s a win all the way around.
Supplies:
- Dice- If you have a larger group you will want several sets of dice to pass around. I would suggest a set of dice for every 5 players (give or take). This keeps the game moving fast.
- Wrapped Gifts- When trying to decide how many gifts to buy, calculate how many people will be playing and how many presents you want each player to get. They won’t end with the same amount, but you’ll get an idea how many gifts you want. All a Dollar is a great place to stock up if you have one in your area. You can also wrap a dollar bill or two, the kiddos love that.
- Somewhere to roll the dice- We use clothes boxes or you can gather around your table
How to Play the Christmas Gift Grab Game:
Place the wrapped gifts in the center of your playing area. We always sit in a large circle on the ground because we have a pretty huge group. But you can also gather around your kitchen table if you can fit.
Spread your sets of dice around the circle so they aren’t starting at the same place. Everyone will roll the dice when they are passed around. If the player gets a 7, 11, or doubles they get to choose a gift from the center of the pile and place it in front of them. Keep playing in this manner until all of the gifts are chosen from the center.
When the last gift is taken, you can set a timer for 2 minutes and keep playing. But rather than taking a gift from the center of the pile, when the player rolls a 7, 11, or doubles they get to steal a gift from another player. If you are playing with younger kiddos, this is a good time to make sure the gifts are pretty even. If you are playing with teens and adults, stealing gifts from each other makes a fun competition.
Once the two minutes is done, the game is over. Everyone gets the gifts they have in front of them!
It’s such fun for everyone to walk away from your party with some fun new items. Really such a crowd pleaser!
Have Fun Playing this Christmas Party Game!
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Mary Ann Kruer1 says
Thank you thank you for all the suggestions
Cindy Nielson says
Question:
When you roll dice for a 7, 11 or double does the player continue to roll until they get 7, 11 or doubles, OR do they pass the dice to the next person and wait for the dice to come back to them to try again?
Regarding the 2 minute play at the end. When you take a gift from another person do you exchange it with one of your own or do you just keep the additional gift?
Danetta says
The player rolls the dice once and then passes them to the next player. We usually have 2-3 sets of dice going around the circle so each player has a chance to roll the dice more often (depending on number of players). At the end of the game if you decide to do the additional 2 minutes and allow players to steal the gifts, they don’t exchange. If a player rolls a 7, 11, or double they get to steal a gift from the player of their choice.
Laura says
We played this with six dice and a gift for every pair got to be picked from the pile. Every household playing brings unlabeled gifts for the pile.
DK says
Sounds fun! When the player picks a gift, is the gift unwrapped at that time or at the end of the game? (Are gifts “stolen” unopened or do the players know what the gift is? Do you have any inexpensive gift suggestions for adults? Thanks!
Danetta says
We leave all gifts unopened until the end of the game. For the adults we usually do things like chip clips, cards, socks, candy, nail polish, soap, scissors…really anything you think would be fun to have.
Amelia says
This sounds fun! When do they open the gifts? When they pick one? Or at the very end?
Danetta says
We open the gifts when the game is done. So while the game is being played the players are just grabbing gifts they think they might want.
Amy says
I think this sounds like fun but I’m a bit confused…do they open the gift after they grab it and then set it in front of them? Or do they leave it wrapped? And if you leave it wrapped, how does anyone know if they want to steal it?
Danetta says
We don’t open the gifts until the end of the game. As far as stealing, we don’t know what’s in them.
Brenda Jacobs says
Do the players continue to roll if someone rolls a 7,11or double or does the game stop while they open their gift and then continue on
Danetta says
The other players keep rolling. Gifts aren’t opened until the game is done.
Kelsey says
Does the host get all the gifts for the game or does each family playing bring a few?
Danetta says
We’ve done it both ways. My in-laws used to provide all the gifts but as the family grew it was too much to keep up on so we all started to bring gifts. Just do what works best for your situation.
Belinda says
When I played this game many years ago (Dirty Dice at the time), I let everyone open the Gifts after everyone had one. Then the Stealing would begin, It’s more fun when people KNOW exactly WHAT they are stealing and in my family we tend to buy really good Gifts. There’s always at least ONE or two Gifts that EVERYONE wants and steals. It’s so much fun to watch! There are different ways to play, but I prefer playing this way. 🙂
Danetta says
A fun competition over the “favorite” gift is always so fun! 🙂
Ashley says
Thank you, I haven’t found another example that is similar to what we grew up playing—this is pretty close!
We always called it “Rob Your Neighbor” but it doesn’t fit the RYN rules I find online.
We have mostly unwrapped gifts, however, there are always a few “mystery” wrapped items.
Our family has kind of lost track of the rules over the years and we needed to get back on track!
This year I think maybe we will do doubles takes a prize from the middle, but snake eyes can steal? We have younger kids that I don’t think we should count on speed-addition 😆 I have to think through it a bit. Then once the center is clear, we will set the timer for 2-4 minutes and all doubles allow someone to steal. I don’t know, we will see! Thanks for getting me back on track, I’ve been searching for the directions! The last time our extended family tried to play…they had us clear the table and then made us choose one prize to keep under our chair and put all the rest back in for a second round! 👎🏻 Maybe before our “speed steal” portion, I could have everyone choose one of their own items to keep and they can put it under their chair. Anyway—love the game, thanks again!
Danetta says
I love those ideas! I hope your family has a blast. Ours always does playing this game.
Jessica says
When stealing of the gifts begins. Say if you roll doubles then you get to steal.. does that person whos gift got stolen then get to steal from someone else at that time? Or do they have to wait for the dice to come around and hope they roll a double? Can this game potentially leave someone without a gift at the end?
Danetta says
If a person’s gift is stolen they don’t do anything. The dice just keep moving around the circle and they will have the chance to try for doubles. We usually encourage people to steal gifts from players with the most gifts.