The gift exchange dice game
The party game that runs a white elephant, a Christmas exchange or an office party with nothing but one die and a pile of wrapped gifts. Roll below, do what the die says, pass the phone.
One die runs the whole party
How to run it
- Everyone brings a wrapped gift and sits in a circle holding one. It does not matter whose gift anyone starts with; it will not stay put.
- Set a timer where nobody can see it: ten minutes suits a table of eight. Take turns rolling one die and doing exactly what it says.
- When the timer rings, the game is over on the spot, and everyone keeps the gift in their hands. Then unwrap together, worst luck first.
The die
| 1 | Pass your gift to the LEFT |
| 2 | Pass your gift to the RIGHT |
| 3 | Swap gifts with any player |
| 4 | EVERYONE passes left |
| 5 | Hold tight, nothing happens |
| 6 | Steal any player's gift |
Gifts stay wrapped until the end. The cruelty of stealing a mystery is the whole game.
Printable rules cards
One card per table and any die from the kitchen drawer runs the game without a phone in sight. Four to a page, cut along the lines.
GIFT EXCHANGE DICE GAME
| 1 | Pass your gift to the LEFT |
| 2 | Pass your gift to the RIGHT |
| 3 | Swap gifts with any player |
| 4 | EVERYONE passes left |
| 5 | Hold tight, nothing happens |
| 6 | Steal any player's gift |
Take turns rolling. When the timer rings, you keep the gift in your hands.
randomdiceroll.com/games/gift-exchange/
GIFT EXCHANGE DICE GAME
| 1 | Pass your gift to the LEFT |
| 2 | Pass your gift to the RIGHT |
| 3 | Swap gifts with any player |
| 4 | EVERYONE passes left |
| 5 | Hold tight, nothing happens |
| 6 | Steal any player's gift |
Take turns rolling. When the timer rings, you keep the gift in your hands.
randomdiceroll.com/games/gift-exchange/
GIFT EXCHANGE DICE GAME
| 1 | Pass your gift to the LEFT |
| 2 | Pass your gift to the RIGHT |
| 3 | Swap gifts with any player |
| 4 | EVERYONE passes left |
| 5 | Hold tight, nothing happens |
| 6 | Steal any player's gift |
Take turns rolling. When the timer rings, you keep the gift in your hands.
randomdiceroll.com/games/gift-exchange/
GIFT EXCHANGE DICE GAME
| 1 | Pass your gift to the LEFT |
| 2 | Pass your gift to the RIGHT |
| 3 | Swap gifts with any player |
| 4 | EVERYONE passes left |
| 5 | Hold tight, nothing happens |
| 6 | Steal any player's gift |
Take turns rolling. When the timer rings, you keep the gift in your hands.
randomdiceroll.com/games/gift-exchange/
Four cards per page, one per table.
Variations worth stealing
- Rounds instead of a timer. Three full circles of the table, then everyone keeps what they hold. Calmer, and fairer for small groups.
- Doubles chaos. Roll two dice; doubles mean everyone passes that many places to the left. Only for tables that can take it.
- The story version. Someone reads a holiday story stuffed with the words left and right, and gifts move on every one. No dice needed, and grandparents love running it.
- Unwrapped finale. After the timer, allow one final round of steals with everything visible, classic white elephant style: each gift can only be stolen once in the finale.
After the wrapping paper settles, the dice are just getting started: the rest of the site has seven playable dice games, live multiplayer rooms, and a daily challenge for the quiet week that follows.