December is creeping closer, and if you lead a distributed team, you're probably already thinking about how to celebrate the holidays. The challenge? Virtual holiday parties often fall flat. They feel forced, awkward, and exhausting for everyone involved.
But here's the truth: holiday party games for remote teams don't have to be painful. The right activities can create genuine connection, spark real laughter, and build team morale -- all from home. In fact, remote teams sometimes bond *better* than in-person groups because the games level the playing field. Nobody's distracted by sidebar conversations or office politics.
In this guide, I'll share 7 proven holiday party games for remote teams that work whether you have 5 people or 500. Most can be played entirely on your phone or browser -- no special software needed.
Before we dive into the games, let's talk about why this matters. Distributed teams face a real challenge in December: the rest of the world is gathering in person, while your team is scattered across time zones. This can feel isolating, especially during the holidays.
Strategic holiday celebrations do three things for remote teams:
1. Combat Holiday Isolation -- Remote workers often spend the holidays alone at their desks. A team celebration creates connection and reminds people they're part of something.
2. Strengthen Bonds Before Year-End -- Holiday events are the last chance to build camaraderie before everyone takes time off. This momentum carries into Q1.
3. Acknowledge Hard Work -- After 11 months of effort, your team deserves to celebrate wins. A holiday party is a natural moment for recognition.
The secret? Pick games that are engaging enough to compete with everyone's holiday chaos, but light enough that people don't feel obligated to perform.
This is the gold standard for holiday party games for remote teams because it works on any device and requires zero preparation.
Here's the setup:
Round 1: Holiday Charades via Drawing -- Someone gives a festive prompt ("an elf stuck in traffic," "Santa on a Zoom call," "a reindeer asking for a raise"). Everyone draws for 90 seconds on their phone or tablet. An AI judging system scores drawings based on how well they capture the prompt. The person with the highest score wins that round.
This works brilliantly for remote teams because:
- No artistic skill required -- Stick figures and doodles are hilarious and often win
- Mobile-first -- Play on your phone while holding your eggnog
- Asynchronous option available -- If your team spans multiple time zones, people can submit drawings and scores update in real-time
- Pro tip for larger teams: Create a room for your holiday tournament where winners from each round compete for the grand prize
Trivia is a classic, but it often drags. The solution? Keep rounds under 30 seconds and make them progressively harder.
Setup: Use a trivia platform or share questions in a Google Doc. Mix categories: holiday movies, company history, team member facts, Christmas music, and random Dec trivia. Keep it light -- a wrong answer should get a laugh, not groans.
Why it works: People can think quickly and blurt out answers without overthinking. It's high-energy and competitive without being stressful.
Pro angle: For hybrid or large teams, break into smaller breakout rooms for team trivia, then do a final playoff.
Send participants a list of items to find around their home within 5 minutes. The twist? The items are all holiday-themed but silly.
Example list:
- Something wrapped (gift, package, literally any wrapped item)
- A festive beverage
- A red object (clothing, decoration, food)
- Your most creative holiday decoration
- A photo of your family member in a holiday sweater
Participants race to find and display items on their camera. It's fun, gives people a legitimate reason to step away from their desk, and often surfaces hilarious family moments.
This is a lightweight version of holiday party games for remote teams that requires almost no setup.
How it works: People describe their family's unique holiday traditions in 30 seconds. Others guess if it's real or made up. The funnier or more unusual, the better.
Why remote teams love it: People learn something genuine about each other. There's no winning/losing per se, just discovery and laughter.
Ask everyone to wear something festive (ugly sweater, Santa hat, reindeer antlers, elf ears, whatever). Take a team screenshot or have people pose for photos. Vote on categories:
- Most creative
- Funniest
- Most festive
- Most likely to be confused for professional holiday attire
This is simple but creates a visual celebration and gives everyone a chance to get into the spirit.
These questions are quick, hilarious, and spark conversation:
- Would you rather fight one Christmas-sized turkey or 100 turkey-sized Santas?
- Would you rather have all your meetings moved to 6 AM or have Christmas on July 4th?
- Would you rather open all your gifts at once or one gift per week?
People answer quickly (no overthinking), and you're guaranteed laughter and unexpected conversations afterward.
This one's optional and works best for smaller teams (under 30 people), but it's incredibly effective. Ask people to prepare a 60-second "act" -- singing, dancing, comedy, magic trick, anything goes. Keep it to 1 minute strictly.
Why it works: People show sides of themselves that typical work conversations never surface. It's low-pressure because everyone knows it's 60 seconds of fun, not a professional performance.
The format matters as much as the games themselves. Here's a proven structure:
Pre-Event (1 week before)
- Send a calendar invite with the exact time (stick to it -- respect time zones)
- List all games and explain the rules briefly
- Ask for dietary needs if you're sending care packages
- Encourage people to find a quiet space and grab a beverage
During Event (90 minutes total)
- 10 minutes: Welcome, acknowledge team achievements
- 20 minutes: Game 1 (drawing/trivia)
- 15 minutes: Game 2 (scavenger hunt)
- 20 minutes: Game 3 (talent show OR dress-up judging)
- 15 minutes: Wrap-up, prizes, recognition
- 10 minutes: Open hang time (people can drop off)
Key rule: 90 minutes is the maximum for remote events. Anything longer and you'll see people dropping off.
Tip 1: Make Prizes Meaningful (Not Expensive) -- $25 gift cards, extra PTO, first pick of Q1 projects, a public shout-out on Slack. What matters is recognition, not cost.
Tip 2: Announce the Games Schedule in Advance -- If someone knows trivia is coming, they'll mentally prepare and participate more. Surprises often create anxiety in group settings.
Tip 3: Keep It Optional -- Some people have conflicting holiday plans. Send a recording or async participation option (like the drawing game, which works asynchronously on Doodle Duel).
Tip 4: Mix Competitive and Collaborative Games -- Not everyone loves competition. Balance with games where everyone wins together or just plays for laughs.
Tip 5: For Large Teams, Use Breakout Rooms -- If you have 100+ people, break into teams of 10. Everyone gets more face time and better sound quality, and it feels less like a corporate meeting.
One huge advantage of modern holiday party games for remote teams? They work on phones. This matters because:
- People can play from anywhere (kitchen, living room, backyard)
- It doesn't feel like "another work meeting"
- Drawing games are way more natural on a tablet than a trackpad
- Asynchronous games like drawing can happen across time zones
When picking holiday party games, always ask: "Will this work on a phone?" If the answer is no, keep looking.
Here's what leaders often miss: a well-run holiday celebration doesn't just boost morale in December. It sets the tone for January. Teams that celebrate together end the year with momentum and start the new year stronger.
For remote teams especially, these moments are critical. You're competing with the assumption that remote work is isolating. A great holiday celebration proves that your team is a real team, regardless of location.
Mistake 1: Making games too complicated -- If the rules take 5 minutes to explain, people will tune out. Keep it simple.
Mistake 2: Mandatory participation games -- Some people are shy or camera-averse. Always have "observe only" options.
Mistake 3: No time limits -- Games drag without structure. Set a timer and stick to it.
Mistake 4: Focusing only on competition -- Some of the best team moments come from collaboration. Mix it up.
Mistake 5: Scheduling during known conflicts -- If your team is global, pick a time that's reasonable for most people, or run the event twice.
Here's your action plan for a successful holiday celebration:
This week: Poll your team about timing and game preferences. Check time zones.
Next week: Send invites with the game list and rules. Set prizes.
Two weeks out: Send a fun reminder. Start gathering any physical items (if doing scavenger hunt).
Day before: Do a tech check. Have a backup plan if anyone can't join via Zoom.
Event day: Start 5 minutes early to help people troubleshoot camera/audio issues.
Remote teams often miss out on the spontaneous office celebrations -- the surprise bagels, the impromptu happy hour, the running jokes that build throughout the day. A structured holiday celebration fills that gap.
When you pick the right holiday party games for remote teams, something magic happens. People laugh genuinely. They see sides of their colleagues they've never seen before. They go back to their desks feeling like part of something real.
That's worth the 90 minutes of planning. And if you want to make the drawing games even more competitive, try Doodle Duel -- where AI judging adds an extra layer of fun and keeps everyone's competitive spirit alive.
Your team has earned a celebration. Make it count.
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