Gift table: wrap the decoy
Leave a small empty box, a sheet of reused paper, and tape. Wrap it, then unwrap it and fold the paper for the next player.
Why a moving-around game suits a holiday party
Holiday groups are mixed. You get old friends, partners who know nobody, coworkers from other teams, and a cousin who only came for the food. Sit-down games favor the loudest people at the table. A game where people walk between rooms gives everyone a small job and a reason to talk.
- It breaks up the couch. Players move between the kitchen, the tree, and the coat rack, so new pairs form naturally.
- Quiet guests still play. A crew member who never says a word still helps by finishing tasks, which exposes the intruders.
- Late arrivals are easy. Rounds are short. New guests join the next one.
- The meetings are the fun part. “You were at the tree for five minutes and the ornament is still in the box” is a better story than any trivia answer.
The format comes from the Among Us video game: a crew finishes tasks while hidden intruders blend in and eliminate players. Playing it in real life is often called Among Us IRL. Sus Party is an Among Us-inspired browser game that runs this at home, with no affiliation to the original.
Holiday task ideas by room
A good task has one location, one clear finish, and a quick reset for the next player. Keep each one to about a minute. Use materials you already have out for the party.
Tree: hang the ornament
Keep three unbreakable ornaments in a bowl. Hang one on a branch, then move a different one back to the bowl.
Living room: find the candy cane
Hide a candy cane in one of five marked spots. The finder writes the spot on a card and hides it somewhere else on the list.
Kitchen: count the cookies
Count the cookies on one tray without eating any. Write the number on your own slip of paper.
Hallway: untangle the lights
Leave a short, unplugged string of lights in a loose knot. Untangle it, then loosely coil it again.
Coat rack: match the mittens
Mix four pairs of gloves or socks in a basket. Pair them up, then mix them for the next player.
For Friendsgiving, swap in tasks like folding napkins or setting one place at the table. For New Year’s Eve, use “write a resolution on a slip and drop it in the jar” or “set the countdown clock.” The task ideas by room page has more you can adapt. The app trusts players to mark tasks complete. It does not check their work, which is exactly what gives an intruder room to fake it.
Example games with fictional players. Select a screen to view it full size.
Host plan for a holiday game night
The day before: pick rooms and tasks
Choose three or four shared areas. Open the house task generator for ten players, set your guest count and rooms, and edit the tasks to match your decorations. Set out the materials.
After dinner: gather by the tree
Pick one meeting spot everyone can reach in a few seconds. Create the room, import the task pack, and share the four-letter code. Every player needs a phone browser and internet. You play too.
Explain in two minutes
Cover four things: how to complete a task, how a meeting starts, what an elimination looks like, and how voting works. The how to play page covers the basics.
Play two or three rounds
Take a break for dessert or gifts between rounds. Swap out any task that confused people. Stop while the group still wants one more.
An old laptop or the TV can show the optional Reactor display, which tracks crew progress for the room. It is a nice touch but not required.
Running it as an office holiday party game
A secret-intruder game works well at work because it is social without being personal. Nobody has to share a story, sing, or drink. A few rules keep it comfortable for everyone.
- Keep alcohol optional. Nothing in the game depends on drinking. Do not make any task or penalty a drink.
- Keep tasks low-contact. Use tasks people do alone at a station, such as sorting cards or copying a symbol. Skip anything that involves touching someone.
- Make walking optional. Place stations close together and at table height. Anyone who would rather not move much can be a strong voice in meetings.
- Use the space you have. A conference area, break room, and open desk zone are enough. Try the office task generator for twelve players.
- Set a clear end time. Book a fixed slot, such as 45 minutes, and stop when it ends.
For larger teams, run the game with one group while others mingle, then rotate. Keep sabotage in the app; nobody needs to hide items or block a door in a shared office.
Set up your holiday game
This opens the house preset with ten players. Change the guest count and rooms, swap in your holiday tasks, then carry the pack into host setup.
Free browser game · No account or install · Everyone plays in the same place
Other holiday party games for groups
A secret-intruder game is one option. Mix it with a lighter game so the night has a warm-up and a cool-down.
| Game | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| White elephant gift swap | Any group with a set gift budget | One wrapped gift per person and numbered slips |
| Holiday charades | A warm-up while guests arrive | Prompt slips such as movies or songs, and a timer |
| Name that holiday song | Mixed ages, low effort | A playlist and a speaker |
| Secret-intruder game | Six or more players who like a little drama | Phones, internet, and a few rooms |
For more ideas, see our party games for adults, the games for ten people guide, and the game night ideas list.
Small things that make the night smoother
- Keep tasks away from the stove, candles, and anything fragile on the tree.
- Pick a spot where eliminated players wait. They stay quiet about what they saw.
- Check that the Wi-Fi reaches every task area before guests arrive.
- For three to five players, use one intruder and fewer rooms so players cross paths.