Classic Secret Santa is great. You draw a name, buy a gift, exchange at the party, everyone goes home happy. But if your group has been doing the same format for years, it might be time to shake things up.
These 10 variations keep the spirit of Secret Santa intact while adding layers of competition, creativity, or chaos — depending on your crowd.
The Classic (In Case You Need a Refresher)
Everyone writes their name on a piece of paper, drops it in a hat, draws a name at random, and secretly buys a gift for that person within an agreed budget. Gifts are exchanged at a set event. Simple, beloved, and the foundation all these variations build on.
Running it online? Elfster's Secret Santa generator handles the name draw, exclusions (so partners don't get each other), wishlist sharing, and notifications — all free.
10 Secret Santa Variations Worth Trying
1. The Yankee Swap (White Elephant) 🐘
Everyone brings a wrapped anonymous gift. Players take turns either unwrapping a new gift or stealing an already-opened one. A gift can be stolen a limited number of times before it's locked in. The Yankee Swap is essentially Secret Santa with competitive gift redistribution — and it brings out everyone's inner Grinch in the best way.
Read the full rules: White Elephant rules guide.
2. Left, Right, Left 👈👉
Everyone holds their wrapped gift and sits in a circle. A designated reader reads a story aloud — every time the word "left" is spoken, everyone passes their gift left; every "right" means pass right. When the story ends, you keep whatever gift is in your hands. Works brilliantly with kids and multigenerational groups.
3. Santa's Casino 🎰
Each player receives "casino chips" at the start of the night. On their turn, they can use chips to: pick an unwrapped gift, bid on an opened gift from another player, or enter a jackpot drawing. Adds a negotiation and luck element that extends the exchange well beyond a single round.
4. The Grab Bag 🎁
Gifts are wrapped in unusual shapes — tubes, lumpy bundles, mystery cubes — with no boxes allowed. Players choose based solely on the shape of the package. The bizarre wrapping becomes a game in itself, and you'll get creative about disguising what's inside.
5. Pass the Gift 🎵
Gifts are passed around a circle while music plays. When the music stops, whoever holds the gift opens it and keeps it. Repeat until all gifts are distributed. A simpler, lower-stakes version of Yankee Swap that works well for younger groups or quick exchanges.
6. The Office Scavenger Hunt 🔍
The gift-giver hides their present somewhere in the office (or home) with a series of clue cards leading to its location. This transforms the exchange into an event — everyone follows their recipient's hunt, and the reveal is the moment the last clue is cracked.
7. Who Votes Wins 🗳️
All gifts are opened simultaneously and displayed on a table. Everyone then votes anonymously on categories: "most likely to be regifted," "most useful," "most creative wrapping," "gift I most wish I'd received." Winners in each category get a small prize. Adds a rating layer that keeps everyone invested even after they've opened their own gift.
8. Hot Potato 🥔
A timer-based variation of Pass the Gift. A wrapped present is passed around a circle while everyone watches a countdown timer hidden from view. Whoever holds it when the timer goes off opens it — then the next gift begins. The unpredictable timer creates more tension than music.
9. The Gift Auction 💵
All gifts are displayed unwrapped before anyone selects them. Each player receives equal amounts of fake currency (printed slips work fine). An auctioneer calls each item and players bid. The highest bidder wins the item. Everyone spends their fake money, the most coveted items become clear quickly, and the bidding strategy is half the fun.
10. The Numbers Game 🔢
Before the exchange, each participant submits one unusual or surprising personal fact. These facts are numbered and printed on cards. Gifts are also numbered. Players match a personal fact to a gift number — whoever submitted the fact that matches your gift's number is your Secret Santa. The reveal of who gave what becomes a guessing game.
Which Format Is Right for Your Group?
- Office parties: Scavenger Hunt, Who Votes Wins, or Gift Auction
- Families with kids: Left Right Left or Pass the Gift
- Friend groups: Yankee Swap, Santa's Casino, or The Numbers Game
- Remote/virtual groups: Classic Secret Santa via Elfster with video call opening
Also worth reading: how to play Secret Santa, the official rules guide, White Elephant rules, and Yankee Swap rules.