Parties
20 Simple Office Party Games for Staff
· 9 min read
The best office party games are simple: easy to explain in one sentence, no special kit, and fun whether you're competitive or just there for the snacks. Here are 20 simple office party games for staff, from classics like charades and pass the parcel to quick team games played on everyone's phone.
Quick guide
| Game | Time | Group size | Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guess the jar | All party | Any | In person |
| Team trivia | 15–20 min | Any, in teams | Both |
| Two truths and a lie | 10–15 min | 4–30 | Both |
| Who said it? | 10 min | 10–50 | Both |
| Charades | 15 min | 6+ | Both |
| Pictionary | 15 min | 6+ | Both |
| Musical chairs | 10 min | 8–20 | In person |
| Pass the parcel | 10–15 min | 8–30 | In person |
| Name that tune | 10–15 min | Any, in teams | Both |
| Cup stack race | 10 min | Teams of 3–5 | In person |
| Human bingo | 10–15 min | 15–60 | In person |
| Survey says | 10–15 min | 6+ | Both |
| Finish the sentence | 10 min | 6+ | Both |
| Baby photo guess | 10–15 min | 8–30 | Both |
| Paper plane contest | 10 min | Any | In person |
| Guess the emoji | 10 min | Any, in teams | Both |
| Tambola (housie) | 30 min | 10–200 | In person |
| Rank it | 10 min | Any, in teams | Both |
| Photo booth | All party | Any | In person |
| Mystery box | 10 min | Any, in teams | Both |
1. Guess the jar
All party · Any people · in person
How it works: Fill a jar with paper clips, sweets or rubber bands. Everyone writes a guess with their name; the closest wins the jar.
Why it works: The simplest party game there is. It runs by itself in the background.
2. Team trivia
15–20 min · Any, in teams people · both
How it works: Split into teams and ask ten general-knowledge questions. Mix in a few about the company for extra laughs.
Why it works: Everyone knows how it works, and playing in teams means nobody is exposed.
With TeamPlay: TeamPlay marks every answer and shows the scores, so the host just reads and reveals. See how it plays.
3. Two truths and a lie
10–15 min · 4–30 people · both
How it works: One person shares three statements, two true and one false. Everyone else guesses the lie.
Why it works: People find out surprising things about colleagues they've sat next to for years.
4. Who said it?
10 min · 10–50 people · both
How it works: Collect a funny (and harmless) quote or fact from each person ahead of time. Read them out and have everyone guess who said it.
Why it works: Personal to your team, so it gets bigger laughs than any shop-bought game.
5. Charades
15 min · 6+ people · both
How it works: One person acts out a film, song or office phrase without speaking while their team guesses against the clock.
Why it works: Needs nothing but people and gets everyone off their chairs.
6. Pictionary
15 min · 6+ people · both
How it works: One person draws a word on a whiteboard or flip chart while their team guesses.
Why it works: Drawing skill doesn't matter. Watching someone draw "budget meeting" does.
With TeamPlay: Imojination is the no-drawing version: the clue-giver builds the answer from emoji on a shared canvas. See how it plays.
7. Musical chairs
10 min · 8–20 people · in person
How it works: One fewer chair than players. When the music stops, everyone sits; whoever's left standing is out.
Why it works: A childhood classic that gets surprisingly competitive among grown-ups.
8. Pass the parcel
10–15 min · 8–30 people · in person
How it works: Wrap a small prize in many layers with a sweet or a forfeit in each. Pass it round while music plays; whoever holds it when it stops unwraps a layer.
Why it works: Cheap, easy, and everyone's a winner at some point.
9. Name that tune
10–15 min · Any, in teams people · both
How it works: Play the first few seconds of a song and let teams race to name it.
Why it works: Mixing decades gives every age group a chance to shine.
10. Cup stack race
10 min · Teams of 3–5 people · in person
How it works: Teams race to stack plastic cups into a pyramid and back down again. Fastest team wins.
Why it works: Quick to set up, fun to watch, and costs a packet of cups.
11. Human bingo
10–15 min · 15–60 people · in person
How it works: Hand out bingo cards with squares like "Has met someone famous" or "Speaks three languages". People mingle to find a match for each square.
Why it works: The best mixer for parties where departments usually stick together.
12. Survey says
10–15 min · 6+ people · both
How it works: Teams guess the most popular answers to prompts like "An excuse for leaving a party early."
Why it works: Game-show fun that doesn't need anyone to know facts.
With TeamPlay: Teams type guesses and each right answer flips over on the board. See how it plays.
13. Finish the sentence
10 min · 6+ people · both
How it works: Read a prompt with a gap. Everyone writes an ending, then the room votes for the funniest.
Why it works: Shows off the office's sense of humour, and anonymous voting keeps it fair.
14. Baby photo guess
10–15 min · 8–30 people · both
How it works: Collect childhood photos from volunteers. Show them one at a time and have everyone guess who's who.
Why it works: Always the most talked-about game of the party.
15. Paper plane contest
10 min · Any people · in person
How it works: Everyone folds a plane from one sheet of paper. Prizes for furthest flight and best design.
Why it works: Two minutes to explain, ten minutes of chaos.
16. Guess the emoji
10 min · Any, in teams people · both
How it works: Show emoji that spell out films, songs or sayings and let teams race to decode them.
Why it works: Instantly understood, and a good warm-up game.
17. Tambola (housie)
30 min · 10–200 people · in person
How it works: Hand out tickets, call numbers one at a time, and give prizes for the first early five, each line and a full house.
Why it works: A staple of staff parties in India that works for any size of group.
18. Rank it
10 min · Any, in teams people · both
How it works: Give teams a list (snacks by calories, inventions by year) to put in order. Points for each item in the right place.
Why it works: Every team ends up in a heated, good-natured debate.
19. Photo booth
All party · Any people · in person
How it works: Set up a corner with props and a ring light, and award prizes for the best group photo.
Why it works: Runs itself, and the photos keep the party going in the team chat afterwards.
20. Mystery box
10 min · Any, in teams people · both
How it works: Reveal clues to a hidden everyday object one at a time, vaguest first. Teams guess after each clue, and earlier answers win more.
Why it works: Suspense builds with every clue, and the host controls the pace.
Tips for office party games
- Make them optional. Some people love games, some would rather watch. Both are fine.
- Mix the teams. Put people from different departments together; that's half the point.
- Keep each game short. Ten to fifteen minutes, then move on while people are still enjoying it.
- Keep it clean. Nothing that could embarrass anyone or needs a word with HR the next morning.
- Small prizes. Chocolates, a trophy that moves desks, or first pick at the buffet.
Common questions
What are some fun games to play at staff parties?
Team trivia, charades, two truths and a lie, name that tune, baby photo guess and survey-style games are reliable favourites. They work for any group and need almost no setup.
What are simple party games for office staff?
Guess the jar, pass the parcel, musical chairs, paper plane contest and charades all take a minute to explain and need only everyday items.
Planning for a festival? See our Diwali office party ideas and Christmas party games for large groups. For everyday ideas, try 30 office games for employees.
Run the party games from one screen
Many of these games are built into TeamPlay. Put it on the screen, everyone joins on their phone with a room code, and the app keeps time and score. It's free for up to 15 people. Host a free session.