Deck the Halls · the holiday party pack · Debate & laughs
Secret Santa
A rotating judge, a prompt, and everyone's answers with no names on them. Win the judge, not the room.
- ~15 min
- 3–10 people
- One device, or phones
- In the Deck the Halls pack
- Ages 10+
What it feels like
Somebody at this table is very hard to buy for. Tonight, each of you takes a turn being that person. Here's how it works. In a private turn, answer a few prompts. You'll skip the one you're judging. Each round has a judge, and the answers to their prompt come up with no names. The judge reads them all aloud, then picks a favourite, for any reason at all. Then the names come out. Each time the judge picks your answer, you score two points. So forget pleasing the room. Win the judge.
How to play
- Take a private turn each: answer a few prompts. You'll skip the one you're judging.
- Each round has a judge. The answers to their prompt come up with no names.
- The judge reads them all aloud, then picks a favourite — any reason counts.
- Then the names come out.
Scoring: 2 points each time the judge picks your answer.
You'll get prompts like
- “The worst Secret Santa gift under ten dollars”
- “The best gift for someone who has everything”
What you need
3 to 10 people and one phone, tablet or laptop to pass around — or everyone on their own phone in a room. Nothing to download, no accounts. The best lines can be sealed into your group's Almanac and come back in later games.
