Secret Santa Alternatives That Bring More Fun to Your Holiday Gift Exchange
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The holidays are here again. Offices are buzzing with year-end deadlines, families are making travel plans, and friend groups are figuring out how to celebrate together.
Table of Contents
- Why Look Beyond Secret Santa?
- 15 Fun Alternatives to Secret Santa (and When to Use Them)
- White Elephant (aka Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa)
- Secret Gifter with Clues
- DIY Gift Exchange
- Two Truths & a Gift
- Gift Auction
- Trivia Gift Grab
- Gift Roulette
- Regift Relay
- Spotify Wrapped Swap
- Travel-Themed Exchange
- Digital-Only Gift Exchange
- Book a Blind Date
- Letter & Gift Combo
- Memory Swap
- Mystery Merch Box
- How to Pick the Right Secret Santa Alternative for Your Group
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Somewhere in the mix, someone suggests Secret Santa, the holiday classic where you secretly buy a gift for one person and exchange it at a party.
It’s a tradition many love, but let’s be honest: it can sometimes feel repetitive. The same rules, the same awkward mismatches, the same scramble to buy something decent under $20 at the last minute.
In fact, some people dread Secret Santa altogether because of the pressure to find the “perfect” gift in a short timeframe. And with more people working remotely or living apart, logistics have only gotten trickier.
That’s why more groups are looking for Secret Santa alternatives, games, and exchanges that inject humor, creativity, or meaningful storytelling into the holiday tradition. From chaotic swaps like White Elephant to heartfelt ideas like Memory Swap, there’s something for every group dynamic.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 fun alternatives to Secret Santa and help you pick the one that suits your friends, coworkers, or family best.
Why Look Beyond Secret Santa?
Secret Santa isn’t going anywhere; it’s a holiday staple. But sometimes, it just doesn’t land. Here’s why:
1. The Pressure of Personalization
When you’re buying for one person, the stakes feel higher. You don’t want to give a gift that misses the mark or feels generic.
For coworkers or distant acquaintances, it’s even harder because you may not know their tastes. Suddenly, what’s meant to be a fun tradition turns into a stressful guessing game. There are alternatives for Secret Santa to counter this.
2. Awkward Mismatches
We’ve all been there: you put effort into a thoughtful gift and get a novelty pen or half-funny mug in return. The mismatch can leave some participants quietly disappointed.
The alternatives for Secret Santa help people not end up with gifts that they can’t use, which undercuts the spirit of giving.
3. Limited Interaction
Secret Santa is straightforward: hand over the gift, reveal yourself, move on. It’s nice, but it doesn’t always generate the energy of a holiday party.
These Secret Santa alternatives for adults often add elements of play, suspense, or competition that keep the whole group engaged rather than just the gifter and giftee.
4. Logistical Challenges
Remote offices or families spread across cities can find the Secret Santa complicated. Mailing gifts, coordinating addresses, and syncing reveal times can be a headache.
Secret Santa alternatives like digital-only exchanges or trivia-based swaps simplify things and make participation easier for everyone.
The bottom line: while Secret Santa works for many, experimenting with alternatives for Secret Santa can make the holidays feel fresh, fun, and inclusive.
15 Fun Alternatives to Secret Santa (and When to Use Them)
Here are 15 Secret Santa alternatives for adults that swap predictability for excitement. Each one comes with an explainer, best use case, and a twist that makes it memorable.
1. White Elephant (aka Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa)
How it works: Everyone brings a wrapped gift. Players take turns either unwrapping a new present or stealing one already opened. The stealing rule is what makes it chaotic and hilarious.
Best for: Large groups, offices, or families who love a little drama.
Gift ideas: Quirky desk toys, funny mugs, or viral TikTok gadgets under $25.
Why it works: It removes pressure to buy for one person and turns gift-giving into a full-blown game. Plus, the mix of useful and ridiculous gifts ensures laughs.
Pro Tip: Want to include remote teammates? Try WhiteElephantGame.com to run the swap online. It’s one of the coolest and fun alternatives to Secret Santa you can find.
2. Secret Gifter with Clues
How it works: Instead of a one-time reveal, the gifter leaves hints in the days leading up to the exchange, notes, Slack messages, or small tokens. On reveal day, the recipient guesses who their gifter is before opening the present.
Best for: Offices, classrooms, or roommates.
Gift ideas: Coffee beans with a clue like “I never start a day without this,” or a plant with “I brighten up every corner.”
Why it works: Such fun alternatives to Secret Santa build suspense and keep the fun going for days, not just a few minutes at the party.
3. DIY Gift Exchange
How it works: Everyone must bring a homemade gift, cookies, crafts, or art. You can still do random draws or White Elephant-style stealing, but everything in the pile is handmade.
Best for: Creative groups, families on a budget.
Gift ideas: Homemade candles, a knitted scarf, or a framed drawing.
Why it works: Time and creativity mean more than money here. Even silly crafts become treasures because of the effort involved.
4. Two Truths & a Gift
How it works: Combine an icebreaker with gifting. A person shares two truths and one lie about themselves. If the group guesses the lie, they get to pick a gift. If not, the speaker takes a gift.
Best for: Parties or groups who don’t know each other well.
Gift ideas: Funny socks, puzzle games, or quirky stationery.
Why it works: It encourages conversation and makes people learn fun facts about each other along the way.
5. Gift Auction
How it works: Each person gets “play money.” Wrapped gifts are auctioned off one by one, sometimes with misleading packaging. The highest bidder wins the gift.
Best for: Competitive offices or playful friends.
Gift ideas: Gadgets disguised in cereal boxes, gift cards in oversized wrapping.
Why it works: The strategy and bidding add tension. Even wrapped decoys can become hot commodities.
6. Trivia Gift Grab
How it works: Answer a trivia question correctly to pick or steal a gift.
Best for: Families or friend groups who love game nights.
Gift ideas: A trivia card deck, a quirky calendar, or holiday-themed snacks.
Why it works: It adds a skill-based element and gets everyone’s brain engaged.
7. Gift Roulette
How it works: Shuffle all gifts randomly and redistribute them. Everyone opens at once, then guesses who their gifter was.
Best for: Simple, no-fuss groups.
Gift ideas: Cozy throws, gourmet popcorn, or board games.
Why it works: It’s fast, random, and still has the mystery element of guessing who gave what.
8. Regift Relay
How it works: Everyone brings a gift they once received but didn’t want. Add rules like “remove price tags” or “tell the story behind it.”
Best for: Groups with a strong sense of humor.
Gift ideas: That unopened blender from last year or a novelty lamp collecting dust.
Why it works: Such alternatives to Secret Santa are hilarious, sustainable, and guarantee unique (if slightly weird) gifts.
9. Spotify Wrapped Swap
How it works: Gifts must be tied to a person’s favorite artist or playlist.
Best for: Music-loving groups, millennials, Gen Z.
Gift ideas: Band tees, vinyl records, or themed candles (like Taylor Swift merch).
Why it works: It’s personal, creative, and sparks great music conversations.
10. Travel-Themed Exchange
How it works: Gifts must represent a country, city, or even a fictional place.
Best for: Families, coworkers from different cultures, or travel-obsessed groups.
Gift ideas: French wine, Japanese matcha, Hogwarts scarves.
Why it works: Every gift tells a story, and you “travel the world” without leaving the room.
11. Digital-Only Gift Exchange
How it works: Skip physical gifts. Exchange eBooks, subscriptions, playlists, or e-gift cards.
Best for: Remote teams or long-distance families.
Gift ideas: Netflix subscription, Audible credit, or custom Spotify playlist.
Why it works: No shipping headaches, instant delivery, and eco-friendly.
12. Book a Blind Date
How it works: Wrap a favorite book and write a teaser on the front. Recipients choose based on the description alone.
Best for: Book clubs or literary friend groups.
Gift ideas: A thriller labeled “A page-turner you won’t put down.”
Why it works: It’s thoughtful, fun, and helps people discover new reads.
13. Letter & Gift Combo
How it works: Pair each gift with a handwritten note or poem explaining the choice.
Best for: Families, close friends, or adult groups.
Gift ideas: Cozy candles with a heartfelt letter, a mug with an inside joke note.
Why it works: The note adds a personal, emotional layer.
14. Memory Swap
How it works: Bring a gift tied to a shared memory. Share the story as you hand it over.
Best for: Lifelong friends or close-knit teams.
Gift ideas: A framed concert ticket, a souvenir from a past trip.
Why it works: It turns gifting into storytelling and nostalgia.
15. Mystery Merch Box
How it works: Bring quirky merch from a favorite brand, show, or fandom.
Best for: Pop-culture-loving groups.
Gift ideas: “The Office” socks, Marvel mugs, and Taylor Swift candles.
Why it works: It’s funny, specific, and shows off fandom pride.
Going virtual? Many of these Secret Santa alternatives, especially White Elephant and Gift Roulette, can be run online using tools like WhiteElephantGame.com.
How to Pick the Right Secret Santa Alternative for Your Group
Not sure which game suits your crowd? Here’s a quick guide:
- Large groups (10+): White Elephant, Gift Auction.
- Creative, budget-conscious groups: DIY Exchange, Regift Relay.
- Remote teams: Digital-Only Exchange, Virtual White Elephant.
- Close-knit families/friends: Memory Swap, Letter & Gift Combo.
- Party groups: Two Truths & a Gift, Trivia Gift Grab.
Conclusion
Secret Santa will always be a holiday classic, but sometimes it needs a refresh. With these Secret Santa alternatives for adults, you can choose a format that fits your group’s vibe, whether that’s silly, sentimental, competitive, or creative.
So this year, skip the stress of last-minute mall runs and awkward mismatches. Try a new twist, laugh a little louder, and make your holiday gathering one to remember.
FAQs
What is the other version of Secret Santa?
Often, people refer to White Elephant (also called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa) as an alternative. Unlike Secret Santa, White Elephant doesn’t match specific giver-recipient pairs. Instead, everyone brings a random gift, and players take turns picking or stealing from the common pool. Another variation is Kris Kringle, a term sometimes used interchangeably with Secret Santa in some regions.
What is the fun version of Secret Santa?
The “fun” version usually means adding a twist to make it more game-like. White Elephant is often considered more fun or humorous because of the stealing rule and surprise gifts. Gift Auction and Trivia Gift Grab also lean toward high-energy fun. If you want something even more interactive, consider games like Two Truths & a Gift or Gift Roulette, which involve challenges or randomness and tend to get big laughs.
What’s the difference between Secret Santa and White Elephant?
In Secret Santa, each person is secretly assigned someone to buy a gift for. The gift is meant specifically for that recipient, and the identity is revealed at gifting.
In White Elephant, everyone brings one generic gift, and the gifts are exchanged by picking/stealing, not by name.
Secret Santa focuses on personal gift-giving, whereas White Elephant focuses on group entertainment and surprise. Secret Santa often yields more practical or heartfelt gifts, while White Elephant often involves wacky or cheap gifts thrown into a pot.
Can you combine Secret Santa and White Elephant?
Yes! Hybrid versions exist. For example, a game called “Sneaky Santa” starts like Secret Santa (each person brings a gift for someone), but then introduces the option to steal a gift on your turn.
According to one guide, Sneaky Santa is literally a mix of Secret Santa and Yankee Swap – participants can choose a gift or steal an opened one, until all gifts are distributed. This gives you the best of both: everyone still gets a gift intended for them, but you add the excitement of swaps.
You could also do a Secret Santa, where, after all gifts are opened, you allow one round of trading or stealing, blending traditions.
