Games to Win Prizes at a Party

Door prize draws, everybody-wins games and knockouts for one big prize: press Pick 3 new games.

Games to Win Prizes at a Party

  1. First Team Back With Ten Desk Things1. Read out a list of ten ordinary things: a yellow highlighter, a paper clip chain of five, something with last year's date on it, a takeout menu. 2. Teams of three have four minutes to collect them from their own desks and the supply shelf. Nothing comes from another person's desk or bag. 3. The first team back with all ten wins. If nobody has ten, the most things wins. 4. Everything goes back where it came from before the prize is opened. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 10 min. Props: a written list of ten things. Prizes: one a round.
  2. A Number Under a Chair, One Slip Drawn1. Before guests arrive, stick a numbered label under each chair and put the same numbers on slips in a bowl. 2. Midway through the party, ask everyone to stay seated and draw one slip. 3. Read the number. Guests look under their own chair. 4. The guest on that chair comes up for the prize. Draw again for each prize on the table. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: numbered labels, matching slips and a bowl. Prizes: one a draw.
  3. Roll for Your Row1. Set the prize bags out in six rows and stand a number card, 1 to 6, at the head of each. 2. Players take turns rolling one die. 3. Take the front bag from the row you rolled. If that row is empty, roll again. 4. Play until every player has a bag. Put one more bag on the table than there are players, so the last roll still has a choice. Players: 4 to 24. Time: 10 min. Props: a die, six number cards and a prize bag for each player plus one. Prizes: one each.

Next step More games for a big room

How it works

These party games with prizes let the game decide who takes what from the host's prize table. Nobody pays to play, nothing is staked and no ticket is sold. Every game ends with a Prizes line.

Read the full guide

Choose by how many prizes you have

1. One prize for each guest: open the All games menu and choose Everybody wins something. 2. A handful of prizes: Door prizes gives one away at each draw. 3. One good prize: Knockout rounds for one big prize thins a whole room down to one winner in about ten minutes.

Set up before guests arrive

Most door prize draws are prepared in secret: a number under a chair, a star on a name tag, a dot inside a napkin. Each of those lists what to get ready in its first step.

Tips
  • Wrap every prize in the same paper, so that nobody chooses by size.
  • Keep one spare prize aside for a tie.

Questions and answers

How do you give out a door prize without selling tickets?

Mark something every guest already has. A Number Under a Chair, One Slip Drawn, A Star Behind One Name Badge and First to Find the Marked Napkin each choose a winner from the seats, the badges or the table, and nobody buys a chance.

Which party games give every guest a prize?

All of Everybody wins something. Magnet Fishing, One Catch Each and Grab Bag in a Tub of Paper hold exactly one prize for each player, and every square of the prize chart wins.

What prizes do these games need?

Each game says how many: one each, one a draw or a round, or one big one. What the prizes are is the host's choice. One office game names a prize a workplace can give: a box of pastries for the winning team.

Which games suit a work party?

The office set was screened so that no game asks about anyone's age, body, beliefs or private life. Hidden in Plain Sight starts in the morning and runs all day.

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All 32 games

Door prizes 8

  • A Number Under a Chair, One Slip Drawn 1. Before guests arrive, stick a numbered label under each chair and put the same numbers on slips in a bowl. 2. Midway through the party, ask everyone to stay seated and draw one slip. 3. Read the number. Guests look under their own chair. 4. The guest on that chair comes up for the prize. Draw again for each prize on the table. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: numbered labels, matching slips and a bowl. Prizes: one a draw.
  • A Star Behind One Name Badge 1. Write the name tags yourself. Draw a small star on the back of three of them. 2. Hand out tags at the door as usual and say nothing. 3. When everyone has arrived, ask guests to turn their tags over. 4. Each star takes a prize from the table, first star to reach it choosing first. Players: 10 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: name tags and a pen. Prizes: one a draw.
  • Closest Arrival to the Sealed Time 1. Before the party, write a time on a card, such as 7:42, and seal it in an envelope on the prize table. 2. A helper at the door writes each guest's name and the minute they walk in. 3. When everyone has eaten, open the envelope and read the time. 4. The guest who arrived closest to it wins, early or late. Two on the same minute share the prize. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: an envelope, a card, a list and a clock. Prizes: one big one.
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Door prizes, continued

  • First to Find the Marked Napkin 1. Fold the napkins before the meal and draw a dot inside the fold of one napkin at each table. 2. Say nothing until dessert. Then announce that one napkin at each table is marked. 3. Guests unfold their napkins. 4. The marked napkin at each table wins that table's prize, which is often the centerpiece. Players: 6 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: paper napkins and a pen. Prizes: one a draw.
  • Guess the Yards of Yarn in the Jar 1. Cut a length of yarn, measure it, write the length inside a sealed envelope and wind the yarn into a ball in a glass jar. 2. Guests write their name and a guess on a slip during the party. 3. Open the envelope and read the length. 4. The closest guess wins the prize and gets to unwind the ball to prove it. Players: 6 to 100. Time: 10 min. Props: yarn, a jar, an envelope, slips and pens. Prizes: one big one.
  • The Host Moves One Thing 1. Tell guests as they arrive that at some point one thing in the room will change places. 2. An hour in, quietly move it: swap two pictures, turn the clock to face the wall, move the vase to the other shelf. 3. The first guest to tell the host exactly what moved wins the prize. 4. Wrong guesses cost nothing. Move something else for the next prize. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 5 min. Props: none. Prizes: one a draw.
  • One Gold Bead in the Bag 1. Put one plain bead for each guest in a cloth bag, then swap one of them for a gold bead. 2. Carry the bag around the room. Each guest takes one bead without looking and keeps it hidden in a fist. 3. When the bag is empty, everyone opens their hand together. 4. The gold bead takes the prize. Collect the beads and play again for the next prize. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 5 min. Props: a cloth bag, plain beads and one gold bead. Prizes: one a draw.
  • Whose Birthday Is Closest to Today? 1. The closest-birthday draw, counted from the day of the party. Ask everyone to think of their birthday as a month and a day only. No years. 2. Guests whose birthday is in this month raise a hand. If nobody does, widen it to next month. 3. Those guests say their day aloud. 4. The day closest to the date of the party wins. Two guests on the same day share the prize or play one round of rock paper scissors. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: none. Prizes: one big one.

Everybody wins something 8

  • A Sock for Everyone on the Line 1. String a clothesline across the room and pin up one clean sock for each guest, with a small prize pushed into the toe. 2. Guests line up by first name, A to Z. 3. Each unpins one sock, choosing by the look of the sock alone. No squeezing. 4. Everyone empties their sock at the same moment. The socks go back to the host. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a clothesline, clothespins and a sock with a small prize in it for each guest. Prizes: one each.
  • Grab Bag in a Tub of Paper 1. Fill a tub with shredded paper and bury a wrapped prize for each guest. 2. Guests line up in order of who traveled farthest to the party. 3. Each reaches in with one hand, eyes on the ceiling, and takes the first parcel they touch. 4. Nobody unwraps until the tub is empty. Then swaps are allowed for two minutes. Players: 4 to 40. Time: 10 min. Props: a tub of shredded paper and a wrapped prize for each guest. Prizes: one each.
  • Hunt for the Prize Labeled for You 1. Label a small wrapped prize for each guest and hide them all around the room at eye level or lower. 2. On the signal, everyone hunts for the parcel with their own name. 3. A guest who finds someone else's leaves it where it is and says nothing. 4. Guests who are done may give warmer-and-colder hints to those still looking. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a labeled, wrapped prize for each guest. Prizes: one each.
  • Magnet Fishing, One Catch Each 1. Wrap small prizes and fix a metal paper clip to each. Scatter them in a dry wading pool or a big box. 2. Tie a magnet to a string on a stick. 3. Each player has one cast and keeps the first prize that sticks. 4. A prize that drops off goes back in. The pond holds exactly one prize for each player. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a stick, string, a magnet, paper clips and a wrapped prize for each player. Prizes: one each.
  • Numbered Pockets on the Door 1. Hang a shoe organizer on a door and number its pockets. Put a small wrapped prize in each, one pocket for each guest. 2. Put the same numbers on folded slips in a bowl. 3. Each guest draws a slip and empties the pocket with that number. 4. Guests may swap prizes with each other for two minutes after the last pocket is empty. Players: 4 to 24. Time: 10 min. Props: a hanging shoe organizer, numbered slips and a small prize for each guest. Prizes: one each.
  • Prize Walk on Numbered Spots 1. Lay a ring of numbered paper plates on the floor, one for each player, and put matching numbers in a hat. 2. Players walk around the ring while music plays and stop on the nearest plate when it stops. 3. Draw a number. The player on that plate chooses a prize and leaves the ring with their plate. 4. Keep going until the last player has walked alone to the last prize. Nobody pays for a turn. Players: 6 to 30. Time: 15 min. Props: numbered paper plates, matching slips, music and a prize for each player. Prizes: one each.
  • Roll for Your Row 1. Set the prize bags out in six rows and stand a number card, 1 to 6, at the head of each. 2. Players take turns rolling one die. 3. Take the front bag from the row you rolled. If that row is empty, roll again. 4. Play until every player has a bag. Put one more bag on the table than there are players, so the last roll still has a choice. Players: 4 to 24. Time: 10 min. Props: a die, six number cards and a prize bag for each player plus one. Prizes: one each.
  • Sign a Square on the Prize Chart 1. Draw a chart with one numbered square for each guest. On a hidden sheet, write a prize beside every number. 2. During the party, each guest signs one empty square of their choice. 3. When the chart is full, uncover the hidden sheet and read it from the top. 4. Each guest collects the prize beside their number. Every square wins something. Players: 4 to 50. Time: 10 min. Props: a chart of numbered squares, a hidden list and a prize for each guest. Prizes: one each.

Knockout rounds for one big prize 8

  • Estimates, Farthest Half Sits 1. Before the party, measure five things in the room and write them down: the length of the table in inches, the books on one shelf, the steps from the door to the cake. 2. Everyone stands. Ask the first question, and each player writes one number large on a card. 3. Read the true figure. Players line up from closest to farthest, and the farther half sits. 4. Ask the next question of those still standing, until one is left. Players: 8 to 60. Time: 10 min. Props: five measured facts, cards and pens. Prizes: one big one.
  • Everyone Against the Host: Rock, Paper, Scissors 1. Everyone stands. The host stands on a chair where all can see. 2. On three, the host and every guest throw rock, paper or scissors. 3. Guests who lose to the host sit down. Guests who tie or win stay standing. 4. Keep throwing until one guest is left, who takes the prize. If the last few all go out together, they play again. Players: 10 to 200. Time: 5 min. Props: none. Prizes: one big one.
  • Longest Coin Spin, Table by Table 1. Players stand around tables, eight or so to a table, each with a coin of the same kind. 2. On the signal everyone spins their coin on its edge. 3. The coin still turning when the others have fallen wins the table. 4. Table winners meet at one table for the final spin. Coins go back to their owners. Players: 8 to 60. Time: 5 min. Props: a coin for each player and smooth tables. Prizes: one big one.
  • Longest Hum on One Breath 1. Everyone stands. On the signal, each player takes one breath and hums a single steady note. 2. When your hum stops, sit down. No second breath. 3. The last hum in the room wins the round, and the host points out the last three. 4. Those three hum again in a final, one after another, timed by the host. Players: 6 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: a stopwatch for the final. Prizes: one big one.
  • Minority Rules: Red Card or Blue 1. Every player gets one red card and one blue card. 2. On the count of three, each holds up one color above their head. 3. Count the colors. The color held by more people sits down. A tie plays again. 4. Repeat with whoever is left. When three remain, the odd color out of the three wins. Players: 9 to 100. Time: 10 min. Props: a red card and a blue card for each player. Prizes: one big one.
  • Next Card Up or Down, Wrong Guess Sits 1. Everyone stands. The host turns over the top card of a shuffled deck and holds it up. 2. Guests show hands on head if they think the next card is higher, or hands on hips for lower. 3. The host turns the next card. Wrong guessers sit, and a card of the same value keeps everyone in. 4. Carry on down the deck until one guest is standing. Players: 10 to 100. Time: 10 min. Props: a deck of playing cards. Prizes: one big one.
  • Roll a One and Sit 1. Players stand in a circle and pass two dice around, each rolling both. 2. A one on either die means you sit down. Double ones puts the player before you out as well. 3. Any other double brings back the last player who sat. 4. The last player standing wins the prize. Players: 6 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: two dice and a tray to roll them in. Prizes: one big one.
  • Sit at Thirty Seconds, Eyes Closed 1. Everyone stands with eyes closed. The host starts a stopwatch and says go. 2. Each player sits down silently when they think exactly thirty seconds have passed. 3. The host stops the round at forty seconds. Anyone who sat before thirty, or is still standing, is out. 4. Of the rest, the half who sat soonest after thirty stay in. Repeat with forty-five seconds until one player is left. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 10 min. Props: a stopwatch. Prizes: one big one.

Office party games with prizes 8

  • Alphabet Typing Dash 1. Open a blank document on a laptop that shows on the big screen. 2. One at a time, colleagues type the alphabet from a to z while a helper runs a stopwatch. 3. A wrong letter must be deleted and typed again before going on. 4. Write the times on the board. The fastest time when the snacks run out wins. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: a laptop, a screen and a stopwatch. Prizes: one big one.
  • The Building Quiz 1. Write ten questions that only someone who works here could answer: how many steps to the second floor, what color is the bike rack, which room has the round table. 2. Teams of mixed departments write their answers. No leaving the room to check. 3. Read the answers and send a runner to settle any dispute. 4. A small prize goes to each member of the winning team. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 15 min. Props: ten written questions, paper and pens. Prizes: one a round.
  • Caption the Break Room Photo 1. Pin up a photo of something in the building with no people in it: the coffee machine, the plant that will not die. 2. Colleagues write a caption on a sticky note and stick it underneath, unsigned, with their name on the back. 3. Everyone gets one sticker dot to vote for a caption. 4. Turn over the note with the most dots. Captions are about the object, never about a person. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 15 min. Props: a printed photo, sticky notes, pens and sticker dots. Prizes: one big one.
  • First Team Back With Ten Desk Things 1. Read out a list of ten ordinary things: a yellow highlighter, a paper clip chain of five, something with last year's date on it, a takeout menu. 2. Teams of three have four minutes to collect them from their own desks and the supply shelf. Nothing comes from another person's desk or bag. 3. The first team back with all ten wins. If nobody has ten, the most things wins. 4. Everything goes back where it came from before the prize is opened. Players: 6 to 60. Time: 10 min. Props: a written list of ten things. Prizes: one a round.
  • Five Letters Folded, Stuffed and Sealed 1. Set out five sheets of paper, five envelopes and a stack of address labels at each of two desks. 2. Two colleagues race to fold each sheet in thirds, put it in an envelope, seal it and stick a label on straight. 3. A judge rejects any crooked label or open flap, and that envelope is done again. 4. Winners stay on for the next challenger. Whoever holds the desk at the end takes the prize. Players: 4 to 30. Time: 10 min. Props: paper, envelopes and address labels. Prizes: one big one.
  • Hidden in Plain Sight 1. On the morning of the party, stand one small object, such as a toy duck, somewhere in the open in a shared area: on a shelf, by the printer. 2. Tell everyone what it is. It is never inside a drawer, a bag or anyone's desk. 3. The first person to tell the host exactly where it is wins. 4. Move it and play again in the afternoon with a second prize. Players: 5 to 100. Time: 5 min. Props: one small object to hide. Prizes: one a round.
  • The Kudos Box 1. During the week before the party, colleagues write short notes thanking someone for one thing they did at work, signed, and drop them in a box. 2. At the party the host draws three notes and reads each one aloud. 3. Both the writer and the person thanked receive a prize. 4. Every other note is delivered to the person it thanks. Players: 8 to 100. Time: 10 min. Props: note cards, pens and a box. Prizes: one a draw.
  • Tallest Tower From the Recycling Bin 1. Give each team the same pile from the clean recycling: ten sheets of used paper, two boxes and a strip of tape. 2. Teams have five minutes to build the tallest tower that stands by itself. 3. Hands off at the whistle. Measure after a count of ten. 4. The tallest tower wins a shared prize for the team, such as a box of pastries. Players: 6 to 40. Time: 10 min. Props: used paper, boxes, tape and a tape measure. Prizes: one a round.

How this list was compiled: Our suggestions for any party where the host has put prizes on a table, with a set for the office. The wording is ours, and the player counts and times are our estimates. The host supplies every prize: nobody pays to play, nothing is staked and no ticket is sold. The office set was screened against the harassment page of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment, read on 2026-10-03. It is a party list, not legal advice. The prize walk was checked against Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0) on 2026-10-03: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakewalk_%28carnival_game%29 Licence: own work