Gifts for occasionsWhite Elephant: what it is and how to play
White Elephant (also known as Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa) is a fun gift-exchange party game. Everyone brings one anonymous gift, then opens them in turns — or steals an already-opened one from someone else. The suspense lasts until the very end.
Rules and how a game goes
Everyone brings one gift
Each participant brings ONE wrapped gift within a shared budget — anonymously. In the app, before the game starts, everyone adds their gift (a title, optionally a picture) on the “Game” tab. One participant — one gift, editable until the game begins.
The organizer starts the game
Once the gifts are in, the organizer taps “Start game” (the button is theirs only, available with two or more gifts). At that moment the turn order is shuffled at random — nobody knows it in advance. From then on the organizer just plays along and doesn’t control the turns.
Your turn: open or steal
All gifts on the board start wrapped. When it’s your turn (a “Your turn!” highlight), you do one of two things: “Open” a new gift from the pile (it becomes yours), or “Steal” an already-opened gift from another player. The buttons appear right on the gift cards only during your turn.
Steals and the chain
Steals are the heart of the game. Whoever got robbed goes again (opens a new one or steals another), and so on in a chain. You can’t steal a wrapped gift, your own gift, or immediately steal back from the person who just stole from you.
Steal limit and freezing
To keep the game from looping forever, each gift can be stolen at most 3 times. After the third steal it is “frozen” and stays with its current owner for good — it can no longer be stolen.
The finish
The game ends when all gifts are open (and the rest are frozen): everyone holds exactly one gift. The board shows “Game over” with the final “who got what”. The app keeps score, while the gifts themselves are handed over in person.
When it works best: an office party, a gathering or a big family — especially around the holidays. Bring a universal gift and let the game create the fun.
FAQ
Who starts the game?
Only the event organizer — they have a “Start game” button on the “Game” tab (available once at least two gifts are in). Participants can’t start the game.
Can I change my gift?
Yes, until the game starts: on the “Game” tab you edit your gift’s title/picture. Once it starts, the list of gifts is locked.
How is White Elephant different from Secret Santa?
In Secret Santa a draw assigns each person one recipient and you gift exactly them. In White Elephant there is no fixed pairing — all gifts are shared, and the fun is opening and stealing them in turns.
How many people do you need?
The game works well from about 4–5 people upward. The more players, the more dynamic the steals.
What gift should I bring?
Something universal or a gag gift within the shared budget — fun enough that people want to “fight” for it. The specific recipient doesn’t matter.
Ready to start?
Invite people by link and run it all online — free.
Create a White Elephant →