16 New Year's Eve games for work, plus a trivia round
The best New Year's Eve games for work are short countdown rounds, a quiz built from your team's own year and predictions you seal and open next December. Here are 16 for the office party or a video call, plus 12 New Year's Eve trivia questions on a countdown screen you can share.
Most teams celebrate on the last workday of December or in the first week of January, so these games are made for a 4 p.m. midnight. Play four of them, one from each group, and you have a 45-minute party. Every game works in a meeting room and on a video call, and none needs more than a timer, paper or a jar of candy.
16 New Year's Eve games for work
Grouped by what they do for the party. Each has its rule in one or two lines, what you need and how long it takes.
Countdown games
Fast rounds built on the clock. Each takes five minutes or less, so they open the party well. Rather not run the clock yourself? A host runs a New Year's game on video for the whole team.
1. Ten to midnight
Call a category and start a 60-second clock. The team counts down from ten out loud, one answer per number, and must reach one before time runs out.
You need: A timer and a list of categories (snacks, songs with a color in the title, things in a desk drawer). · about 5 min · works on video
2. Midnight by feel
Everyone closes their eyes at the start signal and sits down, or turns their camera off, when they think a minute has passed. Closest to 60 seconds wins.
You need: A stopwatch and one person watching it. · about 3 min · works on video
3. Twelve chimes
Twelve quick questions, ten seconds each, read like a clock striking twelve. Answer before the next chime. The countdown screen on this page runs it.
You need: The countdown screen below on a shared screen or the meeting room TV. · about 6 min · works on video
4. Confetti jar
Fill a clear jar with gold-wrapped candies or paper confetti dots. Everyone writes a guess; closest without going over takes the jar home.
You need: A clear jar, candies or paper dots, slips of paper (or the chat on video). · about 4 min · works on video
Look-back games
Games made from your team's own year. They take a little prep and get the biggest laughs. Closing out the year with the whole company? See hosted year-end party ideas.
5. Year-in-review quiz
Ten questions about your team's own year: launches, wins, the meeting that ran long. Teams answer on paper. The question templates are below.
You need: Twenty minutes of prep with your calendar and team channel. · about 10 min · works on video
6. Guess the month
Show ten photos or screenshots from the team's year, one at a time. Teams write the month each one is from. One point per exact month.
You need: Ten work photos, shared with permission from anyone in them. · about 8 min · works on video
7. Headline of the year
Each team has three minutes to write the front-page headline and a one-line subhead for the team's year. Read them aloud and vote by applause.
You need: Paper and pens, or a shared doc on video. · about 8 min · works on video
8. Three-word year
Everyone writes three words that sum up their work year on a card. The host reads each card; the room guesses who wrote it.
You need: Index cards, or a form that collects answers ahead of time. · about 8 min · works on video
Look-ahead games
Predictions, resolutions and a time capsule: the part of the party people talk about next December.
9. Prediction ballot
Everyone fills in ten light predictions for next year. Seal the ballots in an envelope and open them at next December's party. Most right wins.
You need: The ballot below, printed or as a form, and one envelope. · about 7 min · works on video
10. Whose resolution
Everyone hands in one lighthearted resolution, unsigned. The host reads each one and teams guess who wrote it. Hobbies and habits only.
You need: Slips of paper and a bowl, or a form collected the day before. · about 8 min · works on video
11. Team time capsule
Each person adds one note: a tip for next year's newest hire, something we'll laugh about, a guess. Seal the box and set a reminder for one year out.
You need: A shoebox and tape, or a shared doc locked until next year. · about 6 min · works on video
12. Pitch for next year
Each team has two minutes to pitch one thing the whole team should try next year: a skill swap, a lunch club, a no-meeting morning. Vote on one to really do.
You need: A timer and a poll. · about 10 min · works on video
Party games
Classic party energy with a New Year's twist. No supplies beyond a timer for most of them. For a celebration toast with real cocktails, a virtual mixology class ships each guest a kit (21+).
13. Toast-off
Everyone gets 20 seconds for a one-sentence toast to the year or to a teammate, raised with whatever is in their cup. The room votes for the best line.
You need: Any drink at all: sparkling water, coffee, cocoa. · about 8 min · works on video
14. Resolution charades
Act out a resolution card without words (learn the drums, bake bread, finally fix the printer). Your team has 45 seconds to guess it.
You need: Twenty resolution cards written ahead of time and a timer. · about 10 min · works on video
15. Around the world at midnight
The host names a city. Teams have 20 seconds to say what time it is there when New York reaches midnight. Exact answers score two points, within an hour one.
You need: A world clock on the host's phone and a list of cities where your team works. · about 6 min · works on video
16. Last word of the year
Go around the room. Each person says a word for next year that starts with the last letter of the word before. Ten seconds each; a repeat is out.
You need: Nothing. A timer if your group likes rules. · about 5 min · works on video
