The Playbook · Chapter 03
Office Christmas
party games.
Less small talk. More play.
The out-of-office replies are nearly on. Someone has found the festive playlist. Give your colleagues something to talk about beyond the next deadline.
About 5 minutes · 4 October 2026 · By Childish Canveeno
A good office party game gives people a shared story: the colleague nobody suspected, the question that had everyone laughing, the new starter who turned out to have an excellent poker face.
You do not need a complicated production. Start with your guest numbers, the space you have and whether you want a quick icebreaker or a game that becomes the evening's main event. These three Childish Canveeno options suit different plans.
Match the game to the gathering
01. Who's coming, and how do they like to play?
For a seated group who enjoy deduction, choose secret roles. For a themed evening, prepare a Mafia night. For a drop-in gathering, put a personalised guessing game on a table. Keep joining in optional, and make sure the room lets people hear one another.
For 6–12 suspects: the Traitor Party Game Kit
A secret-role game for colleagues who enjoy bluffing, discussion and a wonderfully confident accusation. The kit includes hosted and no-host guidance, role cards, dramatic letters and editable invitations and portrait frames.
Best fit: one group of 6–12 players, with time to sit together and follow the rounds.
For a themed evening: Murder Mystery Mafia
Give the party a 1920s twist with illustrated roles, editable Canva cards and invitations, a host guide and an event tracker. The pack includes 40 character roles; check the rules for your intended group before assigning the cast.
Best fit: a planned party where someone can prepare the characters and run the night.
For a familiar-face icebreaker: Who Am I?
Put your colleagues into the game with their photos and names. Pair people from different teams and let the questions start the conversation. Ask people which photo they would like to use, and keep the teasing friendly.
Best fit: a table activity while guests mingle. The editable template is digital; a compatible physical game board is sold separately.
The Traitor kit is designed for 6–12 players. Use a game suited to your full group, or plan separate groups with their own materials and someone to manage each game. Avoid stretching one game beyond its rules just to fit everyone in.
A little preparation goes a long way
02. Print first. Party later.
Download your chosen pack ahead of the day. Open the instructions, choose your version and read the rules before sending the invitation. Edit names, photos and event details where your pack includes Canva templates; a free Canva account works with the editable materials.
Try a test print before making the whole set. Check that photos and names are readable, and that any cards fit the board you are using. Print the final pieces on suitable paper, cut them out and keep secret-role cards out of sight.
Arrange a table away from the busiest speakers. For a Traitor night, the editable player portraits can become your Wall of Suspicion; for Who Am I, a cast drawn from different teams helps guests meet people they might not usually talk to.
See the Traitor pack photos and video for a closer look at the printed materials before you choose.
Give the evening a gentle rhythm
03. Welcome. Explain. Let them surprise you.
Start with a short welcome and explain how the game works. Demonstrate a turn or a vote rather than expecting everyone to absorb the rulebook at once. Tell players how to ask for help, and give quieter colleagues a little space to find their feet.
For a secret-role game, follow the supplied sequence of rounds and agree any optional twists beforehand. Keep accusations about what happens in the game. Your department's spreadsheet habits are not evidence of treachery.
Leave room for snacks and a break. After the reveal, invite people to compare their theories: who fooled the room, who spotted the clues, and who was spectacularly certain about absolutely nothing? A cheerful debrief is part of the fun.
If someone would rather watch, welcome them as an audience member. The evening should feel like a party, with a game everyone can enjoy in their own way.
Before the festive playlist starts
Your host checklist.
- Count the players and choose a game that fits.
- Read the matching instructions and decide who will host.
- Edit the invitations and any player photos or names.
- Test-print, then prepare the cards, letters and other materials.
- Check any physical board or extra equipment your chosen game needs.
- Set up a space where people can see and hear one another.
- Explain the rules, allow breaks and finish with the reveal.
Get the free Mini Mystery Game Night Kit by joining the Play List. It is a way to try an editable game before choosing a full party pack.
A few quick answers.
Are these physical products?
The games featured here are digital downloads. You prepare and print the materials yourself; the Who Am I template also needs a compatible physical game board, sold separately.
Do we need Canva Pro?
No. The editable templates are designed to work with a free Canva account. The Traitor kit includes printable PDFs as well as editable invitations and frames.
How long should we allow?
Allow setup time before guests arrive. Playing time depends on your chosen game, group size and the pace of discussion. For a fixed party schedule, try the game beforehand and leave some breathing room between activities.
Can we play somewhere other than the office?
Yes. The same ideas work for a home gathering or Friendsmas: choose the game for your group, prepare the materials and make space around the table.
A party worth putting in the calendar
Gather your team.
Give them a new story.
See what each pack includes, choose your game and get the printables ready before the first guest arrives.
Explore the party games