Office party bingo cards
Work parties go better when people have a reason to talk to someone outside their team. In office party bingo the squares are things that happen at the party - a toast, a group photo, someone asking about vacation plans - so the game runs itself in the background.
Starts with 40 party moments. Edit them to fit your team.
How it runs
Put a card and a pen at each place setting or hand them out at the door. There's no caller: guests mark a square when they see it happen. Set a time to check cards - after dessert works well - and give a small prize to the first full line and maybe one for the most squares. It asks nothing of people who'd rather not perform, which is why it tends to go over better than party games that put someone on the spot.
Keep it work-appropriate
Everyone at the party will read every square, so write them with that in mind:
- No squares about a named coworker. "Boss gives a toast" is fine; anything that teases a specific person isn't.
- Leave drinking out of it. "Mocktail" is on the starter list; "someone has too much" should never be.
- Favor things anyone can witness - the gift exchange, the photo booth, the dessert table - over things that depend on someone's behavior.
Other ways to use it at work
The same cards work for an onboarding week ("met someone from finance", "found the good coffee"), a team offsite, or a conference ("a speaker runs over time"). Swap the list and the title, and print.
Questions
How is office party bingo different from regular bingo?
Nobody calls anything out. The squares are moments that happen during the party, and guests mark them as they see them. It keeps people chatting and paying attention without stopping the party.
Can we play at a virtual holiday party?
Yes. Email the PDF to everyone beforehand and use squares that happen on a video call, like "someone is on mute", "a pet appears" or "someone has a festive background".
How do I keep it from making anyone uncomfortable?
Never put a named coworker on a card, leave drinking out of it, and stick to events anyone could see happen. If you would not read a square out loud to the whole company, cut it.
How many cards should I print?
One per guest plus a handful of spares. A pack of unique cards keeps two people from completing the same line at the same moment.