The office Christmas party: how to sort out the evening's entertainment without it becoming a second job

Have you been put in charge of the office Christmas party, but do not know where to start? Where should we go? What should we eat? And most importantly: What are we actually going to do? You already have a job, and the Christmas party can quickly mean giving up your free time. At the same time, you are the one people look at if the party falls flat. We do not have all the answers, but we can sort out the last one.

This guide shows what makes a good office Christmas party game, how to do it without much planning, when to play, and what to prepare.

What makes a good office Christmas party game

Colleagues are not the same as friends. Some are outgoing and love attention, while others avoid it like the plague. Some look forward to a proper party. Others are there for the food. And at the end of the day, everybody has to meet at work again on Monday. A good office Christmas party game takes this into account:

• Everybody plays at the same time. Nobody waits in line for a turn, and nobody is left watching.
• Nobody performs alone. Karaoke in front of the boss is fun for some, but not for everyone.
• Knowledge is not everything. If the same people win every time, the others give up. Some luck gives everybody a real chance, and nobody feels stupid.
• The rules take a minute. People have a glass in their hand. Long explanations kill the mood.
• No dead moments. When everybody waits for something to happen, it quickly gets both awkward and boring.
• Nobody gets embarrassed. A joke that is funny at the table can feel different at work the next week.

Flaksorama: Christmas party entertainment that is ready in five minutes

These are the principles Flaksorama is built on. Flaksorama is a party game for work events, made by two people who took the party committee seriously. The game board runs on the big screen, and everybody plays at the same time on their own phone, with no app at all.

You already have a job. We sort out the Christmas party entertainment:

• No preparation. No questions to write, no app to install, no rehearsal.
• No host. The game runs itself and explains the minigames on the screen before they start. You can play too, and be a guest at your own Christmas party.
• No dead moments. The game keeps the room going from the first to the last round. The minigames vary, and everybody can contribute.
• It is not the same three people who win every time. Knowledge helps, but bonuses, setbacks and lottery tickets can turn everything around. Anybody can win.
• Nobody has to stand up in front of the others. Everybody plays on their own phone, and nobody goes on stage.

Colleagues who do not usually work together get something to talk about on Monday. And you get the credit for the entertainment, without giving up your free time.

How to know it works before the Christmas party

The Christmas party is often the big event of the year, and we understand that you want to feel sure about the plan. That is why you can try it before you pay, and if you are not happy afterwards, you get your money back.

1. Try the demo for free. It takes under a minute to start, and you do not need an account. Run it on the screen you will use.
2. Your money back, no questions asked. Not happy? Send us an email and you get your money back.

What you can count on:

• Ready in five minutes, almost no preparation.
• No app, only a browser.
• Up to 20 players per game (or more if you pair up two and two).
• Around 30 minutes from start to finish.
• No host, the game moves on by itself.

Short on time? How to get started

All you need is a big screen for the game board, such as a TV or a projector. Players use their own phones.

1. Choose a game pack.
2. Open the game board on the big screen.
3. Let everybody join with a QR code or a PIN, and start the game.

We recommend The Christmas Party, which is made for the office Christmas party. You get sleigh races, snowball fights and a tug-of-war between turkey and ham, plus Christmas trivia and drawing rounds. The Office is a good alternative if you would rather have something from everyday work life, with office trivia and coffee-break minigames.

You pay by card, or by invoice if you order for a Norwegian company. You can see the prices on the game packs page.

When is the best time to play?

The timing matters as much as the activity. Before the food, people are still arriving. After dessert, some are already looking for their coats. These two times usually work best:

• After the first drinks. Everybody has arrived, and the excitement is building. Give people a break from the mingling.
• Between the main course and dessert. Give people a break from all the small talk around the table.

Flaksorama takes around 30 minutes, so it fits well between two courses. Choose one main activity and do it well. A party with one good activity is better than a party with a full schedule.

What to prepare

Do a quick check of the room before the guests arrive.

1. Try the demo on the screen you will use, so you know it works.
2. Test the sound and the Wi-Fi in the room.
3. Check that everybody can see the screen from where they sit.
4. Decide who starts the game. That person can play too.
5. Have a small prize ready. It does not need to be expensive, but a winner should get something.

Try the demo for free, so you know it works before you decide. You can see the packs on the game packs page.