If you are looking for a way to liven up your holiday party, you really should try the christmas right left across game this year. It is one of those activities that sounds incredibly simple on paper but turns into absolute, hilarious chaos once you actually get a room full of people involved. I've seen some pretty stale gift exchanges in my time—the kind where everyone just sits around awkwardly opening one present at a time—and this is basically the polar opposite of that. It gets people moving, laughing, and, more often than not, incredibly confused in the best way possible.
The beauty of this version is that it adds a layer that most people aren't used to. You might have played the standard "Right/Left" game before where you just pass things in a circle, but adding the "Across" element completely changes the dynamic. It turns a predictable circle rotation into a frantic cross-room toss that keeps everyone on their toes.
Why This Game Beats Secret Santa
Let's be honest: Secret Santa can be a bit of a drag sometimes. You spend weeks worrying if the person you drew actually likes scented candles, and then you have to sit through a long reveal process. The christmas right left across game removes all that pressure. It's fast-paced, it's inclusive, and it doesn't require any pre-planning other than everyone bringing a wrapped, generic gift.
Because the gifts move so much, nobody knows what they're going to end up with until the very last second. It levels the playing field. Plus, it's a great icebreaker. If you have a party where different friend groups or family members are meeting for the first time, nothing bonds people faster than accidentally hitting a stranger in the chest with a wrapped box because the narrator yelled "ACROSS!" a little too suddenly.
Setting Up for Success
You don't need much to get this started, but there are a few logistical things that make it run smoother. First off, make sure everyone is sitting in a circle. If you've got a huge group, a circle might be tough, so just make sure everyone can at least reach a few people.
Everyone starts the game holding the gift they brought. Now, some people prefer to have everyone put their gifts in a pile and then grab a random one to start with, which is also a solid move. That way, you aren't starting the game holding your own contribution.
The most important part of the setup isn't the chairs or the gifts, though—it's the narrator. You need someone with a loud voice and a bit of a dramatic flair to read the story. If the narrator reads too slowly, it's boring. If they read too fast, the gifts end up in a pile on the floor. You want that "sweet spot" of frantic but manageable.
How the "Across" Factor Changes Everything
In the traditional version of this game, the gifts just travel clockwise or counter-clockwise. It's rhythmic. It's predictable. But the christmas right left across game introduces the "Across" command. When the narrator reads the word "Across" in the story, you don't pass to your neighbor; you have to pass to someone directly across from you in the circle.
This is where the magic happens. You'll have gifts flying through the air (hopefully gently) and crossing paths. It breaks the "safe" feeling of just handing a box to your aunt on the left. It forces people to make eye contact, aim, and react quickly. It's a literal game-changer for the holiday party circuit.
The Secret Sauce: Writing the Story
The engine of this game is the story. You can find plenty of scripts online, but the best ones are the ones you customize yourself. The story usually follows a family—let's call them the Wrights—as they prepare for Christmas.
You'll want to pepper the text with the keywords. For example: "Sarah Wright looked LEFT and RIGHT to see if the mail had arrived. She ran ACROSS the street to check the box." Every time the narrator says one of those bolded words, the gifts move accordingly.
If you're writing your own, here's a pro tip: use "Right" several times in a row to get a rhythm going, then suddenly drop an "Across" to catch everyone off guard. It's hilarious to see the moment of panic when people realize they have to change their entire throwing trajectory in a split second.
A Mini-Sample of a Game Script
If you're wondering how it sounds in action, picture this being read aloud:
"The WRIGHT family was finally ready for the holidays. Tommy WRIGHT ran ACROSS the living room to look LEFT of the chimney. 'There's nothing LEFT!' he cried. But his sister looked RIGHT at him and pointed ACROSS the hallway. There, RIGHT where they LEFT it, was the bag of cookies."
By the time you get through a paragraph like that, the gifts have moved six or seven times. It's pure, festive adrenaline.
Choosing the Right Gifts
Since you have no idea who is going to end up with which gift, the "universal" gift is king here. You want stuff that anyone from your teenage cousin to your grandpa would actually want to take home.
- Tech gadgets: Portable chargers, decent earbuds, or even those weird ring lights for phones.
- Food and drink: High-end coffee beans, a nice bottle of hot sauce, or a "movie night" kit with popcorn and candy.
- Cozy stuff: You can never have too many high-quality throw blankets or those ridiculously fuzzy socks.
- The "weird" factor: Sometimes a strangely specific kitchen gadget, like a breakfast sandwich maker, becomes the most coveted item in the room.
The only rule I'd suggest is to set a clear price limit. Nothing kills the vibe faster than someone bringing a $50 gift and ending up with a $2 pair of gas station sunglasses. Keep the playing field level so everyone stays in the holiday spirit.
Handling the "My Own Gift" Dilemma
One question that always comes up during the christmas right left across game is: "What happens if I'm holding the gift I brought when the story ends?"
There are two ways to handle this. The "Strict Way" is to say, "Hey, that's the luck of the draw, keep it." But that's kind of a letdown. The "Fun Way" is to have a rule where if you end up with your own gift, you get to swap once with the person to your left or right. Or, better yet, the narrator can add one final sentence to the story like, "And then everyone looked ACROSS the room one last time," just to make sure things get shaken up at the very end.
Keeping the Energy High
If you notice the energy dipping, the narrator can start "speed reading" the sections with lots of directions. It turns the passing into a blur of wrapping paper and laughter. Also, don't be afraid to pause if a gift goes rogue and ends up under a sofa. The point is the chaos, but you still want everyone to actually have a present in their hands when the story finishes.
Another fun trick is to have the narrator stand in the middle of the circle. It makes them feel more like a referee and helps everyone hear the cues clearly. If you have music playing in the background, keep it low—you don't want people missing a "LEFT" because Mariah Carey was hitting a high note at the wrong time.
Wrapping Things Up (Pun Intended)
At the end of the day, the christmas right left across game is just about having a good time with people you care about. It's a break from the formal traditions and a way to embrace the messy, loud, and fun side of the holidays.
Once the story ends, the best part is the big reveal. Everyone opens their gifts at the same time, and you get to see the reactions across the room. You'll see people trading, laughing at the weird stuff, and genuinely enjoying the outcome. It's a lot more memorable than just handing someone a gift card and calling it a day.
So, this December, skip the boring stuff. Get a circle of chairs going, grab a silly story, and get ready to toss some presents. It's a holiday tradition that people will actually look forward to year after year, mostly because they'll want a rematch to finally get that air fryer that flew ACROSS the room away from them last time!