How to Play the New Year’s Eve Left-Right Game

Naughty Gnome
16 minutes ago
5 min read

Adults passing wrapped gifts during a New Year’s Eve left-right party game

If you need a New Year’s Eve game that works for adults, mixed groups, and last-minute planners, the Left-Right game is one of the easiest options out there.

It takes almost no setup, lasts just a few minutes, and reliably turns wrapped gifts into laughter. All you need is a short story, a circle of people, and one simple rule: pass on every left and right.

Here is how it works, plus tips to keep it fun and not awkward.

What Is the Left-Right Game?

The Left-Right game is a read-aloud gift exchange game. One person reads a short story out loud while everyone sits in a circle holding a wrapped gift.

Every time the reader says left or right, players pass their gift in that direction. When the story ends, whatever gift you are holding is yours.

Some versions also include across, which sends the gift across the circle. That part is optional but adds chaos in a good way.

How Do You Play the Left-Right Game?

Have everyone sit or stand in a circle.
Give each person one wrapped gift.
Decide which direction is left and which is right.
Choose one person to read the story out loud.
Pass the gift every time you hear left, right, or across.
When the story ends, the gift you are holding is the one you keep.

That is the entire game.

How Many Gifts Do You Need for the Left-Right Game?

You need one gift per person.

For larger groups, you can also run multiple gifts at once to keep things moving.

A good rule of thumb:

4–10 people: 1 gift
11–18 people: 2 gifts
19–24 people: 3 gifts

Space the gifts evenly around the circle before you start.

What Are the Rules for the Left-Right Story Game?

The rules are intentionally simple:

Everyone passes at the same time.
No opening gifts until the story ends.
No trading unless the group agrees afterward.
If someone misses a cue, keep going. The messiness is part of the fun.

The lack of strategy is what makes this game work in real living rooms.

How to Handle “Across” Without Confusion

If your story includes across, decide how it works before you start.

Even-numbered circles: pass to the person directly across from you.
Odd numbers or tight spaces: assign an across buddy or agree that across means skipping one person ahead.

Say it out loud first. Everything goes smoother after that.

Why this matters:

Simple party games work best when expectations are clear and everyone understands the flow before things get loud. That is why games like the Left-Right game work so well in group settings. As Wikipedia notes, party games are played socially to facilitate interaction and provide entertainment, which makes them ideal for gatherings where people may not all know each other well. A clear structure keeps the focus on laughter instead of confusion.

A Short New Year’s Eve Left-Right Story (Adult Friendly)

Use this quick sample if you do not have a printed story ready.

On New Year’s Eve, the group gathered with snacks on the left, drinks on the right, and no clear plan for midnight. Someone on the right checked the clock. Someone on the left pretended not to care. A gift moved right when the countdown was mentioned, then left when someone laughed too loudly. Another gift shot across the circle when a toast was raised, then slid right again. The room buzzed with noise and anticipation until the final word landed and the gift stayed exactly where it was meant to.

This short example shows how the game flows. Longer stories with more passes and different themes work better for larger groups or multiple rounds.

What Makes a Good Left-Right Game Gift?

Not every gift works well for this game.

The best options are:

Easy to hold and pass
Funny without being personal
Safe to open in front of a group
Something people would not mind ending up with

This is where playful, low-risk novelty gifts shine.

These beer mug socks look like you’re wearing a frothy pint on each leg, complete with a foamy cuff and handle detail. They are warm, comfortable, and just silly enough to get a laugh without being awkward. As a novelty gift, they work especially well because they are easy to wear, easy to pass in a group game, and funny the moment they are unwrapped.

This monkey face graphic t-shirt relies entirely on expression for the joke. There is no caption, no setup, and no explanation needed. The oversized image does all the work, making it bold, unexpected, and funny the moment it appears. As a novelty gift, it works especially well in group settings where reactions matter, because the humor lands instantly and does not depend on inside jokes or context.

This ceramic mug uses quiet visual humor instead of shock value. At first glance it looks simple, but the sculpted shape adds a subtle, unexpected twist that people notice a second later. It works especially well after the holidays because it feels playful without being seasonal, making it an easy everyday mug that still gets a smile.

This dish towel delivers humor in the most understated way possible. The message feels like a quiet aside rather than a punchline, which makes it easy to live with long after the holidays are over. It blends into a kitchen naturally, then catches your eye at just the right moment. As a gift, it works because it is practical first and funny second, the kind of everyday item that gets a knowing smile instead of a big reaction.

This squeeze chicken stress toy turns tension into instant comedy. A quick squeeze reveals the egg inside, which is just unexpected enough to make people laugh every time. It works well as a novelty gift because the humor is physical and immediate, not verbal or personal. Easy to keep on a desk or toss in a drawer, it is the kind of funny object adults reach for without thinking and never quite get tired of.