25 Chinese New Year Office Game Ideas for 2026 (Onsite, Hybrid & Remote Teams)

Chinese New Year is a time of renewal, prosperity, and togetherness. In Malaysia’s multicultural work environment, it is also one of the most widely recognised festive seasons in the workplace. Beyond decorations and festive greetings, many companies mark the occasion by organising simple office games and activities to bring employees together.

When done right, they help strengthen teamwork, boost morale after year-end holidays, and create an inclusive culture where employees from different backgrounds feel welcome to participate.

This article shares practical, easy-to-organise Chinese New Year office game ideas for 2026, suitable for onsite, hybrid, and remote teams.

Why Office Games Matter During Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year falls early in the year, making it an ideal moment to reconnect teams after the holiday break.

Well-planned office games can:

Build teamwork and informal bonding
Encourage cross-department interaction
Create a festive yet inclusive workplace culture
Boost morale and energy at the start of the year
Help remote and onsite teams feel connected

Importantly, these activities do not need to be elaborate or expensive. Short, well-structured games often have the highest participation.

Key Considerations Before Planning CNY Office Games

Before selecting games, HR teams should consider a few practical factors:

Budget level: Low-cost games can be just as effective
Team size: Small teams vs company-wide activities
Work arrangement: Onsite, hybrid, or fully remote
Time commitment: 5–15 minute icebreakers vs longer sessions
Cultural sensitivity: Keep activities optional and inclusive

Office Game Ideas to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2026

A. Quick & Simple Office Games

These games are designed to be easy to organise, low-cost, and flexible. They work well during lunch breaks, short team gatherings, or as warm-up activities before larger Chinese New Year celebrations.

Ang Pow Lucky Draw

This is one of the easiest and most popular Chinese New Year office activities. It creates excitement without requiring complex planning.

How the game works: HR prepares a list of participants and assigns each person a number, name slip, or digital entry. During the session, HR randomly draws names or numbers to determine the winners.

Each selected employee receives a digital ang pow, usually sent as:

E-wallet credits, or
Shopping or food vouchers.

The ang pow amount can be fixed or random to keep the experience fun and light-hearted. This activity works well either as a standalone game or as a closing segment after other activities.

Best for: All team sizes

Duration: 5–10 minutes

Mandarin Orange Toss Challenge

Inspired by the symbolism of mandarin oranges representing wealth and good fortune, this game adds a physical and playful element to the celebration.

How the game works: HR sets up a simple target, such as a box, basket, or marked area. Participants take turns tossing mandarin oranges into the target from a fixed distance.

Each successful toss earns a point. The employee or team with the highest score wins. HR may also give small rewards for participation to keep the game inclusive.

For offices that prefer not to use real oranges, soft balls or symbolic props can be used instead.

Best for: Onsite teams

Duration: 10–15 minutes

Chinese New Year Trivia Quiz

Short quizzes covering zodiac animals, festive customs, or Chinese New Year traditions can be run live or digitally. It is a great way to blend fun with cultural learning.

How the game works: HR prepares a short quiz with questions about:

Chinese New Year traditions
Zodiac animals
Common festive greetings
Cultural practices in Malaysia

The quiz can be conducted live using presentation slides, online polling tools, or messaging apps. Participants submit answers individually or in teams.

Best for: Small to medium teams, hybrid teams

Duration: 10–15 minutes

Guess the Zodiac Game

This is a light and engaging icebreaker that works well for teams of all sizes.

How the game works: HR prepares a short list of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs along with brief personality descriptions. During the session, HR reads out a description, and participants guess which zodiac it refers to.

For a more interactive version, HR may (with consent) describe general traits of a colleague anonymously and let participants guess the zodiac sign.

Answers can be submitted by raising hands, typing in the chat, or using a simple poll.

Best for: Icebreakers, town halls

Duration: 10–15 minutes

Lucky Number Spin

This game adds excitement and visual appeal, making it ideal for short celebrations.

How the game works: HR prepares a spinning wheel, either physical or digital, filled with:

Lucky numbers
Festive messages
Prize categories

Selected participants take turns spinning the wheel. Whatever the wheel lands on determines the reward. Prizes usually take the form of digital ang pow, vouchers, or small festive gifts.

The randomness of the spin keeps the atmosphere lively and ensures everyone has a fair chance to win.

Best for: Large or mixed-size teams

Duration: 5–10 minutes

B. Team-Based Chinese New Year Games

The games aim to promote collaboration, communication, and enjoyable shared experiences. They are particularly suitable for departmental activities, engagement events, or company-wide celebrations that emphasize teamwork.

Yee Sang Prosperity Toss Challenge

This activity is deeply rooted in Chinese New Year tradition and symbolises unity, abundance, and shared success.

How the game works: Participants are divided into small teams. Each team is given a yee sang set or a symbolic alternative (for offices that prefer a simplified version). Before tossing, the team discusses and agrees on a collective wish for the year ahead, such as business growth, teamwork, or personal well-being.

During the toss, team members take turns tossing the ingredients while shouting auspicious phrases. HR may observe based on:

Team coordination
Energy and enthusiasm
Creativity of the group wish

Best for: Team celebrations, department gatherings

Duration: 20–30 minutes

Zodiac Matching Game

This game combines teamwork with cultural learning in a relaxed setting.

How the game works: HR prepares two sets of cards:

One set showing the 12 Chinese zodiac animals
Another set listing personality traits, elements, or symbolic meanings

Teams work together to match each zodiac sign with the correct traits within a fixed time limit. Once time is up, HR reviews the answers and briefly explains the meanings to add cultural context.

Best for: Small to medium teams

Duration: 15–20 minutes

CNY Scavenger Hunt

This is a high-energy activity that encourages movement, creativity, and teamwork.

How the game works: HR prepares a list of Chinese New Year–themed challenges, such as:

Finding items in red or gold
Taking a photo with festive decorations
Creating a short Chinese New Year greeting

Teams complete the tasks and submit proof through photos or messages within a set time frame. Points are awarded based on task completion and creativity.

Best for: Onsite, hybrid, or remote teams

Duration: 20–30 minutes

Lantern Puzzle Challenge

This game focuses on communication and problem-solving while keeping the festive theme.

How the game works: HR prepares a lantern-themed puzzle, either physical (printed puzzle pieces) or digital (online puzzle tools). Teams must work together to complete the puzzle within a time limit.

The first team to complete the puzzle correctly, or the team with the most progress when time runs out, is declared the winner. This activity encourages collaboration without being overly competitive.

Best for: Team-based engagement activities

Duration: 15–25 minutes

Fortune Phrase Relay

This is a fast-paced game inspired by traditional Chinese New Year greetings.

How the game works: HR prepares common festive phrases and splits them into individual words or segments. Each team must race to arrange the words in the correct order to form a complete and meaningful phrase.

Team members take turns running (or clicking, for digital versions) to place the words correctly. The first team to complete the phrase wins.

Best for: Energiser sessions, large groups

Duration: 10–15 minutes

C. Creative & Interactive Games

Not all Chinese New Year activities need to be competitive or fast-paced. Some teams engage better through creative expression, visual storytelling, or personal interpretation of festive traditions.

This category focuses on activities that give employees space to participate at their own pace. Instead of racing against time or other teams, these games encourage creativity, appreciation of culture, and shared celebration. They are especially suitable for workplaces that value inclusivity, artistic expression, and a more relaxed festive atmosphere.

Best Chinese New Year Outfit Contest

This is a classic and highly engaging Chinese New Year activity that brings visual excitement to the workplace.

How the game works: HR announces the contest in advance and encourages employees to wear festive attire on a selected day. This can include traditional outfits, red-and-gold themed clothing, or modern interpretations of Chinese New Year fashion.

Participants can either:

Appear in person during a gathering, or
Submit photos through internal platforms such as email, Teams, or Slack.

Winners are selected based on criteria such as creativity, effort, or adherence to theme. Voting can be done by management, HR, or employees themselves.

Best for: Onsite or hybrid teams

Duration: Runs throughout the day

Office Decoration Challenge

This activity promotes teamwork while transforming the office into a festive space.

How the game works: HR assigns departments or teams a specific area to decorate using Chinese New Year elements. A budget limit and theme may be set to ensure fairness. Teams are given time to plan and decorate their space.

Once completed, HR organises a walk-through or photo showcase. Decorations are judged based on creativity, teamwork, and festive spirit.

Best for: Onsite offices

Duration: 1–2 hours preparation

Create-Your-Own Zodiac Poster

This is a relaxed and meaningful activity that combines creativity with cultural appreciation.

How the game works: Each team is assigned a Chinese zodiac sign and tasked with creating a poster that represents:

The zodiac’s traits
Its symbolic meaning
Aspirations or goals for the year ahead

Posters can be created digitally or on paper and shared during a short presentation session. HR may choose to recognise creativity, teamwork, or storytelling rather than competition.

Best for: Creative or cross-functional teams

Duration: 30–45 minutes

Chinese New Year Meme Competition

A modern and light-hearted way to engage employees, especially younger teams.

How the game works: HR announces a theme related to the Chinese New Year and work life, such as post-holiday mood or festive food culture. Employees create and submit memes within a set time frame.

Submissions are shared internally, and winners are chosen through staff voting or HR selection.

Best for: Hybrid and remote teams

Duration: Asynchronous

Calligraphy or Greeting Card Challenge

This activity slows things down and focuses on mindfulness and cultural expression.

How the game works: HR provides a theme or greeting phrase and invites participants to create handwritten calligraphy or festive greeting cards. For remote teams, digital designs are also acceptable.

Participants submit their creations for display or sharing. Rather than ranking winners strictly, many companies choose to reward effort and participation with small festive tokens.

This game is especially suitable for organisations that value calm, reflective activities during festive periods.

Best for: Mixed-age teams

Duration: 20–40 minutes

D. Icebreaker Games for Large Teams

When celebrating Chinese New Year with a large group, the goal shifts from deep interaction to shared energy. Icebreaker games for big teams are less about individual participation and more about creating a moment everyone can enjoy together.

These activities are easy to explain, quick to run, and suitable for mixed departments, seniority levels, and personalities. Whether employees are actively playing or simply watching, the focus is on keeping the atmosphere lively, festive, and inclusive, especially during townhalls or large-scale celebrations.

Chinese New Year Bingo

This game keeps large audiences engaged without requiring movement or complex coordination.

How the game works: HR prepares bingo cards with Chinese New Year–related items such as festive foods, greetings, zodiac animals, or workplace-themed phrases. Each participant receives a card digitally or physically.

As the host calls out items randomly, participants mark their cards. The first few participants to complete a row or full card win.

Best for: Townhalls, large gatherings

Duration: 10–15 minutes

“Find Someone Who…” Chinese New Year Edition

This icebreaker encourages interaction across departments.

How the game works: HR prepares a list of festive prompts such as:

Find someone born in the Year of the Horse
Find someone who travelled for Chinese New Year
Find someone who knows how to say a CNY greeting in Mandarin

Participants move around (or message colleagues digitally) to match each prompt with a person. Once completed, they submit their list to HR. Small festive rewards or lucky draw entries are usually given to those who complete the challenge.

Best for: Onsite or hybrid events

Duration: 15–20 minutes

Lucky Wheel Game

This game adds excitement and structure to large events.

How the game works: HR prepares a large spinning wheel, either physical or digital, filled with prizes, lucky numbers, or festive messages. Selected participants are invited on stage or screen to spin the wheel.

Whatever the wheel lands on determines the prize, which is usually a digital ang pow, voucher, or small gift. This game works well as a transition between agenda segments during a townhall.

Best for: Company-wide celebrations

Duration: 5–10 minutes

Guess the Chinese New Year Song

A fun and nostalgic game that appeals to all age groups.

How the game works: HR plays short clips of well-known Chinese New Year songs. Participants guess the song title by raising hands, typing in the chat, or submitting answers via polling tools.

Winners are rewarded with festive vouchers or ang pow credits, while others enjoy the music and festive mood. This game also helps energise the crowd.

Best for: Large, mixed-age teams

Duration: 10–15 minutes

Zodiac Personality Poll

This is a low-pressure, interactive game suitable for large audiences.

How the game works: HR runs live polls asking participants to select traits that best describe them, such as “optimistic”, “energetic”, or “detail-oriented”. The results are then linked back to different zodiac personalities.

There are no winners or losers. Instead, HR may randomly select participants from the poll to receive small festive rewards as a surprise.

Best for: Townhalls, inclusive events

Duration: 5–10 minutes

E. Virtual Chinese New Year Game Ideas (Remote Teams)

Virtual games create shared moments that help employees feel included, connected, and appreciated, no matter where they are working from.

These activities are easy to run on platforms like Teams, Zoom, Slack, or WhatsApp, and work best when they are short, interactive, and supported by simple digital rewards such as e-wallet credits or vouchers.

Online Chinese New Year Quiz

This is one of the most effective virtual activities because it requires minimal setup and works well across time zones.

How the game works: HR prepares a short quiz covering topics such as Chinese New Year traditions, zodiac facts, festive greetings, or light company-related questions. The quiz can be hosted live using polling tools or shared as a link for employees to complete within a fixed time.

Winners are determined based on score or speed. Some companies also reward random participants to keep the experience inclusive.

Best for: Fully remote or hybrid teams

Duration: 10–15 minutes

Virtual Lucky Draw

A virtual lucky draw recreates the excitement of festive giveaways without physical presence.

How the game works: HR compiles a list of eligible participants and uses a random name generator or spinning wheel during an online session. Names are drawn live to maintain transparency and excitement.

Selected winners receive digital ang pow via e-wallet credits or vouchers, often accompanied by a short festive message. This activity works well as a closing segment of a virtual event.

Best for: Company-wide online celebrations

Duration: 5–10 minutes

Digital Ang Pow Giveaway

This is the most flexible virtual activity and can stand alone or complement other games.

How the game works: HR allocates a festive budget and distributes digital ang pow in various ways:

To quiz or game winners
As random appreciation tokens
As participation rewards

Amounts can be fixed or random to keep things fun. Distribution is done via e-wallet credits or digital vouchers, ensuring fast and secure delivery.

Best for: All remote teams

Duration: Minimal

Online Scavenger Hunt

This activity encourages creativity and participation without needing everyone online at the same time.

How the game works: HR prepares a list of Chinese New Year–themed tasks such as:

Taking a photo of something red at home
Sharing a festive greeting
Posting a picture of a homemade or store-bought CNY snack

Participants submit their entries through chat channels or shared folders. HR awards points based on completion and creativity.

Best for: Remote and hybrid teams

Duration: 20–30 minutes

Photo Challenge via Teams, Slack, or WhatsApp

This is a low-pressure activity that allows employees to participate at their own pace.

How the game works: HR announces a simple theme, such as “Your Chinese New Year setup” or “CNY at home”. Employees submit photos within a set time frame.

Photos are shared in a group channel, and winners may be chosen through voting or random selection. Rewards are usually small but festive, keeping the focus on participation rather than competition.

Best for: Remote teams

Duration: Asynchronous

Suggested Prizes for CNY Office Games

Prizes should be simple, practical, and fair. Prizes can significantly boost participation when paired with fun activities. Popular choices include:

Ang pow cash rewards
E-wallet credits
Gift cards
Extra leave hours
Festive hampers
Company merchandise

Tips for HR to Run a Successful CNY Office Game Event

HR teams can maximise engagement by:

Keeping participation optional
Scheduling activities during low-impact periods
Communicating details early
Encouraging leadership participation
Documenting the event for internal communications or employer branding

Short, well-planned activities tend to be more effective than lengthy programmes.

Chinese New Year 2026 Theme Ideas

A simple theme helps unify activities and decorations. Common workplace-friendly themes include:

Year of the Horse (energy, progress, teamwork)
Red & Gold Prosperity
Traditional Chinese Market
Modern Minimal Chinese New Year

Themes should support celebration without overcomplicating planning.

FAQs

What are fun Chinese New Year games for office teams?

Simple games like quizzes, lucky draws, scavenger hunts, and zodiac-themed activities are popular and easy to run.

How do companies celebrate the Chinese New Year at work?

Common approaches include festive decorations, short games, lucky draws, and team lunches.

Can Chinese New Year games be done virtually?

Yes. Online quizzes, digital ang pow, and photo challenges work well for remote teams.

How long should office CNY activities last?

Most activities work best within 15 to 45 minutes, depending on team size and workload.

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