21 Fun Winter Minute to Win It Games for Families to Melt Away Boredom

So, you’ve decided to throw a winter party. Good for you! But now you’re staring at a room full of people who are one awkward silence away from checking their phones.

Enter Minute to Win It games—the ultimate party saviors. These quick, hilarious challenges will have everyone laughing, competing, and forgetting about the cold outside. Seriously, these games are a lifesaver.

How to Play Winter Minute to Win It Games (Actual Any Sort of Minute to Win It Game) Without Losing Your Mind

Alright, let’s get down to business. Here’s how you can set up these games without pulling your hair out.

1. Player vs. Timer

• Concept: Each player races against the clock to complete a task in under a minute.
• Pro Tip: Keep a timer handy. I once used my phone and missed half the fun because I was too busy watching the seconds tick by.

2. Player vs. Player

• Concept: Two players go head-to-head to see who can finish the task first.
• Pro Tip: Have a tie-breaker game ready. Trust me, nothing kills the vibe faster than a disputed win.

3. Team Play

• Concept: Split your guests into teams and let them compete in rounds.
• Pro Tip: Make sure teams are even. I once had a team of all kids vs. all adults. Spoiler: the kids won, and the adults were not happy.

Here’s a quick table to help you keep track of the essentials:

Game Type	What You Need	Quick Tip
Player vs. Timer	Timer, task materials	Use a loud timer for excitement
Player vs. Player	Task materials, scorekeeper	Have a tie-breaker ready
Team Play	Task materials, team markers	Balance the teams evenly by age and skill

So there you have it. With these tips and setups, you’re ready to host a winter party that’s actually fun.

No more awkward silences, just pure, unadulterated fun. Now go forth and be the party hero you were meant to be!

20 Heartwarming Winter Minute to Win It Games

1. Snowball Scoop: The Ultimate Cotton Ball Chaos

Objective: Race against the clock to become the champion snowball scooper! Transfer as many fluffy “snowballs” as you can in just one minute to win.

Materials: Cotton balls (our fluffy snowballs), spoon, bowl

Setup:

1. Place a pile of cotton balls on a table
2. Put the bowl next to the pile
3. Set your timer for 1 minute

How to Play:

1. Grab your spoon and get ready
2. When the timer starts, begin scooping
3. Use only the spoon to transfer cotton balls to the bowl
4. Keep going until the minute is up
5. Count your “snowballs” and see if you’re the winner!

2. Candy Cane Connect: Hook, Line, and Sugar Rush

Objective: Become the master candy cane angler by moving as many candy canes from one bowl to another as you can using only your mouth – in one minute.

Materials: 30-50 candy canes (mix of regular and mini sizes), 2 large bowl, an optional festive tablecloth

Setup:

1. Fill one bowl with candy canes – your “fishing pool”.
2. Place the empty bowl 2 feet away.
3. And set the timer for one minute.

How to Play:

1. Choose a candy cane to hold in your mouth, curved end out.
2. When the timer starts, begin “fishing” from the pool.
3. Use your mouth-cane to hook others by their curved ends.
4. Transfer hooked canes to the empty bowl.
5. Dropped canes stay where they land – no hands allowed!
6. Keep fishing until time’s up.

Scoring: One point per successfully transferred cane. Highest score wins.

3. Snowman Stack: Marshmallow Madness

Objective: Build the tallest marshmallow snowman you can in just one minute.

Materials: A large bag of marshmallows for each player (a mix of large and minisizes), toothpicks for advanced builders (totally optional)

Setup:

1. Give each player a paper plate or cardboard circle as their building base.
2. Make sure each player with an equal amount of marshmallows (about 30-40 mixed sizes).

How to Play:

1. When the timer starts, begin stacking marshmallows to create your snowman.
2. Try to make a sturdy base with larger marshmallows, then build upwards.
3. Use smaller marshmallows for details like arms or a top hat.
4. If using toothpicks, they can be used to connect marshmallows for stability.
5. Continue building and refining until the timer runs out. Hands off when the timer dings!

4. Snowball Toss: Marshmallow Mayhem

Objective: Test your snowball-throwing accuracy in a race against time! Land as many marshmallows in cups as you can in one minute to claim victory.

Materials

• Marshmallows (our tasty snowballs)
• Cups (different colors if possible)
• Table
• Timer

Setup

1. Arrange cups at varying distances on a table
2. If using different colored cups, assign point values (e.g., red = 1 point, blue = 2 points)
3. Mark a throwing line
4. Set your timer for 1 minute

How to Play

1. Player stands behind the throwing line
2. When the timer starts, begin tossing marshmallows
3. Aim for the cups, trying to land as many as possible
4. Keep going until the minute is up
5. Count your successful throws and tally your score

Scoring

• 1 point for each marshmallow in a cup (or use color-based scoring)
• Bonus points for landing in the farthest cups

5. Reindeer Nose Bounce: Vaseline and Giggles

Objective: Transfer cotton balls using only a Vaseline-coated nose in one minute.

Materials: Lots of cotton balls, red pom-poms, Vaseline, 2 plates, wet wipes.

Setup:

1. Fill one plate with cotton balls and the red pom-pom.
2. Place empty plate 2 feet away.
3. Set timer for 1 minute.

How to Play:

1. Apply Vaseline to nose tip.
2. Transfer cotton balls between plates using only your nose.
3. Red pom-pom is worth extra points.
4. The player with the most points wins!

Scoring:

• 1 point per cotton ball
• 5 points for red pom-pom

If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Snowball Scoop	Scoop cotton “snowballs” like your life depends on it	Unleash your inner snowball maniac	You might look ridiculous scooping fluff	Cotton balls everywhere. Have fun vacuuming, sucker!
Candy Cane Connect	Fish for candy canes with your face hole	Finally, an excuse to play with your food	Prepare for a sticky, minty mess	Choking hazard. Don’t be that guy who needs the Heimlich
Snowman Stack	Build the tallest, stable marshmallow monstrosity in 60 seconds	Channel your inner sugar architect	Sticky fingers and a sugar rush. Yay?	Your “snowman” might look more like a blob monster
Snowball Toss	Throw marshmallows at cups like a boss	Food fight without the mess (mostly)	You’ll waste perfectly good s’mores material	Prepare for disappointed looks when you miss. Every. Single. Time.
Reindeer Nose Bounce	Smear your nose with goop and play cotton ball hero	Finally, a use for that tub of Vaseline	You’ll look like a complete weirdo	Potential for some serious nose chafing. Ouch!

6. Christmas Tree Cup Stack: Pyramid of Fun

Objective: Stack those cups into a pyramid faster than Santa slides down a chimney. You’ve got one minute.

Materials:

• 36 green plastic cups (red’s on vacation)
• Stickers (for the artistically inclined)
• A timer (your friendly neighborhood pressure-builder)

Setup: Spread out those cups like you’re dealing cards in Vegas. Sticker time if you’re feeling extra jolly.

How to Play:

1. When the timer starts, channel your inner elf and start stacking!
2. Build that pyramid like you’re trying to impress the Pharaohs… if they celebrated Christmas.
3. Finished early? Decorate away! Or just stand back and admire your wobbly masterpiece.

7. Gingerbread Cookie Face: The Cookie Crawl

Objective: You’ve got a minute to get that cookie from forehead to mouth using only your dazzling facial gymnastics. Prepare for some quality silly faces!

Materials:

• Gingerbread cookies (or any cookie that can handle a face journey)
• Your most expressive face

Setup: Balance a cookie on each player’s forehead. Try to keep a straight face… for now.

How to Play:

1. On “go,” unleash your wildest facial expressions.
2. Wiggle that cookie down your face like it’s on a delicious rollercoaster.
3. First to chomp their cookie (or gets it closest to their mouth in a minute) wins the title of “Face Master Extraordinaire.”

8. Ornament Roll: Blow and Go

Objective: Race your ornament across the table using just your breath and a straw in 60 seconds flat. First to the finish line wins!

Materials:

• Lightweight plastic ornaments (the fancier, the funnier)
• Straws (one per player, no crazy straws allowed!)
• A smooth table (sorry, no carpet surfing here)

Setup:

1. Clear the table like you’re making room for a holiday feast.
2. Line up those ornaments at one end. Ready, set…

How to Play:

1. When the clock starts, pucker up and start blowing!
2. Guide your ornament with your straw-powered breeze.
3. No touching! Hands off, it’s all about that lung power.
4. First ornament to reach the other side in under a minute is our winner!

9. Antler Ring Toss: Headgear Hijinks

Objective: Transform your buddy into Rudolph’s cousin by landing as many rings on their antlers as you can in 60 seconds.

Materials:

• Reindeer antler headband (the sillier, the better)
• Soft rings (we’re aiming for laughs, not lumps)

Setup:

1. Pick your “reindeer” (aka the friend who lost the coin toss).
2. Mark a throwing line. No cheating, elves are watching!

How to Play:

1. Start the timer and let the rings fly!
2. Toss those rings and try to land them on the antlers.
3. Keep count – every ring that stays put is a point.
4. Most rings landed in a minute wins. Bonus points for style!

10. Fill Santa’s Beard: Cotton Ball Craziness

Objective: Give Santa the fluffiest beard in the North Pole using only a spoon and your mouth. You’ve got one minute to make him look magnificent!

Materials:

• Big picture of a clean-shaven Santa (scandalous!)
• Cotton balls (the fluffier, the better)
• Tape (to keep Santa from sliding away)

Setup:

1. Tape down that bare-faced Santa. He’s not going anywhere!
2. Pile up the cotton balls nearby. It’s snow time.
3. Give each player a spoon. Choose wisely!

How to Play:

1. When the timer starts, players put spoons in their mouth and scoop those cotton “snowballs”.
2. Balance them carefully as you try to reach Santa’s face.
3. Drop them onto his beard area. No hands allowed!
4. Keep going until the minute’s up. Fullest, fluffiest beard wins. Feel free to count the cotton balls that actually landed on the paper to make the final determination of the winner.

If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Christmas Tree Cup Stack	Build a cup pyramid faster than you can say “timber”	Channel your inner structural engineer	Hope you like the color green, ’cause that’s all you’re getting	One sneeze and it’s game over, Jenga-style
Gingerbread Cookie Face	Get that cookie from forehead to piehole using only your mug	Finally, a use for those weird face exercises	You’ll look like you’re having a sugar-fueled seizure	Cookie crumbs. In your eyes. Enough said.
Ornament Roll	Race ornaments with your breath like a weirdo	Hyperventilation has never been so festive	You might pass out from all that blowing	Prepare for spit-covered ornaments. Yum.
Antler Ring Toss	Turn your buddy into a human carnival game	Embrace your inner elk-abuser	Hope your friend doesn’t mind being a glorified coat rack	Rings to the eye. Ho-ho-OW!
Fill Santa’s Beard	Give ol’ St. Nick a makeover	Play makeover magic with Santa’s facial hair	Having the handle of a spoon in your mouth is…not fun.	A spoon handle. In your mouth. Feel weird

11. Jingle in the Trunk: Shake It Like You Mean It

Objective: Channel your inner reindeer and shake all 12 jingle bells out of your “trunk” in 60 seconds flat. No hands, just pure wiggly willpower!

Materials:

• Empty tissue boxes (your new fashion accessory)
• Jingle bells (12 per box, for maximum jingle)
• Ribbon or belts (to keep your “trunk” in place)

Setup:

1. Transform tissue boxes into “trunks” by cutting slits and threading ribbon or a belt through. Check out this how to make the tissue box for Jingle in the Trunk video.
2. Fill each box with 12 jingle bells. Instant music maker!
3. Strap these jingly packs to players’ waists. Snug, but not too tight!

How to Play:

1. When the timer starts, shake what your mama gave ya!
2. Jump, wiggle, and boogie those bells right out of the box.
3. Remember, no hands! This is all about that hip action.
4. First to empty their “trunk” in under a minute wins!

12. Christmas Nutstacker: The Balancing Act

stack as many hex nuts as possible using just a candy cane in 60 seconds. Steady hands win the day!

Materials:

• Candy canes (one per player, the straight end is your secret weapon)
• Hex nuts (a pile per player)

Setup:

1. Unwrap those candy canes. No licking allowed… yet.
2. Place a heap of hex nuts in front of each player. It’s go time!

How to Play:

1. When the clock starts, grab that candy cane like a pro.
2. Use the straight end to pick up and stack those hex nuts.
3. Build your tower as high as you dare in one minute.
4. Toppled stack? Keep calm and start again!
5. The player with the highest stack of hex nuts wins!

13. Snow Throw: The Marshmallow Throwing Challenge of Champions

Objective: Teams work together to throw and-more importantly-catch as many “snowballs” (a.k.a. marshmallows) as they can in just one minute!

Materials: 1 bucket (for each team if everyone is playing at once), lots of large marshmallows (our fluffy snowballs)

Setup: Grab your supplies, set your timer for 1 minute, and choose your thrower and catcher

How to Play:

1. The catcher holds the bucket on top of their head
2. The thrower takes aim with the marshmallows
3. When the timer starts, begin throwing!
4. Try to get as many marshmallows in the bucket as possible before time runs out
5. Count your “snowballs” and celebrate your teamwork!

14. Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Toss

Objective: Land marshmallows in all the “hot chocolate-filled” mugs before your minute runs out.

Materials: 6 mugs, lots of large marshmallows, brown shredded filler paper (options, but it definitely makes the game harder)

Setup:

• Arrange 6 mugs in a triangle shape at one end of a table
• If you’re using them, fill mugs with brown shredded paper to simulate hot chocolate
• Place marshmallows at the opposite end of the table where the players will be

How to Play:

1. Players take turns standing at the marshmallow end of the table
2. When the timer starts, begin tossing marshmallows
3. Try to land a marshmallow in each of the 6 mugs
4. Keep going until you’ve hit all mugs or time runs out
5. Count how many mugs have marshmallows in them

You can either give a point for each mug that has a marshmallow or give just one point to the person who managed to fill the most marshmallows.

15. Snowball Race: The Great Cotton Ball Blowout

Objective: Be the first to huff and puff your “snowball” across the table in 60 seconds or less.

Materials:

• Cotton balls (aka fluffy snowballs)
• Regular straws (no crazy straws allowed, cheaters!)

Setup:

1. Line up those cotton balls at one end of the table like they’re ready for a race.
2. Hand out straws. No sword fights, please!

How to Play:

1. When the timer starts, start blowing like you’re trying to extinguish a birthday cake!
2. Guide your cotton ball across the table using only your straw-powered breath.
3. First “snowball” to cross the finish line wins. May the strongest lungs prevail!

If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Jingle in the Trunk	Shake your booty until it stops jingling	Finally, a use for your twerking skills	You’ll look like you’re having a festive seizure	Prepare for jingle-induced madness and potential whiplash
Christmas Nutstacker	Balance nuts on a candy cane like a deranged elf	Test your steady hands and questionable life choices	Hope you like feeling utterly ridiculous	One sneeze and your tower becomes a hex nut missile launcher
Snow Throw	Pelt your friend with marshmallows. For points!	Food fight with a purpose	Your aim might beworse than you think	Sticky marshmallow hair. Have fun washing that out!
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Toss	Land marshmallows in mugs like a sugar-crazed carnival game	Pretend you’re making hot cocoa… very inefficiently	You’ll waste perfectly good s’mores ingredients	Prepare for disappointed sighs as you miss. Every. Single. Time.
Snowball Race	Race cotton balls with your breath like a wheezing reindeer	Hyperventilation has never been so competitive	You might pass out from all that blowing	Cotton balls on the floor. Slip and slide, anyone?

16. Christmas Cliffhanger

Objective: Get your Christmas cards living on the edge – literally! Blow them to hang off the table for 3 nail-biting seconds within a minute.

Materials:

• Christmas cards (the cheesier, the better)
• A table (preferably not your grandma’s antique one)

Setup: Spread those festive cards on the table like you’re dealing a very merry poker hand.

How to Play:

1. When the clock starts, channel your inner Big Bad Wolf and start blowing!
2. Try to get the cards hanging off the edge of the table.
3. If a card stays put for 3 seconds without falling, you’re golden.
4. Most cards successfully hanging (or hung the longest) in 60 seconds wins!

17. Christmas Spoon Feeding

Objective: Move those jingle bells from bowl to bowl using only a spoon in your mouth. You’ve got 60 seconds. Make it happen!

Materials:

• Jingle bells (the more, the merrier)
• Spoons (one per player)
• Bowls (two per player)

Setup:

1. Fill one bowl with jingle bells for each player.
2. Place an empty bowl next to it. That’s your goal!

How to Play:

1. Grab that spoon with your teeth. No hands from here on out!
2. When the timer starts, scoop up those jingle bells.
3. Carefully carry and drop them into the empty bowl.
4. Most bells transferred in a minute wins. Ding dong!

18. Christmas Bow Roll: Embrace Your Inner Toddler

Objective: Collect the most adhesive bows on your body by rolling around on the floor.

Materials:

• lots and lots of adhesive Christmas bows

Setup: Remove the paper backing from the bows and place them sticky-side up on the floor in the playing area.

How to Play:

1. On go, you’ll have one minute to roll around on the floor and collect as many bows on your body as possible.
2. When time’s up, stand up and count your bows.
3. The person who’s collected the most bows on their body wins!

19. Christmas Ball: The Great “Ornament” Race

Objective: Fan that festive orb across the floor faster than anyone else You’ve got 60 seconds to show off your gift-wrapping aerodynamics skills.

Materials:

• A wrapped box (the fancier the wrapping, the better)
• A Christmas ball (the shinier, the merrier)

Setup:

1. Clear the floor. We’re turning your living room into a yuletide racetrack!
2. Place your Christmas ball at the starting line.

How to Play:

1. Grab your wrapped box like it’s your favorite present.
2. When the timer starts, start fanning that box like you’re trying to cool off Rudolph.
3. Guide your Christmas ball across the floor using only the air from your box-fan.
4. First to get their ornament across the finish line in under a minute wins!

20. Unwrap Your Kiss: Your Chocolatey Nemesis

Objective: Unwrap as many Hershey’s Kisses as possible in one minute using only toothpicks.

Materials:

• Hershey’s Kisses (holiday mint flavor recommended)
• Toothpicks
• Timer

Setup: Place Hershey’s Kisses and toothpicks on a table.

How to Play:

1. Grab a couple of toothpicks and let’s see how many Kisses you can unwrap in 60 seconds. But here’s the catch – no fingers allowed! It’s all about those toothpick skills.
2. When the timer starts, go crazy unwrapping those little foil-covered treasures. The player with the most unwrapped Kisses when time’s up wins.

21. Snow Ball Bounce: The Balloon Blizzard Challenge

Objective: Keep your growing snowstorm of balloons afloat longer than anyone else. Last player standing (or bouncing) wins!

Materials:

• White balloons (your floating “snowballs”)
• Snowman paddles (or just use your hands if you’re feeling frosty)

Setup:

1. Inflate those balloons until your room looks like a winter wonderland.
2. Arm each player with a snowman paddle (or tell them their hands are magic snow-keepers).

How to Play:

1. Round 1: Everyone starts with one balloon. Easy peasy, snow squeezy!
2. When the timer starts, keep that snowball afloat! If it touches the ground, you’re out faster than a snowman in summer.
3. Survived? Congrats! Move to the next round and add another balloon.
4. Keep adding balloons each round. It’s like juggling snowballs in a blizzard!
5. Last player keeping all their balloons airborne wins the title of Snowstorm Supremo!

What’s Up	Objective	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up
Christmas Cliffhanger	Make cards live on the edge… literally	Finally, a use for those cheesy holiday cards	You might hyperventilate from all that blowing	Cards flying everywhere. Hope you like 52 pickup!
Christmas Spoon Feeding	Move jingle bells with your mouth like a deranged reindeer	Embrace your inner Rudolph	You’ll look like you’re aggressively making out with silverware	Jingle bells. In your mouth. Tasty and totally hygienic!
Christmas Bow Roll	Become a human Christmas present by rolling on the floor	Embrace your inner toddler with adult permission	You’ll look like you lost a fight with a gift wrap station	Prepare for bow-induced wedgies and potential carpet burn
Christmas Ball	Fan an ornament with gift wrap like a festive psycho	Turn your living room into a yuletide wind tunnel	Hope you like feeling utterly ridiculous	One wrong move and that ornament becomes a holiday projectile
Unwrap Your Christmas Kiss	Battle chocolate with toothpicks like a dental ninja	Torture perfectly good candy for fun	You might accidentally stab yourself. A lot.	Prepare for frustrated groans as you fail to unwrap a single Kiss
Snow Ball Bounce	Keep balloons afloat until your arms fall off	Pretend you’re in a weird winter wonderland	You’ll look like you’re swatting invisible mosquitoes	Popped balloons. Everywhere. Have fun cleaning that up!

Wrapping Up Winter Wackiness

A Snowstorm of Fun: We’ve sledded through a winter wonderland of minute-to-win-it magic that would make even the Abominable Snowman grin. These frosty challenges are more fun than a penguin discovering an ice slide for the first time.

Ice-Breaking Brilliance: Don’t let these games hibernate! They’re perfect for breaking the ice at any gathering. Got a chilly family reunion? Whip out the cotton ball race! Office party lacking festive spark? Time for some candy cane fishing!

Mix, Match, and Merry-Make: Mix and match these games like you’re creating the world’s most eclectic holiday playlist. A dash of jingle bell shaking here, a sprinkle of snowball bouncing there, and voila! You’ve got a party that’s cozier than your favorite ugly Christmas sweater.

Your Turn

So, which winter minute to win it game do you think you’d like to try the most? Who can you see winning it? Or losing it?