White Elephant - A Gift Exchange

White Elephant is a negotiation game featuring a gift economy system. In White Elephant you pass gifts around and collect the most items you can. Be the one who scores the most items in your group of friends or family.

Gather ‘Round

Shuffle the deck of cards, place six cards in a small stack face-down in the center of the play area within reach. Stack the rest of the deck diagonally on top. Each player will receive two unmarked score sheets. Shuffle the six quick reference cards number side down, and deal one to each player to determine turn order. Choose unique point values from the right sides of the score sheets for the icons on the left. The two score sheets do not need to match. Pass a score sheet to each player on your left and right. Study the score sheets to plan your strategy, but keep them secret until the end of the game.

Let’s Play

On your turn, flip gift box cards from the top of the deck face-up until the total number of gift icons exceeds five. Negotiate with the other players about who will receive which gift. You must give at least one gift to another player, you may give away as many gifts as you wish. No one can refuse a gift. Collect each gift in a face down pile near you.

Before starting, decide as a group whether to play in greedy mode or generous mode. On your turn, flip gift box cards from the top of the deck face-up until the total number of gift icons on the cards exceeds five. Negotiate with the other players about who will receive which cards. In greedy mode, you must give at least one card to another player. In generous mode, you may keep no more than one card. Either way, you may give away as many face-up cards as you wish. No one may refuse a gift! Collect your gifts in a face down pile near you.

Collecting the Spoils

Once any of the bottom six cards is flipped, the game will end at the end of this turn. Count the number of icons of each type in your gift haul. Then record these numbers next to the scores for the connected icons on each of your score sheets. Cross off the numbers of your highest amounts; they are worth zero points. If there are ties for the most icons, cross out all the tied numbers. For the other scoring lines, multiply the number of gift icons collected by their collected points. Add all the totals up to find your final score.

The player with the highest total points from both score sheets is the winner. In case of a tie, the tied player with the highest score from a single score sheet wins.

Why play, you ask?

White Elephant is a fast paced, card flipping, item collecting card game for anyone and everyone. You can strategize to figure out which gifts you will need to collect the sets that will give you the maximum points.

This game is festive and fun. It will surely bring a smile to everyones faces as you notice the enticing yet funny art and easy play esthetic.

Player Aid

Pick-up a copy and play this fast and fun game today!

White Elephant - The Art of the Steal, The stealing mechanic you want is available in this chaotic expansion made just for you.