How do you do a virtual white elephant?

Everyone gets a gift to their own home first (each person buys one and either ships it to an assigned person or holds it up on camera), then you play the open-or-steal game on a video call, with the host sharing the game board on screen. After the game, gifts are shipped to whoever ended up with them.

What's the easiest virtual white elephant format?

Show-and-ship: everyone buys a gift, unwraps it on camera when it's chosen, and ships it after the game to the person who ends up with it. Nobody needs to know anyone's address in advance.

Remote teams & far-flung families

Virtual white elephant

The game works fine on a video call. The hard part is the gifts: they're in other people's houses. Pick one of three formats, then let the host share the game board so everyone can see who has what.

Three formats that work

1. Show and ship (easiest)

Everyone buys a gift and keeps it wrapped at home. When a player chooses "open a new gift", they pick a person, and that person unwraps their own gift on camera. Stealing works as usual. After the game, everyone ships the gift they brought to whoever ended up with it. No addresses needed up front; collect them at the end.

2. Ship first, open on camera

Everyone ships a wrapped gift to one assigned person ahead of time (the host makes a list). On the call, you open what arrived at your house. Steals are on the honour system and shipped afterwards, so this works best with a 1-steal limit.

3. Gift-card or link version

Each person picks a product link under the price limit and sends it to the host privately. The host reveals them one at a time as players "open" gifts; the winner of each gets it ordered to their door after the game. Good for big companies, and for anyone who'd rather not post a parcel.

Running the call

Agree the price and format in the calendar invite, with a gift deadline if you're shipping first.
Host opens the game, types everyone's name, draws the numbers, and shares their screen. Press Big screen so the board is readable in a small video tile.
Ask people to unwrap close to the camera and say what it is out loud. The host types it in so it shows on the board.
Keep it moving. On a call, use a 2-steal limit for groups over 15.
At the end, copy the results and paste them into the chat: that's everybody's shipping list.

Questions

How do you do a virtual white elephant?: Everyone gets a gift to their own home first (each person buys one and either ships it to an assigned person or holds it up on camera), then you play the open-or-steal game on a video call, with the host sharing the game board on screen. After the game, gifts are shipped to whoever ended up with them.
What's the easiest virtual white elephant format?: Show-and-ship: everyone buys a gift, unwraps it on camera when it's chosen, and ships it after the game to the person who ends up with it. Nobody needs to know anyone's address in advance.