Developer interview: The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes

With the summer ending and the holiday season fast approaching, The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes is set to bring one of the most beloved family traditions to PCs and consoles for the very first time. Launching on October 17th, the game combines platforming, puzzles, and festive mini-games in a world filled with Christmas spirit. To learn more about the challenges and joys of adapting such a cozy tradition into an interactive adventure, we spoke with Chris Rose, Production Director at Outright Games.

The Elf on the Shelf has become a modern holiday tradition in many households. What were the biggest challenges in translating that cozy, imaginative experience into an interactive video game?

The biggest challenge was ensuring the game felt authentic to The Elf on the Shelf brand. From environments and animations to the tone of dialogue, every element had to reflect the world that fans already know and love. This meant that our design choices, down to the smallest of details, were carefully reviewed to stay faithful to existing content.

We worked closely with The Lumistella Company throughout development, receiving regular creative feedback and guidance to make sure the game resonated with families in the same way the tradition does. It was a two-way learning experience for everyone, as it was the first time we’d worked with Lumistella, and also the first time they’d looked to put the brand onto a console as well, so I think they found the experience rewarding.

The game lets players explore the North Pole. How did you balance staying true to the established world of The Elf on the Shelf while also adding new locations and gameplay ideas?

We began with familiar, lore-based locations like Scout Elf School and Santa’s Workshop, then expanded into spaces that felt like natural extensions of the world. It was important to both ourselves and Lumistella that those key locations were included so anyone watching the Netflix shows, the YouTube shorts, or any other media had that grounding. But then we also needed a home for our Elf to explore, and that was a fun process to figure out with the team at Lumistella.

Christmas Heroes mixes platforming with puzzles and minigames. How did you decide on this combination, and what makes it work for a family audience?

We were inspired by the side-scrolling platformers we grew up with, and we knew that mixing in puzzles and short, replayable mini-games would give players of all ages something to enjoy. For younger players, the platforming is intuitive and approachable, while older ones can appreciate the challenge that builds later in the story. The mini-games also provide quick, lighthearted breaks that are perfect for family play sessions.

The game is full of holiday-themed mechanics like cookie obstacle courses and ornament sorting. Which festive gameplay element was the most fun – or the most challenging – to bring to life?

The biggest challenge for us was figuring out how to introduce a sense of “peril” or “threat” in a world that doesn’t naturally have any. To solve this, we came up with obstacles inspired by traditional Christmas ornaments and decorations that gave us core gaming mechanics but also felt true to The Elf on the Shelf universe – things like wooden toys, Nutcrackers, and Yo-Yos. These kinds of challenges are where game designers really get to shine, finding creative solutions that give players a fun and enjoyable game loop while staying authentic to the world.

Accessibility features like auto-collection and invincibility mode are great for younger or less experienced players. What went into designing these so they enhance the fun without removing the challenge?

We wanted to remove frustration without removing the sense of accomplishment. Auto-collection means players don’t have to execute perfect jumps to gather Christmas Spirit, and invincibility mode lets them explore without worrying about losing progress to tricky obstacles. The result is a game that supports players of all abilities while keeping the core experience intact for everyone.

How closely did you work with The Lumistella Company to ensure the game’s tone and characters matched the brand’s vision and art style?

Our collaboration with The Lumistella Company was ongoing and hands-on from the very start. We shared concept art, environment designs, and animation tests at each stage for feedback. They also shared plenty of resources regarding their own plans for the future so we could make sure we fit into that as a piece of the bigger picture, as opposed to being something on the side – which we were very grateful for. Their guidance helped us capture the right balance of warmth, playfulness, and holiday magic, ensuring that the game feels like a true extension of The Elf on the Shelf universe.