From the moment you launch the game, The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes presents itself as unabashedly festive fun – a story-book start to the holidays, repurposed into a platform-puzzle adventure for families. You’re cast as a “Scout Elf in training” tasked with restoring Christmas Spirit at the North Pole, helping Santa prepare the sleigh, gifts, and all the niceties Santa’s nice list demands. Much of the charm lies in that premise: the setting in snow-dusted workshop halls, twinkling ornaments, and the cozy mythos of the Elf on the Shelf tradition make for a warm backdrop. Indeed, our recent developer interview noted the team’s intent to “step inside” the world of the Scout Elf and let players feel they’re part of the holiday machine.
That said, the narrative is light and straightforward. While younger players may be delighted by the journey and the seasonal trimmings, older or more seasoned gamers may find the tale more functional than rich: it exists to move you from level to level rather than offering deep character arcs or unexpected twists. And while the platforming is cheery and safe, the story never quite evolves significantly. The structure is predictable: collect Christmas Spirit, dodge obstacles, complete minigames, rinse and repeat.
The gameplay mechanics lean heavily into accessible platforming blended with simple puzzle-minigames. On the PS5 version, the controls feel responsive – the DualSense handles jump, dash and swing commands smoothly, and the interface for diving into minigames (like matching cards, sorting ornaments or going through mini-mazes) is well implemented. Younger kids will enjoy the game’s 24 levels and find them easy to get into, and the game includes accessibility options such as auto-collection and invincibility mode, which makes this a genuinely family-friendly offering. On the flip side, some of the gameplay loops feel repetitive: platforming stages follow the standard move-and-collect-and-avoid template, and while the mini-games add variety, they don’t always stretch the player’s skill in meaningful ways, which may limit long-term engagement for older players.
Controls and overall user experience on PS5 hold up well. The menu navigation is slick, the transitions between levels and minigames are seamless, and the DualSense’s vibration is used modestly but effectively. The tutorial presentation, however, treads the line of over-friendly: each new element is introduced by Santa himself in a way that younger players will appreciate, but older ones might find a little tiresome. If you’re accustomed to more mature or complex platformers, the simplicity may feel underwhelming if you’re not playing with a kid next to you.
Visually and aurally, the game does a fine job at capturing the holiday spirit. Bright, colourful art-design imbues each stage with festive cheer – the palette of reds, greens, sparkling lights and twinkling textures is consistently pleasing. On PS5, textures are crisp, loading times negligible, and the whole world decorates nicely for the season. The soundtrack is similarly cheerful and melodic, and though it doesn’t reinvent Christmas music, it complements the action without becoming grating. However, the visual ambition is modest: you won’t find high-end graphical flourishes, dynamic lighting spectacles or dramatic 3D set-pieces – the focus is clearly on clarity and festiveness rather than pushing hardware to its limits.
Finally, how does the game stack up for replay value and long-term appeal? For the target audience – younger players, families, or anyone looking for light, seasonal fun – the 24 levels and accompanying mini-games provide a nice chunk of entertainment. The collect-’em-all incentive (which includes Christmas Spirit counters and outfit customisation) adds some layer of replay. Nevertheless, the game’s simplicity means it is unlikely to hold older, more experienced gamers for long once the initial novelty wears off.
To sum up: The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes is a cheerful, well-crafted seasonal platformer on PS5 that nails its target audience. The presentation is bright and inviting, the controls comfortable, and the holiday theme is delivered with sincerity and warmth. The accessibility options, the family-friendly structure and the forgiving challenge make it a good pick for younger players and parents looking for festive gaming. That said, its narrative remains modest, the gameplay loops don’t push boundaries, and for more seasoned gamers it may feel shallow. If you’re looking for a cosy Christmas gaming romp rather than a genre-defining one, this game delivers the goods.
Score: 7.0/10
Press Play Media 