The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes (Xbox Series X)

The story mode is surprisingly engaging for a holiday game—my nephew and I actually finished it in one sitting. The scout elf training minigames kept him laughing the whole way through, and it's nice to have something festive that isn't just a movie tie-in cash grab.

My kids had a blast with the minigames—the elf training really got them into the holiday spirit. It’s a simple but fun way to pass an afternoon together.

The training missions are surprisingly fun for adults too, and the graphics really pop on the Series X. It kept my kids entertained for hours without any complicated controls to figure out.