Elf: The Movie is a platformer based on the 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. The story follows Buddy's journey to New York City to find his real father and fit in with humans. The game's release coincided with the DVD release of the movie during the holiday season in 2004, available in five languages.
The gameplay is a side-scroller where you control Buddy as he navigates icebergs, avoids chasms and polar bears, dodges Manhattan traffic, and completes missions based on the movie's events. Your goal is to collect missing sleigh parts, letters, or parcels while avoiding obstacles like icy water and cars that drain your health. You can restore your health by jumping for lollipops and candies, Buddy's favorite snacks. The game features 10 main missions, as well as three mini-games from the start menu: Snowman Building, Santa Says, and Cobbler's Workshop. Additional minigames are available within the game.