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Look, we need to address the reindeer in the room. It is the beginning of August, there are still 144 days until Christmas, and yet we are already being invited to pull on our elf shoes and report for duty at Santa’s workshop. Well, I’m all in. Who’s with me?
North Pole Workshop, the debut game from Toronto-based indie developer BIGG Studios, now has a playable demo available on Steam. Created by studio founders Michael Szyszko and Ania Pienio, the festive production-line game supports between one and four players as they attempt to manufacture, wrap, and ship enough toys to keep Santa happy.
The whole thing looks a little like Overcooked relocated to the North Pole, with players gathering raw materials, throwing items between workstations, and feeding components into magical machines that produce different toys.
Unlike some co-op games that seem specifically engineered to destroy friendships, however, North Pole Workshop is designed to accommodate groups that want different levels of pressure.
Players looking for a relaxed evening can complete levels at their own pace by aiming for a one-star production rating. Two- and three-star targets introduce tighter time limits and require considerably more coordination, efficiency, and probably shouting at whichever friend has wandered off while carrying the final teddy bear component.
North Pole Workshop can be played solo, through local split-screen multiplayer, or online with Steam friends. The developers say it was created to work equally well as a casual game where friends can chat away while completing a shared objective or as a more demanding co-op challenge capable of testing how well everyone works together – we all know how that ends up.
Elves can also equip different shoes that allow them to run faster, jump higher, or throw objects farther. Players will need to decide which abilities best suit each workshop and production line rather than simply giving everyone the fastest footwear and hoping for the best.
Completed presents can be customised using different wrapping papers and ribbons, while progression through the game unlocks additional machines, locations, and toys to manufacture.
North Pole Workshop is the first game from BIGG Studios, with Szyszko and Pienio drawing on their own experiences as co-op players while designing it. The result is intended to offer something for both relaxed gaming groups and players who treat every production target as a personal challenge.
The North Pole Workshop demo is available now on PC through Steam. There is still no need to put the Christmas tree up, though. Please do not encourage them.
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