The holiday season is the perfect time for brands to get creative with their marketing strategies and connect with their audience in a festive and memorable way.
In this blog post, we will explore a variety of engaging and playable Christmas marketing ideas that can help you captivate your audience and spread holiday cheer. From Gift finders to an old-school snake game, these ideas will not only entertain your customers but also promote your brand and drive valuable engagement.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, including results and impact from 10 different Christmas campaigns that used gamification (featuring Air Miles, Name It, Basel Tourism, and more), check out this guide as well.
Below, you will find 14 Christmas marketing ideas, with many examples from real brands, that were all built using the Playable gamification platform.
Advent calendars are a beloved tradition during the Christmas season, and a digital version provides a fantastic opportunity for marketers to engage their audience throughout the entire month. By implementing an Advent Calendar campaign, you can create a sense of excitement and anticipation while offering daily competitions and exclusive promotions to your customers.
Søstrene Grene, a Danish retail chain known for its unique ambiance and extensive range of products, embraced the Advent Calendar concept to generate new leads during the Christmas season. Their Advent Calendar featured a daily quiz question that was intricately crafted around the brand. Participants could unlock a new lock each day, revealing a quiz question related to Søstrene Grene’s products, Scandinavian design, or the brand’s core values. Plus, by participating, potential customers could win a Christmas gift. The lead form was at the end of the game, after the quiz question, ensuring that participants would first access the Advent Calendar, and answer the quiz question, before having to give their contact details.
Interested in the results? Read the full story of Søstrene Grene advent calendar!
The Drop game is a modern twist on a classic arcade game that can add excitement and interactivity to your Christmas marketing campaigns. Participants are challenged to catch or avoid falling items using a container, earning points and unlocking rewards along the way. It is one of the most popular Christmas games we see!
With one of their private label brand, S-budget, SPAR HU launched a drop game where participants were snowboarders who had to catch S-budget products while avoiding trees. The goals were both to bring awareness to S-budget products and to get participants to download the MYSPAR app. Participants could win one of ten SPAR Prize Cards worth HUF 10,000 (approximately €27).
The Spot the difference game is a classic and engaging playable experience that can be incorporated into your Christmas marketing campaign to entertain your audience while promoting your brand. Participants are presented with two similar images and are challenged to find the differences between them.
DFS, a renowned furniture retailer specializing in sofas and soft furnishings, implemented a captivating Spot the difference game to enhance their Christmas marketing campaign. The game was accessible directly without having to fill out a registration form, which meant that it had low barriers to entry.
After spotting the 3 differences, participants could enter a competition and have a chance to win a sofa worth £2,000. They were required to complete a registration form that asked for their first and last name, email address, and phone number, and included a marketing permission opt-in.
A Personality test is an engaging and festive way to connect with your audience during the Christmas season, providing them with personalized insights and a touch of holiday spirit. By asking questions related to motivations, preferences, interests, or styles, participants can discover their unique Christmas personality or traits. This playable experience allows you to learn a lot about your target audience while also offering participants valuable feedback or insights.
Mødrehjælpen, a social Danish humanitarian organization supporting pregnant women and families in difficult situations, incorporated a Personality Test into their Christmas marketing campaign. The aim was to engage their audience while getting new contacts. By answering five questions, participants would find out which Christmas movie they were, such as The Grinch, Die Hard, or Home Alone. As an incentive, Mødrehjælpen offered a special winter hat and a bottle of water with the phrase “I didn’t sleep for a year” as a prize.
While the game itself was not gated, access to the answer (which Christmas movie they were) required filling out a form with their name, email address, and phone number. Additionally, participants were asked to provide consent for Mødrehjælpen to contact them with information and opportunities to support their cause.
A Product recommender is a valuable tool that can help your audience find the perfect products tailored to their preferences and needs. Similar to a Personality test, participants answer a series of questions, but instead of receiving a personality type, they receive personalized product recommendations. This playable concept is particularly useful during the Christmas season as it can assist participants in creating their holiday wish lists.
Silverstone, the home of British Motor Racing, implemented a Product recommender as part of their Christmas marketing campaign. Their goal was to help participants discover their ultimate driving experience at Silverstone by completing a short questionnaire.
Although the questionnaire was not gated, the results page was. Participants had the opportunity to find out their recommended driving experience by providing their first name, last name, and email address. Optional marketing permission was also available for participants to choose whether they wanted to receive further communications. Once participants received their personalized recommendation, they could click on a “find more” button, which directed them to a dedicated landing page with detailed information about their recommended experience.
A Gift finder is another version of the Product recommender and a fantastic Christmas campaign idea that helps people find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. This playable campaign engages users by asking a series of questions to understand their preferences and provide tailored gift recommendations. By offering a seamless user experience and personalized suggestions, a Gift Finder can alleviate the stress of gift shopping and enhance customer satisfaction.
Kaufmann, the Danish clothing brand for men, wanted to make holiday shopping easier by helping their customers find the perfect Christmas gift for their loved ones. Shoppers could start by selecting their preferred budget between 4 different ranges. They would then swipe right or left through a curated selection of Christmas gift ideas within their chosen price range.
At the end, participants could browse all the products they selected by swiping right in one place and seamlessly continue to purchase their favorites, making Christmas gifting simple, fun, and stress-free. The gift finder was easily accessible on their website as well.
A Memory game is a classic and enjoyable game concept that can be incorporated into your Christmas marketing campaign to engage your audience and showcase your products. In this game, participants are presented with a grid of cards that they need to flip over to find matching pairs. The objective is to test their memory and concentration skills by remembering the locations of the cards.
DitUr, a watch retailer offering Denmark’s largest selection of watches at competitive prices, utilized a Memory game as part of their advent calendar campaign.
To access the Memory game, participants were required to fill in a simple form with their name and email. Once they entered the game, they were presented with a grid of cards, each featuring a different watch sold by DitUr. As players flipped over the cards and found matching pairs, they were exposed to a variety of watches, creating brand awareness and generating interest in DitUr’s offerings.
A Quiz is also an engaging game that can be utilized in your Christmas marketing campaigns to test your audience’s knowledge and entertain them with fun and festive questions. By presenting participants with quiz questions related to Christmas themes, movies, traditions, or general knowledge, you can create an enjoyable experience while promoting your brand and offerings.
Arbejdernes Landsbank, a Danish bank, used a simple Quiz as part of their Christmas campaign. Participants were asked a single question: “What is Arbejdernes Landsbank?” The correct answer was “A bank with a good heart.”
After answering the question, participants could enter a draw by providing their name, and email, and opting in for Arbejdernes Landsbank’s newsletter. The prize included match tickets, food and drinks in the Lounge, and coffee and treats during the break, with a value of DKK 2,250. This Quiz allowed Arbejdernes Landsbank to engage their audience, reinforce their positive brand image, and create excitement with the chance to win a valuable prize.
Kähler, a Danish ceramics manufacturer, hosted a Quiz as part of their Christmas campaigns. Participants had to answer a single question correctly to enter a competition for a chance to win a delightful 3-course Christmas dinner from Meyers and a classic Hammershøi set from Kähler for 6 people, with a total value of DKK 8,178.85.
The quiz question was: “What percentage of Danes eat roast duck on Christmas Eve?” Participants were required to fill in a form with their name and email to participate in the contest. Additionally, they had to accept receiving marketing emails from The Rosendahl group and Meyers. This was a great way for Kähler and Meyers to get new email permissions.
A Priority puzzle is a delightful and time-based challenge that can add an exciting twist to your Christmas marketing campaign. Participants are immersed in a Christmassy atmosphere as they arrange themed graphic elements or relevant products in the correct order before time runs out. This game concept not only tests participants’ ability to prioritize and make quick decisions but also adds a touch of holiday magic to their experience.
Odense Zoo used a fun yet simple priority puzzle game to attract new newsletter subscribers. Participants were asked to put in order which was tallest: a Christmas elf, a child, or a fully stretched tiger.
After playing, participants discovered that the tiger was in fact the tallest, reaching up to 2.5 meters. They were then invited to sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win a hotel stay at the zoo.
A Puzzle is another Christmas marketing idea that can be used to captivate your audience with a touch of Christmas magic this upcoming Holiday season. To play the game, participants are tasked with completing an image by placing a missing piece in the correct position, creating an engaging and playable experience for your audience during the holiday season.
As part of its advent calendar, Telmore featured a special puzzle game behind one of the Christmas doors. Participants played the game first and, upon completion, could sign up to enter the weekly draw, where five lucky winners shared prizes worth over DKK 100,000. Rewards included a Samsung Galaxy S24, SOUNDBOKS Go, AirPods 4, Wolt+ for two years with DKK 3,000 credit, and a 6-month Telmore Play subscription.
Each week of participation also earned players a ticket for the grand prize draw—a DKK 15,000 Apollo travel gift card, giving everyone a reason to return and play again.
The old school Scratchcard game is a beloved classic, particularly popular as a standalone Christmas campaign or as part of an Advent Calendar. Participants are presented with virtual Scratchcards that they can “scratch” to reveal instant prizes or offers. This luck-based game provides a thrilling and playable experience for your audience, making it an excellent addition to your Christmas marketing strategy.
SPAR UK embraced the festive spirit by utilizing a Scratchcard game in their Christmas campaigns. Participants were invited to sign up for a chance to instantly win prizes every day. By filling in their name, email, and postcode, participants gained access to the Scratchcard and had the opportunity to subscribe to SPAR UK’s email list. The scratchcard itself featured a Christmas theme, putting participants into the Christmas spirit. The chance to win instant prizes added an extra incentive for participation and heightened the excitement of the campaign.
Carl’s Jr Danmark, a fast food chain, integrated a Scratchcard game into their Christmas campaign, focusing on their loyalty program and mobile app. Loyalty program members were encouraged to log in to their app and scratch the virtual card to reveal different products from Carl’s Jr menu, such as fries or burgers. Participants could return each day to win items from the menu, creating anticipation and fostering excitement during the Christmas season.
This strategy effectively incentivized engagement with the loyalty program, driving footfall to Carl’s Jr restaurants and boosting customer loyalty.
The Wheel of fortune game is an exciting and playable experience where participants have the opportunity to spin a virtual wheel and win prizes or discounts. To incorporate the Wheel of fortune into your Christmas campaign, you can customize the wheel with a Christmas theme, such as adding holiday symbols, colors, or images. Additionally, consider offering Christmas-themed prizes, discounts on holiday products, or exclusive festive offers to make the game even more enticing for participants.
KAUFMANN utilized a Wheel of fortune as part of their Christmas campaign, offering daily prizes from popular brands like BOSS, Tommy Hilfiger, and New Balance. Participants were required to fill in a lead form with their first name, email, telephone number, and gender to enter the game. The chance to win prizes every day served as a powerful incentive for participants, compensating for the amount of information requested in the lead form.
Upon completing the game, participants were redirected to a result page that included a section titled “Do you lack inspiration for Christmas gifts?” This section encouraged participants to visit KAUFMANN’s webshop, driving sales from the campaign and providing a valuable resource for those seeking Christmas gift ideas.
A Slot Machine is a popular casino-style game that features spinning reels with various symbols. With thereels and exciting rewards, a Slot Machine brings an element of fun and anticipation that can captivate audiences during the holiday season.
Demosil, one of Finland’s largest online stores for skincare, haircare, and makeup, used a Slot Machine at a Holiday Fair to drive visitors to their stands and generate excitement around their brand. Visitors were invited to participate in the Slot Machine game, offering them the chance to win exclusive prizes and discounts. To access the Slot Machine, visitors simply needed to fill out a brief lead form, providing their first name, last name, and email address. This enabled Dermosil to collect valuable contact information for future marketing efforts.
Introducing the Sliding puzzle, a challenging and interactive game that involves rearranging puzzle pieces to form a complete image. This engaging game tests participants’ problem-solving skills and provides an opportunity to incorporate a Christmas theme, adding a festive touch to your campaign.
Danfoss, a leading provider of cooling, air conditioning, and heating solutions, implemented a Sliding puzzle as part of their Christmas campaign to not only entertain participants but also gather detailed customer profiles. By engaging in the game, participants had the chance to win exciting Christmas prizes while providing valuable information to Danfoss. After completing the Sliding Puzzle, participants were presented with a lead form that aimed to collect specific details such as gender, first name, last name, company, department, function, email, country/region, and an opt-in to receive promotional campaigns, price lists, and information about new product launches.
By encouraging participants to fill out the lead form, Danfoss was able to obtain comprehensive customer profiles, enabling them to tailor their marketing efforts and provide relevant and targeted communications.
As the holiday season approaches, it’s essential to have captivating and festive marketing strategies that resonate with your audience. The ideas discussed in this blog post provide a range of interactive and engaging approaches to elevate your Christmas campaigns. From Advent Calendars to interactive games, there are endless possibilities to spread cheer and drive customer engagement.
*This blog post was updated on August 22nd, 2025 by Erika Naud