Some of the recent LEGO video games have disappointed critics and fans alike, so Blocks is exploring some of the reasons that these titles are not hitting the brick mark…
LEGO video games have existed since the 1990s, ever since the company started to expand into digital media and marketing new ways to experience the brick. Some of the earliest titles ran on Microsoft XP and Nintendo 64, featuring the simple 16-bit graphics and clunky user interfaces that most games had at that time. They have since progressed onto modern consoles, continuously improving graphics and experimenting with different ideas. Yet which LEGO video games have really stood out to players? There have been a plethora of collaborations but there had not been consistent success. And what was truly the last great LEGO video game?
One of the earliest gaming titles was LEGOLAND, which was released in 2000. It is a theme park management sim, heavily inspired by RollerCoaster Tycoon, in which players rebuild the park by completing quests to progress through each chapter. Part of the story mode involves travelling back in time to discover new rides to add to the growing park. Although it is simplistic, it garnered favourable reviews. It perfectly blended the typical aspects of a management simulation game with LEGO storytelling without making the business aspect too difficult. Players have to achieve set amounts of rides or visitors per chapter, but it is not as intense as games in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series.
This is what LEGO video games have typically strived to achieve. They are designed to be quite relaxing games that are accessible to all ages of players. They aren’t quite cosy games, though they are certainly close to that genre. There have been some notable exceptions, especially in the early 2000s when there was a lot of experimentation. Bionicle Heroes was released in 2006 as a third-person shooter. It is quite surprising that the LEGO Group pursued the design of a game so heavily focused on combat, but Bionicle itself is based on mechs rather than people, so that is likely why it was considered appropriate.
It received mixed reviews from critics for its simplistic gameplay and repetitive combat, but Bionicle Heroes was also praised for its humour. This is clearly something that the developers took note of because the humour in LEGO video games proved to be essential for creating a digital brand identity. It was in 2005 that the LEGO Group partnered with TT Games to make LEGO Star Wars as a platformer, retelling the prequel trilogy through a selection of exciting levels.
While the game mostly follows the film narrative, it’s the humour that makes the game it stand out. Minifigure grunts, vague claw-hand gestures, and comedic moments lighten the story and add something new to what otherwise could have been predictable gameplay. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy followed the next year. Those first titles started a continued partnership between the LEGO Group and TT Games, with subsequent releases using the same basic formula.
One of the biggest issues with LEGO video games is a lack of consistency when it comes to quality. TT Games has released 35 LEGO based titles, not necessarily all to the same standard. They have all used the formula that players have enjoyed for 20 years though. Every game has sneakily hidden golden bricks to collect and a huge range of minifigure characters to unlock. Later titles include full-cast voice performances. However, outside of the TT Games titles, the LEGO Group has tried throwing a hat in almost every gaming genre ring.
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LEGO Worlds was a TT Games title that moved away from the tried-and-tested forumla to borrow someone else’s tried-and-tested formula. Released in 2017, it is a sandbox game where players can design custom worlds based on pre-existing blueprints or by using their imagination to copy, paste and edit digital bricks. It’s in the open-world exploration style of Minecraft yet there are NPCs giving out quests. When players can literally do whatever they want in the world, like deleting a mountain to reach a cave, then completing adventuring tasks is so easy it’s almost pointless. And does combat really have a place in a sandbox game?
LEGO Brawls, from Red Games Co., launched to cater to the action-oriented players, supposedly offering an experience similar to Nintendo Super Smash Bros. This is the style of gameplay where players can choose a free for all brawl or a 4v4 face-off in two teams. Typically these family friendly fighters have special abilities, power-ups or combos that keep the combat engaging. LEGO Brawls had none of these dimensions. It was a button-masher that critics slated for being tediously boring and oversimplified.
And speaking of dimensions, when the toys-to-life trend was at its peak around 2015 with Disney Infinity and Skylanders all the rage, the LEGO Group partnered with TT Games to create their own take. LEGO Dimensions lasted for just two years on shelves. The rise and fall of toys-to-life games is the perfect example of why jumping into an oversaturated market might result in short-term success, but in the long-term fans want good games that don’t require such an intense level of investment.
Whether it’s fighters, racers, life sims, platformers, or RPGs, the LEGO Group has tried them all at some point or another. However, this has been more like forcing bricks into each of these different moulds rather than making a genuinely LEGO brick inspired game. Creating a game with blocky graphics does not make for a satisfying LEGO experience. And it raises the ultimate question – do LEGO bricks fit into every style of game?
Slapping a LEGO aesthetic onto a video game genre does not immediately make a good digital product. For the past two decades the LEGO Group has been licensing video games that have released annually, if not for console then for iOS or Android. Yet for a powerhouse in the toy industry, few LEGO video games have risen to lasting success.
A comparison to the LEGO Group is Barbie by Mattel. There have been more than 40 video games associated with the doll range for a similar span of time and there have been many highlights. Barbie Horse Adventures from 2003 is still considered one of the best ranching games to this day, while the more recently released Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures is all about decorating, cooking, and dress up. What Barbie has really focused on are games that tie in with the character – usually RPGs or life sims that have an aspect of fashion and a story surrounding friendship. Mattel do not try collaborating on gaming projects that don’t fit with Barbie’s vibe.
This is something the LEGO Group currently haven’t mastered. Since partnering with Epic Games, there has been an even greater surge in LEGO video games. This is partly due to Unreal Engine, which is the computer graphics development software that Epic Games pioneered. It’s designed to be easy to use and delivers high quality 3D graphics. This has allowed Fortnite and the LEGO Group to quickly develop a host of games inspired by various LEGO themes. Yet even LEGO Fortnite cannot escape mediocrity and a lack of consistency.
LEGO Fortnite Odyssey (its latest name) is a good survival inspired game that has added a multitude of expansions over the course of several huge updates. It captures the spirit of trying to explore and survive in an open world while seamlessly incorporating classic LEGO characters. However, alongside the main game there are an ever-growing multitude of LEGO Fortnite Islands that offer various gameplay styles, from shooters to management sims. None of these are games that will engage players for long or encourage replayability.
This is also exactly what happened to LEGO Horizon Adventures upon release. Is stated aim is to deliver a LEGO version of the extremely popular Horizon franchise. Aloy’s adventure was supposed to be slightly more lighthearted than the original and accessible to more players through a shorter story. Yet it is simply a shallow game that lacks any of the open world associated with Horizon and silly comedy that doesn’t sit well with the original story. LEGO Horizon Adventured ended up on sale for half price just weeks after initial launch.
Aside from the TT Games’ collaborations with existing franchises and LEGO Fortnite Odyssey, no LEGO video game has set out with a clear purpose. Instead, brick graphics keep being imposed on pre-existing gaming genres. None of those titles have had open beta-testing, so there was no opportunity for gamers to give developmental feedback. Having a clear focus and direction for a LEGO video game could result in something amazing. Block fans need an experience that is enjoyable to play (and replay), captures the brick aesthetic, yet at its heart delivers an impactful experience. It doesn’t matter what the genre is – as long as it delivers a quality game that clicks with the brand.
Arguably the LEGO System suits the RPG genre the most because fans create imaginative stories and adventures with bricks. There are a host of LEGO themes and characters that could be the jumping off point for such a story. Mediocrity is not good enough because even the most ardent LEGO gamers will not buy disappointing titles. It shouldn’t be the case of wondering when was the last great LEGO video game was, as fans should be able to be genuinely excited for an upcoming release.
According to our Blocks review library and the critics, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was the last great entry – and the last collaboration with TT Games, a whole six years ago. But do you agree? What was the last LEGO video game that you enjoyed or fully completed? Grab your controller and let us know by tagging Blocks on any of our social media channels.