For nearly three decades now, theLEGOCompany has been releasing at least one LEGO-branded video game per year, ranging from original titles to licensed franchise adaptations, and evencrossovers with other hitsfrom the world of gaming. Multiple generations have now grown up playing LEGO games on dozens of different platforms and there’s no end in sight for everyone’s favorite toy company.
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There are over a hundred LEGO games that have been released since 1995, whether it be on PC, console, handheld or mobile. But obviously, some titles are more memorable than others (we’ll be honest and admit we completely missed the release ofLEGO Legends of Chima: Laval’s Journeyfor the PlayStation Vita), so a look back at the standout games in the franchise is worth the time.
10LEGO Universe
The first LEGO MMO
An underappreciated and oftentimes forgotten title,LEGO Universewas the LEGO Company’s first foray into the MMO space, with a brief run from 2010 to 2012. The family-friendly MMO brought a mix of classic and new themes, dense world-building and character classes, and even brick-building home base customization.
Players could battle enemies, participate in high-octane car races, and collect new gear and LEGO pieces alongside their friends and community members. The game managed to maintain a safe and non-toxic environment so that players of all ages could enjoy their experience, but unfortunately due to low revenue, the servers were permanently shut down in 2012.
9LEGO Island
The original LEGO game
The very first wide-release LEGO video game wasLEGO Island, an open-world action-adventure game released on the PC.LEGO Islandfeatured open-ended and non-linear gameplay, allowing users to play as five different characters while interacting with NPCs, playing mini-games, building and driving vehicles, and freely exploring the island.
It may not seem like much in hindsight, butLEGO Islandwas an incredibly influential game, introduing thousands of young people to the world of PC gaming when it was released in 1997. The ability to explore a three-dimensional world with that much freedom was a fresh and exciting experience for many players, and is still a charming and nostalgic look at a bygone era of computer games.
8LEGO Builder’s Journey
A relaxing tale of innovation
Coming out of left field in 2019,LEGO Builder’s Journeyshocked fans and broke the boundaries for LEGO games in many different ways. With no minifigures, no licensed franchises, no existing LEGO set themes and stunning graphics with ray-tracing and 4K capability,LEGO Builder’s Journeydefied the norm by making a minimalist artistic statement instead of an explosive and large-scale experience.
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With an emotional and moving story, gameplay based around actually building with LEGO, and a gorgeous art style,Builder’s Journeyis by far the best game in the LEGO franchise in terms of pure artistry. The game was such a hit in its original Apple Arcade debut that it eventually spawned ports to PC and Consoles.
7LEGO Racers
Create your own winning ride
BeforeLEGO 2K Drive, we hadLEGO Racers: one of the earliest LEGO games and the first racing game in the franchise. With the massive amount of car-related LEGO sets out there (not to mention the Wii-era explosion of kart racing games), it frankly seems strange that it took so long for another major LEGO racing title to release.
LEGO Racershad everything you needed, though: multiple classic LEGO themes to choose from in the form of maps and characters, a character creator for your own LEGO minifigure and even fully customizable cars that players could construct brick-by-brick in-game. In many ways, no LEGO title has properly captured the pure creativity and wonder associated with LEGOs as well asLEGO Racershas since it was released in 1999.
6LEGO Rock Band
Build your band and jam
The phenomenon of rhythm games likeRock BandandGuitar Herocoincided with the explosion of licensed LEGO games, so the combination of the two inLEGO Rock Bandonly made sense. Bringing the LEGO franchise’s family-friendly tone and light-hearted comedic taste toRock Band’suniversally-beloved gameplay system, LEGO Rock Band was a great addition for the millions of players who already owned Rock Band gear.
Players were able to fully customize their LEGO characters, and the game featured the addition of hilarious “boss battle” levels. And, of course, the setlist of available tracks rivaled even the greatest ofRock Bandgames, with a roster of classic artists like Queen, Elton John, Bon Jovi, the Jackson 5 and Tom Petty all in rotation.
5LEGO Batman
The Dark Knight gets the LEGO treatment
The first game on the list developed by LEGO game legends Traveler’s Tales,LEGO Batmanbroke barriers by being their first LEGO title featuring an original story (with the franchise obviously being well established). The game introduced several new mechanics, such as changeable costumes for characters that also changed their abilities.
LEGO Batmanpaved the way for multiplesequels and spin-offs, which delved deeper into the vast catalog of DC Comics characters. It also opened the door for broader franchises to join in on the trend of LEGO video games, with properties like Marvel Comics and LEGO City featured in new LEGO games from Traveler’s Tales.
4LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
An adventure across the galaxy
The most ambitious and dense game in the Traveler’s Tales LEGO series (let alone the entire LEGO franchise),The Skywalker Sagaadapts all nine majorStar Warsfilms in one game while refreshing and reimagining the Traveler’s Tales LEGO game formula. With an open-world system, random encounters, multiple planets to explore and new space battles,LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagawas a totally new kind of LEGO experience.
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Star Wars fans are treated to not only nine separate campaigns, but also over 350 playable characters, more than 60 flyable starships and a staggering 1,166 Kyber Bricks to collect. There are alsomultiple DLCsfor the game, implementing characters and vehicles from other stories in theStar Warsfranchise, likeThe MandalorianandThe Bad Batch.
3LEGO Harry Potter Collection
The boy who lived…
Bringing together the two previously-releasedLEGO Harry Pottergames into one title, theLEGO Harry Potter Collectionis the ultimate video game experience for fans of the Harry Potter books and films. Spanning all seven stories, the game brings the most iconic moments in LEGO Harry Potter to life (or whatever the LEGO equivalent of life is) while also implementing major new mechanics to Traveler’s Tales' formula.
TheLEGO Harry Pottergames were the first in the series to introduce split-screen gameplay, and brought in a new seamless style of gameplay structure with the addition of an explorable Hogwarts Castle.LEGO Harry Potteralso featured a spell-casting system, allowing players to use a variety of different unlockable abilities with the same character via a weapon-wheel function.
2LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
“It belongs in a museum!”
Debuting just weeks after the poorly-receivedIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’stheatrical release, Traveler’s Tales’LEGO Indiana Jonesserved as a reminder to disappointed fans of how great the original trilogy of films was.Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of DoomandThe Last Crusadeare all recreated in charming LEGO perfection, conveying iconic scenes and sequences without gore or dialogue.
While it does follow the same format as itsLEGO Star Warspredecessors,LEGO Indiana Jonesbrought in new mechanics and proved that the formula could be applied to other franchises, opening the door for games like LEGO Harry Potter and LEGO Batman. The game was so successful and well-received that a sequel featuring levels fromKingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as redesigned levels of the original trilogy, was released a few years later.
1LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
May the force be with you!
The two titles that kicked off the insane run of Traveler’s Tales LEGO games wereLEGO Star Wars: The Video GameandLEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy,which are combined into one playable game here inLEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Traveller’s Tales' funny and minimalist adaptations of the original and prequel trilogies of the iconicStar Warsfranchise were (and still are) a great treat for any Star Wars fan.
These games were major innovations in the family-friendly game genre, spawning dozens of future licensed LEGO games using the same simple but effective format. They still hold up to this day and LEGO continues to release titles that aim to recapture the magic of theseLEGO Star Warsgames.
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