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, we’re looking back at all 27 IGN reviews of LEGO games, starting when TT Games obtained the exclusive video game license by merging with Giant Interactive in 2005.While IGN hasn’t reviewed every game in the franchise, this list covers the majority of original and licensed LEGO games from the past 14 years. Click through the gallery below, or continue scrolling, to see how each one fared.
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
IGN’s LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game review (published on March 28, 2005)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: If you’re a parent, LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game should be at the top of your child’s birthday list. It has everything a family-oriented title needs: it has personality, puzzles, cooperative modes, replay value, low violence, a lack of frustrating difficulty, and most importantly, it has Darth Vader. And that’s what makes it enjoyable for adults too, because let’s face it; Darth Vader makes everything better — it’s a fact.
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
IGN’s LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy review (published on September 7, 2006)
Score: 8.4
Verdict: LEGO Star Wars II, like the first game, is a great entry-level title for young Star Wars fans looking to expand their videogame horizons. Its violence is never scary, its humor is always funny, and its gameplay is always fun. Sure it’s easy and simple, and it does get hit by the repetition bug now and again. But the bottom line is that it’s a heck of a lot of fun and has a great amount of replay value beyond a single play-through. Best family game this year? Probably so.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
IGN’s LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga review (published on November 9, 2007)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: If you were hoping that The Complete Saga would push the series into new territory, you’ll be disappointed. At its best, the game is a well-polished collection of a pair of quickly-ageing gems. At its worst, it feels a tad stagnant, and we hope TT’s upcoming LEGO-based games, LEGO Batman and LEGO Indiana Jones take the idea in a fresh direction. So aside from the camera controls, not-so-snappy studs and some problems with pacing in a handful of places, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is a solid game, and one of the rare titles on Xbox 360 and PS3 that the family can safely sit down together to play. If you’ve waited until now to try Lego Star Wars, this is definitely the game to buy. If you’ve already visited this far-away snap-together galaxy, you’ve probably seen it all before.
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
IGN’s LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures review (published on May 29, 2008)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: Traveller’s Tales has once again delivered an experience that boils down to smashing stuff over and over again while searching for secrets, while also managing to make that formula fun and addictive. It’s certainly not a huge leap over the LEGO Star Wars titles, and in fact still has some of that series’ issues, but it’s no less enthralling and certainly a fun adventure worth taking on.
LEGO Batman: The Videogame
IGN’s LEGO Batman: The Videogame review (published on September 23, 2008)
Score: 7.7
Verdict: LEGO Batman is good fun, but it’s really just the same thing we’ve seen before. I don’t think the LEGO formula needs much of a change, but certainly the common issues with the series should no longer exist. If you’re looking to have a laugh with a buddy or you want something kid-friendly, this is your game.
LEGO Battles
IGN’s LEGO Battles review (published on June 19, 2009)
Score: 7.0
Verdict: If LEGO charm and pantomimed humor is reason enough for you to play a game, then there is plenty of it in LEGO Battles. If you need more than that, and are over the age of 10, then this game probably isn’t for you. It’s cute, and it works, but the storyline is far too repetitive to be that long, and the game never cranks the challenge past “cakewalk.” It’s a shame too because the multiplayer is actually solid and fun, and if there were more of a game here I’d seriously recommend it for everyone.
LEGO Rock Band
IGN’s LEGO Rock Band review (published on November 3, 2009)
Score: 7.0
Verdict: I’m still not sure who LEGO Rock Band is for. I’m sure there’s somebody out there that owns Rock Band 2, but doesn’t want to admit he listens to metal songs, and has a couple kids that refuse to play anything without cartoony characters, and a mother in law who is so bad at rhythm games she needs them to practically play themselves. Plus this guy likes to spend full price for half a game. Lego Rock Band is perfect for you, dude.
LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
IGN’s LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues review (published on November 19, 2009)
Score: 6.0
Verdict: LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues does try to do a few new things, but Traveller’s Tales messed with the wrong stuff and essentially broke a solid, if aging, formula. The lack of secrets in the main levels is a mistake, the new hub worlds are confusing and the level editor is just short of being pointless. If you haven’t already played it, the original LEGO Indiana Jones is a much better purchase.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
IGN’s LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 review (published on June 29, 2010)
Score: 8.5
Verdict: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is a love letter to fans of the Boy Who Lived. The comedic cutscenes toying with canon, the hundreds of hidden things to find, and the general sense of a great LEGO game paired with a great series really makes this game a standout. There are still a few issues to buff out, but there’s plenty in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 to keep you coming back for more.
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
IGN’s LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars review (published on March 23, 2011)
Score: 7.5
Verdict: LEGO Star Wars III is fun on PC, working well with both the keyboard controls, as well as a gamepad. The atmosphere is downright adorable, and the use of the license is excellent. Most importantly, though, the various types of gameplay that the developers have thrown together may not be all that amazing on their own, but the elements work together to create a well-paced, easy-to-understand game that is good fun for anyone. If you’ve been looking for a game to play with your kid (or a game to let your inner kid play), look no further.
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
IGN’s LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game review (published on May 11, 2011)
Score: 7.5
Verdict: The Wii version of LEGO Pirates is the same content-wise when compared to its 360/PS3 counterparts. Graphics, obviously, aren’t the same, though they are competent considering the power of the system. Control is a little odd, with some inconsistent button applications (for example, both C and Z are used to interact with things, and the Wii Remote’s IR sensor is used to assist throwing), though the lack of any forced waggling is a definite plus. Beyond that, you’re in for a very similar adventure.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
IGN’s LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 review (published on November 18, 2011)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: In a lot of ways, the success of Lego Harry Potter and the rest of the Lego titles are a little inexplicable. The puzzles are easy, the platforming is floaty and doesn’t feel quite right, and the combat is one-button. And yet the games are still loads of fun. It’s clear that Traveller’s Tales made 5 -7 with a lot of love, and with a great eye for detail. Awkward moments from the film like Harry and Hermione’s infamous camping tent dance are expertly parodied, and TT even manages to wring laughs out of dramatic character deaths. Simply out, Lego Harry Potter is a light and breezy way for fans of all ages to experience the world of Harry Potter in a new way.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
IGN’s LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes review (published on June 19, 2012)
Score: 8.5
Verdict: LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is a collector’s paradise. You have to play through the game to get studs to unlock characters to go back to old levels and access different areas to collect more secrets. I polished off the story in about nine hours, but I spent the next 11 chasing down bricks and characters — and I’m still not done. The open world stuff could use some tweaks, but the little stumbles don’t stop LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes from being a great game.
LEGO Lord of the Rings
IGN’s LEGO Lord of the Rings review (published on November 26, 2012)
Score: 6.8
Verdict: As a huge LOTR fan, I enjoyed my time with LEGO The Lord of the Rings. It’s an interactive guided tour through three incredible films that relives all of the most memorable moments. It lacks some of the unique charm that the series is known for, and the gameplay, while fun at times, is beginning to lose its luster. Fans of the other LEGO games will certainly enjoy it; just don’t expect anything you haven’t seen before.
LEGO City Undercover
IGN’s LEGO City Undercover review (published on March 14, 2013)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: LEGO City Undercover is the best iteration of a very familiar experience, which is as reassuring or problematic as that might seem. The sheer scope of the overworld is impressive, as is the way Traveller’s Tales layered in its wide range of collectible goodies, which ensures hours upon hours of activity after the campaign ends, which should take the average player about 10 hours, accounting for some collectible fetching. Undercover’s story is an incredibly entertaining homage to countless movies and television shows, and manages to feature a very strong cast of characters – no small feat considering the game has no major license associated with it. Of course, rampant loading times, no co-op and a variety of other problems (loading times, routine gameplay) hold Undercover back from truly taking the next step for the larger LEGO franchise.
LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins
IGN’s LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins review (published April 24, 2013)
Score: 6.3
Verdict: It might seem unfair to directly measure the 3DS version of LEGO City Undercover against its Wii U counterpart. Yet by directly tying stories and gameplay, Traveller’s Tales has invited this comparison. Though not entirely unexpected, the 3DS simply can’t execute the same style of game on a technical level, which results in something that isn’t nearly as compelling or satisfying. Gameplay and characterization (and therefore humor) are compromised, leaving something that is just decent. However, even with those considerable sacrifices, there is a tolerable game here, one that will reasonably occupy your time for about 10 hours, and certainly could be a great stepping stone for younger gamers. Just be prepared for a lot of fog, a lot of loading, no voice acting and a jarring framerate.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
IGN’s LEGO Marvel Super Heroes review (published on October 22, 2013)
Score: 9.0
Verdict: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is the best thing to happen to Marvel games since 2006’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance. It’s a warm and witty, multi-layered approach to the brand that ties in hundreds of Marvel’s most iconic characters, settings, and stories. While you can knock out the campaign story in around eight hours, the world is rich with content, and I’ve found myself up late every night for the past week playing for “just one more hour.” It may not offer the challenge or player-driven context of this year’s other open-world games, but those games would be hard-pressed to deliver as much fun and happiness as you’ll find in Traveler’s Tales latest. ‘Nuff said.
The LEGO Movie Videogame
IGN’s The LEGO Movie Videogame review (published on February 12, 2014)
Score: 6.5
Verdict: The LEGO Movie Videogame extends a concise and hilarious film into a much longer and less consistent interactive experience that sometimes dips into boring territory. Amusing scenarios and eye-catching environments are a plus, as is the wide unlockable hero roster, but most of the missions feel like an unimaginative retread of the same LEGO game formula. It’s solidly enjoyable – but nowhere near awesome.
LEGO The Hobbit
IGN’s LEGO The Hobbit review (published on April 10, 2014)
Score: 7.4
Verdict: Lego The Hobbit won’t surprise fans of the Lego series, but the new gameplay systems add just enough complexity to keep things interesting. New events and mining opportunities make exploration of the open world almost as fun as the main missions. The storytelling presumes you already know the source material by heart, which means things are sometimes a bit disjointed, and the game, like the movies it’s based on, ends at an awkward place. But like almost all the Lego games, this is a journey worth taking.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
IGN’s LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham review (published on November 22, 2014)
Score: 7.4
Verdict: I like Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, but I don’t love it as much as I’ve loved previous games in the series. It definitely delivers on the promise of letting me play with charmingly realized versions of many of my favorite DC heroes and villains, and it even presents a setting with lots of great surprises, challenges, and systems that promote variety. As a longtime DC fan, I do wish it had given me the chance to dig into more locations and plot elements from the comics, but the biggest hurdle for me to clear is the bizarre cameos.
LEGO Jurassic World
IGN’s LEGO Jurassic World review (published on June 22, 2015)
Score: 7.6
Verdict: If you have an affinity for any of the four films recapped within, LEGO Jurassic World will be a worthwhile visit. Seeing the series’ iconic moments recreated with cute figurines is a treat, and each of the four campaigns is fast-paced enough that completing the entire franchise in its brick-based form will only take roughly seven to eight hours, which is not much longer than the combined film running times (and amounts to brisk mini-campaigns of two hours or less each). Plus, you can tackle this one with a friend and run around as a raptor or Jeff Goldblum. Just beware that there are a few pests inhabiting the island and the line to the best parts of the park may be a bit tough to navigate.
LEGO Dimensions
IGN’s LEGO Dimensions review (published on September 29, 2015)
Score: 7.7
Verdict: LEGO Dimensions’ kitchen-sink approach to packing its worlds full of great characters and fun references consistently left me with a big dumb grin on my face. While the puzzles that required physically moving the pieces became tedious, the act of exploring dozens of locations based on things I’ve adored since my childhood was genuinely entertaining. The collision of worlds is smart, the references are handled with care, and the story is genuinely smart.
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers
IGN’s LEGO Marvel’s Avengers review (published on January 27, 2016)
Score: 6.7
Verdict: If you like the LEGO game formula, you have a preference for playing solo and you’re a huge fan of MCU, there’s still a lot of value for you in LEGO Marvel’s Avengers, even despite a disjointed plot and annoying audio mixes. If you haven’t played any of the others and you’re thinking about picking up this one, I’d advise starting with just about any other game instead. This the weakest LEGO game I’ve played thus far, and had me missing games like LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO Dimensions.
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
IGN’s LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens review (published on June 29, 2016)
Score: 9.0
Verdict: LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the most gaming fun I’ve had with either series in years. The story is great, the levels are dense with fun puzzles, and unlocking all of the secrets is a blast. Whether I was going through it solo or playing alongside a buddy, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens proved to be an adaption worthy of its incredible source material.
LEGO Worlds
IGN’s LEGO Worlds review (published on March 16, 2017)
Score: 7.2
Verdict: LEGO Worlds is commendable for its environmental diversity and the power of its creative tools to build anything you can dream of or manipulate every castle, hillside, and forest in sight. Unfortunately, fiddly menus, a pretty terrible combat system, and at times clunky and unfriendly construction controls weigh down on the wonder of finding and creating. Despite all this, I still find myself drawn back into it to discover what more the designers have hidden in the world-generation code, as coming across a massive ruined castle or an active volcano for the first time is always a treat – and an inspiration for what I want to build next.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
IGN’s LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 review (published on November 14, 2017)
Score: 8.0
Verdict: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 doesn’t deviate much from the established LEGO template, but its wide variety of settings, heroes, and abilities make it constantly fun to play, especially in co-op. The combat is still quite simple and it’s sometimes difficult to tell what you should do next, but the story is lighthearted and fun enough that mild annoyances like these fade into the background.
LEGO DC Super-Villains
IGN’s LEGO DC Super-Villains review (published on October 17, 2018)Score: 7.8
Verdict: If you enjoy DC heroes and villains as characters and don’t mind the simplistic gameplay and kid-friendly tone, then you’ll like LEGO DC Super-Villains’s super-powered romp through Gotham and Metropolis. Other than the shift in focus to villains (greater and lesser), this doesn’t reinvent the LEGO wheel. The massive list of playable characters doing LEGO things in big cities is a familiar formula, but the all-star voice cast helps elevate the story and action to make this a bit more than just kid-pandering fan service.
Marvel Super Heroes and Star Wars: The Force Awakens stand as the best-reviewed LEGO games at IGN (9.0); Indiana Jones 2 is the worst (6.0). Between the 27 games reviewed, the average score is 7.6.
Which do you think is the best LEGO game? The worst? Let us know in the comments.
Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
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