The top 10 best LEGO video games

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For roughly three decades, LEGO has been a powerhouse in the video game world. Fans of the line of interlocking plastic bricks have seen titles for computers and gaming consoles alike release throughout the years, each finding their place in what is now a vast LEGO gaming catalog. However it’s no stretch to say that not all LEGO games have been created equal.

There are several that have taken this toy-gaming crossover to heights previously unimagined. The Star Wars galaxy, the Marvel and DC Universes, Middle-earth, the list goes on. LEGO and TT Games have truly made the most of the medium, especially in recent decades. A select few of their efforts in particular have proven exceptional, earning their place as the 10 best LEGO games of all time.

10. LEGO Dimensions

For a brief time the 2010s, there was a big push for toys-to-life games which, for those unfamiliar, are exactly what they sound like. You buy a physical toy, there’s a base of some kind attached to your console, and when the toy is placed on said base, it could be used in the game. Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and others came and went, with LEGO Dimensions ultimately doing the same. Be that as it may, in the pantheon of LEGO-based games, Dimensions deserves some credit. Even as a vehicle to get kids to spend more money on LEGO and video games simultaneously, LEGO Dimensions truly brings out the level of creativity most know the brand for.

There’s something undeniably fun about seeing characters and locales from properties like Adventure Time, Beetlejuice, Mission: Impossible, and more cross over in LEGO form. Not to mention, Dimensions is responsible for an incredible selection of physical minifigures that otherwise might not have gotten made. The gameplay may not reinvent the wheel, nor was LEGO necessarily on the cutting edge with the toys-to-life concept, but Dimensions is fun enough, and with so many franchises to choose from, there’s a lot for pop culture enthusiasts to sink their teeth into.

9. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean

Unfortunately in the 2020s, the Pirates of the Caribbean saga is largely fallen out of the cultural zeitgeist. Sure, characters like Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) have their share of fans, but on the whole, the brand is nowhere near juggernaut it was not so long ago. In fact, even though the first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, debuted in 2003, in 2011, there was still plenty of buzz surrounding it and its sequels, hence why LEGO began releasing Pirates sets and put out the LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean video game.

Even with the diminished mainstream presence of Pirates, the LEGO game based on the first four films is pretty great. Looking to the hub world and interface aesthetic, it’s not too dissimilar from previous LEGO titles, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean offers up a unique selection of main and supporting characters, and the levels themselves are a treat to play through. The fast-paced, swashbuckling nature of the films is translated to perfection, as is their humor. LEGO games are never averse to cracking a few jokes, but they’ve never felt more at home than in this title.

8. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

Throughout the 2000s, the Harry Potter films became some of the most widely-adored of their era. Thus, it’s no surprise that LEGO got in on the Wizarding World cash cow quickly by releasing sets based on the films. Come 2010, the brand sought to take the young adult fantasy property in a new direction by adapting it in the form of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, which took Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and various other popular platforms by storm upon release.

By the time this LEGO Harry Potter game dropped, several LEGO games based on popular franchises had come to pass. Nevertheless, the game manages to stand out from its contemporaries instead of just becoming another LEGO title. Not only does it effectively adapt the first four Harry Potter films, but it features an impressive roster of characters, engaging level design, and one of its most notable features, it’s magic mechanics. Through it all, the game does a commendable job of capturing the detail-packed look and whimsical tone of the first half of the Harry Potter Saga.

7. LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game

Numerous LEGO games came before it, but LEGO Star Wars The Video Game is regarded by many as the true beginning of LEGO’s reign over the gaming space. Released in 2005 to coincide with the release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the game takes players through a blocky, simplified version of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. While it may appear quaint compared to the LEGO and LEGO Star Wars games on the market today, there’s no denying its place in history. LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game provided a framework for all virtually LEGO games after it.

The lack of character dialogue became a staple of the franchise for many years, as did in-game collectibles like minikits and studs. The inclusion of a hub world, Dexter Jettster’s diner, in this case, endured for many LEGO titles beyond it. The heart health system has stuck around for the long haul as well. To put it lightly, one can spend ages listing the contributions LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game made to LEGO games as a whole. Without it and many of its stylistic choices, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the series would look like today.

6. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

The first LEGO Batman game from 2008 was a standout success. Therefore, it only made sense for its inevitable sequel to raise the stakes and go even bigger. Suffice to say, that’s exactly what 2012’s LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes does. As the title implies, this adventure encompasses a wider portion of the DC Universe, but a larger roster of heroes and villains compared to its predecessor isn’t the only way this sequel takes things to the next level.

First and foremost is the revamped hub world, which isn’t a mere couple of rooms anymore. When not loaded into a mission, LEGO Batman 2 allows you to explore a fair chunk of Gotham City. You can ride around in the Batmobile, fly around as Superman, or dart through the streets as the Flash if you so please, accomplishing side missions and beating up bad guys. This is also the first LEGO game to do away with the popularized lack of dialogue and occasional mumbles set forth by the first LEGO Star Wars. The added voice acting proved quite an influential creative decision for future games. LEGO Batman 2 was a sizable evolutionary step forward without losing the core identity of the LEGO game series.

5. LEGO Lord of the Rings

LEGO as a brand is no stranger to the world of fantasy, specifically of the sword and sorcery variety. Some of its most adored sublines center on knights, castles, and dragons, after all. So, it was only right for LEGO to eventually take this experience and it’s penchant for collaborating with existing properties to create LEGO Lord of the Rings. Alongside a series of sets based on director Peter Jackson’s iconic film trilogy, LEGO Lord of the Rings hit the video game scene in 2012 too much applause.

Not only is LEGO Lord of the Rings and exceptional LEGO game with fun missions, a bevy of characters to play as, and no shortage of secrets for players to uncover, but it’s one of the best Lord of the Rings games ever made, bar none. With the era of confined hub worlds long gone, the game embraces the vast and beautiful landscapes of Middle-earth. Between missions, you’re free to explore every nook and cranny, which are packed with details and side activities. It may very well be the most visually breathtaking LEGO game to date, and it stands to reason it will hold that title for years to come.

4. LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

With nearly 20 years elapsed since the last Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, hit theaters, Indy (Harrison Ford) was up for a big screen return. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was set to arrive in 2008, prompting a whole new wave of Indiana Jones merchandise. Naturally LEGO got in on the craze, producing a line of sets based on the then-four movies, in addition to LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. In the wake of three Star Wars LEGO games, it had big shoes to fill, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

Per the name, the first of two Indiana Jones LEGO games adapts the three original Indy films, and it does so quite well. The landscapes reflect those of the movies, the character selection is varied (or is varied as it can be for a movie line dedicated primarily to people in suits and military uniforms), and the archeology, adventure-oriented gameplay mechanics make for unique puzzle solving. Some of the levels may not perfectly resemble the events of the movies, but for the sake of offering an enjoyable gaming experience, that’s nothing to be up in arms about. LEGO Indiana Jones is just all kinds of fun.

3. LEGO Batman: The Videogame

By 2008, LEGO was going full steam ahead with licensed video game adaptations. By that point, three LEGO Star Wars games were in the can, and LEGO Indiana Jones was on its path to gaming immortality. Keeping the momentum going, LEGO set its sights on the world of costume superheroes. With a line of building sets based on his escapades already sending LEGO fans into a frenzy, who better to start with then the Caped Crusader himself, Batman, with the aptly-titled LEGO Batman: the Videogame?

Director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was at the halfway point by the time the first LEGO Batman game arrived, but the minds behind it took an interesting approach. Instead of strictly following existing media, LEGO Batman is an amalgamation of various pieces of Batman-centric stories, from comics to films to animation. The result is the quintessential Batman gaming experience. All the heroes and villains one would want are present, the environments feel appropriately comic bookie, and the inclusion of a villain story is a nice touch to pad out the gameplay time. It proves licensed LEGO games don’t have to stick to someone else’s script. They can chart their own course and find unanimous support. Calling it a LEGO classic would be an understatement.

2. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

Thanks to its beloved Batman efforts, many considered LEGO synonymous with DC. At the same time, due to its past with director Sam Raimi’s first two Spider-Man movies, many yearned for more collaborations with Marvel. Early in the 2010s, such a LEGO-Marvel deal became a reality, giving fans sets and minifigures based on the comics and flourishing Marvel Cinematic Universe. Much like with other franchises previously, this licensing agreement led to the very first and best LEGO Marvel game, 2013’s LEGO Marvel Super Heroes.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes does just about everything right. It features pretty much every hero and villain one could possibly imagine. It has a similar hub world to LEGO Batman 2, allowing players to run about New York City as they please. The story is entirely original, there are plenty of side missions to keep the narrative fun going, and the city is packed with secrets worth seeking out. There’s also the inclusion of Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee, who finds himself in some sticky situations and needs to be bailed out. All in all, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes takes the best parts of its predecessors and stuffs them into one, dare I say, marvelous, package.

1. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

LEGO games have come a long way since the modern boom that kicked off in 2005. Voice acting is commonplace, open world elements have become the norm, and numerous properties have received time in the LEGO video game spotlight. For as great as newer games are, there’s a case to be made that LEGO games peaked a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Yes, all these years later, the best LEGO game remains LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga from 2007.

What is there to say about this game that hasn’t already been said? Six movies worth of missions, at the time, the largest LEGO video game roster ever seen, solid graphics, and loads of bonus content. You can even unlock Indiana Jones as a playable character. Is the game more or less a spruced-up combination of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy? Yes, but that doesn’t diminish how special it was to have all six films, their characters, and hours-worth of extras in one convenient package.

You might be wondering, can’t all of that be said about LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga? To some extent, but there’s something to be said for The Complete Saga‘s light, breezy gameplay and awareness of its limitations. Sometimes less is more, and though The Skywalker Saga is impressive and ambitious, it bites off a bit more than it can chew. It can be a sluggish, tedious affair with its combat, puzzle-solving, and travel, as where The Complete Saga keeps up the fun factor remains snappy, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It truly doesn’t get any better.

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