Skip to main content

‘Lego City Undercover’ is coming to Nintendo Switch, among other platforms

Dedicated detective and Lego mini-figure Chase McCain starred in one of the earliest exclusives for the Wii U, Lego City Undercover, and he will be making his way to Nintendo’s latest console to take down baddies and collect plenty of plastic bits. The game is coming to the Nintendo Switch this spring and a new trailer reminds us why we loved the original so much.

For those who haven’t checked out the open-world police adventure, the above announcement video, set to some Nicolas Winding Refn movie-sounding synthesizer, should get you up to speed. McCain returns to the titular Lego City as a hero, but his visit isn’t just to exchange pleasantries with citizens — the evil Rex Fury has escaped from Albatross Island and only McCain is capable of bringing the dastardly villain to justice. He does have some help, however, in the form of the dimwitted Frank Honey and Chief Dunby and the secretive Natalia Kowalski.

As the name would suggest, Lego City Undercover — in place of the various different playable characters usually found in a Lego game — has McCain make use of dozens of disguises and outfits to help him in his police work. A robber, a miner, and a fireman are just a few of the disguises available, with each helping Chase make his way through the city’s brick-based puzzles.

In the original Wii U release, the GamePad controller was used heavily for investigations — both its touchscreen and its motion controls helped McCain uncover secrets in the game’s world. It’s not yet clear how the Switch’s portable and home configurations will emulate this, but they seem like more natural platforms than the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

Lego City Undercover is available now on Wii U and will be out for Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC this spring. A 3DS game subtitled The Chase Begins is also available.

Editors' Recommendations

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers: how they work and eligible games
Princess Peach.

Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers vanished from the eShop in 2019, but they've since made a triumphant return. Though they won't be perfect for everyone, these vouchers are ideal for folks interested in playing multiple Switch games throughout the year and looking to save a few bucks on their purchase. After buying a voucher, you'll be able to browse an ever-growing selection of digital Switch games -- including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Tears of the Kingdom -- and snag them at a discount.

Curious about the Nintendo Switch Game Voucher program? Here's everything you need to know about the unique program.
How Nintendo Switch Vouchers work

Read more
Everything you need to know about Nintendo Switch Online
Person holding Nintendo Switch, looking at the home screen.

Much like Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, the Nintendo Switch makes it easy to jump online and play with friends. The service, known simply as Nintendo Switch Online, has seen big changes over the years, and it now offers plenty more than access to online multiplayer. One of the biggest draws is its growing collection of games from N64, NES, and other iconic platforms -- making Nintendo Switch Online a great way to access the best titles from past generations.

Nintendo offers a few different options when it comes to paying for Nintendo Switch Online, with both individual accounts and family accounts up for grabs. From its library of retro games to a smartphone application and special offers, here's a complete look at Nintendo Switch Online.
Individual/family subscription models

Read more
Mother 3 is finally on Nintendo Switch … but only in Japan
Clause standing b y a bench in Mother 3.

Mother 3, the highly requested cult-classic RPG for the Game Boy Advance, is set to appear today on the Nintendo Switch Online service. But there's a catch: It's only available in Japan.

North Americans were first introduced to the Mother series under the name Earthbound on the SNES in 1995. As was common at the time, the game was renamed for the West in an attempt to avoid confusion. In 2006, a third entry was released in Japan for the GBA simply called Mother 3, but it has never had an official translation for Western audiences. Both Mother 2, aka Earthbound, and the original Mother, renamed Earthbound Beginnings, have been added to Nintendo Switch Online, but there has never been any indication that the third game would receive the same treatment.

Read more