Although most associate the term “Lego games” with the licensed titles released by TT Games in the past decade or so, the company has been producing video games since 1997 (1995, even, if you include the Japan-exclusive Lego Fun to Build). Today, Lego is still making games from its own properties but is best known for its work with other brands, namely LucasArts, Marvel, and DC. Movie tie-in or not, here are the best Lego games of all time.
There are a lot of Lego games, though. We’ve narrowed our list to 10 options, but there are plenty more for you to play. If you’re interested in a particular franchise, there’s probably a Lego game for it. Lego Indiana Jones, for example, is an excellent game, but it feels a lot like Lego Star Wars. We tried to make our list as diverse as possible, so if you don’t see your favorite franchise, it doesn’t mean the Lego rendition is bad, just that it doesn’t stand out from the pack.
Further reading
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games
Release
April 05, 2022
For many, their first introduction into the Lego games was Lego Star Wars, and for good reason. Prior to the first game’s release in 2005, there had only been a handful of licensed Lego games, all of which were expansions for Lego Creator. Lego Star Wars, and in the following year, Lego Star Wars II, changed the course for the Lego brand, ushering in an era of quirky licensed video games. The Skywalker Saga, which launched after all the mainline films were released, includes both games remade, plus the new trilogy. That means you’ll have access to every single Episode, one through nine. This is by far the biggest, most ambitious Lego game of all time. The scope is galaxy-wide, the gameplay is tighter and more fun than ever, and the humor is as on point and family-friendly as possible.
Read our full Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Racing, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
TT Fusion, TT Games
Publisher
Nintendo, WB Games, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Release
March 17, 2013
Lego City Undercover is an oddity in Lego’s current lineup of games. Since Lego Star Wars, the brand has mostly focused on licensed games, with a few oddballs here and there for mobile and PC. Lego City Undercover is the first full Lego game set in Lego City, which is a location the company has been developing sets for since 1991. It isn’t exclusive to PC or mobile devices, either. Originally, Lego City Undercover launched as a Wii U exclusive, published by none other than Nintendo. Since then, it’s undergone the remaster treatment and is now available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
E
Platforms
Nintendo 64, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, Game Boy Color
Genre
Racing
Developer
High Voltage Software
Publisher
Lego Media
Release
July 31, 1999
Before Lego moved into the licensed game market, it had a range of different series that focused on lines featured in physical Lego products. Among those was Lego Racers, a series that received three entries, though unfortunately died out in the days of the PS2. The first game, simply titled Lego Racers, originally released for PC in mid-1999, before moving over to the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation later that year. It’s not a good racing game, much in the same way that Super Smash Bros. Brawl isn’t a good fighting game. It’s still an extremely fun game, though. Lego Racers plays a lot like Mario Kart, just with the twist of building your own vehicles. You can completely customize your ride using Lego bricks, and carry those changes into a race. There are other customization options, too, including a custom driver’s license and custom racers.
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Android, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales, TT Games
Publisher
WB Games, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Release
June 27, 2016
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first game in the Lego Star Wars series to focus on a particular film. It covers the full events of The Force Awakens, as well as some transitional material between it and Return of the Jedi. The game even features voice talent from the actual cast of the movie, with Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford reprising their roles. Gameplay-wise, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is mostly the same as previous entries, with you solving puzzles and blasting enemies through a series of linear levels. New to the series, though, is the Multi-Build mechanic. In other games, you often have to break structures into Lego bricks in order to progress through a level. The same is true in The Force Awakens; however, you can construct certain brick sets in different ways, allowing you to access new parts of a level.
E10
Platforms
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games
Release
September 27, 2015
For the indecisive, Lego Dimensions allows you to have your cake and eat it, too. Instead of a single franchise, Lego Dimensions features characters from not only all of the franchises Lego has official games for, but new ones, as well. It’s a toys-to-life game, and although Lego isn’t releasing any new content packs, there are still a lot of sets available, ranging from The Simpsons to Mission: Impossible to The Goonies. The toys-to-life model works really well for Lego Dimensions, too. If you’ve played any Lego game, you’ll be familiar with the format. Either solo or with a friend, you’ll traverse linear levels, solving puzzles and beating up baddies along the way. The twist is that you’ll unlock instructions in the level to help you build whatever set you purchased. You’ll also enter each level by placing a unique Lego figure on a toy pad, which itself is built from Legos.
E10
Platforms
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales, TT Games
Publisher
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, WB Games
Release
October 21, 2016
Both of the Lego Harry Potter games are excellent, but like the books, the last three years home in on what the series is all about. It isn’t a slog to get through the early years by any means; it’s actually a nice sense of progression. The story and gameplay start out light but gradually become darker and more serious as the characters age and the games get better. This is a fantastic way to get invested in the world of witchcraft and wizardry, especially for younger audiences who have fallen in love with the books.
E10
Platforms
Wii, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games, Feral Interactive
Release
October 30, 2012
Another movie/book tie-in, Lego Lord of the Rings released in 2012, dead center in Lego’s heyday with licensed games. In the same year as Lord of the Rings, Lego also released Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, all while presumably developing Lego Batman 2, which released the following year. Despite the seemingly frantic development cycle, Lego Lord of the Rings is one of the best games to come out of Traveller’s Tales. It doesn’t fuss about with multiple entries, featuring the events from The Fellowship of the Ring all the way to The Return of the King. Graphically, the game looks excellent, despite its age. The weather and lighting effects, in particular, shine thanks to the setting of The Lord of the Rings.
E10
Platforms
Wii, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Nintendo DS, Android, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One
Genre
Fighting, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales, TT Games
Publisher
WB Games, Feral Interactive
Release
June 19, 2012
Although unassuming, Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes is a milestone in the Lego series. It’s the first game to feature full voice acting, ditching the grunts and sighs featured in previous games. The voice cast is excellent, with the talents of Troy Baker and Clancy Brown, among others, and the music is just as good. Lego Batman 2 features compositions from Danny Elfman’s work on the 1989 Batman and John Williams’ work on the 1978 Superman. In short, it was a huge leap forward in production level for Lego games. It was also a huge leap forward in gameplay. Lego Batman 2 is an open-world game, allowing you to explore Gotham City with over 70 characters from DC Comics.
E
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Racing, Adventure
Developer
Mindscape
Publisher
Mindscape
Release
October 02, 1997
Lego Island is the first game that would make its way from Japan to North American shores. The first game ever to use the Lego brand, Lego Fun to Build, was released exclusively in Japan in 1995. In 1997, the U.S. and other territories got their collective hands on Lego Island. It plays much differently than the Lego games of today, but the jovial tone of the franchise is still intact. You roam a Lego island from a first-person perspective, completing missions related to pizza delivery, Jet Ski racing, and more. It’s a nonlinear game, one without any concrete plot or objectives, but it’s still a blast to play. Physical copies show up from time to time on Amazon and eBay, but there are some shareware versions floating around online, too. Lego Island 2 is great, as well, and much easier to find. It was released on PC and PlayStation in 2001.
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games
Release
September 30, 2013
Believe it or not, the best Avengers game comes from Lego, at least until the Crystal Dynamics Avengers releases later this year. Lego Marvel Super Heroes isn’t Lego Marvel’s Avengers, though (that’s a different game). Rather, it’s a title set in the universe of the Avengers, fit with a Lego version of New York City and Asgard, just with a vastly expanded roster of characters and unique plot points. There are 180 characters from the Marvel Universe you can play as, marking the first time the Lego games allowed three figures of playable characters. Additionally, Lego Marvel Super Heroes features a character builder, allowing you to create your own superheroes to fight alongside the Avengers. Plus, it’s one of the longest games in the Lego franchise, beat out narrowly by Lego City Undercover.
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