LEGO’s gaming adaptations have had somewhat of a resurgence in recent years, and the upcoming LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight could be one of the most ambitious entries in the series yet. Even if some of the simplistic charm has been lost with technical improvements and design changes, the unique blend of creative gameplay mechanics and comedy, combined with iconic franchises, makes each adaptation a great experience for fans of all ages.
Whether playing by yourself or alongside a friend, there are plenty of LEGO games that still hold up well today, even when compared to the latest and greatest the series has to offer. Although some titles, like The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame, are far from the series’ best outings, these 10 entries are easily some of its most enjoyable and memorable experiences, and they’re well worth trying out or revisiting all these years later.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings Faithfully Adapted The Legendary Trilogy
A Creative Makeover For Tolkien’s Fantasy World
Adapting all three of Peter Jackson’s films into one seamless adventure, LEGO The Lord of the Rings offered a surprisingly expansive world for the time of its release, easily becoming one of the most memorable offerings in the series. As the second game to incorporate film audio for its voice acting, many of the scenes in LEGO The LOTR came to life thanks to the added emotional weight and comedic opportunities, even if it is still one of the more controversial additions to the series as a whole.
Thankfully, despite it being over a decade since the release of LEGO The LOTR, the brick-based version of the series has been getting plenty of love in recent years. Massively detailed adult-themed LOTR Lego sets have resurrected the theme, likely getting some fans to return to the classic game.
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Was A Perfect Fit
Blending The Humor Of The Series With LEGO’s Unique Gameplay Potential
Adapting the first four films in the swashbuckling franchise, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is still one of the most underrated entries in the series by far. While it often falls by the wayside compared to heavy-hitting franchises like Harry Potter or Star Wars, the world of Pirates of the Caribbean feels tailor-made for a LEGO-themed adventure, with its comedy shining even brighter in the family-friendly format.
From unique character animations dripping with personality to gorgeous levels that bring Jack Sparrow’s adventure and cast to life, the strengths of LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean still shine through its aged exterior. Even though LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the more difficult games to 100% complete in the series, that doesn’t mean the rest of its content isn’t well worth your time.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection Is Still One Of The Best Harry Potter Games
LEGO & Magic Are A Match Made In Heaven
Even though Hogwarts Legacy stole the crown for the best Harry Potter game, few adaptations of the series have captured the whimsical spirit of Harry’s original adventures while still offering freedom for creative spell-slinging gameplay. LEGO Harry Potter nailed it on both counts.
The only things holding the LEGO Harry Potter Collection back are some unfortunate choices, with the bundle often costing more than both games combined, on top of a few notable bugs that are still just as frustrating as ever to experience. Despite the issues with the remaster, LEGO Harry Potter is still a must-play for fans of either series, allowing you to explore a fully fleshed-out Hogwarts and levels across all seven years of the film franchise.
LEGO Jurassic World Far Surpasses Its Source Material
A Nostalgic Romp Through The Ever-Iconic Film Franchise
Despite its marketing focusing primarily on the more recent and similarly named Jurassic World film, LEGO Jurassic World adapts all four of the films that had released at the time. It’s a far cry from the survival horror aspects of the original Jurassic Park films, but the LEGO adaptation was a surprisingly faithful and comedic take on Spielberg’s legacy.
Aside from being one of the most overlooked entries in the series, LEGO Jurassic World was also a return to the great level design of the originals, without the bloated open worlds the series started experimenting with at the time. With plenty of replayability and the unique ability to create your very own dinosaurs similar to custom characters, Jurassic World is just about everything you could ask for in a dinosaur-themed LEGO game.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Takes Advantage Of Its Massive Roster
Standing At The Top Of LEGO’s Marvel Adaptations
While there have been more than a few LEGO games set in the expansive Marvel universe, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes easily surpasses the rest with its fantastic mix of gameplay and one of the franchise’s largest rosters of characters. The massive hub world of a LEGO-themed New York was also filled to the brim with fun activities to engage with as you utilize each character’s abilities to traverse the expansive game world.
From witty writing, great visuals, and excellent level design to complement its star-studded cast, it’s not hard to see why LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is still such a beloved and replayable entry in the LEGO game franchise.
LEGO City Undercover Was A Surprisingly Fun Take On GTA
A Wholly Original Story Full Of LEGO’s Creative Charm
Even if LEGO City Undercover didn’t have the power of a recognizable IP to back it up, the unique story premise and groundbreaking gameplay for the series make it an absolute treat to experience. With a fully open world and driving mechanics that likely inspired the upcoming LEGO Batman game, LEGO City Undercover is proof that the series doesn’t need to always rely on licensed IPs to succeed.
Featuring an expansive open world and storyline reminiscent of the Grand Theft Auto series, the world of LEGO City Undercover was just as packed with Easter eggs, side missions, and collectibles as you would expect. On top of its classic brick-building mechanics, LEGO City Undercover also introduced surprisingly well-written characters and comedy that made it stand out from the competition as a family-friendly alternative.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Is A Great Follow-Up
The Most Ambitious Entry In The Series To Date
Acting as a way to tie in all 9 films from the expansive sci-fi franchise, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is by far the most ambitious entry in the series by a wide margin for what it’s trying to achieve. A full galaxy to explore boasts 24 individual planets, space battles, and ship invasions, and the sheer amount of scale and content offered by the Skywalker Saga is an astounding achievement for LEGO games as a whole.
Unfortunately, while the visuals and exploration are some of the best in the franchise, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was held back by poor level design compared to its predecessors, and a plethora of game-breaking bugs still exist to this day. Even with its drawbacks and lack of worthwhile DLC, the Skywalker Saga still has plenty to love in its numerous puzzles and iconic characters from across the entire galaxy.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Far Surpasses Its Predecessor
Expanding All Of Gotham With A Creative LEGO Twist
Building on the already great foundations of the previous game, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is jam-packed with excellent content across its various levels and Gotham hub world, with plenty of opportunities for freeform traversal across its map. Even if it largely focuses on Batman himself, LEGO Batman 2 also introduces iconic DC characters like Superman and Wonder Woman that get their own chance to share the spotlight.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was also the first game in the series to feature full voice acting, a prominent feature in its trailers and marketing.
Expanding the LEGO Superhero formula that would eventually evolve into star-studded rosters, LEGO Batman 2 has all the staples of an excellent LEGO game in addition to its unique presentation, delivering one of the most memorable and replayable experiences in the franchise to this day. With several aspects from LEGO Batman 2 being carried over into future entries, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has plenty of material to borrow from the Caped Crusader’s classic adventures.
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Is A Blast
Indie’s Classic Adventures With Even More Fun-Filled Mechanics
Even if the sequel to LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures offers a more expansive and technically impressive experience, it fails to reach the incredibly high standard of quality set by its predecessor. Compared to the sequel’s open-world adventure, the original LEGO Indiana Jones game has much stronger level design that faithfully recreates the films in all their glory, all while offering the creative LEGO gameplay style and humor.
Blending combat, humor, and puzzle solving to excellent results, the original three movies are a great experience even if you aren’t a huge fan of the globe-trotting film franchise. The result is a charming adventure that well deserves the Skywalker Saga treatment.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Is Still The Most Iconic
The Game That Made LEGO Star Wars A Household Name
No matter how many games LEGO has released over the years, it’s hard to beat the absolute classic experience offered by the original LEGO Star Wars games. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga remains the best way to experience the beloved series in its truest form.
With over a hundred playable characters and levels adapted from iconic locations across the six original films, The Complete Saga built many of the initial foundations for LEGO games to follow. Even if it lacks the shiny new coat of paint of the Skywalker Saga, the original LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga still offers an unbeatable mix of tightly designed levels, creative humor, and a plethora of secrets to uncover either by yourself or with a friend through its classic couch co-op.
