Buying guide for Best LEGO video games

If you love the LEGO movies and LEGO kits, you can enjoy the characters even more when you play LEGO video games. As with physical LEGO kits, the best LEGO video games allow you to be as creative as you like — but you’ll be using a screen instead of LEGO bricks.

When shopping for LEGO video games, you will want to look at games that match the console you own or plan to buy. A LEGO game purchased for the Nintendo Switch will not run on Xbox, and few games are backward-compatible with older consoles. For example, an older PS4 game may not run on PS5.

Similarly, if you are looking for LEGO video games that are apps, you will need to find a version that matches the operating system on your phone or tablet. To help you wade through the options, we put together this buying guide. So if you’re ready to add LEGO video games to your personal LEGO universe, read on.

LEGO’s first video games appeared in the mid-1990s, but the format really started to take off in 2000.

Key considerations

Here are some of the options you have for playing LEGO video games.

Nintendo Switch: The Switch is a console that has characteristics of a traditional home console and a handheld gaming system, giving you the ability to play at home or while traveling. 

Xbox: The Xbox Series X and Series S are recent versions of Microsoft’s gaming console, released in late 2020. They replace the Xbox One. Some newer LEGO games can be played on the Series X, Series S, or One, but the majority will not be backward compatible with Xbox One.

PlayStation: The PS5 is the latest gaming console from PlayStation, released in late 2020 and meant to replace the PS4. Newer LEGO games will work on the PS5, but they are not likely to be backward compatible with the PS4.

Apps: When you find LEGO game apps, you should be able to find versions for iOS Apple devices and Android OS devices.

Computer: Some LEGO video games are playable on a Windows computer, but you will have to purchase a version made specifically for Windows.

LEGO also makes DUPLO building blocks, which work well for younger kids. There are a couple of LEGO video games that feature DUPLO, which a younger child may enjoy.

Features

There are multiple gaming franchises available under the LEGO brand. If you or your child has a few favorite characters, finding a matching LEGO video game can be a lot of fun.

Batman: Building on the success of the LEGO Batman movies, LEGO has released multiple video games that feature the LEGO Batman character. Complementary characters like Robin, the Joker, and Lex Luthor are part of these games, too.

DC Universe: Batman also appears in DC Universe LEGO games, fighting alongside Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and other heroes. The villains are here too, including Harley Quinn and the Joker.

Harry Potter: For kids who can’t get enough of Harry Potter, LEGO games based on the franchise are a fun option, featuring characters like Harry Potter, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Hermione, and Ron.

LEGO Movie: For fans of the original LEGO movies, those characters are all available in LEGO games based on the movies, including Emmet, Lucy, Unikitty, and yes, even Batman.

Marvel: If you love the Marvel universe, LEGO games have you covered. Some of the characters in LEGO Marvel-based video games include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, Black Panther, Black Widow, Hulk, Groot, and Captain America. 

Ninjago: If you were a fan of The LEGO Ninjago Movie, you’ll find all of your favorite characters in this LEGO game, including Kai, Nya, Lloyd, Zane, Cole, and Jay.

Star Wars: LEGO video games based on Star Wars are undergoing a major refresh with the release of The Skywalker Saga early in 2021, featuring Chewbacca, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and others.

LEGO video game prices

Compared to the typical video console game that sells for $40 to $100, some LEGO video games are relatively inexpensive.

Lower-cost: For a copy of a console game from LEGO, you can expect to pay $10 to $30 for the least-expensive titles. Some of these may be several months old, having dropped from a higher price point. For apps, some of them will be free, but you may need to make in-app purchases to gain access to extra features or characters. These purchases can run from $1 to $10 per feature. For LEGO apps that you must purchase, the initial cost for the majority of them will be less than $10.

Higher-cost: For newer LEGO video games, you could pay anywhere from $30 to $75 per title. However, the majority of titles cost less than $50. The final price depends, in part, on the type of console you’re using, as some games cost a few dollars more on some consoles. This extra cost varies from game to game.

If your children (or you) are stuck on a particular section of the game, search online for hints and tips, also called cheats, to try to solve the problem.

Tips

If you are wondering whether LEGO video games are as beneficial for children as playing with actual LEGO pieces, here are some of the advantages of LEGO video games.

• The games stimulate imagination. Kids who love to make buildings and backgrounds with LEGO bricks, creating stories and having their own adventures, will be able to do similar things with LEGO video games.
• The games create a sense of accomplishment. Just like playing with LEGO bricks, kids who successfully complete a story in a LEGO game can feel good about their efforts. 
• The games create less mess. If you’ve had it with stepping on LEGO bricks in the middle of the night, LEGO video games may give you a nice reprieve.

Through its first 25 years of video game releases, LEGO created almost 70 games, including titles for gaming consoles as well as apps for tablets and smartphones.

FAQ

Q. Should I purchase a disc or download a LEGO game?

A. No differences in content exist between disc versions of games and downloaded versions of games, so choose whichever is more convenient for you. Notably, when using a disc version on a gaming console, some LEGO games require an internet connection to download extra aspects. 

Q. How do I know if a game is appropriate for my child?

A. As with physical LEGO sets, the majority of LEGO games have a suggested age range that you can consult before purchasing the game. These age ranges are simply a suggestion, but they are a great starting point.

Q. Should I buy LEGO video games that match my child’s favorite LEGO kits?

A. You can, especially if your child has favorite characters that they love. If you focus on kits and games that contain those characters, the child may enjoy playing more. On the flip side, using LEGO video games with unfamiliar characters is a nice way to introduce new characters to your child.