LEGO has a long history when it comes to having some pretty amazing video games. Even before the Traveler's Tales days of movie and brand tie-in games, LEGO published incredible classics like LEGO Racers and LEGO Island. LEGO games didn't quite hit their current level of massive success until Traveler's Tales developed the original LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game in 2005.
Since then, there have been a ton of LEGO games, many themed around massive media properties like Star Wars and DC Comics. These games really capture the creativity of LEGOs with their level of customization and satisfying brick-by-brick destruction. While many fans have nostalgic memories for the original run of LEGO games, the ones critics are calling the best may surprise long-time fans.
5. LEGO Lord of the Rings (79.5)
LEGO Lord of the Rings was an incredibly innovative title that pushed what the LEGO games were capable of. Reviews tend to be pretty divided on many aspects of LEGO LotR, though most seem to agree that while the Traveler's Tales formula was starting to get a little old, the fantasy world of The Lord of the Rings worked well.
Some technical issues hold this game back, mainly due to some pretty serious game-breaking bugs that could easily soft-lock players. Some critics also couldn't look past that Traveler's Tales hadn't really taken a risk with their LEGO games and tried something new. While some may find this game a little too similar to the LEGO Star Wars series before it, LEGO Lord of the Rings is worth checking out for any fantasy or LEGO fan.
4. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (80)
Easily one of the most influential games for future LEGO titles, LEGO Harry Potter introduced elements that would become trademarks of future entries, including character-specific puzzles and an expanded open-world. LEGO Harry Potter also added animated character portraits meant to reference the Harry Potter universe, only for that feature to find its way into every future LEGO game.
Critics loved this game's charm and the massive amount of collectibles hidden throughout the game, including in some of the new overworld puzzles that rewarded players for exploring with unlocked characters. The story of the Harry Potter films was also adapted well, with many reviews pointing out that the classic silent-storytelling charm worked really well in the Harry Potter universe. Again, some technical issues tanked its score, but many reviews said that the game's charm distracted from those issues.
3. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (81)
While old-school LEGO fans may have jumped ship once characters starting talking, those who stuck around were treated to LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. The previous LEGO Batman game wasn't received too well, mainly due to some clunky attempts to innovate the formula that was hindered by Traveler's Tales not wanting to pull the trigger on any new ideas. LEGO Batman 2 goes all-in on innovation and is considered by many to be the benchmark for all modern LEGO games.
For starters, the structured level-by-level gameplay of the LEGO games is translated well into the explorable open-world of Gotham. Given that LEGO Batman 2 was the first LEGO game to include an open-world, there was some noticeable engine strain whenever co-op was utilized. Outside of those small bugs, there's certainly something to be said about the legacy of LEGO Batman 2, especially given that all future LEGO games would follow its innovations.
2. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (82.5)
Many fans would probably consider LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga to be the best LEGO game of all time, though critics can at least agree that it's the best classic LEGO game. The Complete Saga was more than just the first two LEGO Star Wars games stapled together. It added new characters, new levels, completely redone levels, new missions and an expanded Mos Eisley Cantina that served as the hub world.
The sheer amount of content in The Complete Saga is its major point of praise from critics, though the gameplay and classic LEGO humor certainly helped it review well. Once again, there's a level of charm in The Complete Saga that made the game hard to pass on. While some critics felt the game could have done more to differentiate itself from the first two iconic LEGO Star Wars games, others firmly declared that this is the definitive way to enjoy LEGO Star Wars, at least until LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga eventually releases.
1. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (84.5)
2013's LEGO Marvel Super Heroes took what Traveler's Tales had learned from LEGO Batman 2 to create the best LEGO game ever, a claim that still holds up compared to newer games' review scores. Fans are a little harsher on this one, mainly due to the stripped-down create-a-character that the LEGO games had otherwise been known for. That minor complaint aside, the new open-world brawler take on the LEGO games was perfected in this title.
Critics loved how much Marvel-themed content was packed into this game, especially since a ton of obscure characters from the comics were included. Replayability is a huge factor in why LEGO Marvel Super Heroes was reviewed so well, especially since most LEGO games tend to only be enjoyable to completionists after the main story. Not only do critics call this the best LEGO game ever, but LEGO Marvel Super Heroes remains the best-selling LEGO game of all time.