The recent trailer showcasing DC's Shazam in his glorious LEGO form isn't Shazam's first appearance as a LEGO Figure. Back in 2019, LEGO Shazam was released as part of the first DLC pack for LEGO DC Super-Villians. With so many DC characters getting the LEGO treatment, it begs the question: will LEGO set their sights on other franchises?
At this point, it's not unusual to see LEGO turn our fictional heroes into digital plastic minifigs. Though LEGO first attempted a licensed game with 2001's LEGO Creator: Harry Potter, the popularity of LEGO video games took off with LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, which sold a whopping 3.3 million copies a year after the release. Since then, they've gone on to rebuild many other franchises through its digital LEGO format, including Marvel Super Heroes and Lord of the Rings. All of these franchises have done incredibly well, but what other franchises could get the special LEGO treatment?
Mario
It's relatively safe to say that almost everyone has at least heard of the Mario series. It all began in 1983 with Super Mario Bros. for the Famicom and has since then become a worldwide phenomenon. The Mario series has become so popular that its brand has expanded past video games and into other areas of retail, including clothes, books and yes, even Mario toys. LEGO has a set dedicated entirely to Mario coming out this year. It's not implausible that Mario could receive a LEGO game in the near future.
Additionally, the Mario series has an enormous amount of characters, locations, and abilities that would lend itself well to a LEGO game. Players could start as classic Mario and eventually unlock different characters like Waluigi or Shy Guy. It would also be fun to see different areas entirely built in LEGO, like Bowser's castle.
Pokémon
Pokémon is another Nintendo franchise that has achieved worldwide recognition due to its unique RPG elements, memorable characters, and adorable Pokémon. Pokémon first released in 1996 and has since gone on to sell millions of copies and capture the hearts of billions. Much like Mario, Pokémon has also evolved beyond video games to take over other areas of our lives. In addition to tons of Pokémon retail items, Pokémon also boasts a long-running anime and manga series.
While LEGO games generally lean towards more linear beat-em-up-collect-a-thons, it would be interesting to see LEGO tackle a game following a Pokémon formula. Perhaps it could follow a more Pokémon Mystery Dungeon style where instead of playing as a 10-year-old trainer, you just control a Pokémon. Players could choose a starter with a certain ability and explore the Kanto region, battle other Pokémon and get them to join their posse and unlock new skills along the way. Collecting the iconic LEGO studs could also serve as evolution points or currency to unlock new moves.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy is a massive franchise, but the most well-known by far is Final Fantasy VII. Players control a former 1st Class SOLDIER named Cloud Strife as he works with an eco-terrorist group, AVALANCHE, but quickly find themselves up against a world-ending threat. Final Fantasy VII owes a lot of its current popularity to the circumstances regarding its release. When Final Fantasy VII came out for the Playstation 1, the iconic Full Motion Video intro and 3-D models blew the socks off PS1 owners. Other than the astounding graphics, FF7 also possessed solid, well-rounded characters, memorable locales, and more quests than you could shake a stick at.
While it doesn't seem super feasible, a LEGO Final Fantasy VII game would truly be insane to witness. Seeing the iconic first cut-scene done entirely in LEGO would be both bewildering and nostalgic for gamers. It would also be somewhat ironic, as the old chunky player models from 1997 already notoriously resembled LEGO mini-figures. The gameplay could still feature the typical RPG elements of Final Fantasy, but maybe the classic LEGO beat-em-up style would be better suited towards younger audiences.
LEGO games have remained steadfastly popular, and more franchises are becoming open to the idea of having their series "LEGO-fied." While these are a few examples of franchises we'd like to see receive a LEGO makeover, only time will tell if LEGO actually makes our dreams come true.