Weekly Ranking – Top 5 Lego Games!

With the release of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looming, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reflect on past Lego games and what made them special. Obviously, these takes may differ from those of others, so please let me know your thoughts and rankings in the comment section!

NUMBER 5 – LEGO DC SUPERVILLAINS

This game caught me by surprise when I played it just a few years ago. While I hadn’t really been “in the loop” on recent Lego games in the past few years (plagued by the mediocre ratings games like The Lego Movie Game 2 and Lego Incredibles were receiving), I found DC Supervillains to be a great return to form. Ironically, it also served as the last “traditional” Lego game before TT Games began to design more open and expansive worlds in Skywalker Saga. While DCSV isn’t a perfect game, it does many things right (many of which I would argue were missing even in Skywalker Saga!). For instance, the map of DCSV is decently large yet full of content. I especially enjoyed how the map included different areas such as Gotham, Metropolis, Smallville, and even Apokolips! The map felt large without being bloated, which is why I appreciated it so much.

As for gameplay design, the game’s story (while not very complex) is decently well-written. I especially enjoyed the introduction of “The Syndicate” (which are basically the evil doppelgangers of the Justice League, whos erve as the main antagonists of the game). Additionally, I highly enjoyed the implementation of your custom character, also known as “The Rookie,” throughout the story. It was especially neat how you were able to customize this character down to which superpowers they had. This is something TT Games had never attempted prior, and I would say it was executed perfectly.

NUMBER 4 – LEGO HARRY POTTER YEARS 1-4

Although Years 5-8 have better quality of life additions to the gameplay, I generally think Years 1-4 is the superior game. For me, the best and most memorable part of this game comes from the design of Hogwarts. TT Games nailed the atmosphere of the school and the feeling of exploring its halls, accompanied by many secrets hidden inside. Additionally, spells, which are obviously fundamental to the Harry Potter series, are well-represented throughout the game. While the spell system is not the most intricate, it still adds some variety to both solving puzzles and engaging in combat. Ultimately, this game edges out DCSV for me mainly due to nostalgia, as well as having the more memorable hub world and level designs (in my personal opinion).

NUMBER 3: LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES

Recently, I showed my appreciation for this game in another one of my blog posts about superhero games in general (click here if you want to read it!). I will generally rephrase what I said there here, as my points still remain true. LMSH stands out due to hosting an incredibly diverse roster of characters. Practically every hero (including the X-Men and Fantastic Four, who were sorely missed in the game’s sequel) is represented in this game, with their unique powers also being represented. Additionally, the game’s open world of Manhattan is iconic due to its sheer scope and size. There are also important Marvel landmarks sprinkled in to this world, which generally add to the game’s immersion. This may sound silly to those who have never experienced the game, but LMSH does a great job at being a (albeit simplistic) superhero simulator.

Additionally, the game’s campaign (both in level design and story) is solid throughout, with a particularly memorable final boss fight (which is often considered one of the best in the entire Lego series). As a bonus, while they do not generally stand out in most Lego games, LMSH is known for having some very extensive and fun bonus levels. My personal favorites are the Deadpool levels, as they perfectly encapsulate Wade’s character in a more family-friendly format. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong by playing either of these games, as they both hold up extremely well to this day. Even if you’re not a fan of the Lego games or even Legos in general, I suggest you give at least one of these games a try.

NUMBER 2: LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA

I look back on this game relatively fondly due to it being the first Lego game I experienced (as well as one of my first experiences with the Star Wars franchise in general). This game’s status as a classic is deserved, especially since it is commonly discussed among Lego fans to this day. What really makes The Complete Saga stand out is the signature LEGO humor, even moreso than other LEGO games from this era. The game does an excellent job retelling the Original Trilogy’s story for a younger audience while still being entertaining in its own right. This is even more impressive when you consider the fact that all dialogue was portrayed through incoherent mumbles, a feature that the Skywalker Saga (in my opinion) lazily tacked on.

Most would agree that the levels of TCS (minus the dreadful ship ones) are very memorable and do a great job representing key areas in the franchise. Combat is (as usual) relatively simple, but effective, especially when playing as a Jedi. There is just something so special about blazing through troops of droids with a lightsaber for the first time in this game. Overall, The Complete Saga is an excellent LEGO game, even if there is one that I personally consider to be better than it.

NUMBER 1: LEGO BATMAN 2

Although I played it most on inferior hardware (at the time, I only owned a Wii), Lego Batman 2 quickly became my most-played and favorite Lego game. It’s no secret that I am a big Batman fan, which may have influenced my ranking. However, most generally agree that LB2 is one of TT Games’ finest works, due to its incredible portrayal of Gotham City in open-world form, a wide array of characters (most notably other DC superheroes), as well as an assortment of new character abilities (including flying with characters like Superman, or driving the Batmobile as Batman). Regardless of the original Lego Batman’s strengths, LB2 was an improvement of the Lego formula in almost every way (a formula which arguably was weakened with Lego Batman 3). Lego Batman 2 does not host a scope as extensive as the LMSH games. However, it is still an amazing, charming, and nostalgic entry in a series that I hope continues to be great with Legacy of the Dark Knight.