The best LEGO games have been delighting us brick-by-brick for over two decades, from adventures like LEGO Indiana Jones to giant space epics like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. From the wacky to the brand-new and everything in between, our ranking of the best LEGO games of all time is perfect for all ages — no matter what console you own. Whether you’re after the classics or looking for a more modern experience, you’ll find something here. So let’s get ‘er ranked!
20. LEGO Island
What would a list of the best LEGO games of all time look like without the original 1997 PC adventure, LEGO Island? While it may seem basic and rudimentary compared to other titles on this list, LEGO Island remains a nostalgic adventure. The story is about an escaped convict who is set on destroying LEGO Island, and it’s up to you to end his schemes. There are multiple character classes to choose from, and the open world is surprisingly ahead of its time, which makes it more of a cosy time when you sit down to play it. But to be perfectly honest, LEGO Island would be way higher if not for the newer titles that have yet been seen here.
19. LEGO Rock Band
Yes, we know this is a weird one to pick, seeing as most people probably wouldn’t be jumping at the chance to grab a Rock Band set and jam with their pals like it’s 2009. However, that’s exactly why it should be included: not only is it compatible with hardware over a decade old, but it’s also kind of a hassle to set up. This game was fantastic for the time, and it brought lots of people together, which is a good thing, but it just had to be placed here on this list.
18. LEGO Racers
By the time 1999 rolled around, video game franchises were seemingly getting their own kart racing spin-off, and LEGO was no different. Unlike other examples of the sub-genre at the time, LEGO Racers had a trick up its sleeve, which was this really neat feature where players could build their own karts. See, your comedic creations weren’t just for show; they actually had advantages and disadvantages due to the arrangement of bricks affecting your performance. Too many bricks on one side could result in some weird steering. To this day, many kart racers struggle to merry the customization and driving aspects of the game design, but LEGO Racers handheld it supremely well.
17. LEGO Island XTreme Stunts
While LEGO Island is definitely remembered more fondly these days, this game still has merit, and it did an admirable job of bringing the worlds of Tony Hawk and LEGO together under one roof. However, XTreme Stunts still brought its own ideas to the table, as players could explore the island and play minigames if they wanted a break from the core gameplay. It was perfect for any LEGO kid.
16. LEGO Creator
Perhaps you were one of those kids in the ’90s who couldn’t afford any of those fancy and bulky LEGO sets. If you were a kid around that time, you probably had this game loaded up on your PC. LEGO Creator was essentially an alternative to LEGO sets, allowing players to build their own towns and live in that world. Was it better than the real thing? Probably not, but hey, it gets points for ingenuity.
15. LEGO Jurassic World
This title definitely came with a few issues — and while we could potentially forgive the use of recycled content — the use of quick-time events still didn’t sit right with many people. But despite its slightly prehistoric design, it didn’t stop that ‘ol LEGO charm from shining through, and the break superheroes for once was a nice touch.
14. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 & 5-7
Admittedly, these Harry Potter games haven’t really aged the best; they leave out important context in the cutscenes, and the shorter levels can make it hard to stay engaged, but it’s still an alright time. Like previous titles, Traveller’s Tales did an excellent job bringing these worlds to life, and the sound design and the environments are all great. The shorter levels did make it easier to play through the game in shorter play sessions, though.
13. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean
Like our previous entry, this game doesn’t do a very good job of providing context for its cutscenes. So be prepared to experience the first movies with all the swashbuckling intact as long as you’ve seen them. It is not a perfect game, but it’s fun to experience with younger siblings and a slightly more appropriate way for the young ones to experience the movies themselves.
12. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
The DC-themed LEGO games have definitely had a hand in continuing Traveller’s Tales’ success over the years. Well, that’s because they have been some of the best, and while this wasn’t the first open-world title in the series, it probably popularized that trope, which means that every game since then has been open-world. Talk about brick-breaking originality! Oh, and it showed TT’s ability to push the series forward with multiple side quests spread worldwide without losing what made this franchise great in the first place.
11. LEGO Dimensions
If you want to see a group of lawyers sweat, just show them LEGO Dimensions. Never before had we seen such a massive dynamic of pop culture franchises come together under one banner. LEGO Dimensions sees Batman, Wyldstyle, and Gandalf travelling across universes to stop the evil Lord Vortech from merging everyone’s worlds together. Whether you’re a fan of movies, television, comics, or video games, you’ll find a plethora of your favourite franchises here, from Scooby-Doo and The Simpsons to Doctor Who and The Powerpuff Girl to Sonic the Hedgehog and Portal. The only downside to the game was just how expensive it was to own with packs coming out. Still…it was worth every penny for this short-lived gem.
10. LEGO DC Super-Villains
While these games have always included character customization since LEGO Star Wars II, none of them have gone as far as this title. Instead of just doing the bare minimum and having them look kinda funny, the developers integrated the player’s creation into the story, giving them more and more powers as the plot goes on. Oh, and the boss fights are excellent, too.
9. LEGO Star Wars The Clone Wars III
Before the franchise went full open-world, we had a unique twist on gameplay with Story Swap, where players could take control of characters while the story was going on simultaneously. This neat twist must’ve been a hit with fans because Close Wars went on to sell over five million copies.
8. LEGO Builder’s Journey
With TT being the sole developer of LEGO games for over two decades now, we rarely see a LEGO title that they have not made. It’s not a problem because Builder’s Journey has some of the prettiest graphics in the franchise’s history. Then, with its emotional story and neat sound effects, it’s a steal for 20 pounds.
7. LEGO Lord of the Rings
This series isn’t normally able to pull directly from the source too often, but the team managed to pull it off while still including the darker tones and goofiness without making it too overbearing. Whether you’re a hardcore fan of The Lord of the Rings, a newcomer, or just a casual, you’ll find something here as it beautifully intertwines the world of Middle Earth with its visuals and level design.
6. LEGO City Undercover
Now, we’re getting to the meat and potatoes of this list, and this game is a meaty one. LEGO City Undercover is more than just a break from the norm. It’s also babies’ first Grand Theft Auto with its crime-stopping and brick-breaking gameplay loop. You play as Police Officer Chase McCain; there are doughnuts and criminals to stop, so it’s fantastic.
5. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Before 2013, it would’ve been unfathomable to even think of seeing a LEGO take on the world of Marvel, but after the Avengers movie’s success, it became much more possible. It also helps that this is one of the best LEGO games to date with its wide selection of characters, action set-pieces, and surprisingly good voice; it’s more than just a LEGO game; it’s a celebration of the brand.
4. LEGO Indiana Jones The Original Adventures
The Indiana Jones series of films is nothing short of a classic, so it’s not shocking to see a great game to follow after it. All iconic themes are here, the humour is as good as ever, and you can still use a gun. Yes, this was before the franchise was toned down significantly, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t miss it sometimes. Play through some of the most rewatchable action films ever made in LEGO form, and have a blast doing it. Just no snakes, please.
3. LEGO Batman
While it’s not mentioned in everyday conversation as some other titles on this list, we still think LEGO Batman is enough of a good game to get the respect it deserves. Everything about it is nostalgic, especially if you grew up with it, and we’d argue that it’s still one of the best characterizations of Batman in the history of video games. And he doesn’t even say a full sentence!
2. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
We know you’re surprised to see this at the number two spot, but before you yell at us, please let us explain. While we loved Skywalker Saga for how it pushed the franchise forward in many ways, we also feel like it lost some of what made it great in the first place. There are more side-quests than ever, but there are more cutscenes, dialogue and interruptions. One of the best things about the older games was how, even though they were pretty simple, they weren’t lacking in complexity, and they’re also very charming. Sometimes simple is better, you know? Skywalker Saga is a great game, but it did too much in our eyes. However, the ability to play through all nine films in a single game is still really cool.
1. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Yep, this is the big one. Memorable, nostalgic, and iconic, it’s 100 per cent a childhood thing, but we’d argue LEGO peaked when Complete Saga came out. These areas have stuck in our minds all the years later, and every game since then has been building off this formula. And you have to consider that playing through the first six Star Wars films was incredibly novel, so with a wealth of characters included as well as plentiful secrets, it was a brick-busting good time.
We hope you enjoyed going on a journey with us in this ranking. Did we mess up? Did we miss a game? Let us know!