Throughout gaming, there have been a plethora of different companies that licensed various movie, television, and comic book properties for the sake of making a video game. Yet, none has ever been as successful, creative, or lucrative as the Lego games. The brick building franchise has taken some of the most beloved franchises and gave them a charm and humor we couldn’t have expected. With 17, soon to be 18, games strong one can not deny how popular this series has become. However, some of these titles stand out more than others, with a few games pushing the Lego series to its limits. Others, sadly, just fall back on the tried and true formula with no change or attempt at mixing the game the up. When ranking these titles we didn’t just rely on the core gameplay itself, but how much each entry in the series meant. Many of these titles pushed the Lego games in a new direction, adding more depth and layers beyond hit the bricks as fast as you can. Charm and personality are also a big factor, as many of the jokes and entertainment comes from the quirky retellings of our favorite stories.
That being said, some clearly do it better than others and while voice acting was only introduced halfway into this franchise’s life, it does make a difference. Finally, we will be looking at the massive amount of mini-figures offered in each game and what these actually bring to the table in terms of content or replayability. That all being said, we will only be ranking the actual licensed video games due to the sheer volume of other different Lego games. Given this isn’t the only genre or formula the lego games follow, it’s important to narrow it down to a select grouping. These are the Lego games we could spend hours in and the ones we would rather just stuff away in the closet. A lot of the charm in the LEGO titles has to do with their colorful and fun take on known properties. However, with a compressed story, absolutely lame boss battles, and awful driving mechanics, this is an adventure worth skipping. At least you can build your own levels. Wait, what do you mean I can’t share my creations online!?
LEGO Rock Band offers nothing special and does very little to build upon the concept of a LEGO-based music game. With only one new game mode added, this is basically just a reskinned version of Rock Band and nothing more. Unlike the movie this was inspired by, this cash-in LEGO title lacks all the charm and fun of its cinematic counterpart. With mediocre puzzles and action, only the great level design saves this game from the bottom spot. Unlike some LEGO games before it, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 just doesn’t innovate or try anything new with the series. It feels stagnant and exceptionally bland, which is a shame given how charming the various cutscenes are. Much like Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7, this is another title that just didn’t bother changing or even refining the series as a whole. The story is told in a more incoherent way and it feels like nothing more than a rushed game. But hey, at least you ride a goat as Jack Sparrow – that’s got to be worth something, right?
The only reason this is higher than the previous Harry Potter entry is due to the game actually trying to refine upon the core mechanics. This was the first title where the AI companions were actually useful and you actually had split screen co-op over sharing a single screen. LEGO The Lord of the Rings is an entertaining adventure for any Tolkien fan. The charm of this game is only enhanced by the addition of the original dialogue from the movies, which was a series first. This does produce the occasional rough patch of audio problems once and awhile, though. Even without voice acting or slick cut scenes, there is something truly endearing about LEGO Indiana Jones. For anyone who’s a fan of the original movies, this certainly will churn up fond memories. Maybe even enough to hide the repetitive gameplay. While not the best in the LEGO games, it certainly isn’t the worst. Though the game treads upon familiar ground, the addition of big open battles and some RTS segments do mix the fun up in refreshing ways.
It’s an okay game that quickly gets overshadowed by the previous LEGO Marvel title. While this title has clearly refined the core gameplay, its lack of anything new is only more glaring considering how far along the series is now. Thankfully the voice overs and faithfulness to the Marvel films makes it a fairly entertaining game, even if it is a bit short on post-game content. One of the first titles in this series, LEGO Batman: The Videogame felt like a step in the right direction by offering fun puzzles, a massive roster of Batman characters, and a totally original story. It may feel more confined than some of the newest games, but it’s hard to deny this DC Comics love letter. An amazing roster of villains and heroes, as well as the introduction of various “suits” your characters wear, helped keep the gameplay interesting. This is one of the best licensed LEGO titles and some of the best use of an original source material’s audio. Blending the fun quirky humor of LEGO with the world of Jurassic Park works perfectly.
Plus, you get to play as a plethora of LEGO Dinosaurs, which is undeniably awesome. Not only was this the first LEGO game to include full voice acting, but also the first to include a completely open world. While it was refined in a later title, there is no doubting just how much of a landmark game this was for the series. The game that started this massive franchise is also one of the best. It was simple, fun, and offered a completely new take to LEGO-based games. Despite its kiddy appearance, there is no doubting that this Star Wars game was for hardcore and new fans alike. It truly is one of the best Star Wars games ever produced. Lego Marvel Super Heroes is what a near perfect LEGO game can look like. With an amazing roster of characters, beautiful open world, engaging story, and unique mechanics, this truly is one of the best LEGO games ever made.Best Nintendo DS Family Games About the Familiy Gamer Awards: 2013 Family Gamer Awards The Family Gamer Awards FGA suggests ideal Nintendo DS games for different family age-groups: Infants, Juniors, Students, Workers, Parents and Seniors.
These awards complement PEGI's age-appropriate ratings by suggesting games each age group will enjoy. Rather than warning families about which games are inappropriate, we suggest which games each age group will get the most out of. The games awarded for infants for example, not only contain appropriate content for 3 year olds but are also easy enough for them to play and enjoy. The handheld device works very well with young players because of its touch screen and range of games that can be played at their own pace. Pre-school children can enjoy experimenting, learning and interacting with the stylus, microphone and buttons. While the original DS isn't quite up to the knocks and throws it will get in the service of a toddler, the DSlite is well up to the task. The DSiXL's bigger screens with wider viewing angles also suite collaborative play between parents and very young children. It also works very well with junior gamers, but for the more tradition Nintendo first party games.
Junior players are also better suited to the original DS than younger infants where durability and robustness is more of an issue. Original DSThe original DS is available second hand for around £40. - Supports: DS and Gameboy Advance games. - Pros: Older model much cheaper than DSi or DSlite. 6 hour battery life. - Cons: Less bright screen not good for outside play. Build quality not as solid as later models. DS lite The redesigned DS is available second hand for around £70. - Pros: It is a sleeker and more compact design. Much brighter screens and improved 9 hour battery life. - Cons: Hinges often fail so ensure that there are no plastic stress marks on them before buying second hand. DSi The updated DS is available new for around £100 and can play DS and DSi-ware (download) games. - Supports: DS carts and DSi-ware (download) games. - Pros: Slimmer design and bigger screens than the DSlite and solves the hinge issue. Can download DSi-ware games directly to the handheld for a few pounds each.
Easier to connect to internet with better Wi-fi support. - Cons: Reduced 7 hour battery life because of the larger screens and smaller battery. No support for the old Gameboy Advance games. DSiXL The larger version of the DS is available new for around £100. - Supports: DS and DSi-ware (download) games. - Pros: Very big screen that is easier to see for both player and watcher. Easier to connect to internet with better Wi-fi support. Improved 9 hour battery life. It also comes with a larger Stylus. - Cons: No support for the old Gameboy Advance games. 3DS The first version of the 3D handheld, available new for around £120. - Supports: DS and 3DS cart games. DSi-ware and eShop download games. - Pros: 3D screen, motion controls, built in camera, top quality sound. Can download Virtual Console Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games as well as DSi-ware and 3D games via eShop. - Cons: Short 3 hour battery life due to high performance 3D graphics and bright screen.
3DS XL The large version of the 3DS handheld, available new for around £179.Longer 4.5 hour battery life 3D screen, motion controls and built in camera. Can download Virtual Console Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games as well as DSi-ware and 3D games via eShop. - Cons: No support for the old Gameboy Advance games. Sound not as high quality as original 3DS. 2DS The robust, cheaper version of the 3DS handheld, available new for around £100. - Supports: DS and 3DS cart games (although without 3D). - Pros: Robust, cost effective design. All the 3DS motion controls and built in camera. Can download Virtual Console Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games as well as DSi-ware and 3DS games via eShop. - Cons: No 3D screen although does play 3DS games, not hinged so needs a case for transport, short 3 hour battery life due to high performance graphics and bright screen. Mono sound unless headphones are used. Here are our list of Nintendo DS, DSi, DSXL and DSlite games that have been recomended for families in the Family Gamer Awards.