Attaching ‘Lego’ to a video game title signals a family-friendly experience, contrasting sharply with the ‘Rated M for Mature’ label that denotes age-restricted content. While Lego games predominantly cater to younger players, they also offer enjoyment for adults. Titles like Lego Harry Potter and Lego Star Wars have shown that these playful adaptations can attract a wider audience. The recent release, Lego Horizon Adventures, serves as another example, although it leans toward a simpler gaming experience compared to its more complex counterparts.
This new Lego title, which interprets the popular Horizon Zero Dawn series, emerges shortly after the remastered version of the original game was launched. Lego Horizon Adventures presents a vibrant, whimsical twist on the franchise, packaging the action in a way that is accessible to children and fun for adults familiar with the Horizon mechanics on PlayStation.
Like previous Lego adaptations, the game simplifies the storyline, stripping it of its darker themes and incorporating humor throughout. This approach may not appeal to everyone; some players might prefer the original, particularly given how visually appealing the remastered Zero Dawn is. The Lego experience is inherently linear and follows a restricted path, but for families seeking a light-hearted game during the holidays, Lego Horizon Adventures delivers a satisfying experience.
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Aloy, the game’s youthful and adventurous protagonist, retains her core identity, but the narrative focuses less on the darker moments of her life. The Lego version begins with Baby Aloy being found at the All-Mother Mountain and raised by Rost. The more serious aspects—such as their status as outcasts from the Nora tribe—are omitted. Instead, the game portrays Aloy’s acceptance into the Nora village, Mother’s Heart, following her triumphant proving.
Although the game maintains the fundamental story arc involving environmental disaster, these themes are presented in a light-hearted manner. Key events—including Aloy’s discoveries and her confrontations with cultists—are portrayed in a more whimsical fashion, losing the intensity found in the original narrative.
Lego Horizon Adventures reinterprets an environmental disaster story for a younger audience
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
The game focuses solely on key elements of Zero Dawn’s narrative, offering a linear structure with straightforward levels that can be completed in roughly six to seven hours. It effectively captures the essence of the story while eliminating overly complex details. The tone is akin to that of a Lego movie—playful and self-referential—providing a refreshing change from the original’s more serious narrative style. Lego Horizon Adventures embraces fun, contrasting with the original game’s more solemn approach.
Aloy’s demeanor exemplifies this change; she adopts a more upbeat and humorous tone, brought to life by returning voice actor Ashley Burch. Supporting characters are similarly exaggerated for comedic effect, transforming figures like Varl into a clumsy ally and depicting villains with lighthearted motives that differ significantly from the original game.
Lego version of Aloy and her friends are sillier
Photo Credit: Sony/ Guerrilla Games
Narration adds a layer of commentary, guiding players while providing context for unfolding events. Although this feature can be somewhat amusing, it can also become repetitive. This reflects the game’s overall tone, which might not resonate with everyone. Nonetheless, its humor caters to fans of the Lego franchise.
Lego Horizon Adventures clearly targets a younger audience rather than seasoned PlayStation veterans. Sony’s decision to release it on PC and, significantly, on the Nintendo Switch—where many units are owned by or intended for families—underscores this idea. While adult gamers might hesitate to invest in this title at full price, it presents a reasonable option for parents seeking suitable gameplay for their children.
Lego Horizon Adventures follows kid-friendly rules
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
The gameplay emphasizes simplicity, distilling exploration and combat elements from Horizon Zero Dawn into easily digestible forms. The game allows players to engage in linear missions within the central hub of Mother’s Heart village, which acts as both a base and a playground. Despite the simplified gameplay, the introduction of cooperative multiplayer enhances the experience, offering an option to play solo or with a friend.
Each mission begins with players selecting from four characters, although only the chosen character proceeds with the adventure, leaving the others behind. The absence of AI companions limits cooperative dynamics during gameplay, although encouragement and jokes from supporting characters remain present through the game’s mechanics.
Lego Horizon Adventures supports couch and online co-op
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Combat is straightforward, resembling childhood play with toy figures. Each character possesses a primary weapon, with additional limited-use weapons scattered throughout levels. The controls facilitate quick attacks and precise targeting, while various gadgets offer distinct combat functions, including familiar abilities from the original game and entirely new Lego-exclusive tools.
Levels combine platforming segments and combat encounters, leading players into vibrant arenas filled with robot dinosaurs. The iconic machines retain their appeal, with their Lego designs effectively translating into the game, resulting in engaging encounters and dynamic visuals. Notably, larger creatures like the Tallneck and Thunderjaw are showcased as eye-catching highlights within the game.
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Lego Tallnecks are just as majestic as ever
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Though combat mechanics present minimal difficulty, they can become chaotic during challenging late-game scenarios. Players must manage various elements—robot foes, cultists, and environmental factors—leading to fast-paced encounters that may feel overwhelming at times. The combat primarily revolves around elemental attacks, complemented by environmental interactions, yet it lacks the complexity seen in other titles, such as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
In addition to main missions, players can engage in Apex machine hunts post-completion of the primary regions, further emphasizing the series’ focus on battling robot dinosaurs. While these encounters provide additional challenges, they do not introduce significant new gameplay elements.
Lego Horizon’s combat is simplified and shallow
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
The most enjoyable aspects of Lego Horizon Adventures center on the Lego experience itself. The central hub, Mother’s Heart, allows players to unleash their creativity, offering extensive customization possibilities—from village aesthetics to character appearances, allowing playful experimentation with decor from the Horizon and other Lego properties.
Customization transforms into a quest of its own, as players earn bricks through completing missions, enhancing their village with various Lego elements. Once the main story concludes, players can continue their journey by completing additional challenges to further develop their customized spaces. The vivid combination of aesthetics becomes a source of amusement as players experiment with countless combinations.
You can play Lego Horizon Adventures dressed as a hotdog
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
This installment marks a significant visual achievement for Lego games, with every object crafted from Lego bricks. The environments are rich and colorful, providing a vibrant world that captures the charm of the original Horizon universe while maintaining a playful aesthetic.
The environments of Lego Horizon are blocky but beautiful
Photo Credit: Sony/ Screenshot – Manas Mitul
Despite its charm, Lego Horizon Adventures doesn’t quite reach the nostalgia factor found in other Lego games based on beloved franchises. Iconic series such as Star Wars and Harry Potter evoke strong memories for many players, creating a unique appeal that Lego adaptations often capitalize on. While Horizon is respected within gaming circles, it lacks the same emotional resonance.
Therefore, the question arises: who is the target audience for Lego Horizon Adventures, especially given its $60 price tag? It primarily aims to engage younger players and devoted fans of the Horizon series. While Lego games typically serve as humorous takes on their source material, Lego Horizon Adventures feels more like an additional layer rather than a complete experience.
Pros
- A brief yet enjoyable game
- Vast customization options
- Stunning visuals
- Lego-themed robot dinosaurs
Cons
- Shallow gameplay experience
- Lacks strong nostalgic connection
- High price tag of $60
Rating (out of 10): 7
Lego Horizon Adventures launches on November 14 for PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. This review is based on a copy of the game played on PS5.
The Standard Edition costs Rs. 3,999 on the PlayStation Store for PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store for PC, and $59.99 on the Nintendo eShop.
