Co-op games have been redefined after the huge success of It Takes Two, but for a generation they will always be associated with the old LEGO games.
The experience of taking a controller with a friend and completing cute LEGO levels has always been my ideal for this type of game, even after the change in recent years that led to new style games like Split Fiction.
At this year’s SGF event, one game stood out and has stayed in my mind since its first frame, and that is LEGO Voyagers.
The game takes the LEGO bricks we all love and puts them in an adventure of the same type as the newer co op games, and on the same level if not slightly better in some ways.
It is much simpler but never boring, using simplicity to make itself accessible to everyone regardless of gaming experience.
So grab a special someone, two controllers, and get ready for about five hours where you will not be able to stop smiling
Not complex but somehow never boring
In the game each player controls a LEGO cube, one red and one blue, with a cute eye in the middle.
We start the game by seeing a spaceship trying to launch and explode from a distance, and then the two cubes try to chase the exploded pieces.
I do not think in all four years of writing for this site I have encountered a shorter plot summary than this, and from there the simplicity of the game continues to shine.
It basically has only three main buttons: jump, build, and a voice that sounds like Teletubbies.
It never tries to be overly creative and is very easy to control.
It could have been a boring game aimed only at kids, but here comes the twist.
It uses its simplicity to be suitable for anyone you want to play with, regardless of age or gaming experience, sending you to smart puzzles, funny moments, and a surprisingly touching story
All of this comes together in a truly unforgettable experience that is a pleasure to share on the same couch and screen.
From the cute sounds LEGO cubes make to communicate to the building challenges that can be completed in many ways giving both players room to express themselves, the game focuses on delivering a great co op experience above all, and it does so perfectly. It is completely worthy to stand alongside It Takes Two and absolutely worth your time and money even at full price.
I heard a complaint that the game is too short, I completely disagree.
Not only is it priced fairly at $25, but the six hours we spent felt so precise that I would not add or remove a moment.
Every corner of the game was carefully designed, and most moments are engineered to be cinematic and memorable.
I even think it is a huge advantage of the game knowing exactly when to start, what to give, and when to end
Attention to every piece
We do not need to explain too much what the jump button does.
One third of the game is platforming challenges, one third puzzles and exploration of relatively large areas, and the last third is building.
The circle button or B on Xbox can connect you to any LEGO cube in the world whose edge is free.
Some pieces can be moved once connected, and with triangle or Y you can change the direction of the piece you took.
During the game you will mostly build bridges, not the most exciting activity but it always works.
The second third focuses on puzzles, and wow, how much fun they are. Here, for example,
I am not sure the game can be called “simple.” Although none of the puzzles are impossible or require high skill, they are very interesting and probably the main reason the game never feels boring
Every puzzle is different, even from the basics.
Environments change, available tools change, and sometimes we even get vehicles to play with.
One favorite puzzle involved controlling a boat, and another near the end had one character controlling a kind of control panel by moving LEGO bricks while another character moved in an area affected by the panel’s actions.
Everything requires constant cooperation and communication between players, sometimes more than usual as with the vehicles.
During the game we both solved an equal number of puzzles, and one of the hardest tricks we figured out after several attempts.
Every completed challenge rewards you with a beautiful view, pleasant sound, a funny scene, or flowers that bloom delightfully.
So many small perfect moments in the game, and I really do not want to spoil the experience but I urge you to try all character voices in each area, there are some hilarious moments
Even the story is good
I will finish with what I started yes, the story is basic, simple, and short. Does that mean it does not deliver every beat and has become one of my favorite stories of the past year even as a background to the experience? Definitely yes.
It is one of the most touching games I have played, playing on your emotions in such a smart way through the connection to the LEGO bricks and the excellent soundtrack.
It is not a storytelling masterpiece like Expedition 33 but it does not need to be.
With much less text and no exaggerated cutscenes, it connects you to the bricks, the story, and its highlights more effectively than Split Fiction, which I could not connect with at all
The bottom line
The only reason LEGO Voyagers will not be in the discussion for game of the year is that it does not innovate anything, and unlike LEGO, it is very simple at its core.
From there it uses its simplicity to be accessible to anyone you want to play with, regardless of how used they are to computer games, sending you together into an unusual, addictive, beautiful, touching, interesting experience that never drags but is not too short for the price.
It is not my game of the year, but it is an experience I will never forget