Over the years, Lego games have garnered a reputation for being quality, kid-friendly titles that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. From classics like Lego Star Wars to the more recent Lego Builders Journey, there’s hardly a modern Lego game you can call downright bad. That is, until Lego Brawls is released on consoles, creating an embarrassing stain on an otherwise consistent catalog.
Originally released in 2019 for Apple Arcade on mobile devices, LEGO Bawls is a fighting game in the least amount of words. You only have one attack button, and you’re able to pick up two temporary power-ups from item boxes around the stage. Matches mainly take place in the 4v4 King of the Hill format, where teams must control a certain area for a period of time. Despite being the main genre, this mode turns into a goofy, button-mashing slog that even kids won’t love. There’s no reaction when connecting hits, matches go on for too long, and characters can sometimes fly away with random hits. Additionally, because the AI is so bad, there’s a good chance you can win just by putting the controller down and standing still.
Other types of matches include eight-player battle royale and first-to-15 kill bouts, but the nature of the game makes the mode too busy to enjoy. And with the lack of obvious sound effects and no sound, you probably won’t know where your character is until the end of the match.
The main attraction of Lego Brawls is undoubtedly its character builder. There are over 77 billion weapon and costume combinations to make, and while the numbers seem insane, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to see all the options available in the game. Customizable parts are unlocked either by winning one match at a time or by grinding for experience in a Battle Pass-style system. Because of this, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to create exactly any minifigure you want.
The Lego controversy feels like an insult to Lego fans after the spectacular Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga released earlier this year. From the awesome core gameplay to the incredibly grindy unlock system, there are very few redeeming qualities in this package. If you’re really desperate to build your own minifigure, most Lego games already have a character builder of their own. Your time and money is best spent elsewhere.
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