LEGO Party knows exactly what it is and that’s ok

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With over two decades under its belt, the Mario Party series has solidified itself as a gaming institution, widely known and appreciated by many gamers. It stands unique in its genre with limited rivals or imitators. Now, the creators at SMG Studio, together with Fictions, are daringly venturing into this established territory with a universally recognized brand: LEGO. As the name suggests, LEGO Party is what you’d expect and Shacknews recently got a chance to test it out during this year’s Summer Game Fest.

As a gamer, I’d say LEGO Party has that classic Mario Party vibe, where up to four of us gather around for a friendly board game tournament. We roll the dice, move our pieces, and land on spaces that dish out Lego studs or set off quirky board effects. The goal is to navigate through the board, grab the Golden Brick, and pocket 20 studs. After each turn, we all get a chance to show off our skills in a quick mini-game.

While it’s undeniable that LEGO Party bears a strong resemblance to something familiar, its execution is commendable. The games operate seamlessly and the mini-games cleverly utilize the LEGO environment. One such mini-game required arranging flying panels to construct the tallest tower feasible. Another tasked players with pushing a dolly filled with LEGO studs as far as possible while minimizing spills. Following each mini-game, there’s a short pause where the game calculates scores, giving all characters a chance to play around excitedly, much like kids on a sugar rush. In essence, this quick burst of fun encapsulates the entire LEGO Party experience.

The game boards make full use of LEGO sets, incorporating them into the game environment. Essentially, most elements within the game can be physically built at home if you have the necessary pieces. Additionally, each board encourages creative building, with some areas offering opportunities for new constructions. However, during the demonstration I observed, no one landed on that space, so I’m unable to comment on how effectively this feature is realized in practice.

Absolutely, LEGO Party mirrors the spirit of Mario Party in many aspects, even incorporating the surprising twists that can strain friendships during the final moments. In this round, for instance, one player scaled a central volcano, setting off an occurrence that dislodged another player’s Golden Brick and placed it on a random spot on the board. Another player ended up on a shark space, causing all studs and Golden Bricks to be redistributed. Fortunately, no one landed on these spaces this time, but the game had plenty of Question spots that mimicked Mario Party’s unpopular Chance Time.

Following the conclusion of the gathering, I must admit it evoked a sense of having participated in a tribute to Mario Party. Luckily, it was an enjoyable tribute indeed! LEGO Party excels at what it offers and my experience has piqued my curiosity about the remaining game boards, as well as its other play modes. Interestingly, LEGO Party boasts a feature that Mario Party lacks – multiplatform compatibility, which should bring joy to parents. Keep an eye out for LEGO Party’s arrival on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch (excluding the Nintendo Switch 2) later in the year.

This sneak peek is derived from a preliminary demonstration that took place during Summer Game Fest: Play Days. Please note that the final version may undergo some changes.

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2025-06-18 22:27