Video Game Review: LEGO Builder’s Journey

Developer: Light Brick

Publisher: LEGO Games

Genre: Puzzle

Nintendo Switch

When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, there are a lot of LEGO Games to choose from. Most of them follow the usual cookie-cutter formula established by LEGO Star Wars many generations ago. Every now and again though, LEGO Games puts out something different. LEGO Builder’s Journey is Light Brick’s debut LEGO game and it is a gem.

LEGO Builder’s Journey have players play as a child who is tasked with solving a lot of building puzzles over the course of the game’s story. Throughout the brief three-hour story, years will pass as players learn about the child and their relationship with their father. By the end of LEGO Builder’s Journey, players will feel touched by the surprisingly emotional tale that’s easy to empathize with. I found myself astounded by how invested I was in a story with such a simple presentation. Even if one doesn’t care much for the LEGO-themed puzzles, players will feel compelled to push forward to see what becomes of the child and their father.

The puzzles themselves are solid and most of the journey isn’t too difficult. LEGO Builder’s Journey is an accessible puzzler that doesn’t test the player’s mind as much as it challenges their imagination. Players will need to build various constructs to help the child get to various spots on the stages. Using just a few bricks, players will build bridges and other similar structures to reunite the father and child. The early levels are almost too easy, but the later stages offer a little more challenge to players.

The lack of challenge is alleviated by the flexibility of the puzzles. LEGO Builder’s Journey puzzles always feel like they have multiple ways to approach them. Playing around with the bricks is delightful. It all effectively captures the magical feeling that children get while building with LEGOs.

LEGO Builder’s Journey‘s emotional journey is amplified by the soft, almost melancholic soundtrack that plays during puzzles. The entire game’s narrative is told through what happens on the bricks. There isn’t any voice acting or text to narrate anything. The visuals are gorgeous, using fantastic lighting effects to make the small LEGO dioramas truly shine. Even if playing with digital LEGOs isn’t as satisfying as the real, it gets pretty close in LEGO Builder’s Journey.

It doesn’t matter that LEGO Builder’s Journey takes less than three hours to play. It doesn’t matter that the puzzles aren’t remarkably challenging. It’s a game that presents a beautifully touching story in a creative way. Anyone who has a connection with these little bricks and wants to maybe shed a few tears will want to check out LEGO Builder’s Journey.