LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5) review: A fun game despite its lack of depth and replayability

Note: This review was first published on 20 November 2024.

LEGO Horizon Adventures should have been a match made in gaming heaven: the serious, epic world of Horizon mixed with the playful, creative fun of LEGO. But, as it turns out, this combination doesn’t gel quite as seamlessly as one might hope here. The game looks polished and carries that recognisable LEGO aesthetic, but it just doesn’t capture the spark that makes either franchise (like the wonderful Star Wars series) shine on its own. It ends up falling short of both the classic Traveller’s Tales LEGO magic and the gripping adventure of the Horizon games.

But let’s get one thing out of the way first: LEGO Horizon Adventures wasn’t developed by Traveller’s Tales, the usual LEGO game studio. After so many years of enjoying their quirky co-op gameplay, destructible environments, and mountains of collectibles, the change is pretty noticeable – and not always for the better. Sure, this game is more polished than a lot of the usual Traveller’s Tales titles, which often come with their fair share of bugs. In contrast, LEGO Horizon Adventures runs smoothly, without any of those pesky technical issues.

The problem is that all that polish comes at the cost of a bit of the fun. What I love most about LEGO games is the sheer amount of destruction – smashing everything in sight and then rebuilding it into something new. LEGO Horizon Adventures dials that chaos way down. There are far fewer objects to destroy, which makes the levels feel quite empty. Travelling from point A to point B becomes a rather boring stroll, picking up LEGO studs as you go. There’s no satisfying sense of exploration, no secrets to uncover, and that absence leaves a big gap in the gameplay.

Even when the game throws in some platforming elements – climbing or ziplining – it feels overly simple. Characters snap to ledges as if they’re being pulled by magnets, and there’s none of the light puzzling or acrobatics you’d expect from LEGO games. It all ends up feeling too predictable, like the game is on rails and you’re just tagging along for the ride.

That said, not everything is a miss. The combat is actually quite enjoyable, and here the game really does bring a bit of Horizon’s charm to the table. Battling the iconic machines from the Horizon universe, aiming for their weak points to do critical damage, translates well into the LEGO formula. There’s even a bit of stealth thrown in, although it’s not very deep – you can hide in tall grass, but there’s really no reason to since you can take on enemies directly.

One of the best parts of the game is how it handles combat variety. Unlike other LEGO titles that flood you with dozens of characters to collect and play, LEGO Horizon Adventures keeps it simple with four main heroes: Aloy, Teersa, Erend, and Varl. Each of them has unique abilities, which adds a nice bit of strategy to fights. Teersa lobs bombs, Erend swings a hefty hammer, and Varl fights with a spear. Gadgets like the tripcaster and blast boots add elemental attacks – fire, shock, ice – to mix things up, which keeps combat from getting stale.

Story-wise, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a light, humorous spin on Horizon Zero Dawn’s more serious narrative. The voice acting is pretty solid, and the characters come off a lot more light-hearted than they do in the main games. Sylens has been recast following the passing of Lance Reddick (bless his soul), but the new voice fits this version well enough. The game leans heavily into comedy, with plenty of sight gags and goofy dialogue. It doesn’t carry the same emotional weight as the original story, but it’s entertaining if you’re looking for something lighter – as it should for a LEGO family-oriented game.

Unfortunately, LEGO Horizon Adventures does struggle with repetition. The levels tend to blur together, with very little to make each one distinct. The Cauldrons, which act as dungeon-like areas, don’t do much to set themselves apart, and the puzzles are far too easy. There’s just not much in the way of challenge, especially compared to the more elaborate collectible hunts you’ll find in other LEGO games.

There are still a few fun elements beyond combat, though. The hub world, Mother’s Heart village, features a community board where you can tackle challenges to earn gold bricks. These bricks unlock more content and let you customise the village, which is a nice touch. You can also dress up Aloy and her friends in ridiculous outfits – think hot dog suits or chicken costumes – which keeps things in line with that classic LEGO humour.

Co-op is here too, of course, and it’s what you’d expect from a LEGO game: drop-in, drop-out throughout the entire campaign. Sadly, some old issues persist. If players get too far apart, the second player is dragged back, which can be annoying, particularly during the bigger battles. And co-op partners still can’t earn trophies with their own account, which is a letdown for those who want to share in the full experience.

Visually, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a real treat. It borrows from The LEGO Movie’s stop-motion style, with a vibrant and intricate level of detail. The lighting is great, and there’s a lot to admire in how the environments and characters are recreated with LEGO bricks. It’s definitely one of those games where you’ll find yourself pausing just to take in the scenery.

Ultimately, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a mixed bag. Its gameplay is polished and the combat is fun, but it’s also lacking in some key areas. It doesn’t have the spark that makes LEGO games endlessly replayable, nor does it have the depth that Horizon fans might be hoping for. It’s a decent choice if you’re looking for a casual playthrough with the family, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression on die-hard fans of either franchise.

LEGO Horizon Adventures is now available for the PlayStation 5, PC and Switch.

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