Lego Horizon Adventures Review – Beautiful Horizon

Lego Horizon Adventures Review

Lego Horizon Adventures feels like the pinnacle of everything that’s come before it. It does an excellent job of utilizing the source material to create a fun, humorous take on the story of Aloy from Sony’s successful ‘Horizon’ series. Plus, it’s hands down the most gorgeous of any Lego game. I sometimes found myself somewhat disappointed in how safe Horizon Adventures feels. But there’s no denying that it is one of, if not the best Lego games out there.

As mentioned, Lego Horizon Adventures nails its whimsical version of the stories told in Horizon. If you’ve played a licensed Lego game before, you won’t be surprised to find that Horizon Adventures follows the exact blueprint of taking all the major plot points found in Horizon and condenses them into entertaining, easily digestible versions of themselves. Children with no prior knowledge of the Horizon series will be able to dive in and quickly understand what’s happening without issue. Adults familiar with Horizon will find it does a wonderful job of retelling Aloy’s story with a lighthearted spin.

Pure Bliss

Adding to the stellar production value is some great voicework from the original game’s cast. Ashly Burch (Aloy) and JB Blanc (Rost) are fantastic in their roles. Naturally, they aren’t as serious as we’ve grown accustomed to, but their ability to capture their characters’ essence while injecting playfulness and humor into them is flawless. I wasn’t expecting to be as invested in these versions of Horizon’s established personalities as I was, and I found this to be one of Lego Horizon Adventures’ greatest strengths.

Throughout your time with Lego Horizon Adventures, you’ll be taken across various landscapes, much like those in Horizon. Snowy mountains, grasslands, desert plains, and more await. Discovering new areas is as entertaining as ever, even when, as a veteran of the series, I knew what to expect. This is mainly due to just how beautiful Lego Horizon Adventures is. Thanks to a combination of supreme lighting techniques and spot-on shadows, each new level was pure bliss to play through. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a Lego game, and I wasn’t aware of just how far they’ve come visually.

Playing It Safe

However, where Lego Horizon Adventures didn’t surprise me was in its simple gameplay. I understand that these games need to be made accessible to all age groups. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope to see a more nuanced control scheme. Combat boils down to running, jumping, and attacking. People familiar with Horizon know that Aloy has a vast arsenal of tools at her disposal. Both in regards to maneuvering and attacking. While there is a skill tree that you can use to upgrade particular abilities, Horizon Adventures doesn’t take any risks in allowing Lego Aloy to feel closer to her big-sister counterpart.

Though, truth be told, while I’d love to have more control over Aloy, I don’t think it’s all that necessary. Lego Horizon Adventures, even on its hardest difficulty, is incredibly easy. I know that Lego games have never been known for their difficulty. However, I can’t help but feel like Lego Horizon Adventures was the perfect opportunity to break the mold and introduce some genuine challenges for those seeking them.

Doing What It Does Best

Thankfully, Lego Horizon Adventures continues to do what the Lego franchise does best. It delivers dense levels that are full of secrets to discover. There’s something about smashing everything in your way, collecting studs, and unlocking goodies that never gets old. Horizon Adventures continues to nail this feeling, offering a vast amount of content for players to get their hands on. Those who find themselves addicted to Lego’s staple systems will feel right at home. Credit needs to be given to the development team for managing to deliver something that doesn’t feel unique yet still ends up being as entertaining as ever.

For my money, Lego Horizon Adventures is the best Lego game I’ve played. It does a great job of retelling Aloy’s story, all the while never losing sight of what makes Lego games great. At times, it’s hilarious, and other times, it’s heartwarming. Plus, it looks absolutely gorgeous. It’s also chock-full of content for players to discover, rewarding those who take the time to search every nook and cranny of its diverse set of levels. I do feel it plays things a little too safe at times. But for fans of the Lego games, it has everything one could want from a new entry into the franchise.

***A PS5 code was provided for this review***