LEGO Party! is a fun twist on the classic Mario Party formula. While many games have tried to capture the same magic, LEGO feels like the perfect brand to pull it off. It offers tons of customization options, allowing for a wide range of fun characters. Plus, it’s a franchise that just about everyone, from kids to adults, recognizes and connects with. The result is LEGO Party! — a game clearly inspired by Mario Party but with its own distinct personality.
The first thing that stood out to me was the presentation. It has the look and feel of a reality TV show, with us—the players—competing in various challenges and minigames. The trademark LEGO humor is here too, especially in the minigames that draw from the LEGO universe. It’s a great fit for the Nintendo Switch, and even though I played it on a Switch 2, I didn’t feel like I was missing out. Sure, a native version would have been nice, but the Switch port still runs smoothly on the Switch 2.
The game supports up to four players in a party setup. At the start, there are four boards to compete on and over 50 minigames to play. The boards are presented as Challenge Zones, each themed after popular LEGO sets like Pirates, Space, and Ninjago. Every board has its own look, feel, and set of unique characters. Players take turns rolling a dice to move across the board, and after everyone’s turn, a minigame begins. The minigame is usually chosen based on a majority vote.
The goal in each Challenge Zone is to collect Golden Bricks, which are bought using LEGO studs — the game’s main currency. You earn studs by landing on certain spaces, winning minigames, and completing challenges. They can also be used to buy items such as power-ups or modifiers to gain an advantage during play. Since there’s no story mode, the game leans heavily into its reality show theme. The idea is that each player is a contestant competing to become the next big LEGO Party star. At the end of every Challenge Zone, the number of Golden Bricks you’ve collected determines your final ranking.
Each Challenge Zone might look simple at first, but they change dynamically with every playthrough thanks to the construction zone mechanics. This adds a good amount of replay value, and when playing with friends, no two games ever feel the same. The minigames are surprisingly well-designed, though I found some of them a bit tough for younger players. Mario Party usually strikes a good balance between being easy to pick up and still offering a challenge, but here the difficulty leans a little higher, especially for kids who aren’t used to fast-paced games. Even on the default setting, the CPU opponents were competitive enough to beat me in a few rounds.
Most of the minigames are fun and creative, though a few depend on turn order, putting the first player at a slight disadvantage. On the bright side, the game focuses more on skill than luck, with less reliance on random chance compared to other party games. The in-game commentary is another highlight—it’s funny, fits the LEGO style perfectly, and helps make you feel like you’re really part of the show.
The customization options are impressive, offering plenty of ways to personalize your character. There are also many preset costumes and designs to unlock or mix and match, letting you experiment with different looks. While it’s disappointing that there are only four boards available at launch, I didn’t mind too much since each one is well-made. Still, it doesn’t do much for long-term replay value. Hopefully, more boards will be added in future updates, even if they come as paid content.
One area where the game falls short is repetition. Some minigames tend to repeat more often than they should, which can make longer sessions feel a bit stale. The game also struggles with balance compared to Mario Party, especially when it comes to earning Golden Bricks. In Mario Party, it’s often unclear who will win until the very end, but here, once someone builds a strong lead in Golden Bricks, it’s almost impossible to catch up. This can make the final stages of a match feel less exciting and more predictable.
Visually, the game is stunning. It captures the look and charm of real LEGO pieces rather than feeling like a rushed imitation. The boards are colorful, the animations are smooth, and the character designs are full of life. The soundtrack is upbeat and matches the cheerful tone of the game perfectly. Considering its budget-friendly price, LEGO Party! is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining party game on the Switch.
LEGO Party! Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Fictions
- Developer: SMG Studio
- Platform: Switch (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
