LEGO 2K Drive [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

Who would have thought that one of the best racing games released this year would be one packed to the brim with LEGO bricks? I’ll admit, I wasn’t too hyped for LEGO 2K Drive before release, but I’ve found myself completely hooked into its whimsical world of exciting racing antics. It’s a really, REALLY fun game and one that’s even better to play with younger gamers.

Check out some screenshots down below:

LEGO 2K Drive lets players race across a vibrant LEGO-built world across a variety of circuits, with players speeding through roads, off-road, and even the waters as they compete with rival racers in frantic action. You can use a rechargeable boost to blast your way forward, drift to slip your way around corners with ease (and build boost), and unleash an array of power-ups that can be found across the track to get the upper-hand over your foes, with the game embracing an arcade-like approach that ensures the manic action is a ton of fun throughout. And sure, the core racing formula will feel familiar to anyone who has played the likes of Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing, or, more recently, Disney Speedstorm before, but LEGO 2K Drive has its own weightiness to it that ensures players will have to go through a bit of a learning curve before they’re hitting those first-place finishes with ease.

There are plenty of other little things to consider when racing too, with destruction at the forefront. What, you didn’t think you’d race across a LEGO world without smashing up some bricks, right? Players are encouraged to smash into the objects around them to not only build up boost but also restore their vehicle health when damaged, though the fact that it’s satisfying to be destructive adds to the fun. I’ve been playing the game with my younger nephew and he often spent more time trying to cause chaos rather than just win races, with LEGO 2K Drive letting players embrace that satisfying sense of destruction that caters for younger players. Be warned though: not everything can be destroyed, so be careful that you don’t try smashing through something too big in a race.

The overall racing feels great anyway though, and whilst the drifting mechanic did take getting used to (it’s a bit more floaty than similar titles), each race was always packed with excitement where your opponents are constantly jostling with you for first place. The track designs are slick and give players plenty to see as they speed through them, whilst the power-up selection ensures there are plenty of ways to catch rivals out. Some personal favourites were the Juice Blaster which unleashes a machine gun-like blast of fruit juice on a target in front of you and the Square Wheels which can inflict square wheels on your rivals to slow them down (duh), though the Teleport that blasted me ahead of the pack when lagging behind really turned my fortunes around when things weren’t going my way in a race. There’s no equivalent of a Blue Shell to be found and the lack of super special attacks was disappointing, but hey, at least it’ll prevent some arguments when using them against a friend in multiplayer action.

“The open world looks great, is full of events to complete, and lets you unleash your destructive side by smashing through seemingly endless LEGO blocks, whilst it’s super rewarding to show off your creative side with the robust vehicle creator.”

Whilst LEGO 2K Drive has Cups to play through, the option to hit a single race, mini-games that offer creative takes on the driving action, and both local and online multiplayer to compete with other players, the highlight of the experience has got to be the Story Mode. Here, players will get to explore a variety of open-world locales packed to the brim with events to complete, with the ultimate goal being to win the Sky Cup Grand Prix. However, with rival racers to beat along the way (as well as a ton of zany scenarios to find yourself in), your journey to racing stardom won’t be an easy one.

I LOVED playing through Story Mode. Each environment felt great to explore and were packed with unique events to complete, collectibles to find, and mini-games to play, whilst each brings with them a ton of joyful sights to uncover that make them a real treat on the eye. LEGO 2K Drive is just so creative in design that there is always something fun to do even when you’re just speeding around carefree, whilst the aforementioned destruction is even more apparent when you’re smashing into everything in sight as you scour the open world. It’s just clear that a lot of care and attention went into fleshing out the world to make it fun to be a part of, with everything about LEGO 2K Drive just oozing with joy.

It’s also worth noting that this is where my nephew had the most fun. The races can be a little unforgiving at times which isn’t perfect for younger players, but exploring the world? It’s always enjoyable and offers a cool way for kids to just speed around and have a good time. Of course, racing fans will naturally find the most satisfaction completing events and progressing through the game, but the open-world driving is perfect for silly carefree driving too.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The racing shines, the world is great to explore, and there’s plenty to do, but it wouldn’t be a LEGO game without giving players the chance to build. Thankfully, LEGO 2K Drive delivers in that department too, with players able to build their own vehicles using a wide range of LEGO blocks and pieces. You can unlock an array of preset designs that also look pretty slick, but nothing beats putting your own design together, customising it, and then hitting the road. It’s an area of the game where I’ve spent a silly amount of time so far, and, like the open-world racing, it’s ideal for young budding builders who want to show off their off imaginative designs. With new pieces continually unlocking as you progress through the game, it’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of LEGO 2K Drive.

The only downside to the experience is that it lacks that charm of other LEGO titles (or even similar racers). Whilst the other LEGO games are licenced and give you plenty of fan-favourite characters to play as and locales to explore, LEGO 2K Drive lacks that. It’s the same when compared to the likes of Mario Kart or Disney Speedstorm, with players likely to feel less affection to the all-new introductions here. At the end of the day, it is a new IP, whilst the world is full of personality and the jokes will even pull a few laughs from older players (though some will make you cringe) – it just misses that special sense of familiarity which is typically synonymous with LEGO video games.

Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K
Platform(s): Xbox Series X (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://lego.2k.com/drive/