Highlights
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga reinvented the LEGO formula with a massive open world, new storytelling, and revamped gameplay mechanics.
Although being a distinct and enjoyable game, it lacked the familiarity of a typical LEGO game and consequently diminished the series' allure.
Moving forward, LEGO games ought to concentrate on more compact adventures that truly embody the essence of the intellectual properties, much like the beloved LEGO Star Wars titles.
Traveller's Tales LEGO games have undergone significant evolution since their inception, with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga representing the largest stride forward. Although the series has dabbled in open-world gameplay since LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes, The Skywalker Saga elevated it to an entirely new level. This installment not only faithfully recreated the Star Wars universe in LEGO form, but it also offered players the chance to experience all three trilogies in one comprehensive package. Undoubtedly, this made it a captivating experience for fans; however, it should not be the blueprint for the future.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was an exceptional game that players should unquestionably not overlook. Nevertheless, it completely reimagined the familiar LEGO formula that players had grown fond of. As a result, it seemed to lose some of the charm that characterized past LEGO games. Despite fulfilling players' expectations for a grandiose scale, it fell short of meeting the standards set by LEGO fans, ultimately preventing it from realizing its full potential.
LEGO Games Excel When They Are Smaller Scale
Traveller's Tales has been experimenting with various concepts in its LEGO titles for the past few years. LEGO Batman 2 introduced an open-world gameplay, LEGO Dimensions explored the toys-to-life genre, LEGO Worlds added a Minecraft twist, and LEGO DC Super-Villains focused on a player-created character. These additions brought new elements to the franchise and revitalized the series. However, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga surpassed them all.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga completely revolutionized the LEGO game formula. Traveller's Tales created a vast open world with numerous planets to explore. The storytelling approach differed significantly, collectibles were revamped, there was no character customization, and the combat system underwent a complete overhaul. Additionally, the levels deviated from the traditional LEGO game style, and certain crucial lore elements could not be replayed. While this resulted in a unique and enjoyable experience, it deviated from the typical LEGO game format. Instead, it felt more like an open-world Star Wars game with a LEGO twist.
The future of the LEGO series should not solely rely on an open-world Star Wars game. The essence of the series lies in its smaller-scale adventures that allow players to immerse themselves in their favorite IPs. The original LEGO Star Wars games earned their status as classics not because of their massive scale, but because of their captivating presentation and enjoyable levels. Unfortunately, Traveller's Tales seems to have lost sight of this in their pursuit of making The Skywalker Saga as expansive as possible. However, there is hope that their next title will bring the series back to its roots.
Little is currently known about the upcoming LEGO game, but rumors suggest that it may be themed around DC or the Wizarding World. If this speculation is true, it is desired that the game embodies the spirit of the classic LEGO games rather than replicating The Skywalker Saga. While an open-world concept can still be incorporated, the world should model after titles such as LEGO Marvel Superheroes. Even if the game takes inspiration from The Skywalker Saga, it would be ideal if it retains the essence of a LEGO game.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.