| LEGO Horizon Adventures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
LEGO Horizon Adventures is a lighthearted, action-adventure set in a reimagined Horizon universe. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Review Overview
What is LEGO Horizon Adventures?
LEGO Horizon Adventures takes the familiar world of Horizon Zero Dawn and transforms it into a playful, family-friendly action-adventure game. The premise follows Aloy, along with a team of companions, as they embark on a mission to explore and protect their world from robotic threats. The story is loosely based on the events of Zero Dawn, but it is reimagined in a more accessible, humorous way to fit the LEGO format.
LEGO Horizon Adventures features:
⚫︎ Fun and Humorous Reinterpretation of the Original Horizon Zero Dawn
⚫︎ Playable Characters Include Aloy, Varl, Teersa, and Erend
⚫︎ Cosmetic Upgrades With No Gameplay Impact
⚫︎ Stage-based progression
⚫︎ Humorous Dialogues and Fun Character Interactions
⚫︎ Engaging Gadgets
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about LEGO Horizon Adventures's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 Epic |
 PlayStation |
 Switch |
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| Price | $59.99 | ||||||
LEGO Horizon Adventures Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Creative and Humorous Dialogue Engaging Co-op Gameplay Interesting Gadgets and Power-ups |
Lacks The Emotional Depth and Complexity Combat and Gameplay are Simplified Cosmetic Upgrades Don’t Impact Gameplay |
LEGO Horizon Adventures Overall Score - 86/100
LEGO Horizon Adventures is a great entry for those looking for a lighter, family-friendly take on the Horizon universe. Its charm lies in its humor, creative gadgets, and strong co-op gameplay. While it can’t match the depth of the original, it makes up for it with fun, fast-paced action that’s perfect for a casual experience with friends or family. Whether you're a fan of the original Horizon or just looking for a quick and fun adventure, this game delivers a good balance of humor and gameplay mechanics. It’s not perfect, but it’s a worthwhile experience that captures the spirit of the franchise.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Story - 8/10
The story of LEGO Horizon Adventures is a loose reimagining of Horizon Zero Dawn, and it succeeds in translating the world and characters into something more fun and engaging for a younger audience. The tone is lighter, and the dialogue is filled with humor, providing a fresh take on familiar faces. While it doesn’t capture the complex themes of the original, it brings a much-needed playful twist to Aloy’s journey. This shift in narrative approach works well for the game’s intended audience, but it may leave fans of the original craving more depth.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Gameplay - 9/10
The gameplay of LEGO Horizon Adventures delivers a fun and fast-paced experience. The 2.5D world is filled with mild platforming, collectibles, and combat that’s simplified yet still satisfying. The game’s primary draw is its co-op mode, where you can team up with others to explore stages and take on larger enemies. While the combat isn’t as groundbreaking as the original, the unique gadgets and signature moves of each character inject a lot of personality into the game. The lack of a persistent open world may be disappointing for some, but the chapter-based structure keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Visuals - 9/10
The visuals are one of the highlights of LEGO Horizon Adventures. The vibrant and whimsical design captures the essence of the Horizon universe while maintaining the charm and style of LEGO games. The character models, environments, and enemies all have a delightful look that’s both familiar and new, making the world feel immersive in its own way. While it’s not as realistic as the original, the stylized approach suits the game’s tone perfectly. The colorful and dynamic world is easy on the eyes, making the overall visual experience enjoyable and visually appealing.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Audio - 8/10
The audio in LEGO Horizon Adventures complements its fun and lighthearted tone. The sound design is vibrant, with plenty of quirky sound effects that bring the world to life. The music is upbeat and fitting for the adventure, but it doesn’t have the same emotional impact as the original Horizon games. The voice acting is full of charm, with humorous banter between characters that adds to the playful atmosphere. While the audio isn’t groundbreaking, it does a great job of supporting the game’s overall lighthearted feel.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Value for Money - 9/10
For $59.99, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a fun, engaging experience, especially for families and those looking for a lighter take on the Horizon series. While it doesn’t offer the same depth or replayability as the original Horizon, the co-op features, creative gadgets, and humorous story make it worth the price for a different kind of adventure. It’s a game that’s easy to jump into, and the enjoyment factor is high, making it a good value for those looking for a fun time with friends or family.
LEGO Horizon Adventures Review: A Playful Adventure With Bricks And Banter
When you hear the title Horizon, you probably think of a post-apocalyptic world brought to life through complex lore and a nuanced storyline. LEGO Horizon Adventures, however, throws most of that gravity out the window, embracing a lighter, more playful tone that still somehow feels respectful to the source material. While the original Horizon Zero Dawn dealt with themes like survival, identity, and loss, the LEGO version recasts its characters and plot with a whimsical twist, creating an experience that’s as humorous as it is nostalgic. Gone are the dark undertones of child neglect or the weight of Aloy’s exile—instead, we get quirky personalities, reimagined banter, and a world of color and cheer that’s undeniably LEGO.
In this retelling, characters we once knew as stoic or haunted are recast as spirited, animated, and caricatured versions of themselves. Aloy, who originally carried the burden of an outsider, is here more relaxed and playful, fitting the LEGO atmosphere while still managing to convey a sense of purpose. Her interactions with characters like Teersa and Varl feel light-hearted, almost as if we’re seeing them at a fun family reunion rather than on a mission to save the world. This version of Aloy, while far from the original, shows a softer side, and for fans who understand the context of her character, it can be refreshing to see her cut loose in a completely different setting.
The change in tone extends to the storyline, which follows the main events of Zero Dawn loosely, with plenty of kid-friendly twists. With the storyline stripped of its heavier themes, the LEGO edition simplifies the narrative while sprinkling in signature LEGO humor. If you're familiar with Zero Dawn, you'll catch the references and nods, but you won't find the world-altering stakes or deep existential reflections here. Instead, the journey is structured to entertain, with vibrant dialogues, exaggerated expressions, and an emphasis on humor. The result is an endearing mix of familiarity and surprise that keeps you engaged while you reminisce.
It’s fair to say that hardcore Horizon fans may find this narrative shift jarring, especially if they’re looking for that intense emotional experience tied to the original game. However, understanding the purpose of LEGO Horizon Adventures helps put it in perspective. This isn’t a replacement or a retelling of Aloy’s journey in the traditional sense; it’s an interpretation, designed to make her world accessible to a broader, often younger audience. And while it doesn’t dig into the emotional core of Horizon Zero Dawn, it achieves what it sets out to do—offering a light-hearted tribute that retains just enough of the original’s identity to keep it recognizable.
Simplified Yet Satisfying Gameplay
One of the biggest shifts in LEGO Horizon Adventures is the move away from an open-world format to a structured 2.5D experience. While Horizon Zero Dawn allowed players to explore sprawling landscapes and unearth hidden stories at their own pace, the LEGO adaptation trades in that vast freedom for a more streamlined, chapter-based setup. Each chapter is divided into six smaller stages, which helps create a rhythm that feels comfortable within the LEGO universe, even if it lacks the grandiosity of the original. While this shift might seem restrictive to open-world fans, it actually lends itself well to the game’s straightforward, family-friendly style, and makes for a quick, pick-up-and-play experience that feels accessible to all ages.
The setup of moving through stages brings a nice sense of structure, and each stage serves as a self-contained adventure that you complete before returning to the settlement of Mother’s Heart. This hub not only functions as a resting point but also a place to rebuild—a feature unique to the LEGO version. By finding collectibles, you can add new buildings and props to Mother’s Heart, which gradually transforms it into a lively little village. This mechanic, while simple, adds a touch of personalization that wasn’t present in the original and gives you a reason to revisit familiar areas with fresh goals in mind. It also brings a rewarding sense of progression to a world otherwise structured by stages.
Collectibles and cosmetics play a different role here compared in Zero Dawn. The new collectibles are geared towards customization, letting you unlock props and decorations for Mother’s Heart that add visual flair but don’t impact gameplay. As a Horizon fan, it’s certainly a change to see Aloy in customizable outfits purely for aesthetics, as opposed to the skill-boosting armors from the original. But, within the context of a LEGO game, the emphasis on fun visuals feels fitting. The collectibles are lighthearted and add a sense of creativity and self-expression, a side of Horizon that’s rarely explored in its more serious mainline games.
In many ways, this stripped-down approach to gameplay mechanics works to the game’s advantage, making it more suitable for younger audiences and group play. By distilling Horizon’s systems into simpler mechanics and breaking down each stage into manageable chunks, LEGO Horizon Adventures achieves a balance of action and relaxation. It may not have the depth or complexity of the original, but for what it aims to be—a casual, fun-loving homage—it more than holds its own. Players seeking the next deep, strategic Horizon title might be left wanting more, but those who can appreciate a fun, laid-back experience will find plenty to enjoy here.
Co-Op Dynamics for Group Play
One of the standout features of LEGO Horizon Adventures is its multiplayer co-op mode, which transforms the way players experience Aloy’s world. Unlike the single-player journey in Horizon Zero Dawn, this LEGO version brings the option to explore alongside friends or family, making the game feel like a team adventure. Co-op play opens up new dynamics, with multiple characters available to control, including familiar faces like Varl, Teersa, and Erend. Each character has a unique signature weapon, which adds some variety to the gameplay. Although these weapons can’t be upgraded individually, they bring just enough flair to distinguish each character's style while maintaining a balance that’s easy for all players to grasp.
In co-op, teamwork becomes an essential element, not because the gameplay is particularly challenging, but because the banter and interactions between players add a fun, social layer. There’s no friendly fire, but you can still hit other players, triggering humorous lines like "same team, remember?" It’s little touches like this that keep the game light-hearted and enjoyable, reminding you that LEGO Horizon Adventures is about creating a shared experience rather than focusing on high-stakes action. For fans of the original, this multiplayer twist brings a refreshing change of pace, letting players enjoy the world in a way that’s more playful and relaxed.
The game also encourages cooperative exploration by including branching pathways within each stage. These different paths still lead to the same point, but having the option to split up and explore independently adds a layer of strategy, especially when you’re searching for collectibles or tackling enemy encounters. Some players can take one route while others go a different way, ultimately speeding up the process and adding a sense of camaraderie to the experience. Taking on larger foes together is also a highlight, as having multiple players allows for coordinated attacks and makes each encounter feel more interactive and dynamic.
One clever feature in the co-op mode is the automatic teleport system, which kicks in if players stray too far from one another. Instead of dealing with the frustration of players getting left behind, the game pulls one player to the other who’s closer to the objective, keeping everyone on track. It’s a simple mechanic, but it makes group play much smoother, especially for younger players who might need help keeping up. Altogether, these thoughtful co-op elements make LEGO Horizon Adventures a truly enjoyable multiplayer experience, designed for laughter, collaboration, and that special sense of bonding you get from adventuring with friends or family.
From Precision to Playfulness
Combat in LEGO Horizon Adventures is a world apart from the intense, skill-based battles of Horizon Zero Dawn. In the original, every encounter required careful planning, precise aim, and a deep understanding of enemy weaknesses. By contrast, the LEGO version trades that precision for a more accessible, almost playful combat style. Gone are the complex weapon upgrades and strategic elemental damage calculations; here, combat is simplified to fit the game’s lighthearted, fun-first approach. For those accustomed to the more intense, tactical combat of Zero Dawn, this might initially feel like a letdown, but within the context of a LEGO title, it offers a refreshing shift that makes every encounter feel less about survival and more about pure enjoyment.
Each character has a primary weapon and a rotating set of gadgets, which introduce a fun mix of options without overwhelming the player with choices. Aloy, Varl, Teersa, and Erend each bring their own signature weapons, but the gadgets are where the LEGO spirit shines through. Among these, the hotdog stand gadget stands out as a humorous highlight, spawning a stand with a hotdog mascot that launches missiles at enemies. This kind of absurdity feels right at home in a LEGO game, adding layers of humor and creativity to combat that wouldn’t belong in a traditional Horizon game. Even as a fan of the original, I found myself smiling at the ridiculousness of it all, recognizing that this game aims to entertain above all.
Another notable difference is the structure of combat upgrades. Instead of permanent upgrades to weapons or abilities, LEGO Horizon Adventures opts for a temporary loot system where players collect rare weapons and gadgets within each stage. These tools provide a power boost for the current level but are reset at the beginning of each new stage, encouraging players to experiment with different items. This decision might feel restrictive to players who are used to accumulating and enhancing their arsenal over time, but it also simplifies the game, ensuring that younger or more casual players won’t feel bogged down by excessive customization.
Ultimately, the combat in LEGO Horizon Adventures may not satisfy those seeking the tactical depth of Zero Dawn, but it holds its own by embracing its unique strengths. The emphasis is on speed, fun, and flexibility, with fast-paced action that feels approachable and energetic. Every encounter is less a test of skill and more an invitation to play around with creative gadgets and enjoy the sheer spectacle of it all. For fans of the original, the combat might feel more like a side attraction than a core mechanic, but it’s a worthy trade-off for the game’s humor, delivering a combat experience that’s entertaining in its own right.
The Essence of Horizon in a New Light
While LEGO Horizon Adventures diverges significantly from the original Horizon Zero Dawn, it manages to capture a new essence of the world and characters fans love. Stripped of the darker, post-apocalyptic themes, the LEGO version shines a light on a more playful, whimsical side of Horizon. This transformation takes the established universe and reimagines it through a lens of humor and lightheartedness, an approach that some might view as unconventional but ultimately enjoyable. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, yet it still respects the source material enough to feel like an earnest tribute. For those willing to embrace the change in tone, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a refreshing and charming take on a beloved franchise.
In this retelling, Aloy’s outcast status and the cultural dynamics of the original are toned down, but the heart of her character remains intact. She’s still brave, determined, and a bit quirky, but her personality here is more lighthearted and carefree. While this change might not resonate with fans who are drawn to the deeper, more nuanced storytelling of the original, it’s an effective way to introduce new players to the world of Horizon without the weighty undertones.
What makes this adaptation work is the way it embraces the LEGO brand’s humor. The dialogue is witty, filled with friendly banter, and often pokes fun at the situations Aloy and her friends find themselves in. It’s a refreshing shift that keeps the game feeling energetic and playful, capturing the spirit of adventure without the emotional gravity. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to see the characters in a new light, allowing for an experience that’s fun and doesn’t carry the emotional weight of Zero Dawn. There’s a real sense of joy in watching these characters interact in ways that would feel out of place in the mainline series but are perfectly suited to the LEGO world.
In the end, LEGO Horizon Adventures is more than just a retelling; it’s a reinterpretation that serves a different purpose. It’s a celebration of Horizon, seen through a different lens, allowing fans to appreciate the franchise in a whole new way. It may not replace the original experience, but it complements it beautifully, acting as both an entry point for newcomers and a lighthearted tribute for fans. By the time I wrapped up my playthrough, I was left with a renewed appreciation for Zero Dawn and a sense that this LEGO adventure had added something unique to the Horizon legacy. It’s a fun version of Horizon that still feels true to its adventurous core, and while it’s different, it’s a difference that works.
Is LEGO Horizon Adventures Worth It?
It’s the Building Blocks of Fun in the Horizon Universe
For fans of Horizon Zero Dawn and newcomers alike, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a fresh perspective on a beloved world. While it might not have the emotional depth or complex gameplay of the original, it succeeds as a lighthearted, family-friendly reimagining that captures the spirit of adventure in a way only LEGO can. The playful approach brings a joyful, humorous spin to Aloy’s story, making it digestible to a wider audience without diluting its core essence.
The game’s co-op features and creative combat gadgets make it an enjoyable experience, especially with friends or family. Ultimately, LEGO Horizon Adventures is worth the journey for anyone who appreciates fun, humor, and a less serious take on Horizon. It may not replace the main series for die-hard fans, but it offers a delightful side-adventure that captures the heart of Horizon in a refreshing, easy-to-enjoy format.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
Epic |
PlayStation |
Switch |
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| Price | $59.99 | ||||||
LEGO Horizon Adventures FAQ
Is the Antagonist in LEGO Horizon Adventures The Same In Zero Dawn?
Not exactly. In LEGO Horizon Adventures, the main antagonist is an oversimplified version of Hades, the rogue AI from Zero Dawn. The overall tone and presentation of the villain is much lighter in this LEGO reimagining.
Does Rost Also Appear in LEGO Horizon?
Yes, Rost makes an appearance in LEGO Horizon Adventures. He also serves as the main narrator for the game.
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LEGO Horizon Adventures Product Information
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| Title | LEGO HORIZON ADVENTURES |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 14, 2024 |
| Developer | Guerrilla, Studio Gobo |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Number of Players | Single-Player, Local/Online Co-Op |
| Rating | ESRB E 10+ |
| Official Website | LEGO Horizon Adventures Official Website |
