LEGO Builder's Journey
- June 22, 2021
- Light Brick Studio
- 3h median play time
Wait, this was an option for how LEGO games could work?
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Get on PS Store"Lego Builder's Journey" is a geometric puzzle game that encourages both following instructions and breaking rules, set in a poetic world made of Lego bricks. Players will solve puzzles to navigate ups and downs in the builder's journey, while experiencing accurate Lego element rendering and stunning ray tracing. The game encourages experimentation and self-discovery.
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Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and stunning visuals, especially with ray tracing enabled.
- Charming and heartwarming story told without dialogue, allowing for emotional engagement.
- Relaxing gameplay with simple mechanics that encourage creativity in puzzle-solving.
- Very short game length, typically completed in 2-3 hours, making it feel overpriced at full price.
- Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, often leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Limited replayability and lack of additional content or modes after completing the story.
- story673 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Lego Builder's Journey" is a heartfelt, minimalist narrative that explores the relationship between a father and son, conveyed entirely through visuals and gameplay without any dialogue. While the story is engaging and emotionally resonant, it is notably short, typically taking around 2 to 3 hours to complete, which has led some players to feel that it lacks replayability and depth. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful graphics and creative puzzle design, making it a charming experience, especially when purchased on sale.
“The story is very satisfying and sweet, but it's only about 2 hours and it's really just a one and done.”
“The story of the father and son was very touching, especially with me having a little one of my own.”
“The game successfully creates various atmospheres and thus tells a wordless still touching little story throughout the different levels.”
“The story is very short and doesn't tell anything that makes you change perspectives or lets you think about something, so I was just braindead while playing.”
“For $20, I would not recommend the game only because it is a very short game and $20 for around 2-3 hours of gameplay for the story mode is not really worth it in my opinion.”
“The story is a bit lackluster, and the gameplay even more so.”
- graphics487 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Lego Builder's Journey" are widely praised for their stunning quality, particularly when utilizing ray tracing, which enhances the realism of the Lego pieces and environments. Many players note the exceptional lighting and color work that contribute to an immersive atmosphere, although some express concerns about the game's high system requirements and optimization issues. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight of the game, making it a worthwhile experience for those with capable hardware, despite the gameplay being perceived as simplistic or short.
“The graphics are immaculate, especially with RTX enabled; seeing the light reflect across the scratches and imperfections of the bricks like they would in the real world was nothing short of beautiful - much like the Lego movie if you've seen it.”
“The graphics are stunning and realistic, with beautiful visuals that create an immersive atmosphere.”
“The graphics are a joy to look at, especially if you have a newer graphics card capable of utilizing RTX and DLSS.”
“Graphics are poorly optimized -- it chugs even on low settings, and my rig is decent.”
“The graphics require a really beefy computer if you want to play it on full mode; I've never had issues with other games that have decently heavy graphics like Genshin Impact or Overwatch.”
“It's just a graphics demo; there's barely anything to do, the gameplay is as simple as it gets.”
- gameplay309 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Lego Builder's Journey" is characterized by its intuitive mechanics and engaging puzzle-solving elements, allowing players to creatively build paths and solve challenges. However, many reviews highlight the game's short duration (approximately 2-3 hours) and repetitive nature, leading to concerns about its value for the price. While the visuals and emotional storytelling are praised, the gameplay is often described as simplistic and lacking depth, with some players finding the controls clunky and frustrating.
“I disagree with many other (negative) reviews - I found all of the mechanics quite intuitive and I thought that they build on each other sensibly as you progress.”
“Engaging puzzle mechanics: Lego Builder's Journey offers a unique blend of creativity and puzzle-solving.”
“The gameplay consists of rather simple puzzle logic, but what stands out are the depictions of its 'plastic license': Lego.”
“I completed the game and, well... I really can only recommend this if you are a graphics fiend and want to see some stunningly beautiful LEGO bricks for yourself, but even then - only if there is a huge discount. The puzzles are weird (not in a fun way; just random and sometimes tedious), the game is not worth the price, and the gameplay is honestly mostly lousy.”
“The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive and the mode can be completed in just a few hours. Many are simple 'use pieces to get to the other side' brainteasers, but others are more mechanical.”
“The control scheme is terrible - for puzzles that need precision placement, there is no way to be precise - making the core gameplay very frustrating.”
- music206 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, effectively complementing the beautiful visuals and enhancing the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack creates a relaxing ambiance, making it suitable for casual play or as background music while working. However, some users mentioned issues with volume control and a lack of variety in the music, though overall, it is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact and immersive experience.
“The music is calming and you really just feel at peace when going through the game; sound design is amazing, as well as the visuals.”
“The soundtrack was so good that I purchased it on Bandcamp and still listen to it to this day.”
“Each tiny diorama is just full of creative detail down to every little piece that composes it, topped off with relaxing music and ambience that helps the mind wander - exactly what this game encourages.”
“I also thought the game was bugged when I started it, because there's no menu music or effects.”
“Controls are horrible, music is not fitting for the game.”
“Tedious endless repeating basic music which is too loud and not adjustable.”
- emotional154 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Lego Builder's Journey" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, which effectively conveys deep feelings of connection and nostalgia without the use of dialogue. Players describe the game as a touching exploration of the father-son relationship, evoking genuine emotions through its beautiful visuals and simple yet meaningful gameplay. Many reviewers noted that the game's ability to resonate emotionally, despite its short length, makes it a memorable and wholesome experience.
“The story of the father and son was very touching, especially with me having a little one of my own.”
“Emotional storytelling: despite the absence of dialogue, the game effectively conveys emotions and tells a heartwarming story through its visuals and gameplay.”
“This game tells a very simple and wholesome story that I enjoyed until the end.”
- atmosphere80 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, exceptional lighting, and calming sound design, creating an immersive and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the cute, inviting environments and the harmonious blend of music and visuals, which enhance the overall enjoyment despite some critiques about the simplicity of the puzzles. Overall, the game is recognized as a charming atmospheric experience, particularly appealing to fans of LEGO and puzzle games.
“The game offers cute 3D visuals, atmospheric sound design, and satisfying puzzles alongside nostalgic LEGO styling and play.”
“The beautiful graphics, relaxing atmosphere, creative puzzle solving, and a heartwarming story to tie everything together make this game truly magical.”
“From the second this game begins, it's filled to the brim with atmosphere; anywhere from the music, sound, and tiny visual details all contribute to the grander picture at play.”
“The atmosphere is a bit too dark for kids, the puzzles are a bit too light for adults.”
“However, if you know what you're in for, something more like a movie than a game, with no voice acting, text, minimal mechanics and narrative and an abundance of relaxing atmosphere then I don't think you'll be surprised.”
“Funny little puzzle game, very wholesome atmosphere but extremely short.”
- replayability73 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has very limited replayability, primarily due to its short length of around 1-2 hours and a lack of additional content or modes that would encourage revisiting. While some levels offer multiple solutions, the main story does not provide significant incentive to replay. The creative mode adds a slight increase in replay value, but many players find it insufficient to justify the game's price.
“While the story is very short, it has some replayability in that some levels have multiple ways to solve, per the nature of the bricks.”
“But judging from the creative mode trailer, it seems fun and might make the game more replayable.”
“Despite the short playtime that I got out of the game, I think that the amount of replayability here is very high, and after getting the game yesterday, I already find myself starting another playthrough.”
“There is no replay value in terms of the story.”
“Limited replayability: once the puzzles are solved, there's limited incentive to revisit them.”
“The game is exceedingly short: I got two hours from it, and there's nothing in the way of replayability.”
- optimization57 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues even on high-end systems. Frame rates often drop below acceptable levels, particularly in graphically intensive areas, and the implementation of ray tracing exacerbates these problems. While the visuals are praised, the overall performance is deemed poor, making it challenging for players with lower-spec PCs to enjoy the game smoothly.
“The game runs smoothly with no noticeable lag or frame rate drops.”
“It's worth noting that the game is designed with versatility in mind, as it accommodates lower-end systems while also recommending RTX cards for optimal performance.”
“The performance definitely took a massive hit with ultra settings, but luckily the game supports DLSS.”
“Graphics are poorly optimized -- it chugs even on low settings, and my rig is decent.”
“This game is incredibly unoptimized.”
“The ray tracing implementation in this game comes with significant performance problems that defeat the purpose of playing it with graphics in mind.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 73 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that the character movement and puzzle mechanics are slow and unengaging. While the visuals are praised, the gameplay is often described as repetitive and lacking in fun, leading to a recommendation only for those who prioritize graphics over gameplay experience. Overall, the game is seen as requiring excessive time investment for minimal enjoyment, with many suggesting it is not worth the price unless heavily discounted.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
“It makes what should be a relaxing, calm experience into something far more tedious and sluggish.”
“The length of this game is one of the reasons that you've probably seen negative reviews, and alone this wouldn't be an issue if the gameplay were more than a tedious click and drag mechanic with a wonky camera.”
“But the levels are tedious and repetitive, and snapping bricks together using a mouse is nowhere near as snappy as it could be to the point that it can get frustrating.”
- stability17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant issues such as frequent freezes, crashes, and performance spikes, particularly with the DX12 version. While a few users reported smooth playthroughs without major bugs, many noted intrusive glitches and long loading times that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game appears to have stability concerns that could impact enjoyment for many players.
“The game runs smoothly without any bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues during my gameplay.”
“The performance is consistently reliable, making for a seamless experience.”
“Just a black screen with the game logo on it, and when you click, it silently opens a buggy looking menu where all the options are crammed so tightly together it looks like the interface is broken.”
“There are consistent, reproducible, and intrusive seconds-long hangs/freezes throughout the entire game.”
“- frequent freezes that lasted several seconds.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as whimsical and imaginative, contributing to a wholesome atmosphere, though some players find it lacking compared to traditional LEGO humor. While some appreciate the lighthearted and funny elements, others feel the humor is insufficient for the game's price and duration, leading to mixed feelings about its overall value.
“Funny and imaginative story.”
“Funny little puzzle game, very wholesome atmosphere but extremely short.”
“Cute and funny game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional execution, with users noting that the character designs and narrative progression surpass expectations, enhancing the overall experience.
“The way the character development is set up exceeds expectations.”
“My favorite childhood toy has been rendered in incredibly faithful 3D, and the puzzles and character designs are to be cherished.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a cash grab by LEGO, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience, particularly given the company's existing financial resources.
“Calling this a LEGO game is a cash grab by LEGO.”
“If nothing comes from this, it could be a major cash grab from companies that already have plenty of capital.”
