LEGO City Undercover

The biggest problem with LEGO City Undercover? Trying to pull myself away from it in order to write a review.

83%Game Brain Score

story, humor

optimization, stability

89% User Score Based on 5,442 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 25 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.20

Buy NowGet on Steam €4.49 Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store Buy NowGet on PS Store $29.99

About

LEGO City Undercover is a single player and multiplayer open world hack and slash game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Traveller's Tales and was released on April 4, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In LEGO City Undercover, play as Chase McCain, a police officer going undercover to stop criminal Rex Fury. Explore the vast open-world of LEGO City, complete with 20 unique districts, various missions, movie references, and humorous content, for players of all ages to enjoy. The game features two-player co-op mode.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,442 reviews

story451 positive mentions

optimization40 negative mentions

story
1,337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The story of "Lego City Undercover" is a unique and engaging narrative that blends humor with action, following protagonist Chase McCain as he goes undercover to capture the villain Rex Fury. While the plot is often described as clichéd and light-hearted, it successfully incorporates comedic elements and references to classic action films, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults. However, some players noted that the story is relatively short compared to the vast amount of post-story content, and the game suffers from technical issues that can disrupt the experience.
- “The story is engaging and the city is a joy to explore.”
- “The story is high quality and really funny.”
- “The story is fun and exciting, the comedy adds so much to the overall enjoyment, the graphics are beautiful, and the voice acting is a treat to listen to.”
- “The story is pretty standard.”
- “This one has no enjoyability, the characters are obnoxious, cut scenes are too long and unskippable, and the story is lackluster.”
- “The story is mediocre at best, but the game itself is fun enough and has a decent amount of references and easter eggs to keep it enjoyable.”
humor
404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Lego City Undercover" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging characters, and a mix of child-friendly and adult-oriented jokes that appeal to a broad audience. Players appreciate the game's lighthearted tone, filled with amusing cutscenes, quirky dialogue, and numerous pop culture references, making it a delightful experience for both kids and adults. While some find the humor a bit simplistic or repetitive, many agree that it successfully captures the signature charm of Lego games, providing plenty of laughs throughout the adventure.
- “Chase never fails to make me die laughing; he's so quirky and funny no matter the situation. Even when his life is on the line, he looks danger in the face and cracks another killer joke.”
- “The game is packed with clever references, funny one-liners, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor that's sure to make you smile.”
- “The humor is great, just like most other LEGO games, and it has a funny story line with a nice open world city and forest to explore.”
- “It's really fun, and without all the perv unfunny GTA jokes.”
gameplay
369 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The gameplay of "Lego City Undercover" is a mix of classic Lego mechanics and open-world exploration, featuring a vibrant city filled with humor and engaging side quests. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and varied character abilities, some criticize the combat as repetitive and the controls as awkward, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun experience for both children and adults, with a significant amount of content to explore.
- “The gameplay is very fun, and it revives some nostalgic feelings.”
- “With its vibrant open-world setting, dynamic gameplay mechanics, and charming humor, it's sure to captivate players of all ages.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with plenty of puzzles to solve and obstacles to overcome.”
- “Moreover, the combat mechanics introduced in this game were simply tedious every time, and I longed for the days of Lego Batman where I could watch my character lunge and explode into pieces my adversaries with a flying elbow.”
- “Gameplay is stale, repetitive, and boring.”
- “Graphics are awful for its time (even movie video games look better), gameplay is not fun, story and characters are bland, keyboard controls don't work well at all, puzzles swap on whims between being too handholdy and not telling you anything, etc. I had high hopes, and this game was quite disappointing.”
graphics
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic charm and improved visuals compared to older versions, while others criticize the outdated quality and performance issues, particularly on certain graphics cards. Many users note that the graphics can be enhanced with proper settings, but there are significant bugs and glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, while some find the graphics enjoyable and fitting for a LEGO game, others feel they fall short of modern standards.
- “I have a lot of nostalgia with this game and it was nice to revisit it with better graphics on PC; this is a must-have game if you're a LEGO fan!”
- “The graphics are truly incredible, and each level is designed perfectly with the right amount of fun and trickery.”
- “The story is fun and exciting, the comedy adds so much to the overall enjoyment, the graphics are beautiful, and the voice acting is a treat to listen to.”
- “Graphics are awful for its time (even movie video games look better), gameplay is not fun, story and characters are bland, keyboard controls don't work well at all, puzzles swap on whims between being too handholdy and not telling you anything, etc. I had high hopes, and this game was quite disappointing.”
- “Don't let the screenshots fool you, the graphics are basically the same visuals as the Wii U version, aka a 2013 game and really don't hold up when played at 1080p.”
- “Graphics just sucked and I have a great PC, I don't know why it's just bad. I'm gonna get a refund and get it on my Xbox; I've heard it's better quality and has better controls like the controls on PC are awful too.”
optimization
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent crashes, lag, and stuttering, particularly on PC. While some users found workarounds, such as adjusting launch options or using community mods, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for modern hardware, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite these issues, a few players noted that performance can be acceptable under certain conditions, but stability remains a major concern.
- “I highly recommend installing the community mod Lego City recovered by Kaldaien as it fixes a bug with fullscreen mode and increases the multi-threaded performance.”
- “This is quite possibly Lego's best TT-style game to date; despite issues with optimization, this game shows that Lego is capable of making an incredibly competent, original game.”
- “Smooth performance, great gameplay, simple mechanics.”
- “Games run horribly on PC with constant lag/stuttering; I've tried recommended fixes online with no avail.”
- “Performance suffers badly as this game was not designed for modern PC architectures.”
- “This game is so poorly optimized.”
stability
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes, particularly in the PC version. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by significant stability problems, making it a frustrating experience for many. Despite its fun gameplay, the numerous glitches and performance issues detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Great game, very fun, no glitches like people say.”
- “Runs great, and just plain fun!”
- “A buggy mess that never should have been ported to PC.”
- “Port is awful, constant freezes, borderline unplayable.”
- “This game is incredibly buggy with the ability to even start it depending on your patch level and a lot of luck.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The music in the game receives high praise for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, with many players highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience, especially during missions and key moments. However, some users noted a lack of music during exploration and driving, which detracted from the immersion at times. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated, the absence of consistent background music in certain gameplay scenarios is a common critique.
- “The music is one of the best I've ever heard in a game, and the open world has a lot to do for more than 50 hours of gameplay.”
- “I will also praise the original soundtrack for not only having some great tunes but also helping to create one of the greatest finale sequences ever in a LEGO game with such a climactic and outstanding track to end the game with.”
- “The music had such good energy to it but wasn't overly thump-thump-thump like most action soundtracks in games are.”
- “Only thing I didn't exactly like is the fact there is no music at all if you are just cruising through the city while getting to certain places or just driving around in search of collectibles.”
- “My biggest gripe is the lack of music when driving around or even walking around - which is like 80% of the game.”
- “Other than the sound effects themselves and people talking, there is literally no music even though I have it set to be on, so it's best to have something else on in the background for those times especially.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
20%
78%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the process of collecting numerous items and completing side content to be tedious and repetitive, especially for completionists. While some enjoy the exploration and fun elements of the open world, the overall sentiment leans towards the grind being excessive and often frustrating, particularly in comparison to other LEGO titles. Players suggest that achieving 100% completion can feel like a daunting task, requiring significant time and effort.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's a tedious grind if you're a completionist like myself.”
- “There is a lot of grinding involved in order to complete the game 100%, getting a lot of different collectibles over and over.”
- “Lego City Undercover is probably one of the most tedious to play, let alone 100% it.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
Overall, the game offers a mixed bag of replayability. Many players appreciate the ability to revisit individual chapters, unlock new characters, and engage in side quests, contributing to a satisfying experience with significant replay value. However, some users feel that the main story lacks replayability beyond a few special assignments, leading to a more moderate overall assessment.
- “Wittily written and charismatically voice acted, cleverly designed gameplay, bright bustling city to explore, jokes that are funny to me and jokes that are funny to mini-me, tons of replayability and things to discover.”
- “There are tons of things to find too, like more playable characters, plenty of side quests, and all sorts of other unlockables that really make this a satisfying game to progress in.”
- “So much replayability, even after doing the whole 18-hour game storyline.”
- “I don't think replayability is that high, because aside from a few 'special assignments,' you can't replay the rest of the story sequences.”
- “This game is nice; it reminds me of my childhood, but it can lack replayability. I'll play this every now and then.”
- “Replayability - 5/10”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Lego City Undercover" to be a deeply emotional experience, with impactful storytelling that evokes strong feelings, particularly during pivotal moments like the revelation of a character's tragic backstory. Unlike many modern Lego games that dilute emotional scenes with humor, this game effectively balances lightheartedness with heartfelt moments, leading to a moving conclusion that resonates even with those who typically do not express their emotions. Overall, it is praised for its ability to deliver a wholesome yet poignant narrative.
- “This game is drop-dead gorgeous; I've never played such a grand and emotional game before. The part where it was revealed that Joe Bobbington the Second's wife was killed really made me cry.”
- “When I completed chapter 15 (the final chapter), I almost shed a tear at the end credits scene because of how beautiful this game truly is.”
- “However, since Undercover has an original story, the jokes feel more at home and even set them aside for the more emotional scenes in the game.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its strong character development, ensuring that all characters are engaging and memorable without becoming annoying or forgettable. Additionally, the inclusion of character designs by Hunter Roberson and Rhett Deal enhances the overall appeal.
- “The game has good character development, without anyone becoming annoying, grating, or forgettable.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Many users express frustration with the current trend of excessive microtransactions and unnecessary DLC in games, making it increasingly difficult to find titles that offer substantial content without these monetization tactics.
- “It's refreshing to see a game that doesn't rely heavily on microtransactions or unnecessary DLC.”
- “This game offers a fair monetization model that respects players' time and investment.”
- “I appreciate how the monetization is balanced, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend extra money.”
- “These days, it is harder to find games with content like this since a lot of games tend to either throw in tons of microtransactions or pointless DLC.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised, with players expressing enjoyment and appreciation for its immersive qualities.
- “Overall, this game has a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The immersive atmosphere truly draws you into the game world, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and engaging, creating a unique environment that keeps you hooked.”

Skip Critic Reviews

78%Critics’ scoreBased on 25 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy LEGO City Undercover

35h Median play time

69h Average play time

16h Main story

49h Completionist

10-80h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like LEGO City Undercover

88%13.1kreviews

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

2013

Open World Hack and Slash

+17

79%5.5kreviews

LEGO Jurassic World

2015

Action Adventure

+21

80%5.1kreviews

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

2014

Open World Action Adventure

+22

76%3.1kreviews

The LEGO Movie Videogame

2014

Platformer

+14

84%3.3kreviews

LEGO DC Super-Villains

2018

Open World Hack and Slash

+10

More games like LEGO City Undercover

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

LEGO City Undercover is a open world hack and slash game with comedy theme.

LEGO City Undercover is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 16 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 49 hours to finish. On average players spend around 69 hours playing LEGO City Undercover.

LEGO City Undercover was released on April 4, 2017.

LEGO City Undercover was developed by Traveller's Tales.

LEGO City Undercover has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

LEGO City Undercover is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, LEGO Jurassic World, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, The LEGO Movie Videogame, LEGO DC Super-Villains and others.

LEGO City Undercover

Platforms