TheLEGOfranchise has been a mainstay of the industry for over two decades, with the vast majority of its success being built off its licensed titles. Beginning its licensed ventures withLEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, theLEGOfranchise has since expanded to include everything from thePirates of the Caribbeanfilms to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series has even found room for original creations every so many years, with releases likeLEGO City UndercoverandLEGO Worldsshowing how the toy bricks can support an entertaining and successful game without the help of recognizable properties.
With the release ofLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagain 2022, theLEGOfranchise reached a sort of crescendo. Developer TT Games returned to the property that gave theLEGOfranchise its big break, adapting every mainlineStar Warsfilm and greatly expanding on theLEGOgameplay formula. Now, the question on many gamers' minds is what’s next forLEGOgames after reaching such massive heights, and the answer may lie in a time beforeLEGOever touched a licensed property. IfLEGOwants to continue making something new out of something old, similar to LEGO 2K Drive (although that’s in different hands), it could take a trip back toLEGO Island.
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How LEGO Island Kickstarted the Current-Day Franchise
While some people may be more familiar with the licensedLEGOgames developed byTT Games,LEGOgames actually got their start much earlier in the late ’90s. Developed by Mindscape,LEGO Islandwas an open-world adventure game released for Microsoft Windows in 1997. This title lets players take control of five LEGO minifigures, each with a unique skill set, and explore the namesake LEGO Island. Players can play throughLEGO Islandlike many other open-world games, completing missions as they wish and exploring the scenery in between objectives.
LEGO Islandis rather rudimentary by today’s open-world andLEGOgame standards, but it created the blueprint on which futureLEGOgames were built. From buildable vehicles to various customization options,LEGO Islandepitomized the creativity of the original toy bricks with its unique gameplay and narrative. It may not have had the depth as some of theLEGO BatmanorLego Marvelgames, but it had the heart that has helped make theLEGOfranchise so timeless. It may be worth bringing back the fan-favorite with the franchise’s modern gameplay.
How LEGO Island Can Make a Return
TheLEGOfranchise is no stranger to making games independent of licensed properties, withone of its biggest successes beingLEGO City Undercover. This open-world adventure game could be considered a spiritual successor toLEGO Island, and if TT Games or another developer were to pursue a reboot of the game, it could look toLEGO City Undercoverfor more modern inspiration. The setting of LEGO City was filled with unique puzzles and vehicles for players to tear up the streets with, and the franchise could harness a bit of nostalgia by adapting the design philosophy ofLEGO CitytoLEGO Island.
LEGOgames have reached massive heights since the days ofLEGO Island, but that doesn’t mean the franchise should forget where it got its start. Many gamers who got their start withLEGO Islandfondly remember the title, and leadLEGOdeveloper TT games has evolved considerably to make the franchise into what it is today. If TT Games could use what it has learned from a game likeLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagaand apply it to a newLEGO Islandtitle, it could be the perfect tribute to the 1997 title. Rumors have been circulating for some time on whatthe nextLEGOventurewould be, but it’s hard to deny how fitting it would be to take players back to the island that started it all.
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