7 /10 3

LEGO Horizon Adventures represents Sony’s ambitious bet on adapting a mature action-RPG into a family-friendly LEGO experience. Released November 2024, this co-development between Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo earned a Metacritic score of 71, indicating mixed critical reception. Reviewers celebrated the stunning LEGO recreation of Aloy’s world and the successful tonal shift toward humor, while lamenting the short 6-8 hour campaign and predictable mission structure. This review examines whether the game justifies its $59.99 price tag and appeals to both Horizon fans and LEGO newcomers.

How to Play LEGO Horizon Adventures

LEGO Horizon Adventures simplifies Zero Dawn’s mechanics into an isometric action-adventure where players control Aloy and unlockable allies through 24 linear missions. Combat emphasizes destruction and elemental gadgets over strategy, with village customization adding strategic depth.

1. Controls – Controller layout mirrors classic LEGO games: attack buttons, special ability triggers, and interactive object prompts. Learning curve is minimal; tutorials adequately prepare players.
2. Progression – Four chapters with six missions each unlock new Horizon locations (Sacred Lands, Snowchant Mountains, Sunfall Desert). Completing missions earns Studs for character upgrades and customization items.
3. Combat and Mechanics – Defeat machine enemies using Aloy’s bow, melee attacks, and elemental gadgets (fire, ice, shock). Special “Cauldron” levels introduce platforming and object-manipulation puzzles using character abilities.
4. Tips – Collect all gold bricks for costume unlocks; customize Mother’s Heart village early to unlock gameplay bonuses; experiment with different character combinations for combat variety.

Who Should Play LEGO Horizon Adventures

This game bridges hardcore Horizon fans seeking a casual retelling and families wanting an accessible action game. Younger audiences and LEGO enthusiasts appreciate the charm, while demanding gamers may find the 10-12 hour completion underwhelming for the price.

• Horizon Series Fans – Experience Aloy’s origin story reimagined with LEGO humor and charm; maintains character arcs while lightening narrative tone.
• Co-op Seekers – Full co-op integration (online and split-screen) with scalable difficulty makes this ideal for playing with partners or children.
• LEGO Game Collectors – Modern LEGO mechanics refined since Skywalker Saga; the best-looking LEGO game released to date according to most critics.
• Skip If – You want substantial story depth, challenging combat, or 20+ hour campaigns; this game prioritizes accessibility and visual beauty over complexity.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Platform Performance

Performance varies significantly across platforms. PC and PS5 offer smooth 60fps experiences on high/performance settings, while Switch maintains a consistent 30fps with notable visual cutbacks. This represents one of the first major multiplatform LEGO releases with substantial performance variance.

LEGO Horizon Adventures System Requirements

PC requirements are moderately demanding for a LEGO title, reflecting the game’s graphical ambition. Minimum specs require current-generation GPUs, making older gaming PCs potentially incompatible. A PlayStation Network account is mandatory on PC for licensing verification.

Similar Games to LEGO Horizon Adventures

If you enjoy family-friendly action games with character customization and visual appeal, these titles offer comparable experiences with different themes or gameplay focuses.

• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – Larger campaign (25+ hours) with refined mission design; however, released 2022 with more polished mechanics than Horizon Adventures.
• Crash Bandicoot 4 – Similar colorful aesthetic and family accessibility with more challenge-focused level design; lacks co-op integration.
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Beautiful modernization of a classic franchise; comparable length but single-player focus, more narrative depth.
• Astro’s Playroom – Technical showpiece with innovative co-op design; much shorter (3-4 hours) and PS5-exclusive, but superior puzzle design.

LEGO Horizon Adventures vs Competitors

Comparing Horizon Adventures to recent major LEGO releases and action-adventure competitors reveals positioning as a shorter, more accessible entry point with exceptional visual presentation but limited content depth.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Story and World

The narrative faithfully condenses Horizon Zero Dawn into a 6-8 hour adventure, preserving key character moments (Aloy’s mysterious origins, Rost’s sacrifice, tribal politics) while removing combat complexity and emotional weight. Voice acting returns from the original (Lance Reddick’s death resulted in Tim Russ recasting Sylens), with new LEGO-specific humor overlaid throughout.

visual world translates Guerrilla’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic brilliantly into LEGO brick form: towering Tallnecks become climbable puzzles, machine designs maintain their iconic silhouettes, and biome diversity (lush forests, snow mountains, scorching deserts) creates visual variety. Reviewers praised the respectful tonal balance—honoring Horizon’s themes of environmentalism and human connection while embracing LEGO comedy, though some felt the story sacrificed narrative nuance for family accessibility.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Multiplayer and Online

This represents the first major LEGO game offering both online and couch co-op simultaneously, allowing flexible play styles. Split-screen maintains both players in the same visible world, eliminating coordination frustrations common in traditional co-op designs.

• Online Co-op – Full campaign playable with one remote partner; requires PlayStation Network account (even on PC/Switch).
• Couch Co-op – Innovative split-screen keeps both players in shared perspective rather than traditional side-by-side; praised for accessibility.
• Community Jobs – Optional weekly tasks providing cosmetics and currency; repeatable content extends playtime for engaged communities.
• Cross-Play – Not supported; multiplayer limited to same platform.

LEGO Horizon Adventures DLC and Expansions

Post-launch content strategy emphasizes cosmetic additions over story expansion. Digital Deluxe Edition bundles cosmetics; no major DLC overhauls planned per Guerrilla announcements as of January 2026.

• Digital Deluxe Exclusive Outfits – Ratchet & Clank, Sackboy, Banuk Armor, Shadow Stalwart, Alloy variants; $10 upgrade cost or included in $69.99 edition.
• Cosmetic DLC Roadmap – Additional outfits likely coming post-launch; typical LEGO game practice includes seasonal cosmetic releases.
• Free Updates – Bug fixes and balance patches released monthly; no paid story content announced or planned.
• Community Customization Items – Mother’s Heart village decorations earned through gameplay, with cosmetics purchasable for completionists.

LEGO Horizon Adventures Community and Support

Active community formed immediately post-launch, with players sharing completion strategies and customization showcases. Developer communication emphasizes support for competitive balance and technical stability through 2025.

• Official Forums – Guerrilla-hosted support site at legohorizonadventures.com; community managers respond to technical questions within 48 hours.
• Reddit & Discord – r/horizon and dedicated LEGO servers host 100k+ active members discussing strategies, builds, and cosmetics.
• Mod Support – No official modding tools; PC community developing cosmetic mods despite licensing restrictions.
• Patch Frequency – Weekly hotfixes for balance; major updates planned quarterly through 2025 roadmap announcement.