LEGO Games was a line of brick-built board games introduced in July of 2009. It comprised of twenty-nine games, and thirty-three different sets. Unlike previous LEGO board game releases such as Chess or Tic tac toe, the LEGO Games line featured original games developed by LEGO in conjunction with veteran designers from various game industries.
Details[]
The LEGO Games theme used standard bricks and building techniques in both construction and play, though two elements - the microfigure and the die - are both characteristic of the line and were exclusive to it. The die is actually so intrinsic to the theme, that it is actually incorporated into the theme's logo. Most of the games feature a playing board that must be constructed, although some others use a number of standalone structures instead.
The LEGO Games release schedule differs greatly between the European and American territories. They are typically released in Europe in steady waves much earlier than in America, where they appear sporadically and, in some cases, not at all.
In 2010, games were introduced that were based either on actual LEGO licenses, or, in some cases, original themes. Examples include 3862 Harry Potter Hogwarts, and 3856 Ninjago.
Heroica[]
In mid-2011, a subtheme of LEGO Games, Heroica, was released, which was based on the concept of RPGs (role playing games), such as the iconic Dungeons and Dragons. The subtheme would see players exploring various environments such as forests and dungeons, collecting keys and battling monsters. The various games in the subtheme would also be combined with each other to form a larger playing area.
As of 2014, LEGO Games and the subtheme Heroica have been discontinued.
New elements[]
Die: A characteristic die element was included in every game, and features prominently on each game's box. It is composed of a red hard-plastic core cube covered in black rubber rimming to give the die a strong bounce. In the box of each Game, one of the characters in the game are shown rolling the die. Each side features four studs, and each game supplies different tiles - many with unique printing - to modify the die according to the game's needs.
Microfigures: Some games featured microfigures to serve as tokens. These are single pieces styled to represent minifigures - some original, others based on existing minifigures - but are only one stud wide and two bricks tall, and have no moving parts.
Sets[]
Characters[]
Notes[]
- My LEGO Network includes LEGO Games and is linked with My LEGO Network through an online game called "Dice Quest."