Mini Review: LEGO Brawls (PS5) - An Embarrassing Multiplayer Outing for LEGO

For years, LEGO games have carried around a reputation for being quality, kid-friendly titles that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. From classics like LEGO Star Wars to the recent LEGO Builder's Journey, there's hardly a modern LEGO game you can call downright bad. That is, until LEGO Brawls released on consoles, creating an embarrassing stain on an otherwise consistent catalogue.

Originally released in 2019 for Apple Arcade on mobile devices, LEGO Bawls is a fighting game in the loosest of terms. You only have one attack button, and you're able to pick up two temporary power-ups from item boxes around the stage. Matches are predominantly in a 4v4 King of the Hill format, where teams must control a certain area for a period of time. Despite being the main mode, this mode devolves into a mindless, button-mashing slog not even kids will enjoy. There's no feedback when hits connect, matches last for far too long, and characters can sometimes go flying from random hits. Additionally, because the AI is so poor, there's a good chance you can win by simply putting the controller down and standing still.

Other types of matches include an eight-player battle royale and a first-to-15 kills bout, but the nature of the game makes the modes far too hectic to enjoy. And due to the lack of discernible sound effects and no voices, you likely won't know where your character is until the end of the match anyway.

The main draw of LEGO Brawls is undoubtedly its character creator. There are over 77 billion weapon and outfit combinations to build, and while the number sounds insane, it's unlikely you'll be able to see all the options the game has available. Customization parts are either unlocked one at a time by winning matches or grinding for experience in a Battle Pass-style system. Because of this, it's unlikely you'll be able to truly build any minifigure you want.

LEGO Brawls feels like an insult to LEGO fans after the fantastic LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga released earlier this year. From the terrible core gameplay to the incredibly grindy unlock system, there are very few redeeming qualities to this package. If you're really desperate to build your own minifigure, most LEGO games already have a character creator of their own. Your time and money are best spent elsewhere.