Summary
The ’90s was a fun time when video games were still breaking new ground. Even theLegoCompany was eager to get its foot in the door of the booming business. Since then, Lego has partnered up with famous series such asLord of the Rings,Star Wars, andJurassic Parkto give them a Lego-style makeover.
Before Lego got into its groove, it had a whole slew of games in the ’90s that experimented on what it could do with gaming. Exploring almost every genre,Lego created educational games, 3D games, sim games, and more. These are the best Lego games from the ’90s.
10Lego Fun to Build - Sega Pico
An Educational Entry
The first Lego video game launched only in Japan for theSegaPico, an educational device. Despite being one of the more elusive titles of the ’90s, it offered a wide variety of minigames that could be played. These minigames included pizza delivery, constructing Lego builds, and racing.
The scenery of the game would also change as you turned the pages of the accompanying booklet. This would change the zone you were in, with each one having its own set of builds and minigames to choose from.
9Lego Island - PC
Pizza Delivery Time
Lego Island was the first 3D Lego Game ever made. It was a first-person adventure and possibly one of the first open-world games in the Lego series. You could take control of five different characters and explore the island at your own pace. You could build your own car, jet ski, or even a helicopter.
Depending on which character you played as, some activities differed. The most iconic, however, is Pepper’s Pizza Delivery to the Brickster. This would kick-start the main storyline quest in which the Brickster would threaten to dismantle the entire island.
8Lego Loco - PC
All Aboard!
Lego Loco was a sim from the ’90s with an emphasis on trains. This 2D game had players constructing a town for Lego minifigures to live in. You could then interact with citizens by building their houses and watching them as they walk around the world you built for them.
You could also send letters to other players through a network, adding a way of interacting with other towns. There were plenty of unique buildings to choose from and biomes that attractdifferent Lego minifiguresthat can show up, such as skeletons and rock stars.
7Lego Chess - PC
An Old Classic Reimagined
After hitting its stride with Lego Island, more Lego-based video games came out throughout the ’90s. One of them included a Lego version of chess with a few twists to keep the gameplay interesting. You could choose between playing a western or pirate-themed version of the game.
Whenever a player captured a piece, a small animation would play, making the game feel more dynamic. There were also a few variations to the rules that could be selected, while the default mode used the standard chess rules.
6Lego Creator - PC
Lego Gets Ambitious
Lego Creator was an ambitious game for the time. It took the form of a sandbox game with no real objectives. Instead, you were encouraged to experiment with builds — you could make minifigures move, drive vehicles, crash, and so much more.
Lego Creator was also one of the first Lego games to include the iconic minifigure grunts that appear in other licensed games. Interestingly enough, you could insert your own sound files into the game to give characters voices.
5Lego Friends - PC
A Lego Game Without Bricks
The Lego Friends theme is a common name for modern Lego enthusiasts. In the ’90s, it was a far cry from what it would eventually become. Launched in 1999 for PC, Lego Friends featured none of the iconic minifigures or even buildings.
Instead, the characters were more realistic looking, while most of the gameplay revolved around creating music cues. While this game wouldn’t knock your block off today, the Friends theming would eventually grow into the juggernaut it is today.
4Lego Racers - PC
Ready, Set, Go!
Lego Racers brought together a wide variety of minifigures from various sets of the time. They each came with their unique cars and tracks as they made their way to the top. Who would be the first racer to beat the unbeatable Rocket Racer?
The aim was to win races using your driving skills and power ups to earn new parts needed to build your perfect vehicle. You could even customize your minifigure. Lego Racers launched on multiple platforms, such as PC,Nintendo 64, andGame Boy Color.
3Lego Racers - Game Boy Color
8-Bit Ear Worms
In the ’90s, the same game could look and feel vastly different depending on where you played it. Some versions of the game also launched at different points in time. Lego Racerson Game Boy Colorwas the first Lego game to be released on a Nintendo handheld, and an honorary member of the ’90s Lego game squad.
Like the PC version, you could customize your car and minifigure. However, one of the main draws to this version of the game is the new rendition of the soundtrack, which is sure to make any retro gamer happy.
2Lego Rock Raiders - PC
Stranded In Space
Lego Rock Raiders left you stranded on an unknown planet. With your ship running low on power and in need of repairs, only the energy crystals found within the planet’s core can save you. To progress through the game, you would need to command a squad of rock raiders through various obstacles as you attempt to meet the objective.
These objectives could range from collecting energy crystals, mining for new paths, or using your builds to reach a location on the map. You could then use resources to construct more buildings and bring in vehicles that would assist you in on your mission. Just don’t run out of oxygen.
1Lego Rock Raiders - PSX
Master Your Squad
While the PC version of Lego Rock Raiders focused on the player managing their units, thePlayStationversion of the game took a different approach. You were tasked with finding energy crystals to speed up the repairs of your ship, but you also had other objectives as well, such as exploring the caverns and bringing back lost Rock Raiders.
You could also control a different named character each mission, rather than clicking and telling generic Rock Raiders where to go. This opens the doors to a few game mechanics not seen in the PC version, such as jumping, swimming, and using character abilities.
