The racing genre has delivered two distinct experiences over the last few years. On one side, there are highly precise simulation experiences where even the smallest adjustment can make or break a race. On the other, is zany, arcade fun that lets players tear up the track using vehicles that often defy logic. The upcomingLEGO 2K Drivefits firmly in the second camp, putting players behind the plastic wheel of various LEGO creations and dropping them in the world of Bricklandia. It looks to be an experience fans haven’t had in a while, andLEGO 2K Drivecould inspire aLEGO Racerssequel, given its potential seems as limitless as a bucket full of LEGO bricks.
LEGO 2K Drivewill be one in a small group of games that have harnessed the power of beloved toys to create a memorable racing experience.Hot Wheels Unleashedemerged as one of the most thrilling arcade racing games in a long time when it was released in 2021. With its breakneck speeds and craftsman’s attention to detail,Hot Wheels Unleashedwas as much a love letter to the popular toy cars as it was a stellar racing experience. It’s givenLEGO 2K Drivea high bar to clear, but there’s one feature the upcoming game may be able to provide that gives it an edge overHot Wheels Unleashed.
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LEGO 2K Drive Could Outdo Hot Wheels Unleashed’s Track Builder
One of the standout features of the game wasHot Wheels Unleashed’strack builder. This feature gave players an unprecedented amount of freedom in creating their own Hot Wheels tracks, using dozens of unique track pieces, cosmetic decorations, and other interactive elements. It truly encapsulated the experience of building actual Hot Wheels tracks, giving players young and old an opportunity to express their creativity with minimal roadblocks. The game’s website also claims it’s the same track builder developers used to make the game, and whether that’s accurate or not, it’s a testament to how robust the feature is.
It remains to be seen whetherLEGO 2K Drivewill have a custom track builder, but it’s hard to deny the potential of it.LEGO 2K Drivewill have vehicle customization options, letting players build just about anything they want, stick wheels on it, and take it on the road. Just asHot Wheels Unleashedharnessed the fun of building custom tracks,LEGO 2K Driveplans to do the same by letting players go wild with LEGO bricks. While there’s more than enough potential in this feature alone, extending it to a LEGO track builder could makeLEGO 2K Drivea must-play for arcade racing fans.
A track builder inLEGO 2K Drivecould do a lot of the same things asHot Wheels Unleashed’s gameplay, but the one area where it could differentiate itself is its destructibility. When it comes to playing with LEGO bricks, destroying an elaborate build can be as fun as the building process itself.LEGO 2K Drivehas shown it will be embracing this, with various destructible elements throughout the open world of Bricklandia. If the game combined this potential for destruction with a custom track builder,LEGO 2K Drivecould provide one of the most dynamic track-building experiences ever seen.
LEGO 2K Drivelooks to be a refreshing change of pace for fans of some ofthe bestLEGOgames. After years of licensed titles from TT Games, and occasional deviations likeLEGO Brawls, Visual Concepts' racing venture has the potential to make a real impact. After the success ofHot Wheels Unleashedand its faithful recreation of the die-cast cars,2K Drivecan do the same for the plastic toy bricks. While it will likely do well enough with its current customization systems and open-world design,LEGO 2K Drivecould become unforgettable with a robust track builder that leverages the fun of playing with LEGO.
LEGO 2K Drivereleases May 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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