Review of LEGO Horizon Adventures

Finding my way to Horizon: Zero Dawn was a bit of a detour for me, but it turned out to be one of the best gaming decisions I made. It was during the pandemic when Sony graciously offered several games for free, including Horizon’s "Complete" edition with its expansion, "The Frozen Wilds." Curious to see what the buzz was about, I dived in and quickly fell for Aloy and her world teeming with robotic dinosaurs. Having already invested over 250 hours into Breath of the Wild, I jokingly dubbed it "Robot Dinosaur Zelda." The sci-fi setting and its eclectic story turned me into a huge fan, leading me to not only finish its sequel, Forbidden West on my PS4 but actually purchase a PS5 just to experience the exclusive expansion, "The Burning Shores"—totally worth it.

To put it simply—I adore the Horizon series.

When I heard about a LEGO adaptation of the first game, I was intrigued, if not a little skeptical. Adding to the surprise, it was a Sony-published game available on the Switch. Now, after playing LEGO Horizon Adventures, I still find it a bit of an oddity. It’s different in feel and flow from what I love about the Horizon series, lacking in the combat finesse and engaging gameplay loops. The game seems to be on a quest for its own identity.

One highlight, though, is the return of much of the original voice cast, including Ashly Burch as Aloy, alongside JB Blanc, John Macmillan, and John Hopkins. This time, they take on more humorous, self-parody roles, which is surprisingly charming and often hilarious. However, I have mixed feelings about Guerilla’s choice for the late Lance Reddick’s character, Sylens. His new voice actor has a distinctly different tone, leaving me a bit anxious for Horizon 3’s portrayal. Nonetheless, LEGO Horizon Adventures takes a very loose approach to Zero Dawn’s story, omitting the “Zero Dawn” twist—my personal favorite plotline.

In this LEGO rendition, you roam with a bow, viewed from above with a fixed camera angle. While this works for the delightfully detailed platforming sections, it falls flat during combat. Battles take place in arenas filled with enemy machines and occasionally humans. Stealth in the form of hiding in grass—which amusingly turns you into grass—works until you try to go on the offensive. The camera’s limitations make it difficult to get a complete view of the battlefield, which is frustrating.

Combat introduces uses for Aloy’s Focus but noticeably lacks the aiming precision and strategic combat of its PlayStation counterparts. Special arrows and the satisfaction of knocking parts off are absent. Instead, you have limited-use "special weapons" and "gadgets" to help during fights.

These tools, like elemental bows and quirky gadgets such as a flamethrower or energy shield, offer diversity in combat but lack the gratifying punch of the original game. Strategy is minimal in this LEGO adventure; it often boils down to dodging enemies and taking shots when you can.

Collectible studs serve as currency, gathered by destroying items, opening chests, and defeating foes. You use these back at your base camp, in an area modeled after “Mother’s Heart.” Unlike its original form, it’s more of a customizable playground where you can tweak buildings, buy costumes, and more. It feels a little meaningless unless a quest mandates it, and while bonuses from bought structures add incentives, running around to gather them gets cumbersome. The customization feels off-theme too, with more generic LEGO elements than you’d expect from a Horizon game.

A series of “Apex Missions” sees you face tougher machine versions with rewards in "Red Bricks." Combat remains fairly manageable, albeit challenging in more intense encounters. Thunderjaws stand as formidable opponents but appear sparingly. Cauldrons are recreated as compelling segments in the game, mixing exploration and platforming with less isolated combat.

The game supports both couch and online co-op, with characters like Aloy, Varl, Erend, and Teersa. Each has different playstyles—Varl and his spear, Erend’s melee hammer, and Teersa with explosives. You can switch characters in Mother’s Heart and on missions, but Aloy remains the go-to for her iconic features.

I played couch co-op with some friends’ kids, and while fun, it could become overwhelming with the second player in the mix. The simple control schemes, however, make it accessible enough for younger players, a win in my eyes since we managed to momentarily divert attention from Fortnite.

Overall, LEGO Horizon Adventures is enjoyable, but it doesn’t replicate the core Horizon experience. It targets a younger audience and shifts away from the aspects that make the original series special. If you’re after a light-hearted, family-friendly action game, it’s a sound choice. What I’d love even more are additional LEGO sets featuring the Horizon series—my Tallneck requires Thunderjaw or Slaughterspine companions!

Post review update—Tim Russ, famed for his role as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager, will now voice Sylens. While his voice differs from Reddick’s, Russ could fit well due to Sylens’ logical demeanor and sharp wit. In the LEGO game, Sylens is portrayed in such an abstract way—a DJ, no less—that comparing this version isn’t quite fair.