Nintendo’s monopoly on digital board games just got seriously challenged. LEGO Party!, launching September 30, 2025, has earned critical acclaim that positions it as the strongest Mario Party competitor in years, with an impressive 80 Metacritic score and reviewers calling it “one of the best games ever in the competitive board game-style genre.” Developed by SMG Studio (Moving Out) and published by newcomer Fictions, this cross-platform party game proves that Mario doesn’t own the party game crown anymore.
What makes these review scores particularly impressive is how difficult it’s been for other developers to create compelling Mario Party alternatives. Games like Fuzion Frenzy, Sonic Shuffle, and various other attempts have struggled to capture the magic that makes Nintendo’s formula work. LEGO Party! not only matches that formula but improves upon it in several key areas while bringing the beloved LEGO brand’s humor and creativity to the mix.
Critics Unanimous – This Is the Real Deal
The review consensus is remarkably positive across major gaming outlets, with multiple publications awarding scores in the 8.0+ range. DualShockers leads the praise with an 8.5/10, declaring that “LEGO Party! stands tall as one of the best games ever in the competitive board game-style genre. Sure, it’s derivative of Mario Party, but it also improves on many games in that series in a multitude of ways.”
Gaming Bible matches that enthusiasm with their own 8/10, specifically praising the game’s cross-platform availability: “What LEGO Party offers is an alternative with a different aesthetic and overall vibe, as well as one playable on all platforms, not just Nintendo ones.” This platform accessibility represents a crucial advantage over Nintendo’s exclusives.
IGN’s review emphasizes the production values, stating that “LEGO Party doesn’t completely reinvent the tried-and-true Mario Party formula, but it does introduce some welcome tweaks to its structure, a uniformly high quality collection of minigames hard-tuned for hilarity, and an enjoyably silly game show-style presentation.”
What Sets LEGO Party! Apart
The game’s secret weapon isn’t just its LEGO theming – it’s the thoughtful improvements to the traditional party game formula. Unlike Mario Party’s static boards, LEGO Party!’s four Challenge Zones feature “transformative” layouts that change throughout gameplay. Players can construct permanent LEGO builds that remain on the board for the entire session, creating unique experiences that evolve organically.
The customization options have drawn particular praise from reviewers. Instead of being locked into Mario characters, players can choose from a vast array of minifigures or create completely custom characters. IGN specifically highlighted these “considerable minifig customisation options” as “a joy to tinker with,” while multiple outlets mention “over one gazillion customization options” as a standout feature.
Game Rant’s review noted how LEGO Party! “takes full advantage of the LEGO brand” while establishing “an identity all its own.” The game replaces Mario Party’s stars with golden LEGO bricks, coins become studs, and the entire presentation maintains the witty humor found in LEGO movies and other LEGO games.
60 Minigames That Actually Work
Where many Mario Party competitors fail is in minigame quality and variety. LEGO Party! addresses this with over 60 minigames that reviewers consistently praise for their creativity and entertainment value. DualShockers specifically noted that “almost all of the 60 mini-games here are truly great,” which represents a hit rate that even recent Mario Party games struggle to achieve.
The minigames span various LEGO themes including Ninjago, Pirates, and Space, ensuring variety that appeals to different preferences. Examples include balancing on unicycles for racing games, jumping over spinning octopus tentacles in elimination-style challenges, and strategic team-based competitions that temporarily force players into alliances.
Gaming Bible highlighted a crucial improvement over Mario Party: “minigames do not force others to be spectators,” addressing one of the most common complaints about Nintendo’s series where eliminated players must watch others finish.
Cross-Platform Revolution
Perhaps the game’s most significant advantage is its platform availability. While Mario Party remains locked to Nintendo systems, LEGO Party! launches simultaneously on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. This universal accessibility means friend groups aren’t limited by console ownership when planning game nights.
The cross-platform multiplayer functionality ensures players can compete regardless of their preferred gaming system. For PlayStation and Xbox players who have been denied quality party games for years, LEGO Party! represents their first real alternative to Nintendo’s offerings.
Matt Kim from IGN captured this importance perfectly: “This is especially good news for PlayStation and Xbox players that don’t have access to Mario Party.” The game’s success could open doors for more cross-platform party games, breaking Nintendo’s genre monopoly.
Presentation That Captures LEGO Magic
Reviewers consistently praise how LEGO Party! authentically captures the LEGO aesthetic and humor. Gaming Bible noted that the game “has that LEGO Movie vibe where the world doesn’t just look the part, it feels and moves like the real-life building blocks toys it’s based on.”
The game features hosts Ted Talker and Paige Turner who provide “hilarious commentary” throughout matches, though Game Rant noted that some players might find the excessive dialogue repetitive during extended play sessions. The presentation maintains the silly, family-friendly tone that defines LEGO entertainment while avoiding condescension toward adult players.
Jay’s Brick Blog specifically highlighted how “the team has brought the LEGO look and sense of play into the minigame designs,” suggesting that the LEGO integration goes beyond surface-level theming into core gameplay mechanics.
Areas for Improvement
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, reviewers identified several areas where LEGO Party! could improve. The most common complaint involves AI difficulty balancing, with Gaming Bible noting that “AI is far too strong” and some “core mechanics could do with a re-balance.” This echoes similar issues that have plagued Mario Party games over the years.
Content quantity represents another concern. While the four Challenge Zones receive praise for their transformative designs, some reviewers wished for additional boards. Game Rant mentioned feeling “a little light on content,” though acknowledged that the available content maintains high quality throughout.
The excessive dialogue and unskippable scenes drew criticism for potentially hurting replay value. Game Rant specifically requested “an option to turn off the scenes or skip them” to prevent the entertaining commentary from becoming tedious during extended play sessions.
Development Story and Accessibility Focus
SMG Studio’s development process reveals impressive attention to player experience. The team conducted over 100 playtests with families of all ages, leading to crucial accessibility improvements. One particularly telling anecdote involves children crying during early playtests when golden bricks were stolen without mercy, prompting developers to add player choice in theft scenarios.
This family-focused approach aligns with LEGO’s brand values while ensuring the game remains enjoyable for players across age groups. The accessibility testing explains why reviewers consistently mention the game’s broad appeal and family-friendly nature without sacrificing strategic depth for adult players.
Director Mark Fennell’s vision of creating an accessible party game that works across platforms appears to have succeeded based on the critical reception and emphasis on inclusive gameplay mechanics.
Market Impact and Industry Implications
LEGO Party!’s critical success could reshape the party game landscape significantly. For years, Nintendo has essentially owned the digital board game market, with competitors struggling to gain traction. The positive reviews and cross-platform availability suggest that players are hungry for alternatives when they’re executed with sufficient quality and creativity.
The game’s success also demonstrates how established brands like LEGO can successfully enter new gaming genres when paired with experienced developers. SMG Studio’s track record with Moving Out provided the technical foundation, while LEGO’s brand recognition and humor sensibilities supplied the distinctive identity.
If sales match critical reception, LEGO Party! could inspire other major toy and entertainment brands to explore party game development, potentially creating a more diverse and competitive market that benefits consumers.
Review Score Breakdown
Major Publication Scores
- **DualShockers**: 8.5/10 – “One of the best games ever in the competitive board game-style genre”
- **Gaming Bible**: 8/10 – “An excellent alternative with different aesthetic and cross-platform availability”
- **CGM**: 8.5/10 – “Proves there is room for more than one board-based party game”
- **Game Rant**: Positive – “More fun to play than some Mario Party entries”
- **IGN**: Positive – “Purpose-built to turn boring nights into block parties filled with belly laughs”
- **Metacritic Average**: 80/100 – Significantly higher than most party game alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
How does LEGO Party! compare to Mario Party?
Critics say it improves on Mario Party’s formula with transformative board layouts, better minigame variety, extensive customization options, and cross-platform availability while maintaining the same core gameplay loop.
What platforms is LEGO Party! available on?
The game launched September 30, 2025, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam with cross-platform multiplayer support.
How many minigames does LEGO Party! include?
The game features over 60 minigames spanning various LEGO themes including Ninjago, Pirates, and Space, with reviewers praising the consistently high quality across all games.
Can you play with friends on different consoles?
Yes, LEGO Party! supports cross-platform multiplayer, allowing players on different gaming systems to compete together in the same matches.
Is LEGO Party! suitable for families?
Absolutely. The game underwent extensive family testing with over 100 playtests, resulting in accessibility features and mercy mechanics that ensure enjoyment across all age groups.
Who developed LEGO Party!?
SMG Studio (known for Moving Out) developed the game, with additional support from Noble Steed Games and publishing by Fictions, marking their first major release.
How much does LEGO Party! cost?
The game is available with a 10% launch discount on Steam, though specific pricing varies by platform. Pre-orders included exclusive minifigure bonuses.
Conclusion
LEGO Party! represents a watershed moment for the party game genre. After years of failed Mario Party competitors, SMG Studio has created something that doesn’t just copy Nintendo’s formula – it genuinely improves upon it while establishing a distinctive identity through the LEGO brand’s humor and creativity.
The critical consensus is clear: this isn’t just another Mario Party clone struggling for relevance. It’s a legitimate alternative that offers superior accessibility, cross-platform play, and innovative features that could influence future party game development. With an 80 Metacritic average and unanimous praise from major gaming outlets, LEGO Party! proves that Nintendo’s genre dominance isn’t inevitable.
For gaming communities tired of being locked into Nintendo ecosystems for quality party games, September 30, 2025, marks the day they finally got their alternative. Whether LEGO Party! can sustain this critical success through sales and long-term player engagement remains to be seen, but early signs suggest the party game landscape just got a lot more interesting. The block party has officially begun, and everyone’s invited.