We’ve seen Lego cross paths with driving in the past, particularly with an enjoyable Forza Horizon 4expansion that kicked some serious brick. However, that hasn’t stopped 2K Games and Visual Concepts from asking, “Hey, why doesn’t Lego have its own racing game?”

Enter Lego 2K Drive, an enjoyable open-world racing game where you complete goals by beating competitors, taking on side quests and building the vehicles of your dreams – or nightmares. It has a surprising amount of content to discover, along with a customization engine that’ll keep you busy for hours.

Not everything hits the right chord, especially the monetization, which seems to be a 2K staple that, honestly, doesn’t need to be in all their games. But those of you seeking a great little four-wheeler for all ages may find it hard to resist this Drive.

Lots To Do Within This Bricky World

The first thing you’ll notice about Lego 2K Drive is just how exceptionally the open worlds really get within Big Butte (it’s pronounced “beaut”, you hooligans). You can literally drive around corners and over bridges to find something new, like a giant frying pan that will somehow come in handy later (hope you’re hungry), as well as towns that you can literally drive through without a care, bashing everything into bricks along the way. (See, they’re Legos, so…)

Visual Concepts did a bang-up job not only designing these worlds, but providing a number of challenges to help you level up and unlock new events. These include jumping over a mine-covered road, engaging in a race to pick up blue pigs, and taking on cocky competitors that cower in fear the minute you surpass them. It’s filled with a great deal of activity.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the gameplay is spot on. The driving mechanics feel excellent, though drifting does take a slight bit of getting used to if you’ve played other kart-racing games. That said, the responsiveness is cool, no matter what vehicle you’re driving, and the addition of a “jump” button adds some great possibilities with finding shortcuts or dodging power-ups.

With each new victory, you’ll attain Brickbux, which you can use to buy accessories within the game. Some cars are also available, but require a bit more currency. That, unfortunately, introduces us to the game’s biggest setback – its microtransaction system. Asking people to purchase in-game currency with real money is absolutely cheesy, especially considering they just spent, what, $60 on a new game? Sigh.

Fortunately, they’re optional, and don’t entirely get in the way of unlocking new stuff. So it’s not the end of the world, just a speed bump on an otherwise smooth road.

A Good Looking Brick Racer

I will admit that Visual Concepts did a great job with Lego 2K Drive’s engine. The game runs seamlessly on PS5, at a smooth 60 frames per second. And even when havoc is exploding on-screen, the game rarely slows down. On top of that, the characters exhibit a great deal of personality, and the cars are pretty awesome, to say the least. (Except for those overpriced ones.)

That leads to the creation engine, which is one of the best you’re likely to find in a racing game. Here, you can customize vehicles nearly any way you see fit. Want to drive a giant chicken? You can. Feel like making what we call a “green meanie”? That’s also an option. You’ll spend hours in here building your perfect (or not-so-perfect) car, so have at it.

As for the audio, it’s great. While the music isn’t really that inspired, it is good driving background tuneage. And the voicework is top notch, with a lot of these characters telling their story with plentiful sass. They could easily fit into another Lego game if they saw fit.

Building a Legacy

If you can get over the lame microtransaction system and the fact you can’t really share your creations online (a missed opportunity if there ever was one), Lego 2K Drive is a joyous driving experience. It feels great, gives you lots to do, and has a polished presentation that doesn’t quit. On top of that, the building system is absolutely bonkers, capturing the legacy of Lego just about perfectly.

I do hope, one day, 2K gets over its microtransaction system and just lets us have fun. In the meantime, though, Lego 2K Drive is certainly worth a spin. Do it for the Big Butte!

GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS