LEGO Horizon Adventures Preview: A Delightful New Take on Aloy’s World

This year’s Summer Game Fest has been filled with surprises, with Sony’s first joint Switch and PS5 release being one of them. LEGO Horizon Adventures was an absolute blast to play and delivered a deeper experience than I thought possible from a family-friendly take on one of PlayStation’s more serious franchises. This unexpected collaboration between Guerrilla Games and LEGO takes the world of Horizon and rebuilds it in a way that’s both familiar and refreshingly new, opening up a new audience to an incredibly crafted series.

Just to set the stage for the game, LEGO Horizon Adventures is a more family-friendly retelling of Horizon Zero Dawn that blends the dark and complex story with the fun of LEGO. Despite how silly that sounds, they somehow managed to deliver the core of what makes Horizon so special, including the voice talent and key moments, all while giving it a new look and way to play the iconic story. Masterfully capturing the major aspects of the series in a new and stunning way.

From the moment I picked up the controller, I was transported into a vibrant, brick-built world that perfectly captured the essence of Horizon Zero Dawn . The attention to detail was awe-inspiring, with every iconic machine and character recreated in stunning LEGO form, very similar to what you would find in the LEGO Movie . Aloy kicks up little footprints of LEGO dust as she walks, while cloth capes on NPCs are patterned with striking detail. Sunlight glitters off brick water, and LEGO grass strands go up in translucent flames when hit by a fire arrow. It’s like playing an animated LEGO adventure, as every single asset is made from individual bricks that could theoretically be built in real life.

“As this is a LEGO game and is built for the whole family, LEGO Horizon Adventures allows for some co-op to let more than one player get in on the action either online or locally.”

The gameplay itself was an absolute joy while still managing to keep a level of challenge. The familiar LEGO formula of smashing, building, and collecting was there, but with a fresh Horizon twist. I found myself experiencing the story in a new way, taking on quests and battling fearsome machines, all while revelling in the satisfying “click” of snapping LEGO bricks together. The combat felt more action-adventure than typical button-mashing, with a focus on targeting weak points. It is surprisingly deep while managing to be easy to pick up and understand.

As this is a LEGO game and is built for the whole family, LEGO Horizon Adventures allows for some co-op to let more than one player get in on the action either online or locally. In the demo I played, for the first half, I handled it solo, but once we reached around halfway through, I got to experience what it was like to play with another person.

Playing this section as Aloy’s friend Varl, while the PlayStation rep played Aloy was a blast. The game’s puzzles and challenges were cleverly designed to encourage cooperation without needing a split-screen. In fact, the PlayStation rep pointed out that there was no split screen in the game, and it would just teleport the player left behind to where all the action was taking place. It’s the kind of couch co-op experience that’s been sorely missing in recent years, and I am here for it.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a LEGO game without a healthy dose of humour, and LEGO Horizon Adventures delivers without taking away from the story it is trying to tell. The witty one-liners, slapstick gags, and tongue-in-cheek references to the Horizon series had me chuckling throughout my playtime. Aloy’s bubbly personality and quick wit were a particular highlight, thanks to Ashly Burch reprising her role with extra exuberance. She brings her comedic timing to the role, and it works incredibly well, giving the same authenticity of the character without the dark and brooding nature of the standard Horizon games.

As I mentioned above, LEGO Horizon Adventures loosely follows the story of Horizon Zero Dawn , but lampoons it at every opportunity in a way that’s accessible for newcomers while still having plenty of nods for fans. There are plenty of fun Easter eggs throughout the short demo that manage to make it fun while still keeping the main beats that, if you know the original games, make for some fun moments.

As I explored the world, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer scale and variety on offer. We even look at the ability to customize Mother’s Heart, Aloy’s home base, with everything from Thunderjaw heads to dino-themed roller coasters. You can even dress up Aloy and other characters using a wide variety of LEGO outfits, all by throwing them in the wardrobe… literally. They were not talking about length while showcasing the game, but if they manage to keep the main beats of the game, it should be a sizable experience that would be well worth exploring.

Walking away from my demo, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the possibilities that LEGO Horizon Adventures presents. The potential for expansive downloadable content, endless user-created levels, and the sheer joy of playing with friends and family make this a game that players will be coming back to time and time again.

Based on my hands-on time, LEGO Horizon Adventures is shaping up to be one of the must-play titles of the year. I can’t wait to see what other surprises this delightful collaboration has in store when it launches this holiday season on PS5, PC, and even Nintendo Switch.