Great LEGO Games for the iPad

Young kids, teens, and adults can all find fun in these titles

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on March 3, 2020

If you do a search for Lego games on the App Store, you may get a little overwhelmed. It's the same feeling you get when walking down the Lego aisle at the toy store. As soon as you see one thing you think you might like, a new one catches your eye.

This list will help you decide by covering the best Lego game downloads available for iOS devices.

Games on the App Store sometimes become unavailable to download. Usually, this is because the app is older, and updates to iOS require that those older titles also be updated to remain compatible with the new version of iOS. Unfortunately, publishers often decide not to return to old titles to update them, and they quietly disappear from the App Store.

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga screenshot
What We Like

  • Combines both the original and prequel trilogies in one game.

  • Plenty of characters to unlock, most with special abilities.

  • Lego version of prequels' plot is more entertaining than the film versions.

What We Don't Like

  • Prequels section is a bit short.

  • Gameplay gets repetitive while trying to unlock new power-ups and characters.

  • Most levels are locked behind in-app purchases.

  • Doesn't include the sequel trilogy.

Lego Star Wars wasn't the first Lego video game or even the first to be based on a movie. But it was the first to use the movie-to-video-game conversion. You essentially experience the movie but in an alternate Lego universe. Star Wars squashed the notion that a game based on a movie is usually a train wreck, and it set the standard for iconic movies adapted to great Lego games. 

Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes

Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes screenshot
What We Like

  • Play as both heroes and villains.

  • Has a fun (and hilarious) combat system.

  • Fully voiced characters.

  • In-app purchases are for in-game currency and not levels.

What We Don't Like

  • Not based on any existing movies.

  • Fewer characters available than in Lego Star Wars.

  • Limited, repetitive music.

Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes is a unique adventure not based on any of the movies. Bad guys have escaped from Arkham Asylum, and Batman and Robin are doing the cleanup. You'll play the first half of the game switching between Batman and Robin. Similar to the character switching in other Lego titles, you get to equip the heroes in different suits that have unique abilities, and in a fun twist​, you also get to play as the villains during the second half of the game.  

Lego Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin

LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin app screenshot
What We Like

  • No in-app purchases.

  • More focus on puzzles and platforming than other Lego titles.

  • Authentic re-creation of Ninjago world.

What We Don't Like

  • More appealing to fans of Ninjago, a lesser known Lego branch.

  • Touch controls aren't as responsive as a controller.

  • Some users report glitches and crashes.

If you are looking for something a bit different than the movie-to-video-game template and you want a bit more action in your game, Lego Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin is the game for you. The app hooks you into a great action story that continuously throws new tricks and moves at you to keep you on your toes as you help the Ninjas battle Ronin and reclaim their memories and powers. 

Lego Tower

Lego Tower screenshot
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What We Like

  • Tiny Tower with a Lego spin.

  • Fun to collect new pieces and minifig residents.

  • Not much down time waiting for things to do while you accumulate coins.

What We Don't Like

  • May not be different enough from Tiny Tower to be worth a download.

  • Many features and building options locked behind in-app purchases.

  • Gameplay isn't interesting enough for long sessions.

Lego Tower is a building-block take of the popular mobile title Tiny Tower. If you aren't familiar, the gameplay involves building and designing a huge skyscraper for characters to move into. You can choose from residential floors, shops, restaurants, and fun services.

The point is to bring in as many residents as you can and put them to work in your shops to make more money and build your tower even higher. As you go, you can unlock new pieces to customize your character and increase the capacities of your stores to allow more time before you have to restock them.

Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed

Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed

Gameloft 
What We Like

  • Different from other Lego games.

  • Uses and combines elements from a variety of sets and themes.

  • Strategy-RPG with opportunities to customize and level up characters.

What We Don't Like

  • "Gem-based" play means you may have to wait to have the in-game resources to continue.

  • Delayed playtime encourages in-app purchases.

  • Steep difficulty curve (also to encourage in-app purchases).

Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed brings something a bit different to Lego titles. Instead of focusing on building or adapting movies, this game lets you send characters based on existing minifigures into strategic battles against other ones. This role-playing game combines several Lego themes and eras to create a unique experience.

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