Lego 2K Drive: PS5 Review

Developed by Visual Concepts
Published by 2K Games
Platform: PS5

The Lego franchise gets a new next generation contender in the shape of Visual Concepts' 2K outing, Lego 2K Drive.

And while the game may be beset by the horror of microtransactions and have a few bugs (such as floating podium visuals), the core game and its multiplayer racing is a heck of a lot of family-related fun that Super Mario Bros may feel has stolen its thunder. 

Set in the world of Bricklandia, this third person open world racing game has a lot going for it - even if it does lack the humour that's been part of the various Lego franchises that Traveller Tales did such a good job of advancing.

The kart racing game is at its heart a simple one when it's executed properly. Lego 2K Drive does manage to do so well and makes it playable enough fun for all those mini races that exist. 

While single player races form part of the narrative as you try to win enough chequered flags to take on the Sky Cup final, the game really does come alive when it's played locally or with others. It's here the karting mechanics, smooth graphics and simple execution of the premise plays well - of course, it's been done before with Super Mario Bros but Lego 2K Drive's racing has some of the familiarity of the Crash Bandicoot racing games.

It's also heavily infused with the DNA of arcade racer Forza Horizon hurtling through its veins, as you chug through signs, smash down fences to refill your speed metre and generally hoon round an open world map unlocking further races and challenges.

Yet despite its familiarity, it's all such heady fun that proves worthy of spending either 20 minutes of gaming time or 20 hours of intense racing. The game's mechanics are familiar too - unlock various elements while building your XP; Visual Concepts hasn't radically redeveloped the genre, but it also knows that doing it badly would make a world of difference.

There's a feeling of repetition during the main storyline and side missions, but while Lego 2K Drive's main story only lasts a few hours, its main joy will come from people building their own cars in the game's garage or sharing creations with friends. While purchases can be made with earned in-game currency or victories, a large proportion of bricks are needed, meaning the dreaded microtransactions come into play (something that's a disappointment for a family-themed game).

All in all, despite that stumbling (Lego) block mentioned above, it's hard not to recommend Lego 2K Drive as a title that's definitely worth owning. Its mix of kart racing, inspired colourful edges and solid racing mechanics make it a family-fuelled blast that's worthy of all ages.