About a month ago a bunch of us where invited to test out LEGO’s new addition to the LEGO family – LEGO Games. Basically the concept is simple – take those infamous blocks and minifigs and then add a die and you have a board game made of LEGOS for your family to enjoy. LEGO wanted to create a family game that incorporates the charm of LEGO and yet brings families together for an hour or so of fun without the TV or computer being on.
When we got a chance to play it a month ago it was with a bunch of adults. So when we got our review sample of Lava Dragon we had to give it an authenticity test of fun and who better to test it out than a 6 1/2 yr old boy who loves anything LEGO. The goal of the game is to prove you are the bravest knight by being the first one to get the dragon from the top of the volcano. But you have to avoid lava and block your opponents in order to win the game. The game includes 1 LEGO buildable dice, 4 LEGO microfigures, and of course the blocks along with instructions.
I handed the set over to his mother and him and wanted to see if LEGO achieved it’s goal with “taking game night to new heights.” Well the verdict was an astounding yes! Bobby the 6 ½ year old, had put together the game in just under 30 minutes following the instructions all on his own. He loved it so much he couldn’t wait till his mom got home so he could show her how to play with his dad. He told her that the object of the game is to get to the top of the mountain first and block players (with lava pegs) from getting to the top of the mountain. Being a LEGO junkie Bobby was so excited to build the game from scratch and then break it apart and do it again and show his parents while doing so. Not only did he love playing the game himself he was so excited to share what he did with those around him. Family game night achieved!
LEGO Game Lava Dragon is a simple game that gets kids and families excited not just by the fact its a board game but because its a ‘LEGO’ board game. It’s different and unique compared to a lot of the other types of board games out there. For kids like Bobby who love LEGO, even after they are done with the game they can take the pieces and incorporate it with their larger LEGO collections.
The collection of LEGO Games are definitely for the kid at heart and for those that love LEGOS. If you are looking for a great way to bond with your family while building something fun then Lava Dragon or any one of the LEGO Games would be perfect of you. Bobby gave it a 5 out of 5! Currently LEGO has released 5 LEGO Games each one with its own unique theme but one constant – a buildable board game with lots of bricks and a die. They retail from $14.99 to $34.99. Lava Dragon retails for $14.99 and can be purchased directly from LEGO, Amazon, or any online or toy retailer.
The Good: For kids and parents who love LEGO – this takes the genre to a whole new level. Kids will love to break it apart and do it again from scratch. You can use pieces to incorporate with other LEGO sets.
The Bad: Smaller pieces will tend to get lost very easily and certainly not a game for those younger children who like to put things in their mouths.
