When TT Games released the very first LEGO video game way back in 2005, it wasn't clear that the developer had created a new genre. 15 games later, with eight major media franchises and counting, the LEGO games have become a juggernaut of the industry. Fans of all ages eagerly gobble up every new title that's released, and the franchise has united both casual and hardcore gamers.
One reason for the lasting appeal is that TT Games continues to innovate with each new title. LEGO Batman 2 was a real landmark, introducing both original dialogue and an open "hub" world to explore. (It's hard to recall that prior to this game, LEGO Minifigures never spoke. They merely pantomimed, or engaged in slapstick or silly facial expressions.) In LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, oversized characters like the Hulk were added to the formula.
TT Games has two big titles in the works for 2015, one from a franchise new to LEGO gaming. LEGO Jurassic World is set to arrive in June, covering material from all four movies, and Marvel sequel LEGO Marvel's Avengers is expected sometime in the Fall.
But what about beyond that? Has TT Games run out of franchises to mine? Hardly! Here are seven big ones we think would make brilliant LEGO games.
1. Back to the Future
"Back to the Future" has everything TT Games needs to craft a great LEGO video game. There's a cast of colorful characters, an iconic vehicle fans would love to drive, multiple settings for game levels and three movies worth of material for content. Hill Valley would make a perfect hub world, and it could even transform from present to past to future as you play.
Admit it: you can picture this perfectly in your mind with very little effort. LEGO Back to the Future is definitely a video game — it just hasn't been made yet.
2. Doctor Who
LEGO nabbed the rights to create a toy set based on the time-traveling Doctor and his iconic blue box earlier this year. Fans had been trying to get "Doctor Who" pushed through the LEGO Ideas program for years, and now it looks like one winning entry is being manufactured for consumers.
A LEGO Doctor Who game makes sense in so many ways. There are 12 (technically 13) Doctors gamers could play as, not to mention his dozens of companions and the hundreds of historical figures and other guest stars. With 50+ years of history to draw on, the game could touch on some of its most celebrated storylines, with a heavy focus on the wildly popular modern show and its unforgettable villains.
If TT Games really wants to make the fans drool, they'll build the entire TARDIS interior as the hub world, with its endless hallways and Willy Wonka rooms filled with wonders to explore.
3. Toy Story
Of all of Pixar's properties, none would be a better fit for a LEGO game than "Toy Story." LEGO bricks and Minifigs are toys, after all, so it's the perfect marriage. There are gazillions of toy characters gamers could play, each with unique abilities. There are also numerous major locations, such as Pizza Planet, Sid's house, Al's Toy Barn and Sunnyside Daycare.
LEGO already has a license to make toys based on Disney properties, so getting the rights to do the game would be a snap. Defying all logic, somehow no Pixar property has ever made it into a LEGO game. Plus, Pixar reportedly has a fourth "Toy Story" in the works, which would open up the perfect release window for a game.
LEGO Toy Story is such a no-brainer, we're amazed TT Games didn't do it years ago.
4. Ghostbusters
There's a lot more than two movies to draw from: there's The Real Ghostbusters cartoon TV series, there are comic books, and don't forget the upcoming all-female reboot — not to mention Sony's questionable plans to turn Ghostbusters into a Marvel-esque connected cinematic universe.
There are fun weapons and gear that TT Games could do some cool stuff with, along with the ECTO-1 car, the old firehouse HQ and all those ghosts to chase down. The only real hurdle here is that there are precious few identifiable characters to play outside of the four Ghostbusters. But TT Games could figure out a way around that.
Who wouldn't want to explore the Ghostbuster version of Manhattan as a wide open world? Especially if this Manhattan were depicted in a period-accurate recreation of 1985. LEGO fans of Ghostbusters sure would. They're a very passionate bunch.
5. Frozen
Yeah, we know. Disney is already on the verge of oversaturating its fanbase with Frozen toys, music, a Broadway show, the new short film, forthcoming full-length sequel and more. And parents are ready to lose it if they have to hear "Let It Go" and "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" just one more time.
But there's a reason Frozen is Disney's biggest animated movie ever: It's a good story with fun characters in a unique setting, and it doesn't play out like your traditional fairy tale. With all the new content being created, it's not going away anytime soon.
Sooner or later, they're going to get around to making a Disney fairy tale movie into a LEGO game. And chances are, they'll go for something modern over a classic like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, because current stuff resonates more with today's audiences. Frozen is quickly becoming Disney's cash cow, so LEGO Frozen seems like another no-brainer. Besides, TT Games has yet to make a disappointing game, so it could be a lot of fun.
6. Lost
This one's outside the box, but stay with me.
Dear TT Games, please reimagine the Island from ABC's Lost as a giant, open world to explore. Make everything breakable in LEGO form. Give us Minifigures of Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sawyer, Locke, Sayid and all the others. (And throw in the actual Others, too.) Base levels around important Island locations like the Dharma stations, the Temple, the beach with the crashed Oceanic plane on it, the smaller "Hydra" island and so on. And tell the whole story of "Lost" across all six seasons in truncated form using TT Games' trademark humor. We'll totally forgive you for skipping over the boring stuff in Seasons 2 and 3.
Yeah, some people may still be bitter about how the show ended. And it's true that Lost contains heavier and more serious human drama than anything TT Games and LEGO have ever attempted (with the arguable exception of Lord of the Rings). But the journey it gave us was a great one, and a revival in LEGO form could be the perfect way to remember all of its best attributes — and ignore (or poke fun at) its shortcomings.
7. Men in Black
Three movies, loads of wild and zany characters, tons of cool locations, wacky weapons galore, not to mention gadgets and abilities... Sounds like the pitch-perfect recipe for a LEGO game, don't you think?
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