One of the most impressive party games to whip out this year is, surprisingly, LEGO Party. If you’ve ever played Mario Party, you’ll be familiar with its general shape and form. Just swap out all the minigames, replace the toads and Italian plumbers with LEGO figurines, and add a dash of surprise from developer SMG Studio.
LEGO Party has a soft spot in my heart in this review-heavy year full of hits, where I spent dozens of hours solving puzzles in Blue Prince and wading through the ethereal waters of Lumiere in Expedition 33. It’s a great palate cleanser, and a good party icebreaker when most of my friends are late and a couple of guests are just waiting around. But most of all, LEGO Party captured my attention at June’s Summer Game Fest showcase because, even as a total Mario Party newbie, I was handily able to beat my fellow journalists. While that was great for my ego, what it really signaled to me was that the game is accessible, and good for enlisting friends who only casually dip their toes into video games.
