LEGO Universe

Kids who have played other LEGO games will know what to expect from LEGO Universe. It shares the same smash-things-and-collect-items-that-drop game mechanic, allows for quick building of LEGO structures by simply pushing a button, and offers platform puzzles where your character jumps and double-jumps to navigate through the game's environments. The game also allows for some LEGO building from the ground up using bricks collected via smashing things or earned as quest rewards. Kids will also be able to build race cars to race against others. One of the most creative and interesting aspects of the online world is the ability to add and link behaviors to model which will program it to respond in certain ways to certain stimuli. This elementary programming encourages kids to think logically and work out sequences of actions and reactions.

The game however, is light on tips and directions. This is a large open world that can be confusing to younger children. The camera angles can be awkward and kids are thrown directly into the action. Younger kids could easily get their avatar (mini-figure) smashed again and again just in this first area as the evil forces will attack if you wander too close. It is a difficult first step, but kids who persevere will obtain their first property and be able to build their first LEGO structure.

Online interaction: Kids are limited to a "white list" of words to use in text chat and the game works in such as way that many players attacking one creature will help each other, not hinder each other.