LEGO Universe

Game review by Carolyn Koh, Common Sense Media
LEGO Universe Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Quest-based MMO is cute but hard to figure out how to play.

Mac, Windows 2010
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Parents say

age 9+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 8+

Based on 8 reviews

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  • LEGO Universe Game: Screenshot #1
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  • LEGO Universe Game: Screenshot #3

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this is an MMORPG -- Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game -- that requires purchase of boxed software as well as a monthly subscription to play. The game is both CARU (Children's Advertising Review Unit) and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) compliant, and although kids will be playing online with other kids, chat is limited to a "white list" of allowed words. There is some violence as kids use weapons to attack and defend themselves, but this is a LEGO world, so the worst that happens is that LEGO characters and things break apart. The game suffers from a lack of tips and directions, but for kids who have the patience to keep trying, it can be rewarding.

Community Reviews

Daphne Church
Daphne Church Adult
October 12, 2011
age 8+

The next phase after Club Penguin

My 8 year old son and his friends LOVE this game and quickly became obsessed (which thanks to the advice here art CSM we were able to manage). It is pricey, but the fact that there are so many different worlds, and new updates every month, and lots of positive messages about building and using their imagination makes it worth it. Note, this will open up the world of online chatting to your child so be sure to talk with them about it and why you can't "block" or "report" someone just becuase they don't want to play with you. It can be hard to play at first, but we found lots of resources online to help us through and figure it out. Lego Universe site has also know built a Wiki of sorts to help players. And don't be suprised if when your child isn't looking, you play too :-)

This title has:

Great messages
alpinemed
alpinemed Adult
July 28, 2011
age 9+

My son loves legos and this game

My son was involved in the beta before this game was released so he learned as the game was being developed. That being said, he has learned as he went along but that is the way kids are learning these days, trial by failure. He can chat with other kids but lego won't let them write bad words or mean comments. They can work together with another player to defeat the bad guys. There is violence in the sense that they can attack other minifigures (bad guys) and they break apart but my son does this with his real mini figures in his room. My biggest complaint is the cost. It's about $9 a month if you buy the whole year. This is a lego product and it is selling lego so why so much? Over all, my son loves it, the concept of using 'imagination' to get through the worlds is worthwhile and I feel he is safe playing this game.
See all 3 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Four adventurers search for the Imagination Nexus, the source of Pure Imagination, but the greed of one causes a dark Maelstrom of chaotic energy to be released. In LEGO UNIVERSE, you are called upon to defeat the dark forces of the Maelstrom and save the Universe. Players entering this massively multiplayer online world of LEGO Universe will explore through the world, battling and smashing evil creatures, collecting bricks, and building LEGO creations in their own player properties.

Is It Any Good?

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about setting computer time limits. How much time is too much time online? Can staring at a computer screen for long periods of time actually hurt your eyes?

  • Families can also talk about cartoon violence. What does getting smashed mean? The LEGO objects and characters get broken into bricks -- does that mean this game isn't violent?

Game Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love playing games with others

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