When I said conservatives need to engage in the Arts, I wasn’t playing around. However, there are times when engaging the Arts requires playing around - block by block. You do not have to be a Master Builder in order to appreciate LEGO video games. 

In case you have never heard of them, LEGO video games allow the player to enter into one of their favorite fictional worlds – anywhere from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Marvel and DC – and play as characters from said worlds. All the characters and much of the environment are animated as LEGOs.  Each game presents the story of the source material in a family-friendly, humorous way.

There have been LEGO themed video games dating all the way back to at least 1995. However, the specific LEGO games I will be describing made their first appearance in 2005 with the release of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game.  This is the first LEGO game to allow the player to explore a fantasy world/story (like the Star Wars Galaxy or Hogwarts) in a fun, LEGO manner. 

Previous LEGO themed games were either sandbox games (like LEGO Creator: Harry Potter) or action-adventure games based on LEGO’s unique products (like Bionicle).

My wife and I have recently been playing through LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean. As I’ve been diving back into the amazing world of LEGO video games, I’ve reflected on the true genius of the idea.  Concisely, I will outline a few reasons why I believe Lego games should be considered marvelous works of art. (Note: my points are only relevant to the strain of LEGO games that began in 2005 with LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game.)

1) LEGO games immerse the player. From Middle Earth, to Hogwarts, to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, these video games allow people of all ages to explore the rich universes of the genius storytellers. One is able to visibly see these alternate universes and personally interact with them.

2) LEGO games are attractive to all age groups. I started playing the first LEGO Star Wars when I was in second grade.  Call me a nerd, but I’m still enjoying them as a graduate student.  These games are simple but full of action, adventure, and humor. I’ve played them with my brother, my dad, and my wife and had a blast every time (except those times I yelled at my brother for not collecting enough studs, i.e. LEGO game currency).

3) LEGO games offer a large amount of replay ability.  Like I said, I’ve been playing some of these games for over a decade.  The simple repeatable formula of playing through the story and then being able to explore the universe as any LEGO character I want rarely gets old.  Each new game offers a new world to explore and new characters to unlock.

4) LEGO games stimulate that imagination. Fiction already stimulates the Imagination.  Fiction made entirely of LEGOs makes one engage his imaginative faculties even more. The little puzzles and gaffs give present a different spin on already memorable stories making them even more cherished.

Art can be defined as a product or activity that creatively communicates an idea, an experience, or a philosophy in an aesthetically pleasing and meaningful way. (This definition was adapted from Smashing Magazine, an art and design website with several publications.) Using this definition, a strong case can be made for the artistic value of LEGO games. The four points above clearly demonstrate the LEGO games are creative and attractive to a broad base of players. The essential “message” of LEGO games may be more difficult to ascertain. However, undisputed works of art, like The Lord of the Rings and the Mona Lisa, are still explored decades or centuries after their creation. Here are two ideas regarding the “message” or “meaning” of LEGO video games:

First, LEGO video games communicate the message of the source material (such as the Marvel Universe or The Hobbit or The Pirates of the Caribbean) in a new way that connects with all ages. Of course, the LEGO games are no replacement for the source material, but the games add a new dimension to the source. Specifically, through the games, one feels a sense of exploration and discovery as he journeys through the LEGO world.

Second, LEGO video games communicate to the player that one can and should take joy in the simple and the complex as well as in the good and the evil. By playing through various games, the player is able to connect with the hardship that the little LEGO figurines are enduring in both a serious and laughable way. To put it succinctly, no challenge or difficulty appears quite so daunting when the hardship is conceptualized as humorous LEGOs.  The message to players is that while genuine struggles exist in this world, there is always a way to find humor and, therefore, persevere. 

In conclusion, LEGO video games truly are works of art as far as video games meet the criteria for art.  If you have not played one in a while (or ever!) go do it.  Reflect on the idea that great stories can be presented in all sorts of manners, even children’s building blocks. While this small article is not the most serious piece of artistic criticism, I hope the reader will take this away: There is beauty and joy in even the simplest things, even a LEGO Qui-Gon Jinn or Jack Sparrow.

(Be on the lookout for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. It will release sometime in 2021 after being delayed due to covid-19. This game will feature completely new levels from Star Wars Episodes I–IX and will allow the player to explore the galaxy in an open-world setting.)

Mitchell D. Cochran is from Midland, Texas and is a graduate of Lubbock Christian University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He is currently attending Calvary University for his Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling. Mitchell currently resides in Lubbock, Texas with his wife Katherine.