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LEGO is the largest toy company in the world, responsible for producing the ever-popular LEGO bricks. The company has been in the market for decades, and over the years has branched out into different forms of media. One of the most prominent, of course, is the video game arena.
At first, the company published games through its subsidiary, LEGO Media, which was later renamed LEGO Software. More changes occurred shortly after that, with the creation of TT Games (which was acquired by Warner Bros in 2007 for its expansive gaming empire). The first LEGO game was published in 1995 and was titled LEGO Fun to Build. S ince then, there have been numerous games published that were based on LEGO toys. Some of them went on to be sales sensations around the world, as this data from VGChartz shows.
In 2017, the president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, David Haddad, told VentureBeat (via DualShockers) that Lego Marvel Super Heroes was the best-selling LEGO title ever. These series entries performed incredibly well too.
8 LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
- Total Sales: 4.08 million
Pirates of the Caribbean is a popular franchise that has performed well critically and financially. With that in mind, video game adaptions of the movies were inevitable. One of them is LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, which was published in 2011 along with the theatrical release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The title's storyline covers the first four films in the series, which could be considered some of the highlights of the franchise.
The game performed very well out of the gate, and later sales continued to be solid. All in all, the game has reached 4.08 million copies sold to date. At the same time, though, it was not the critical darling that some LEGO titles have proven to be.
7 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
- Total Sales: 4.57 million
As is the case with so many other movie adaptations, here the studio again decided to cash in on an already popular and well-established franchise. This time, the result was LEGO Indiana Jones: The Adventure Continues.
The game was developed by British studio Travellers Tales and published by LucasArts, arriving the same year as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2009). Besides covering the events of the film, it also touches on the narratives of earlier movies in the series, albeit with their storylines heavily modified. The game didn't impress critics very much, earning average reviews, but it was very profitable: It sold 4.57 million copies.
6 LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars
- Total Sales: 5.52 million
The classic LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars is a game that was developed and published by the same studios as the previous entry. Therefore, it's unsurprising that the game is similar to past releases in the series, featuring a similar combat style as well as the familar LEGO graphics and themes. Contrary to what many may believe, the game isn't based on the Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones movie, but on the 2008 animated film of the same name.
The game performed well commercially, selling 5.52 million copies. It simultaneously received a lukewarm response from critics, but in the end, it probably fared better in that department than the animated movie did.
5 LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- Total Sales: 7 million
This first LEGO Harry Potter game covers the first four books (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) in the beloved magical series. It features exploring, collecting items, and solving puzzles. To mix things up from the LEGO norm, casting spells is an integral part of gameplay, as well as potion-making. It also has a multiplayer mode (which is sure to be fun for families and younger players).
Selling 7 million copies is an impressive performance. This was not achieved simply on the strength of the franchise's name or marketing, either. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is a good game, with many publications giving it a high score. On Metacritic it has a very respectable rating around 80, depending on the platform in question.
4 LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy
- Total Sales: 7.21 million
LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy is perhaps one of the very best LEGO games. As its name suggests, it covers the first three original movies in the series. It also boasts a total of 68 playable characters from across the trilogy, a roster few other titles can rival.
The game had a successful opening weekend and only built momentum after its 2006 launch. It performed well in sales on all platforms, though the PC edition suffered. In the end, it sold 7.21 million copies, another sales sensation. It was featured in the Xbox 360 Platinum Hits, PlayStation 2 Greatest Hits, and GameCube Players Choice lines of releases.
3 LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
- Total Sales: 7.24 million
Interestingly, LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game just managed to pip its fellow LEGO Star Wars entry to the post, narrowly outselling its sequel. This time, the game covers the events of the three prequel movies. The title currently has a rating of 77 on Metacritic, indicating positive reviews.
Prequel episodes Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith certainly aren't nearly as well regarded as the trilogy that began with Star Wars Episode 4: New Hope. Nevertheless, the fun and varied LEGO gameplay gave them a new appeal. In the end, this title managed to sell 7.24 million copies.
2 LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
- Total Sales: 11.36 million
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures follows the courageous explorer through the storylines of the first three movies. The game is, however, divided into six chapters. As is the case with LEGO titles, it was published on every relevant platform on its release in 2008, including PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS. The editions released for these handhelds featured some significant concessions, but also unique features like touchscreen controls.
The game had strong sales upon release, which continued to climb and later totaled 11.36 million from the last data available. It also performed well critically, narrowly missing out on a spot among Metacritic's best-rated LEGO games ever.
1 LEGO Batman: The Videogame
- Total Sales: 12.05 million
The stellar LEGO Batman: The Videogame was published in 2008 on every major platform, including mobile. From a third-person perspective, the player fights enemies, solves puzzles, and collects LEGO studs, an in-game currency that can be found in great abundance throughout the series. Unlike other entries on this list, LEGO Batman: The Videogame boasts an original story, though it doesn't break new ground: Batman and Robin are forced to battle the most notorious villains in Gotham City, who have escaped Arkham Asylum.
According to the last data available, the game sold 12.05 million copies, making it one of the highest-selling LEGO games to date. It received positive reviews and spawned two sequels.