Funko Fusion is an action-adventure game that lets players step into the shoes of 60+ Funko Pop! Characters from over 20 movie, TV, comic, and video game franchises. It's an exciting pop-culture mash-up from 10:10 Games and one that looks set to be the ultimate fan-service fix with even more franchises to come. Not only does Funko Fusion's mix of franchises re-create beloved titles from recent times, like Netflix's The Umbrella Academy and Five Nights at Freddy's, but it also steps back in time with old-school classics like Back to The Future, The Mummy, and Xena: Warrior Princess. The Best War Games recently got to see some of Funko Fusion's chosen IPs in action thanks to the opportunity to play a hands-on preview.
We also got to experiment with some of Funko Fusion's different characters first-hand, who possess unique melee and ranged weapons. On top of all that, we also got to explore Funko Fusion's worlds and experience an introductory story quest, giving a closer look at how the game connects all these different franchises.
Funko Fusion Is The Ultimate Celebration Of Fandom
Kicking things off, we began our Funko Fusion preview by stepping straight out of a Funko box after choosing our character from the character selection screen, just like picking a beloved Pop! Figure from a shelf. We had the choice of the following Funko characters to start our adventures in the Jurassic World or Hot Fuzz levels:
- Jurassic World: Owen Grady, Clare Dearing, Barry Sembene, or Kayla.
- Hot Fuzz: Nicholas Angel, Danny Butterman, Doris Thatcher, or Sgt Tony Fisher.
We chose Owen Grady from Jurassic World to launch our Funko Fusion journey at the Wonderworks Factory, which is a central Hub full of unlockables and Easter Eggs. For our chosen world, the Hub starting zone was transformed into a Jurassic World-inspired with Easter Eggs like a Funko skeleton sitting inside a portapotty. This was a fun nod to that infamous original Jurassic Park toilet death scene and a small taste of the game's irreverent humor.
Introducing Funko Fusion's Wonderworks Factory
The introductory quest took us around the Wonderworks Factory. It led us to rescue a trapped Foxxo inside a security hut and battle some invading purple plasma creatures. Here, we could also swap characters freely from Funko Pop! Character boxes in the environment to try out their different firearms and melee weapons, something players can do at regular points elsewhere. For instance, we tried out Chris' wrench, Barry’s hilarious toy dinosaur on a stick, Clare’s cattle prod, and Kayla's electric device. We then drank a bottle of green soda to restore our health and crafted a Bounce Pad blueprint using the Mold Machine to solve a locked door puzzle.
Next, we met the infamous Freddy and Eddy themselves, as teased in Funko Fusion's story trailer, giving us a taste of our first boss fight against a giant corrupted Foxxo. It was a relatively short but fun battle that blends third-person combat with puzzle-solving. While combat might seem straightforward enough, it's not something to underestimate and will keep players on their toes. Fights can get a little chaotic, but in an enjoyable sense. We were now free to enter our chosen world, armed with our golden 'Funkey,' and it quickly became apparent how much Funko Fusion could be the ultimate celebration of fandom.
Jurassic World In Funko Fusion - A Ferociously Fun Visual Feast
We entered Funko Fusion's Jurassic World level via a Funko Pop! Box called 'Dilopho Saw Us!' Starting in a safe zone, we began our mission hunting five infamous, acid-spitting dilophosaurs among the dinosaur chaos. Cue some hilarious and memorable moments of Funko figures being terrorized by pterodactyls in a fun twist on the first Jurassic World movie scene and a sense of humor akin to the Lego video games. It felt like a visual feast of chaotic fun. We avoided screen-splattering Dilophosaurus projectiles, shot bad guys, and utilized collectibles at every turn, such as vinyl to craft things like grenades at Mold Stations. Crafting on the go also becomes necessary to solve some puzzles and keep health levels up.
Alongside following the main quest objectives, there was a sense of wanting to explore and unlock everything in the game's level design, which seems perfect for replayability and players who enjoy puzzle solving. Enemy encounters also felt diverse and fast-paced, with gangs of Compys beating players to a pulp in seconds and introducing momentary button-bashing to escape.
If players die in Funko Fusion, they become ghosts and must have or grab enough vinyl to respawn at the starting safe zone.
We also got a bit stuck trying to solve one particular power puzzle, so players may need to put their thinking caps on to figure out how to progress in some cases. If anyone is concerned about the complexity of its puzzles because of the more child-friendly elements of Funko, rest assured that's not the case here. Puzzles run the gamut and can present worthwhile challenges in their own right.
Funko Fusion's Take On Hot Fuzz - Nicholas Angel Would Be Proud
Moving on to Hot Fuzz, Funko Fusion' s take on the unforgettable action-comedy movie did not disappoint. Its starting zone was delightfully transformed into the quaint streets of Sandford with British police cars lining the streets and amusing nods to the franchise. The Hot Fuzz world we saw is called ‘Prime Time Crime’ and began in a police station where the clerk behind the desk playfully told us not to arrest the entire village. We then started a quest following a hilarious-looking swan with a flashing police light on its head past iconic scenes from the movie. This included solving a car crash crime scene using a camera to light up three hidden clues.
There was also the iconic Hot Fuzz music to set the scene for the ever-driven and conscientious Nicholas Angel (or whatever character players choose). We also visited a familiar church where we narrowly avoided getting hit by a falling statue, creating another crime scene to investigate. Without venturing too much into spoiler territory, what we saw of Funko Fusion's take on Hot Fuzz was incredibly entertaining and bound to delight fans of the Cornetto Trilogy. Funko Fusion's Hot Fuzz character abilities also really shined with the following weapons:
- Nicholas Angel - pistol and plant pot.
- Danny Butterman - shotgun and ice cream.
- Doris Thatcher - police traffic camera and caution wet floor sign.
- Sgt Tony Fisher - biscuit gun and traffic cone.
To summarize, we think players will have enormous fun exploring clever takes on these iconic worlds and characters, some of which will make their first video game appearances. The gameplay also cleverly blends third-person action-adventure with puzzles in a way that will likely challenge and delight players. Overall, Funko Fusion looks set to bring a big smile to many faces and seems a fantastic homage to all the franchises we saw. No doubt many players will enjoy seeing their favorite characters and moments brought to life in a game that looks set to deliver fan service at its finest, but of course, how Funko Fusion is ultimately received remains to be seen.
Funko Fusion
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 53 /100 Critics Rec: 14%
- Released
- September 13, 2024
- ESRB
- e
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
WHERE TO PLAY
Funko Fusion is a third-person action game that’s all about celebrating fandom. Play with some of your favorite characters from across TV, movies, games, and comics, and explore handcrafted worlds inspired by Jurassic World, Back to the Future, JAWS, The Thing, Chucky, Battlestar Galactica, Hot Fuzz, The Umbrella Academy, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Masters of the Universe, Invincible, and many more!
Select, unlock, and play with 60+ unique playable characters from more than 20 fan-favorite franchises, all lovingly recreated in Funko Pop! Form.
Each character has their own weapons and special moves, and some characters have unique skills for solving puzzles and finding secrets.
Explore your favorite franchises in video game form, relive memorable moments, and play through a unique story that ties them all together!
Shoot, blast, and whack enemies in ranged and melee combat. Craft gadgets and items to give yourself an advantage or to unlock hidden areas.
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer
- 10:10 Games
- Publisher
- 10:10 Games
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
