Combining puzzles and humor with popular franchises, LEGO has produced top tier video games that rank high on Metacritic.

LEGO is a company best known for its line of construction toys, however, the company has expanded far beyond the world of plastic bricks. LEGO has become something of its own media empire, complete with movies, TV shows, and many video games tied to the brand.

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While it would be easy for a company as popular as LEGO to shoot for quick cash grabs, the company puts a lot of care into its video games, many of which have earned high critical ratings on the site Metacritic. Fans of LEGO, or the properties they license, won't want to miss out on the excellent games the brand offers.

Rock Band games were an enormous hit in the late 2000s and early 2010s. After the first two games, a variety of spin-offs released, including LEGO Rock Band.

Although the console versions of LEGO Rock Band earned average reviews, the Nintendo DS version was unexpectedly well-liked, earning an 80 critic score on Metacritic. The fact it was the first Rock Band game released for that console may have influenced its score, however, critics also praised it for its fresh and well-executed presentation.

LEGO media has typically stuck to creating light-hearted versions of the material they license, and LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is no exception. The game's humorous take on the first three Indiana Jones movies earned it an 80 Metascore from critics and a similarly positive response from users.

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The Nintendo DS version specifically cracks the top 10 on Metacritic, with some critics pointing out that this portable version is probably the best incarnation of The Original Adventures. One user favorably compares it to the PSP version because of its inclusion of multiplayer.

Unlike its name suggests, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga only covers the first six Star Wars films, as the rest hadn't been released when the game first came out. Critics enjoyed this upgraded version of the first two LEGO Star Wars games, giving it an 80 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Several critics mention camera issues that hold the game back from being the best that it could have been, however, their feelings on the game remain mostly positive. Others praise it for being both a great LEGO game and an engaging Star Wars game, noting its attention to details from the source material.

LEGO has released a ton of superhero games, most likely thanks to the success of their first one: LEGO Batman: The Videogame, which earned an 80 Metascore from critics. They praised the game's look and tone, and many described it as pure LEGO fun.

Although critics gave mostly positive reviews, Metacritic users were more divided. Even though the user rating isn't bad, an average of 7 out of 10, some users said it didn't live up to their expectations set by previous LEGO titles. Others noted it seemed more fun in cooperative mode, but a bit boring when played solo.

In any medium, sequels run the risk of being too similar to their previous entries. Luckily for LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes, critics seemed to agree that the game was different and even better than the first LEGO Batman. This earned the game an 81 out of 100 on Metacritic.

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Critics largely agreed that the addition of the new open world made LEGO Batman 2 feel like a fresh new entry for the series. They also noted the game had more to offer outside the main quest than other LEGO games. Even the harshest of critics still praised its charm and sense of humor.

Now that it seems Star Wars is becoming a never-ending franchise like Marvel, LEGO knew better than to claim a game was the "complete" saga. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga includes missions from every Star Wars movie in the main three trilogies.

The Skywalker Saga earned an 82 Metascore from critics who said the game provided the perfect balance of LEGO's signature charm and an attention to detail Star Wars fans hoped for. Other critics mentioned the game felt surprisingly fresh for such a long-running series.

LEGO The Lord of the Rings proves that the company doesn't want to skip out on any of the biggest media franchises. Much like their approach with Star Wars and Batman, LEGO did justice to the source material, earning the game an 82 Metascore.

Critics praise LEGO The Lord of the Rings for being a great LEGO game, but also an excellent platformer in its own right. Users also enjoyed the game, and many agreed with critics, considering the title a real treat for Tolkienfans.

Marvel seems determined to outdo DC in every area, and if Metacritic is to be believed, they've done so again with LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. LEGO Marvel is the highest rated of LEGO's superhero fare with an 83 out of 100 Metascore.

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Critics praised Marvel Super Heroes for having a good balance between its open world and more linear levels. While some call the game a love letter to Marvel fans, critics have also noted that the game is enjoyable even for casual fans or players who aren't interested in Marvel at all. Apart from perhaps being too easy, there aren't many negative things critics have to say about the game.

Similar to the films, critics seem to think that the best way to experience LEGO Star Wars is by focusing on the original films. LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy has the best rating among the LEGO Star Wars games on Metacritic with an impressive 86.

Critics reported that they enjoyed the cooperative mode in LEGO Star Wars II, calling it one of the best co-op experiences of its time. Critics also noted the customization and replayability were among the title's most successful elements.

Since LEGO started releasing video games, they've been available for almost every platform, which makes it all the more surprising that the highest rated game on Metacritic is for iOS. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 earned an 87 Metascore from critics with a few giving it a perfect 100 score.

One of the biggest draws for Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is that it is a full-length game, despite being on iOS. Critics praise the game for feeling like a complete experience rather than a quick cash grab. Many also point out its relatively inexpensive price compared to other versions of the game.

NEXT: 10 Best LEGO Star Wars Sets, Ranked

Sean (he/him) is a writer and enjoyer of all things nerdy. Apart from comics, he enjoys table top games and occasionally making video content.

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