LEGO 2K Drive is a new open-world driving adventure that combines racing, minigames, and customization interwoven with an overarching narrative. The game comes from a new, multi-title partnership between LEGO and 2K, the latter of which has teamed up with frequent collaborator Visual Concepts - the developer behind the WWE 2K and NBA 2K franchises - for the project. Screen Rant attended a special hands-on preview event for the game that painted a clear picture of what players can expect from LEGO 2K Drive.
Rumors about a racing title from LEGO and 2K have been swirling since early last year, but it's clear from the preview that LEGO 2K DRIVE is much more of a vehicle-based adventure game than a straightforward racer. The title centers around the player character's journey to the Sky Cup Grand Prix, the premier racing event of Bricklandia. LEGO 2K Drive's map is split into several different - and largely destructible - biomes, with the preview showing off locales like the desert-themed Big Butte and spooky Hauntsborough. As players explore, their vehicle will quickly and seamlessly transform between a regular automobile, off-road car, and boat based on terrain.
The main plot centers around the game's races which utilize many familiar mechanics, from boosting and drifts to Mario Kart-esque items with a LEGO twist like missile launchers. Victories net the player flags, which are used to gain entrance to the three Grand Brick Arenas around Bricklandia; once these are completed, access is granted to the Sky Cup Grand Prix. Each competition feels fluid and fast-paced, and the courses sampled in the preview offered a diverse range of styles, with many courses incorporating all the different types of terrain. Certain races in LEGO 2K Drive have level requirements, meaning collecting XP from other sources is important to progression.
This can be earned from the many other activities that dot the world of Bricklandia. In this way, LEGO 2K Drive is reminiscent of games like Burnout Paradise where there's always something to do, but with a sillier slant. Some minigames revolve around achieving something within a time limit, like plowing down mushrooms in a field or drifting a set amount, while others have even more unique goals - a standout from the preview was rolling a giant egg across Big Butte into an oversized skillet. It's also easy to find side quests by talking to Bricklandia inhabitants, like a mission that involved collecting runaway pigs for a farmer.
The final key component of LEGO 2K Drive is the garage, run by Unkie and Sunny Monkey. This is where the LEGO building aspects of the title really get their time the shine, letting players both modify existing vehicles and build them brick-by-brick, either with or without instructions. While other games like Mario Kart allow for basic kart building, the level of customization present here is truly next-level - players can access over 1,000 LEGO pieces in a myriad of categories which can then be further tailored to suit their tastes through a diverse color palette, giving builders ample freedom whether it be for a car, boat, or off-road vehicle.
LEGO 2K Drive can be experienced alone or with friends utilizing the game's couch co-op and online systems, where they can go head-to-head in both races and assorted minigames designed for multiplayer mayhem. Setting itself apart as more of an adventure title than a racer is a core facet of the upcoming game, which is clear through its deep customization and the slew of other activities available across Bricklandia. Players will be able to start their engines and explore everything LEGO 2K Drive has to offer when the title releases later this spring.
Source: LEGO 2K HUB/YouTube
LEGO 2K Drive will release May 19 for PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Screen Rant attended a special hands-on preview event for the purpose of this preview.