Fans of LEGO games had a lot to get excited about in March of this year after LEGO 2K Drive was announced. The long-rumored multi-title partnership between the LEGO Group and 2K Games was officially confirmed with the reveal, and the upcoming racing game will serve as an exciting introduction to the collaboration. Although LEGO has an impressively extensive list of titles already behind it, it seems the multifaceted organization is looking to broaden its already wide range of entertainment content with the release of LEGO 2K Drive – a game that could help meet the demand for fun, frantic racing games.
There are lots of options when it comes to titles where players can compete to get a vehicle around a track. These range from realistic racers like the Need for Speed or Horizon series to something much more irreverent like Crash Team Racing. However, one of the most popular and memorable racing games is arguably Mario Kart, a decade-spanning series that takes beloved characters and puts them behind the wheel to compete on increasingly elaborate and entertaining courses. After years of fans asking for a new Mario Kart game, LEGO 2K Drive could step in and plug the gap with its own zany take on the genre.
LEGO 2K Drive's New Approach
While LEGO 2K Drive isn't a direct sequel to the previous LEGO Racers series, it can take advantage of the nostalgia and established fan base of its spiritual predecessor. LEGO has a reputation for making fun, well-crafted video games, and even though LEGO 2K Drive is in different hands compared to previous releases, fans are still expecting that franchise polish. LEGO 2K Drive creative director Brian Silva assured players that the game will maintain the "combination of whimsy, slapstick, and ridiculousness" that LEGO games are known for, but that it will also include original characters and elements that will help to elevate the franchise formula at the same time.
The developer has been keen to establish that LEGO 2K Drive isn't a standard racing game and that it will contain high levels of customization. In addition to the different racetracks to dominate around the regions of BrickLandia, players will be able to build their own vehicles with 1000s of brick options, destroy environments, explore a variety of different biomes, compete in local or online co-op, and challenge themselves with a number of side activities. LEGO 2K Drive seems to be pushing the boat out when it comes to the classic racing game format, and with the combination of 2K's credentials and LEGO's pedigree, it could be shaping up to be something quite special.
Filling The Mario Kart Void
It's been a good few years since a mainline Mario Kart entry has been released. Gamers might have had Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in 2017 and the Mario Kart Tour mobile game a few years later, but it's clear there's a gap in the market for another console title in the series. Nintendo's seminal racing game is practically a sure-fire hit given the franchise's popularity, and players have been calling for a sequel for a while now. While Nintendo has hinted that a new entry is in active development, there's no word yet on when players can expect to see it released.
Here's where LEGO 2K Drive can come in. It has a similar appeal that covers a wide audience, a comparable vibe with its colorful and charming worlds that still present a challenge, and an equivalent cultural cache when it comes to the names behind it. There might be a lot of crossovers between Mario Kart's audience and LEGO 2K Drive's potential playerbase, but the latter still has some fresh and original ideas behind it that would help distinguish it from Nintendo's powerhouse franchise. LEGO 2K Drive is yet to be released, but it could very well be a solid alternative to tide fans over before the next Mario Kart installment.
LEGO 2K Drive releases on May 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.