The racing genre has delivered two distinct experiences over the last few years. On one side, there are highly precise simulation experiences where even the smallest adjustment can make or break a race. On the other, is zany, arcade fun that lets players tear up the track using vehicles that often defy logic. The upcoming LEGO 2K Drive fits firmly in the second camp, putting players behind the plastic wheel of various LEGO creations and dropping them in the world of Bricklandia. It looks to be an experience fans haven't had in a while, and LEGO 2K Drive could inspire a LEGO Racers sequel, given its potential seems as limitless as a bucket full of LEGO bricks.
LEGO 2K Drive will be one in a small group of games that have harnessed the power of beloved toys to create a memorable racing experience. Hot Wheels Unleashed emerged as one of the most thrilling arcade racing games in a long time when it was released in 2021. With its breakneck speeds and craftsman's attention to detail, Hot Wheels Unleashed was as much a love letter to the popular toy cars as it was a stellar racing experience. It's given LEGO 2K Drive a high bar to clear, but there's one feature the upcoming game may be able to provide that gives it an edge over Hot Wheels Unleashed.
LEGO 2K Drive Could Outdo Hot Wheels Unleashed's Track Builder
One of the standout features of the game was Hot Wheels Unleashed's track builder. This feature gave players an unprecedented amount of freedom in creating their own Hot Wheels tracks, using dozens of unique track pieces, cosmetic decorations, and other interactive elements. It truly encapsulated the experience of building actual Hot Wheels tracks, giving players young and old an opportunity to express their creativity with minimal roadblocks. The game's website also claims it's the same track builder developers used to make the game, and whether that's accurate or not, it's a testament to how robust the feature is.
It remains to be seen whether LEGO 2K Drive will have a custom track builder, but it's hard to deny the potential of it. LEGO 2K Drive will have vehicle customization options, letting players build just about anything they want, stick wheels on it, and take it on the road. Just as Hot Wheels Unleashed harnessed the fun of building custom tracks, LEGO 2K Drive plans to do the same by letting players go wild with LEGO bricks. While there's more than enough potential in this feature alone, extending it to a LEGO track builder could make LEGO 2K Drive a must-play for arcade racing fans.
A track builder in LEGO 2K Drive could do a lot of the same things as Hot Wheels Unleashed's gameplay, but the one area where it could differentiate itself is its destructibility. When it comes to playing with LEGO bricks, destroying an elaborate build can be as fun as the building process itself. LEGO 2K Drive has shown it will be embracing this, with various destructible elements throughout the open world of Bricklandia. If the game combined this potential for destruction with a custom track builder, LEGO 2K Drive could provide one of the most dynamic track-building experiences ever seen.
LEGO 2K Drive looks to be a refreshing change of pace for fans of some of the best LEGO games. After years of licensed titles from TT Games, and occasional deviations like LEGO Brawls, Visual Concepts' racing venture has the potential to make a real impact. After the success of Hot Wheels Unleashed and its faithful recreation of the die-cast cars, 2K Drive can do the same for the plastic toy bricks. While it will likely do well enough with its current customization systems and open-world design, LEGO 2K Drive could become unforgettable with a robust track builder that leverages the fun of playing with LEGO.
LEGO 2K Drive releases May 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
