LEGO The Incredibles is a superhero movie you can build. That simple idea carries the whole game. The 2018 release from TT Games puts the Parr family into a brick-based world built around their adventures, and it mostly delivers on the promise of fun.
Trailer, via IGDBcom.
The Parr Family
The game follows Bob Parr, Helen Parr, Violet Parr, Dash Parr and Jack-Jack Parr through a story that leans heavily on the film’s plot. Each character gets a distinct set of abilities tied to their powers, and the game uses those abilities to drive level design and puzzle solving. That focus pays off more often than it misses.
Helen’s strength and Bob’s speed make her a natural fighter while he excels at quick escapes. Violet’s invisibility lets her slip past enemies, and Dash’s superspeed turns him into a fast runner. Jack-Jack’s chaos power changes him into any form at will, which opens up some of the game’s best moments. The game gives each player a reason to switch between characters during missions, and that variety keeps levels from feeling dull.
Each character’s ability serves a clear purpose in gameplay. Helen’s strength makes her useful for pushing heavy objects and breaking through obstacles. Bob’s speed lets him escape danger quickly. Violet’s invisibility allows her to bypass enemy patrols. Dash’s superspeed turns him into a fast runner, useful for escaping or reaching distant locations. Jack-Jack’s chaos power, which changes him into any form at will, offers creative solutions to puzzles and obstacles. The game rewards players for switching between characters, and that variety keeps levels from feeling dull.
Building and Breaking
As a LEGO game, the core loop is building and breaking. Players collect studs, find blueprints, and build vehicles and structures out of LEGO pieces scattered across each level. That system works well in practice. Finding the right blueprint takes some trial and error, but the payoff of seeing a vehicle come together is satisfying.
The breaking side of things is where the game shows its age. Enemies break apart into studs, and collecting enough unlocks new playable characters or upgrades. It’s a familiar formula, but it holds up because the building feels rewarding and the combat stays simple. The game doesn’t overcomplicate either system, and that restraint is a strength.
The City of New Newburg
The game’s setting is New Newburg, a fictional city built around the Parr family’s adventures. It’s a dense, explorable space full of side quests, collectibles and hidden rooms. The level design encourages wandering, and the game rewards players who look beyond the main path.
Some areas feel packed with content, while others feel thin. The pacing isn’t consistent across the whole game. But the overall sense of a living city is strong, and it gives players a reason to keep exploring even after finishing a mission.
New Newburg feels like a living city, with side quests, collectibles and hidden rooms tucked away throughout. The level design encourages wandering, and the game rewards players who look beyond the main path. Some areas feel packed with content, while others feel thin, but the overall sense of a living city is strong.
Level Design
The levels themselves vary widely in quality. Some are tight, clever puzzles that require switching between characters to solve. Others are long stretches of combat that rely on grinding down waves of enemies. The game tries to balance both, but the combat sections often feel like filler rather than design.
Where the game succeeds is in its boss fights. Each boss uses the character’s abilities in creative ways, forcing players to think about how to approach the fight rather than just attacking. Those moments stand out as the high points of the game.
Story and Voice Acting
The story follows the film’s plot closely, with some original material added to fill in gaps. The voice acting carries the weight of the narrative, with the cast delivering lines with warmth and humor. The game leans on humor to carry its tone, and it lands more often than it misses.
The humor comes from the characters themselves rather than from jokes placed in the background. That choice keeps the tone consistent from start to finish.
Performance and Technical Issues
On PS4 and PC, the game runs well but isn’t perfect. Load times can be long, especially on slower hardware. The frame rate holds steady during most play sessions, though it drops in busy combat scenes. On PC, the game supports a wide range of hardware, giving players room to adjust settings to fit their machines.
The game also includes a multiplayer mode for co-op play, which adds replay value for players who finish the campaign. It’s a small addition, but it extends the game’s life beyond a single playthrough.
Schedule of Play
| Session | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction and first mission |
| 2 | Exploration of New Newburg |
| 3 | Character abilities and puzzles |
| 4 | Combat and boss fights |
| 5 | Finishing touches and collectibles |
| 6 | Multiplayer co-op |
That schedule covers a standard playthrough, though players who want to explore everything will spend more time than the base six sessions.
Final Score
LEGO The Incredibles is a solid entry in the LEGO series. It captures the spirit of the Parr family’s adventures and builds a city worth exploring. The combat sections are weaker than the puzzles, and the performance issues show the game’s age, but the core experience remains enjoyable.
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