There has been a plethora of LEGO-based video games over the past few decades, and while many of them were quite good, LEGO Builder's Journey stood out for being very different. The original story was told completely through visuals alone, so it didn't have the same crutch of familiarity the licensed titles did. The game was completely puzzle-oriented but open enough in nature that you have a myriad of solutions available for your stage. It had married all of this with a terrific overall presentation, and the only gripe was that the game was very short from beginning to end. Light Brick Studio has returned to the world of LEGO with LEGO Voyagers, a game that shows the developer knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to making interesting titles revolving around the popular plastic bricks.

The game is centered on two LEGO bricks, each featuring one eye and measuring 1x1 in size. The story opens with the duo standing on a nearby island watching the launch of a rocket into space. As the rocket takes off, things seem to be going well, but the rocket crashes shortly after launch and breaks into several pieces in the process. The two friends take it upon themselves to fix the rocket so it can take a successful trip into space.

Much like LEGO Builder's Journey, LEGO Voyagers is a story that has no dialogue and no written words to advance the narrative. Every story beat is inferred by the on-screen actions , and what you're getting is pretty nice. Like the developer's previous game, the story is heartwarming enough with only a tinge of sadness that propels the game's emotional climax. What makes this different, and in some cases better, than LEGO Builder's Journey is the fact that the game is not only longer but also has a definitive ending. The end isn't sudden, so there's some satisfaction when the end credits roll.

As far as gameplay goes, the first thing to note is that the game is fully cooperative. There is no way to play the game solo unless you plan on using two controllers at all times. Co-op play can be done locally, and it can also be done online, but you don't necessarily need two copies of the game to take advantage of online play. Much like Split Fiction and It Takes Two, there is a free version of the game available for anyone to download, and the whole adventure can be played using this copy — provided the other person has a full copy of the game. From a cost perspective, this is always a welcome move. The only drawback is that the game features no cross-play, at least not at the time of this writing.

Although the game is a completely co-op experience from beginning to end, there isn't much friction present. There are no enemies to defeat, and while you will find wildlife present, they either don't bother you or just run away. You will fall into pits quite often, and you might get squished, but lives are infinite, and you'll respawn instantaneously when you die. This also applies to the different bricks you touch, should they happen to also fall into a pit. There's also no death counter, so there's no reminder of how many times you missed a jump.

LEGO Voyagers can be best described as a puzzle-platformer, with an equal amount of emphasis placed on both categories. The platforming part can feel challenging at times, but the aforementioned instant respawns and unlimited lives make this part less frustrating for both the younger set of gamers and those who aren't adept at platforming. It also helps that there is a lock-on button that helps your character automatically attach to the block studs in the world. Since many platforms and narrow ledges feature these things, hitting a button is all you need to do to clear a gap or move along a ledge without fear of falling.

Many gaps require more than just good reflexes and stud attachment, and this is where the puzzle part comes into play. Some of the puzzles have you activating a switch to get your partner across a chasm, so they can activate a switch on their side for the same function. Others have you building structures using LEGO bricks, and while the process does take a bit of practice, it's fairly easy to do some precision rotation and placement of bricks before locking them into place. The one thing the puzzles share is the fact that they're simple to figure out, with only one or two taking a little thought and observation to figure out the solution. None of them are devious enough to get you stuck for hours, so like the platforming, the experience is meant to be breezy but not boring.

The combination of the two elements works quite well throughout the game, but LEGO Voyagers takes the time to give the player a few diversions. You'll get a section where you'll drive a boat, with each player controlling acceleration and deceleration for each engine. There's a moment where you'll both drive a truck, with one person controlling acceleration and the other controlling steering. For the most part, though, the biggest diversion you'll enjoy is just traveling. You'll see the sights of every environment, such as the machinery outside of the rocket launch base or the schools of fish coming toward you. You'll also be able to sit at a bench and watch a train go by. The game revels in the quiet moments for a bit before lobbing another challenge your way. This is where the game emulates LEGO Builder's Journey in using relaxing moments to great effect.

There are only a few gripes that players may have with the title. The camera angle can't be moved around, and that makes sense to prevent constant clashing in a co-op game. However, it means that some tasks will be a touch more difficult to accomplish because you don't have a clear view of what you're doing. Levels also possess no secrets, so there's little benefit to deviate from the main path, and there are rarely opportunities for you to do so anyway. Their absence means that unless you're trying to hunt down Achievements, there's little reason to replay the game unless you're playing with someone new.

The game features voices but not necessarily dialogue. You have a button dedicated to chatter, where the dialogue is unintelligible but still fun to hear. It's comparable to what you'd hear with the Minions from Despicable Me fame in that you may only understand a word or two, but you'll spam the chatter button to hear them say something. The music is the other highlight of the game's audio package, as what you've got is a soundtrack full of pleasant music. No matter the situation, the music promotes a relaxing, stress-free experience, and it does a great job in keeping the mood light without becoming silly.

Graphically, LEGO Voyagers is mighty impressive. The lighting in particular makes the graphics shine, with a nice sheen on each brick. The day and night cycle continues throughout the adventure. The environmental effects, especially the water, look wonderful, as do the animations, which go for smoothness over the staccato animations associated with the LEGO brand. There's really nothing to complain about as far as looks go.

Steam Deck users will find that the game runs pretty well. The device's full resolution is being used, and while the frame rate hits 60fps most of the time, there are moments when things can drop to the low- to mid-40s. For a game that isn't reliant on fast twitchy action, the drops aren't enough to ruin the experience. Battery life is fine, as a full charge on the LCD version of the deck can get you a little less than three hours of playtime; it's just enough to get you close to the end of the game before a recharge is needed. For those on a Linux desktop, the game also works quite well, but you'll either need Proton Experimental or the latest GE-Proton to ensure that the opening FMVs play without errors.

In the end, LEGO Voyagers is an awesome co-op experience that lasts for just the right amount of time. In four hours of playtime, you'll get a delightful little puzzle platformer with good, simple puzzles and lots of heart, even if there isn't dialogue to drive things along. The presentation is fantastic, and even though the game has a few minor issues, players should give this game a shot if they're a genre fan looking for a new co-op game to play.

Score: 8.5/10