TheLEGOfranchise has been in a very tough spot for a while now. After almost two decades of consistent, licensed games that have taken the most beloved properties and turned them into family-friendly adventures, the series has had a very hard time with its next installment.LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagahas been in the works for years, and after numerous delays, there is really no telling when the game is going to come out. If there is one thing that’s certain, though, it’s that it is set to beone of the most ambitiousLEGOgames ever.
Developer Traveller’s Tales has come a long way since its very first licensedLEGOgame, andLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagawill be the culmination of a generation of work. Looking forward, the company has a breadth of opportunities in front of it for the nextLEGOtitle. The series has tackled all kinds of properties fromIndiana JonestoLord of the Rings, but out of all of the possible worlds that could get theLEGOtreatment afterThe Skywalker Saga, the world of Nintendo’sSuper Mariowould arguably be the best choice.
RELATED:The Importance of Every Planet and Moon Hub in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
The Rise Of LEGO Super Mario
Compared to other properties that have been transformed into the famous LEGO bricks,Super Mariois relatively new on the scene. Ever since The LEGO Group started producing licensed sets, it has really only ever focused on famous film properties such asStar WarsandHarry Potter. It wasn’t until 2012 that the company began to produce sets based on major video games, withMinecraftbeing the obvious and most appropriate choice to usher in this new era for LEGO. The sets turned out to be a massive success, and they paved the way for LEGO’s next major venture into the video game world.
After a very exciting announcement around National Mario Day, LEGOSuper Mariosets began release in the summer of 2020. The sets combined a number of the best elements of LEGO bricks and Nintendo gaming in a way that had never been seen before in a LEGO set. The centerpiece of the entire theme isthe electronic Mario (and now Luigi) figurethat responds to the different interactive blocks in each set. It makes each LEGOSuper Marioset into its own physicalSuper Mariolevel, and it’s proven to be a massive success for The LEGO Group and Nintendo.
Why The LEGO Games And Super Mario Would Be A Perfect Fit
Just looking atthe dozens of LEGOSuper Mariosetsthat have been released, there are a number of reasons why theLEGOgames andSuper Mariowould be an excellent fit. One of the biggest factors is the fact that an excellent base has already been laid for potential gameplay mechanics that aLEGO Super Mariogame could employ. Not only does Traveller’s Tales already have reference for how certain characters or locations should be stylized in LEGO, but it would have much less work to do for gameplay and puzzle mechanics if it used what the sets have established.
On top of that, theSuper Mariofranchise is so expansive that there would be no shortage of content to take inspiration from for aLEGOgame. From the iconicSuper Mario Bros.to the more contemporarySuper Mario Odyssey, there would be so much for Traveller’s Tales to play around with thanks to the history of Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom. It would be an excellent opportunity to continue the trend of Mario going to unique places he’s never gone before, too.TheMario + Rabbidsgameshave shown that Mario doesn’t need to be restricted to the same format he’s been in for over thirty years, and theLEGOgames have shown great care towards the properties that they adapt.
RELATED:How LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Can Add to Canon Like Predecessors
The LEGO Franchise’s Future
Aside from the fact that aLEGO Super Mariogame simply sounds like a good idea on paper, it could be a great opportunity for Traveller’s Tales to try something new afterthe many trials ofLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The game has been in development for a very long time at this point, and after all of the delays, it’s going to be a much needed relief whenThe Skywalker Sagais finally out in the wild. After all of that stress, doing something different could be a great shot in the arm for those that may feel creatively exhausted.
ALEGO Super Mariotitle would also be a great way to make sure that theLEGOfranchise continues to evolve at the rate that it has been for all of this time.LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagais introducing a lot of new features, and continuing that innovation with a property likeSuper Mariowould further cement Traveller’s Tales as one of the most dynamic developers in the industry. It would also be a great opportunity to build an even stronger bond with Nintendo, a relationship that could result in even more Nintendo properties getting adapted into aLEGOgame sometime in the future.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagastill doesn’t have a release datejust yet, so there’s really no telling where theLEGOfranchise is going to go from here. There’s a history ofLEGOgames being planned as others are being developed, so it’s possible that the next one could already be in development. As far as when it will be announced, that date is probably very far in the future. Whenever the nextLEGOgame is revealed, though, hopefully it will live up to all the potential of aLEGO Super Mariogame.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagais currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
MORE:LEGO Star Wars Developers Should Tackle a KOTOR Game After Skywalker Saga
