This year is the 50th anniversary ofDungeons and Dragons, and LEGO has just released a new set based on the popular tabletop game to celebrate the occasion. Thelaunch of thisDnDLEGO setincludes several other notable tie-in releases, including an official campaign onD&D Beyondthat players can download for free, and a recording of a game night with players that will be released on YouTube.
While this appears to be the extent ofDungeons and Dragons’collaboration with LEGO for now, it does open the door for more exciting opportunities in the future – namely, a LEGO game adaptation ofDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. LEGO video games are beloved by players of all ages, and a campaign set in the world of LEGO with the characters and story of a movie that was well-received in the community would be a great way to adaptDungeons and Dragonsto LEGO’s video game roster.
Dungeons and Dragons Adapted for Video Games
Tabletop games have a reputation for becoming a bit chaotic thanks to the agency they afford players, but the reality is that thebest campaigns inDungeons and Dragonsfollow some semblance of plot and have some order to them. A video game LEGO adaptation ofDungeons and Dragons, combining the imagination and worldbuilding potential of both worlds, has a lot of potential, but it would need some structure with a story. This could come fromDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,which not only fulfills all the story beats and tropes, but it has the tone and humor that aligns with a LEGO video game.
DnD’s History With Video Games
As a tabletop RPG,Dungeons and Dragonshas loosely been adapted for video games many times before thanks to its robust rule set and role as a leader in the industry. Many CRPGs such asDragon Age,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, andBaldur’s Gate 3are either inspired by or loosely based off of its rules.Dungeons and Dragonsis a natural fit for video games because of its scope, potential for worldbuilding, and how TRPGs are more closely related to video games than other mediums.
D&D: Honor Among Thieves Has All the Elements of a LEGO Game
Dungeons and Dragonshas another opportunity with LEGO in their collaboration. LEGO video games are largely successful, and are often adapted from other properties with existing stories, such asStar Warsmovies. These stories are easy to tell through the body language and expressions of LEGO figures, and became a hit with players of all ages because of the creative use of LEGO in the game and world design. Rather than creating aLEGODungeons and DragonsCRPG with a sandbox settingand story, LEGO could instead set it within the framing ofDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
LEGO Games Still Need a Story
Despite not being a blockbuster at the box offices,Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieveswas well-received by fans ofDungeons and Dragons;the movie received particular praise for nailing the chaos and fun behind real life tabletop sessions. With the characters faithfully embodying several archetypalDungeons and Dragonsclasses, the movie creates visually distinct characters and a story that lends itself well to the kind of video games that LEGO makes. The light-hearted story and memorable characters who serve distinct roles are what makeDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesthe perfect movie for LEGO to adapt into a video game adaptation ofDungeons and Dragons.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
