Can LEGO Be A Board Game?

Ever wondered can LEGO be a board game? I did too! So, let’s get to it.

In most cases, LEGO is not a board game. There are some LEGO sets that come as games, and LEGO can be used to upgrade a game, but most of the time LEGO is just LEGO, and that’s totally okay.

Why Am I Writing This?

I’m writing this article due to a conversation with Alex, a friend of mine. We were talking about LEGO because he bought a set for his son. During that conversation, he asked if it could be considered a board game. I said no at the time, thought about it, then said maybe.

I said maybe because I started thinking about the Funkoverse board games. Funko was and is a popular line of popular culture figures, then they made a board game around those figures. Apparently that game is pretty good!

I also started thinking about how creative people can get when upgrading or altering the components of their games. Maybe LEGO could be used in that way.

Does that mean LEGO can be a game? Does that mean it can be a board game? Well, let’s get to it.

Can LEGO Be A Board Game?

Even with my own definition of board games, I don’t think LEGO can be one just by itself. LEGO isn’t a game right out of the box.

LEGO is an experience, and it’s one that can bring people to the table, or floor, together. However, while the goal of LEGO is enjoyment, just as it is in games, LEGO is about the joy of building and creativity. Games can be about those things, but even if they are it’s focused on the experience of playing a game and sharing that experience with friends and family.

Now, does that mean LEGO can’t ever be a game? No, in fact, there are some LEGO sets that come as games right out of the box. There’s the LEGO Ludo set (Hey, Ludo!), the LEGO Legends Of Chima set, the LEGO Minotaurus set, and more.

These are exceptions to the rule though. There are vastly more LEGO sets that are not games.

I also think this is completely okay. LEGO doesn’t have to be a game. It can be LEGO and board games can be board games and when they crossover great and when they don’t, that’s great too.

What About Upgrading A Board Game With LEGO?

This is an interesting argument, but I still don’t think it means it’s a board game. You can upgrade a board game with just about everything: felt, custom-made pieces, game mats, and so on.

Just because you’re upgrading a game with those components doesn’t mean the game changes in a fundamental way. Say, for example, you were using LEGO pieces as pawns in a game. That’s a great upgrade, but that doesn’t mean that the game is a LEGO one. It just means you’re using LEGO pieces for the pawns instead of action figures or Funko figures.

Still, who knows, maybe if you replace everything in a game with LEGOs or build the game out of LEGOs and just use the rules, then maybe it is a board game in that right.

Did You Know?

(Each time you refresh the page you will get a new “Did You Know” fact!)

Did you know that the biggest board game convention in the world is in Germany? It’s called Internationale Spieltage SPIEL but is usually called Essen Game Fair. It takes place in Essen, Germany, and features over 1,000 exhibitors from lots of countries. It has also regularly had over 100,000, or sometimes over 200,000 people attend.

By comparison, Gen Con, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana has only recently climbed over 60,000 and has only neared the 70,000 mark once so far.

Conclusion: Can LEGO Be A Board Game?

So, can LEGO be a board game? Yes, it definitely can, but most of the time it’s not, and that’s perfectly okay.

What are your thoughts on this though? Do you think LEGO can be a board game and why? Let us know in the comments below!

And, as always, keep on gaming, you maniacs.