LEGO City Undercover

About LEGO City Undercover

LEGO City Undercover is a third-person action-adventure game developed by TT Fusion and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. Released in 2013, it tasks you with playing Chase McCain, a returning officer tasked with cleaning up LEGO City’s crime wave. Blending open-world exploration with beat ’em up combat and platforming, the game lets you punch, grapple, and tackle foes while navigating a blocky urban environment. It features a mix of story missions, side jobs, and co-op multiplayer. The game’s charm lies in its colorful LEGO aesthetic and the freedom to solve problems creatively. For fans of open-world action with a tactile, brick-built twist.

Gameplay

You control Chase McCain in a large LEGO metropolis, fighting criminals with hand-to-hand combat, including wrestling moves and takedowns. Free-running mechanics let you climb, jump, and grapple across blue and white bricks to cross the city. Missions often involve stealth, chase sequences, and puzzle-solving, with a focus on melee combat over guns. The open world is filled with collectibles, side quests, and hidden areas to explore. Co-op mode adds a layer of coordination, though it’s limited to specific missions. Controls are responsive but dated by modern standards, with a tactile feel that emphasizes physicality. Sessions typically blend combat, traversal, and exploration, making for a varied but sometimes repetitive experience.

What Players Think

LEGO City Undercover holds a 74.8/100 on IGDB based on 98 critic ratings, with praise for its creative open world and co-op. PlayPile community data shows an average playtime of 18 hours, with 62% completing the main story. Moods are split: 45% “Nostalgic,” 30% “Fun,” and 25% “Meh.” Users note the game’s charm but criticize dated AI and combat repetition. One review snippet: “The co-op is a blast, but the main story drags in the second act.” Completion rates for achievements hover around 78%, with most challenges tied to exploration and combat. Despite its age, it remains a cult favorite for LEGO fans and co-op enthusiasts.

PlayPile's Take

LEGO City Undercover is a solid but aging open-world action game. It thrives in co-op mode and offers enough content to justify its $20-$30 price range on retro deals. The combat is punchy but repetitive, and the world feels less dense by today’s standards. With 78% of achievements tied to exploration, it rewards thorough playthroughs. Best for fans of tactile combat, LEGO’s humor, or those with a soft spot for Wii U’s library. It’s not essential, but its charm and co-op mode make it worth a playthrough for the right audience.

Storyline

Chase McCain returns to LEGO City after years of being away. The city that once embraced him now in the throes of a massive crime wave the likes of which have never been seen only once before.