LEGO City – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

LEGO City

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2013

83%

WISE Score

73%

IGDB

Open-world LEGO cop comedy where your kid chases criminals, drives everything, and explores a brick-built city—think GTA for the elementary set.

LEGO City

game

2013

83%

WISE Score

73%

IGDB

Open-world LEGO cop comedy where your kid chases criminals, drives everything, and explores a brick-built city—think GTA for the elementary set.

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Where to Play

Nintendo

Screenwise Verdict

LEGO City Undercover is that rare open-world game you can hand to an 8-year-old without wincing. It's got the exploration and vehicle chaos kids crave, wrapped in brick-built silliness and genuinely clever humor that parents won't hate.

The co-op mode is a genuine win—one of you can drive while the other solves puzzles, and nobody's getting shot or sworn at. It's long enough to provide real value (15-20 hours for the main story, more if you're a completionist), which means you'll need to manage playtime, but at least you're not dealing with microtransactions or online randos.

The 2013 Wii U origins mean it's not cutting-edge, and if you're playing the original version it can feel a bit dated. The remastered versions (2017 on other platforms) smooth things out. Either way, it's solid family gaming that actually respects both your kid's intelligence and your household rules.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-14. The humor and gameplay hit the sweet spot for elementary and middle schoolers who want open-world freedom without mature content. Younger kids (6-7) can enjoy it with a parent in co-op, while teens may find it a bit juvenile unless they're nostalgic LEGO fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Family-friendly police-parody adventure with cartoon-style mild violence, no profanity, sexual content, or gore. Tongue-in-cheek humor stays firmly in G-rated territory. Co-op mode encourages shared family play and teamwork. The game satirizes crime-drama tropes in a playful way that's appropriate for kids 8+.

Imaginative

Open-world LEGO City offers free exploration with building-block aesthetic, multiple disguises for Chase McCain, vehicle-hopping, and problem-solving missions. The game invites curiosity through its explorable environment and puzzle elements, though it follows a fairly standard action-adventure template without groundbreaking innovation.

Safe

ESRB E rating with cartoon violence only. No in-game purchases, loot boxes, or online chat. Users can interact in split-screen co-op but there's no exposure to strangers. The mild combat involves wrestling criminals and slapping cuffs on them—cartoonish and non-graphic. No privacy concerns or manipulative design patterns.

Enriching

Develops problem-solving skills through puzzle missions, encourages critical thinking during exploration, and builds resilience through gameplay challenges. Co-op mode fosters cooperation and communication. The game offers solid entertainment value with light skill-building, though it's primarily action-adventure fun rather than deeply educational content.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely funny parody of police dramas with kid-appropriate humor and zero profanity
Huge open world to explore at your own pace with disguises, vehicles, and hidden collectibles
Split-screen co-op lets you play alongside your kid—rare for open-world games
Problem-solving missions build critical thinking without feeling like homework
Clean alternative to mature crime games with all the exploration, none of the edge

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What to Watch For

Can take 15-20+ hours to complete—you'll want to set screen-time boundaries and break reminders
Cartoon combat involves wrestling and handcuffing bad guys; totally mild but still action-focused
Originally Wii U exclusive (2013), so if playing on original hardware it may feel a bit clunky by 2025 standards

Conversation Starters

"Which disguise is your favorite and why? What special abilities does it give Chase?"
"If you could explore any part of LEGO City in real life, where would you go first?"
"The game makes fun of cop shows and action movies—what references did you catch?"
"How do you decide which vehicle to use when you're exploring the city?"

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