You know that feeling when you find a game that actually clicks for everyone in the house? It's rare. Usually, the kids are bored or the adults are rolling their eyes at some repetitive "learning" mechanic. But LEGO City Undercover Xbox One is different. It’s basically Grand Theft Auto, but instead of stealing cars and running from the mob, you’re Chase McCain, a legendary cop returning to a city made of plastic bricks to stop a master criminal named Rex Fury.
It’s funny. Like, actually laugh-out-loud funny.
The game originally launched as a Wii U exclusive back in 2013, which was a bit of a tragedy because nobody owned a Wii U. When it finally hit the Xbox One in 2017, it felt like a brand-new release. It brought co-op play, which the original desperately needed. Honestly, playing this solo is fine, but the magic happens when you have a second player drop in to help you smash a park bench into tiny studs.
Why the Xbox One Version Changed Everything
If you played the original on Nintendo's tablet console, you remember the load times. They were legendary. You could go make a sandwich, eat it, and come back before Chase finished riding the elevator. On LEGO City Undercover Xbox One, those technical hurdles are mostly gone. The hardware can actually handle the open-world density.
The biggest upgrade, though? The split-screen co-op.
In the Wii U version, Chase McCain was a lone wolf. On Xbox, you can play the entire campaign with a friend. It’s chaotic. One person is trying to solve a puzzle involving a color gun, while the other is accidentally driving a lawnmower into the ocean. It’s exactly what a LEGO game should be.
The visuals got a decent bump too. You’ll notice better lighting and textures on the bricks. It doesn't look like a 2026 powerhouse, obviously, but the art style is timeless. Plastic doesn't really age.
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The Open World is Massive
LEGO City isn’t just a hub world. It’s a character. You’ve got Pagoda (the Chinatown-inspired district), Bluebell National Park (where the bears are), and Albatross Prison. There are 20 different districts. Each one feels distinct. You can spend hours just "parkouring" across rooftops to find a single Gold Brick.
Most open-world games feel empty once the story ends. Not here. There are 450 Gold Bricks to collect. That is a staggering amount of content. You’re looking at 40 to 50 hours if you want that 100% completion stat.
The Disguise Mechanic is the Secret Sauce
Forget traditional classes. Chase McCain uses disguises. It's the core loop of the game. You start as a Civilian, then get your Police gear. Soon, you're a Robber with a crowbar, a Miner with dynamite, and an Astronaut with a jetpack.
Each disguise opens up the map. See a locked door? You need the Robber. See a boulder? Get the Miner. It’s a "Metroidvania" style of exploration baked into a massive city.
- Police: Grapple guns and scanning for clues.
- Miner: Smashing rocks and using TNT.
- Farmer: Gliding with a chicken. Yes, you use a chicken as a parachute.
- Firefighter: Putting out fires and rescuing cats. Classic.
- Construction: Drilling through pavement and fixing electrical boxes.
The Farmer disguise is probably the fan favorite. There is something deeply satisfying about launching yourself off a skyscraper and flapping a chicken to safety. It never gets old.
Is It Still Worth Playing in 2026?
Short answer: Yes.
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Long answer: It’s one of the few LEGO games not tied to a massive movie franchise like Star Wars or Marvel. This gave the developers at TT Fusion the freedom to write their own jokes. The game is packed with references to The Shawshank Redemption, The Matrix, and Starsky & Hutch. Half the jokes will fly right over a kid's head, which keeps the adults engaged.
Technically, if you're playing on an Xbox Series X or S via backwards compatibility, the game runs even better. The frame rate is more stable, and the auto-HDR makes the colors pop. It’s arguably the definitive way to experience the game.
Performance and Technical Reality
Let’s be real for a second. The game isn’t perfect. Even on the LEGO City Undercover Xbox One version, you might see some frame rate dips when things get really crazy—like when five cars explode at once. And the vehicle handling is... floaty. It’s not Forza. It’s LEGO.
But these are minor gripes. The charm carries it through.
Hidden Gems and Secrets
Most people finish the story and put the controller down. Don't do that. The post-game is where the real fun is.
Have you found the Mario-style warp pipes? They’re hidden around the map. Or the giant statues you can build? There are "Super Builds" scattered everywhere. These require thousands of bricks to construct—things like ferry piers, stunt ramps, and call-in points for vehicles.
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One of the coolest things is the vehicle selection. You can drive everything from a high-speed sports car to a slow-moving UFO. There are over 100 vehicles to unlock. If you see it on the street, you can eventually drive it.
Combat is Simple but Fun
Don't expect Elden Ring. Combat is mostly one button. You punch, you counter, and then you "arrest" the criminal by putting them in handcuffs. It’s rhythmic. It’s satisfying in a "popping bubble wrap" kind of way.
How to Maximize Your Playthrough
If you're just starting out on LEGO City Undercover Xbox One, here is some actual expert advice. Don't worry about collecting everything in the first few hours. You can't. The game is designed to be revisited.
- Blast through the story first. You need the disguises to interact with 90% of the world. Trying to explore early is just frustrating because you’ll keep hitting walls you can’t bypass yet.
- Look for the Red Bricks. These are the "cheats." Find the "Stud Multipliers" as early as possible. Once you get the 2x, 4x, and 10x multipliers, you will never worry about money again.
- The Scanner is your friend. Use the Xbox controller's triggers to scan the environment. It reveals hidden items through walls and tracks down criminals.
- Listen to the dialogue. Seriously. The banter between Chase and his bumbling sidekick, Frank Honey, is some of the best writing in gaming. Frank is an idiot in the most lovable way possible.
Final Verdict on the LEGO City Experience
This game is a masterpiece of the genre. It’s wholesome without being "babyish." It’s large without being overwhelming. For anyone looking for a solid open-world adventure on the Xbox, this is a top-tier choice.
Whether you're hunting for Rex Fury or just driving a bus off a ramp into the bay, it’s a blast. It captures that feeling of playing with a massive box of bricks on the living room floor, only without the risk of stepping on a 2x4 piece in the middle of the night.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Xbox Store: This game frequently goes on sale for under $10. If you see it at that price, grab it immediately. It’s one of the best "value-per-hour" games on the platform.
- Prioritize the 'Super Color Gun' Red Brick: It’s one of the most useful unlocks in the game. It allows you to skip the tedious process of finding color swappers for your gun.
- Clear 10GB of Space: The game isn't massive by modern standards, but ensure your drive has room for the initial install and the updates that stabilized the co-op performance.
- Invest in a Second Controller: If you have a roommate, partner, or child, this game is 2x more fun in split-screen. The "drop-in/drop-out" nature makes it very low-pressure.