Honestly, most movie tie-in games are garbage. We know the drill: a studio rushes a project to hit a theatrical release date, the mechanics are buggy, and the soul is missing. But there is something weirdly resilient about the LEGO Ninjago video game Switch version. Specifically, I'm talking about The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game. It’s a mouthful of a title, but it manages to be one of the more interesting entries in the massive TT Games library, even if it feels like a fever dream compared to the long-running TV show lore.
If you’re a parent or a long-term fan, you probably noticed the immediate "wait, what?" factor. The game doesn't follow the Masters of Spinjitzu series that’s been on the air since 2011. Instead, it sticks to the 2017 film’s aesthetic and voice cast. That means Garmadon is more of a bumbling, misunderstood dad than a dark lord of destruction. It’s different. It’s quirky. And on the Nintendo Switch, it’s one of those rare titles that actually feels at home in handheld mode despite some of the technical hurdles.
The Combat is Actually... Good?
Most LEGO games are "square-button mashers." You hit the button, the plastic breaks, you move on. But here, the developers tried something legitimately brave. They introduced the "Art of Ninja-gility."
You aren't just walking around; you're wall-running, grappling, and using actual combat combos. There’s the "Stinging Bee," the "Swooping Hawk," and the "Skyward Dragon." It sounds like marketing fluff, but it changes how the game feels. You actually care about your hit counter. For a game aimed at kids, the depth is surprising. You can launch enemies into the air and juggle them. It’s basically Devil May Cry but with yellow plastic figurines and significantly less brooding.
The movement feels fluid. Jumping across gaps in Ninjago City feels purposeful. You’re not just floating; you're parkouring. This is a huge shift from the clunky movement in older titles like LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. It’s snappy. It’s fast. It keeps you moving through the environments at a clip that prevents the usual LEGO "fetch quest" fatigue from setting in too early.
Technical Reality Check on the Switch
Let’s be real for a second. The LEGO Ninjago video game Switch experience isn't perfect. If you’re coming from a PS5 or a high-end PC, the first thing you’ll notice is the load times. They are long. Like, "go make a sandwich and come back" long.
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The Switch hardware struggles a bit with the high-density environments of Ninjago City. When Garmadon’s shark army is invading and there are explosions everywhere, the frame rate can dip. Is it unplayable? Not at all. But it’s a compromise. You trade the 4K crispness of other consoles for the ability to play Ninjago in the backseat of a car or under the covers. For most of the target audience, that’s a trade-off they’ll make every single time.
The resolution takes a hit in handheld mode, too. Things get a little blurry around the edges. But weirdly, the vibrant colors of the Ninjago world help mask it. The neon signs, the bright ninja suits, and the elemental effects pop on the Switch's screen, especially if you're lucky enough to be playing on an OLED model.
Exploration and the Open World Loop
Instead of a traditional hub world like the Cantina or the Batcave, this game uses the various levels as semi-open zones. Once you finish a story mission, you can go back and explore that area in "Free Play," but it feels more integrated here.
The map is divided into distinct districts. You’ve got the high-tech Ninjago City, the Uncrossable Jungle, and the Dark Island. Each area has its own "Dojo" where you can take on waves of enemies to unlock characters and gold bricks. This is where the game’s longevity hides. If you’re a completionist, the hunt for those 250 gold bricks is a massive undertaking.
- Multiplayer Fun: The four-player battle maps are a chaotic addition. Usually, LEGO games are strictly two-player co-op. This one lets you and three friends beat the plastic out of each other in competitive arenas. It’s messy, loud, and surprisingly competitive.
- Character Variety: Even though the focus is on Lloyd, Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, and Nya, there are over 100 characters to unlock. Some are just variations, but others have unique abilities that change how you interact with the environment.
- The Humor: It’s that classic self-aware LEGO humor. It pokes fun at the absurdity of the movie plot. Lloyd (the "L-L-O-Y-D" joke from the film) is a constant source of meta-commentary.
Why This Specific Game Matters in 2026
You might wonder why anyone is still talking about a game from 2017. The truth is, the Ninjago brand has outlasted almost every other "toy-to-media" franchise from that era. Nexo Knights is gone. Chima is a memory. But Ninjago? It’s eternal.
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For many young gamers, the LEGO Ninjago video game Switch is their "gateway drug" into the wider world of action-adventure games. It teaches the basics of skill trees, combat timing, and environmental puzzles without the crushing difficulty of a "Soulslike." It’s a teacher.
Also, it’s frequently on sale. You can often find it in the Nintendo eShop for under ten dollars. The value proposition is insane when you consider there are 20+ hours of content here if you actually try to find everything. In an era where some games cost seventy bucks for a ten-hour campaign, the Ninjago game is a budget-friendly titan.
Misconceptions About the Story
A lot of fans get grumpy because the game ignores the "vibe" of the TV show. In the show, the lore is deep and often quite dark. In the game, it’s lighthearted slapstick. If you go into this expecting a serious expansion of the Dragons Rising or Crystalized storylines, you’re going to be disappointed.
This is a movie game. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it’s meant to make you laugh. Once you accept that it’s an alternate universe, the game becomes much more enjoyable. Think of it as a "What If?" scenario where the Ninjas are movie stars.
Mastering the Ninjago Mechanics
If you want to actually "get good" at this game, stop just mashing the attack button. The game rewards you for using different moves. Building your "True Ninja" rank is all about keeping that combo meter alive.
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Use the "Rushing Boar" to close the distance between you and a distant enemy. Immediately follow up with a "Skyward Dragon" to get them in the air. While they are floating, swap to a character with a ranged weapon to finish them off. It sounds like overkill for a LEGO game, but the animations are so satisfying that you’ll find yourself doing it just for the cool factor.
The stud collection system is also slightly different here. You have a multiplier that grows as you fight better. If you get hit, the multiplier drops. This adds a layer of "don't get hit" gameplay that usually isn't present in these games. It’s a subtle shift that makes you play more like a ninja and less like a tank.
The Character Customizer
We can't talk about a LEGO game without mentioning the customizer. It’s tucked away, but it’s there. You can create your own ninja, mixing and matching parts from the various elemental masters. Want a ninja with Zane’s ice powers but Cole’s heavy hammer? Go for it. It’s a small detail, but for kids who grew up with the physical bricks, it’s the closest thing to "playing" with their real sets on the screen.
Actionable Steps for New Players
If you’re picking up the LEGO Ninjago video game Switch today, here is how you should approach it to get the most out of your time:
- Prioritize the "Collect Studs" Red Bricks. As with any LEGO game, finding the multipliers early makes the rest of the game much less of a grind. Check the city districts first; some are hidden behind simple "Spinning" puzzles.
- Don't Rush the Story. The districts open up as you play. Stop and do a few races or a Dojo challenge between story missions. It helps you level up your combat skills so the later boss fights don't feel like a chore.
- Check the Map for "Character Quests." Sometimes NPCs in the world will ask for help. These are usually quick and reward you with gold bricks or rare character unlocks that you can't get through the main story.
- Manage Your Storage. The Switch version takes up a decent chunk of space (around 7GB). If you’re running low on your SD card, this is one of those games that benefits from being installed on the internal memory if possible, as it can slightly—slightly—help with those brutal load times.
- Use the Map Filters. The map can get cluttered with icons. Filter for the things you actually need, like gold bricks or race starts, to avoid getting overwhelmed by the sheer amount of "stuff" to do.
Ultimately, the Ninjago experience on Switch is a testament to how good a "licensed" game can be when the developers actually care about the source material—even if that source is a movie version of a toy version of a TV show. It’s layers of plastic all the way down, and honestly, that’s perfectly fine.