As I booted up Jili Golden Empire for the first time, I was genuinely excited—the trailers promised a vibrant world, engaging combat, and that signature Lego charm I’ve loved since I was a kid. But after spending over 40 hours exploring its four distinct biomes, I can’t help but feel a little conflicted. On one hand, the game looks absolutely stunning. The lush forests, arid deserts, icy tundras, and volcanic regions are beautifully rendered, with rich colors and imaginative design. Yet, as I moved from one level to the next, I started noticing something troubling: despite the visual variety, everything began to blur together. Each biome, while gorgeous, follows almost the exact same gameplay loop, and that’s where Jili Golden Empire’s biggest weakness lies.
Let me walk you through what a typical level feels like. You start off in one of those breathtaking environments—say, the Sun-Kissed Savannah. The initial moments are satisfying enough: you smash a few objects, collect studs, and take down some low-level enemies. But here’s the catch—the stud collection feels oddly sparse. In most Lego games, I’m used to demolishing nearly everything in sight and being rewarded with a satisfying shower of studs. Here, though, large portions of the environment are indestructible. I’d estimate you collect around 30% fewer studs per level compared to titles like Lego Star Wars or Lego Marvel. It might sound minor, but it subtly undermines that classic Lego satisfaction. Then, just as you’re getting into the rhythm, you hit a combat zone. The game locks you in, and you can’t progress until you’ve defeated every single enemy. These sections aren’t necessarily hard—just repetitive. After the fifth or sixth time, I found myself sighing, “Again?”
What’s really missing, in my opinion, are those traditional Lego elements that used to make these games so replayable. Remember hidden puzzles, secret areas, and build mechanics that encouraged exploration? Jili Golden Empire sidelines a lot of that in favor of a more straightforward, action-oriented approach. I get why they did it—they’re clearly aiming for a broader audience—but as a longtime fan, it stings a bit. The missions follow such a predictable pattern that by the time I reached the halfway mark, I could almost guess exactly how each one would end. Most levels conclude with one of two scenarios: either you rescue a group of kidnapped villagers or you destroy some polluting machinery owned by the game’s villain. And in both cases, the payoff is just a cutscene. Don’t get me wrong—the cutscenes are well-animated and sometimes even humorous—but after a chaotic battle, I kept wishing for more interactive or varied conclusions.
I’ve played through roughly 20 levels so far, and if I’m being honest, only about four or five stand out in my memory. The rest? They melt into this homogenous experience where the only thing that changes is the color palette. The desert levels have more yellows and browns; the ice biome is cool blue and white. But the structure? Identical. It’s a shame because the foundation here is solid. The combat mechanics are smooth, the characters have unique abilities, and the art direction is top-notch. Yet, without meaningful variety or those clever Lego quirks, the game starts to feel like a beautiful but repetitive grind.
From an industry perspective, I see what the developers were trying to do. They wanted to streamline the experience, maybe appeal to players who find traditional Lego games too puzzle-heavy. And in some ways, they’ve succeeded. If you’re new to Lego games or prefer action over exploration, you might enjoy Jili Golden Empire more than I did. But for veterans, the lack of depth and replayability is hard to ignore. I’d love to see a future update or DLC that reintroduces some of those classic elements—maybe hidden levels, more destructible environments, or puzzles that require real brainpower. As it stands, the game is fun in short bursts, but it doesn’t have the staying power of its predecessors.
So, should you play Jili Golden Empire? If you’re a fan of visually stunning games and don’t mind a bit of repetition, go for it. But if you’re like me—someone who cherishes the creativity and replay value of older Lego titles—you might walk away a little disappointed. Here’s hoping the next installment learns from these missteps and finds a better balance between innovation and tradition. After all, that’s what made Lego games special in the first place.
