Lego 2K Drive

If you're looking for an alternative to Mario Kart, this should do the trick. Lego 2K Drive does a fantastic job of marrying the concepts of kart racing and open-world driving, providing players with a setting that looks as though it could have been plucked straight from a Lego movie and filling it with fun, fast-quipping characters. You'll rarely drive for more than a few seconds before finding something interesting -- a ramp with money or collectibles hovering over its edge, a quest to go do something like smash into Lego objects, or a quick challenge to climb a mountain while avoiding mines -- which makes the process of leveling up your driver to progress the story feel like anything but a grind. And the kart-style races -- both in the story and against players online -- are quick and fun, even if the short circuits aren't as memorable or nuanced as those in Mario's racing games.

Then there's the garage, which offers an outlet for creativity. Just choose a vehicle type -- car, boat, or ATV -- and a chassis and start building. The power to choose each individual brick and place it exactly as you like may seem a bit daunting at first, but it won't take long for kids to get into the swing of things as they design vehicles held back by surprisingly few limitations. Players who'd rather skip this part can just buy their own vehicles from the shop using the money they've earned while playing (there's really no need to purchase game currency with real money -- it's just a pricey shortcut). Lego 2K Drive doesn't outclass either of the game franchises from which it draws inspiration, but by combining some of the best parts of both, it becomes something all its own.