Middle-earth built from bricks
LEGO® The Hobbit™ is a third-person action adventure that follows Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Thorin and his company of Dwarves on the road to recapture the Lonely Mountain. You travel across Middle-earth, from the Shire to Goblin-town and beyond, fighting ravenous Trolls, dangerous Orcs and other enemies along the way. The game mixes combat, exploration and puzzle solving, with the comedy that comes from everything being staged with LEGO pieces.
Playing together as a company
The Dwarves each bring their own abilities to the table, and the puzzles are built around combining them. One character can clear a path that another can then use, so the group has to swap and coordinate rather than send one person through everything. Split screen and Local Co-Op are listed for the game, and Remote Play Together is available through Steam, which lets friends join over the internet as if they were sitting on the same couch. The tag list also includes Co-op and Multiplayer, so there are options for bringing the whole company along.
Before you set out
Expect a long trip: the game is described as the most expansive LEGO game to date, with a large open world to cross and plenty of ground to cover between the Shire and the Lonely Mountain. Combat is present but sits alongside the puzzle solving, so a session can swing between fighting Orcs and working out how a Dwarf's skill opens the next area. The tone is family friendly and comedic, and controller support is listed, which suits the local co-op setup.