LEGO Dimensions

Thanks to the success of Skylanders and Disney Infinity, and also a little ol' thing called amiibo, the NFC figure craze can officially move into the sustainable trend category. These collectible figure-based games are no longer just a hot trend, they are a legitimate force to be reckoned with at retail. Adding more fuel to the fire this fall will be Lego Dimensions, the first NFC game to actually require your to build your adventures before you can play them.

Apparently, 2015 is going to be the year of Lego --- at least as far as video games are concerned. In previous years, we've gotten one or two different Lego games from TT Games, but this year four different Lego titles are on the docket. In addition to Lego Jurassic World, Lego Marvel's Avengers and Lego Worlds (just released on Steam Early Access), quite possibly the most ambitious Lego game ever will arrive later this year in the form of Lego Dimensions. Taking full advantage of the unstoppable trend in NFC figure video games, Lego Dimensions combines the collectible aspect with its iconic brick building to craft an entirely new spin on the aging (and expensive) formula Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Nintendo have done so well with in recent years. Unlike all those other brands, Lego Dimensions won't just be limited to one particular house of licenses, and will offer players the chance to mix and match heroes like Batman and Gandalf with vehicles like the DeLorean and the Batmobile.

Lego has announced a new franchise-crossing video game that, like Skylanders, Nintendo's amiibo figures and Disney Infinity, uses real toys placed on a special pad to import the characters into the game. Lego Dimensions, from Warner Bros and TT Games, will launch with a $99.99 starter pack that includes Wyldstyle from The Lego Movie, Lord of the Rings' Gandalf, and Batman and a Batmobile --- and because it's a Lego game, players will get to construct the game's portal gateway out of Lego bricks.