The LEGO Group has released the results of its latest Play Well report, in which 71% of parents say their kids recreate adventures and stories from gaming experiences they’ve had on platforms like Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft in their real-world play. 

Commissioned by LEGO and fielded by Edelman DXI in December 2023, the large-scale study surveyed 36,000 parents and 25,532 children in 36 countries worldwide. 

While many parents reported having concerns about how much screen time their kids are logging each day, 75% said they would be happier to let them play digital games if they incorporated some element of physical play in their mechanics. Kids seem to be on the same page, with one in three (36%) saying that they enjoy both physical games and digital ones equally. 

It’s up to SVP Fedrico Begher, who heads up LEGO’s global product group, to leverage these insights into the company’s business planning. Leaning on its existing licenses with Nintendo, SEGA, Microsoft and Epic Games, LEGO is gearing up to start rolling out 12 new gaming-themed building sets in January, including its first Mario Kart SKU, Alex’s Mushroom House from Minecraft, and a recreation of the epic Tails versus Metal Sonic battle. 

And before the year is up, LEGO will also launch its latest console video game LEGO Horizon Adventures for PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. The title retells the stories featured in Sony’s Horizon gaming franchise, with new comedy elements and online features, plus a local co-op mode to let kids play together with their friends and family.