Funko Pop, known for its over-saturated lineup of collectible figures featuring pop culture icons, has ventured into new territory with Funko Fusion. While there have been board game adaptations of the Funko Pop brand before, this marks the first time Funko has made its foray into video games. The game aims to blend the charm of Funko Pop! figures with a unique interactive experience. Although the concept is intriguing—mixing and matching properties in a way not seen in a single-player game since Lego Dimensions—the execution falls short of expectations.
Funko Fusion aims to establish itself as a game where players can enjoy the fun of multiple licensed brands within the Funko universe. The game features a mix of popular characters from various franchises, each represented by Funko Pop figures. The concept is solid and full of promise. Combining beloved characters from multiple franchises into a single game has the potential to create a unique and engaging experience, especially for fans eager to see their favourite characters interact in new ways.
While the concept of Funko Fusion is appealing, the game’s execution falls short of its potential. The integration of characters into the story feels superficial and doesn’t add much to the overall experience. The basic storyline is this: A strange evil Funko Pop dives into other worlds to reclaim a crown with the power to alter reality. Much like in the Lego games, players move through a simplified version of a franchise’s movie or show before engaging in a big battle between a giant Funko and a villain. However, the narrative threads don’t connect in any meaningful way.
“Funko Fusion aims to blend the charm of Funko Pop! figures with a unique interactive experience.”
The gameplay mechanics of Funko Fusion are where the game struggles the most. The game’s mechanics are weirdly complex and not particularly intuitive, with little in the way of tutorialization. This led to a bunch of items being used, and I still have no idea what they did. The level structure is overly lengthy, and goals for each level can be extremely convoluted, making it difficult to maintain any sort of momentum during the game.
Moreover, the integration of Funko Pop! figures into the game’s mechanics often feels more obtuse than it needed to be, with a focus on how each character plays differently, but without any explanation of how they play differently. Instead of enhancing the gameplay, I found myself selecting one character per franchise that felt the best and sticking with them for the entire story section that the franchise was somewhat relevant.
It doesn’t help that each level in the selected franchise has goals similar to those of other franchises. For example, the first level of Jurassic World and The Thing both have you exploring the way too large of a map, looking for a number of animals to kill or capture, all while being constantly hounded by enemies that barely give you time to think. The limited variety of goals led to a monotonous experience where the game quickly ran out of any sort of steam.
“While the concept of Funko Fusion is appealing, the game’s execution falls short of its potential.”
One of the highlights of Funko Fusion is its inclusion of Funko Pop! figures. These figures are, as expected, well-crafted and visually appealing in-game. They capture the essence of the Pop figure characters and add a touch of charm to the game. For collectors and fans of the figures, this aspect of the game will likely be its strongest selling point.
However, there’s a strange mismatch of franchises. Fans of Jurassic World might not necessarily enjoy Battlestar Galactica or Hot Fuzz. At one point, I selected a franchise I wasn’t interested in, and the game became a slog, only allowing me to switch to another franchise after completing the current one. This design choice makes the game feel like it has little regard for the player’s time.
Funko Fusion presents an appealing concept, particularly for fans of Funko’s collectible figures. The idea of blending popular characters into a video game format is exciting, and the inclusion of Funko Pop! figures adds a layer of visual and pop culture appeal. However, the game ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
“Ultimately, Funko Fusion is a game with a great concept but poor execution, unlikely to captivate a broader audience.”
The main problems with Funko Fusion lie in the gameplay mechanics, which are convoluted and lack any depth. The game’s reliance on monotony collection and its repetitive nature quickly lead to the game stalling out with its momentum. The odd choice to make cutscenes similar to the Lego games in their more cutesy nature had an unexpected consequence: it highlighted how effectively Lego handles their cutscenes, making this game’s attempts feel dull in comparison.
Ultimately, Funko Fusion is a game with a great concept but poor execution. It may hold some appeal for dedicated Funko Pop fans of the figures, but it is unlikely to captivate a broader audience. The game’s lack of engaging mechanics and repetitive gameplay make it a challenging recommendation for those looking for a fulfilling game, especially at a time when Fortnite and Astro Bot exist.
