Lego Fortnite is getting Expeditions, a Left 4 Dead-ish hero shooter mode that just looks a bit boring

I find Fortnite’s desperation to be the everything game both fascinating and overwhelming. There’s always something new for you to do around the corner, some new game mode that’s attempting to tap into current trends of whatever it is that kids are into at any given moment. Currently, on the younger audience side of things with Lego Fortnite, Epic Games are launching Expeditions, a new wave-based mode that looks like a bit of a blend between a hero shooter and Left 4 Dead.

I’ll be honest, the framing of the whole thing is very much not for me, because I am not a child. A place called the Supernova Academy acts as your base before you head out on PvE missions all in the hopes of stopping “the evil Mask Maker Daigo from destroying the world”. It’s as generic a setup as can be, which I feel is a shame because kids do deserve quality storytelling, something which Fortnite itself isn’t awful at (I don’t love the FOMO nature of its events, but it’s certainly Doing Something at the very least).

Missions see you facing down hordes of enemies as is typical of the wave-based format, there’s a map to explore with Lego people to rescue and resources, money, and gear to gather up. You also have different hero classes to choose from, like one that can fly around to get a lay of the land, another can use rifts and summon crystals to deal damage to a bunch of enemies, you get how this all works.

The whole thing very much feels like it was made for kids who think the big boy shooters their siblings or teenagers are playing online look really cool, but obviously are far from old enough to play. This is a Fortnite mode though, as cynical as I might feel about this thing, I’m sure it’ll do well enough.

Lego Fortnite Expeditions is launching tomorrow, June 18th.