LEGO and gaming go hand in hand with one another, and like the very best partnerships, they just work together. Gamers love LEGO, and LEGO loves gamers. And as pixels are the building bricks of video games, so too are bricks the building bricks of LEGO.
Some of the most beloved video games and video game characters of all time have now been lovingly reproduced in miniature building brick form. They are instantly recognizable to gamers everywhere and are both highly desirable and collectible. After all, what could be better than showing off your love of gaming by showing off your love of LEGO?
Here are the best LEGO sets for gamers.
The biggest building toy meets the biggest building game in this epic LEGO Minecraft crossover. This mountain cave set has 2,863 pieces, two minifigures, numerous creepers, wolves, bats, and skeletons. And in video game terms is like a Game of the Year edition—complete with all the DLC!
At first glance to the uninitiated, this video game LEGO set might look like a big blocky mess (a bit like Minecraft itself, perhaps). But, in fact, this is a complex and intricate build filled to the brim with all the secrets and charm of the legendary Minecraft that we know and love.
This mammoth set features a minecart track with an integrated elevator, a ‘first night shelter’, lava bursts, redstone walls, and a furnace. A light brick illuminates different parts of the set features, and a TNT blast function has also been incorporated.
The price might be prohibitive for many, but for serious collectors and Minecraft superfans, this is a superbly detailed gaming set with more surprises than a Kinder factory.
- Minecart track and elevator
- First-night shelter
- Light brick to lluminate set
- 2 minifigures plus various monster figures
- Minecraft clock
- 8 ore style elements
- TNT blast function
- Golden armor and shield
- Revolving cave-spider spawner
- Creeper explosion function
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 21137
- Theme: Minecraft
- Pieces: 2,863
- Mini Figures: Two
- Age Suitability: 12 years
- Tons of features included
- Lots of Minecraft characters included
- Plenty of hidden surprises
- Cool light brick function for atmosphere
- Big meaty LEGO set to get stuck into
- The price—it’s massive!
LEGO Minecraft The Mountain Cave Building Kit
Gaming royalty is represented right here with this nostalgic love letter to one of the greatest video gaming consoles of all time, the Nintendo Entertainment System. A hefty 2,646 pieces make up this set, which includes scale models of the original consoles and controller, a buildable TV with Super Mario display, and a LEGO replica of the Mario gaming cartridge.
A cable and plug connect your controller to the ‘console’, and the NES itself has a realistic opening slot for the game cartridge. Once built, the TV has a crank on the side that once turned, activates a scrolling screen display.
Similar in size to the original Nintendo console, though slightly smaller, this gaming set has still managed to get the proportions spot on. The perfect addition to any Nintendo-loving household, this impressive NES LEGO set is bound to be highly sought after.
It’s-a great!
- Super Mario moving screen display
- Super Mario replica game cartridge
- Authentic replica console and controller
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 71374
- Theme: Nintendo
- Pieces: 2,646
- Mini Figures: None
- Age Suitability: 17 years
- Great nostalgia piece
- A few cool interactive features included
- Looks so good you’ll think you can pick it up and play it!
- You can’t pick it up and play it!
LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System Building Kit
There’s no doubt that in its day the Nintendo 64 console was the one to own. Its games were the envy of every other game console, and none more so than Super Mario 64. This Mario LEGO set pays homage to those glory days with this excellent question mark block kit, that’s straight out of the game itself.
There are 2,064 pieces here for you to assemble, and fans of the game will recognize miniature recreations of some of its famous levels, such as Peach’s Castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool Cool Mountain, and Lethal Lava Land. Ten microfigures are also included in this set, including Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and more.
LEGO Mario and LEGO Luigi figures can be bought separately from the Starter Courses range, and these can interact with the hidden stars in this set, revealing secret reactions from the mustachioed plumbers.
This might be a little gimmicky for some, however. And the set alone is plenty cool enough to be worthy of your time and money.
- Super Mario 64 question mark block design
- Features 4 buildable ‘levels’ from the game
- Includes 10 microfigures
- Optional interactive play features
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 71360
- Theme: Super Mario 64
- Pieces: 2,064
- Mini Figures: Ten microfigures
- Age Suitability: 17 years
- Cool design
- Tons of hidden surprises
- Level recreations are way too cute
- As are the microfigures included here
- Extra purchases required to enjoy interactive play features
LEGO Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block Building Kit
Proving that not all video game LEGO sets are nostalgia pieces is this splendid Tallneck building set from PlayStation 5 flagship title, Horizon: Forbidden West. Acting as walking landscape beacons, these magnificent ‘creatures’ could be scaled in-game to reveal previously hidden areas of the map.
This recreation set consists of 1,222 pieces, which means that on the fun/frustration slider, it should sit firmly towards the fun end of the scale.
An Aloy minifigure is also included, of course. Although in the completed build she’s standing in amongst some tall grass, and therefore becomes (as fans of the game will know) practically invisible.
The level of detail on the Tallneck itself is really quite something. LEGO has done a great job of rendering this model and making it look like a realistic metallic structure. A presentation stand is also included for your Tallneck, so you can proudly display it for all to see.
For any LEGO gaming fans out there looking for something a bit different and maybe a bit more subtle for their collection, this is one set you’ll want to see on your horizon.
- Choices of blue, yellow, or red eyes
- Includes Aloy minifigure and Watcher model
- Presentation stand with LEGO foliage
- Highly detailed model
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 76989
- Theme: Horizon Forbidden West
- Pieces: 1,222
- Mini Figures: One
- Age Suitability: 17 years
- Amazing level of detail straight out of the video game itself
- Aloy minifigure enhances Tallneck scale
- One for the modern-day PlayStation fans
- An articulated LEGO Technic model arguably could have done the Tallneck more justice
LEGO Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck Building Set
Many of individuals growing up in the 90s spent time glued to Sonic the Hedgehog’s Green Hill Zone, trying to master their favorite blue erinaceid’s kinetic movements and blast through to the end of Act 3 without losing all those precious rings.
Well now this Sonic LEGO set gives gamers a perfect little snapshot of those times with this 1,125-piece set. A great call-back to the fabulous 1990s, and carefree days running your poor Megadrive hot with that “just one more go” attitude!
This neat little set includes palm trees, a bridge loop, a lever-activated spring for jumps, two buildable bonus TV screens, plus Sonic, Robotnik, crab, and ladybird minifigures. And thanks to some clever transparent pieces, there are also several of those golden rings that can be suspended temptingly in ‘mid-air’ for Sonic to snatch up!
For SEGA and Sonic fans, and for all children of the 90s, this Sonic LEGO set has bags of personality. And thankfully, it comes without the oh-so-stressful water-rising beeping sound from the original game!
- Buildable eggmobile
- Bridge loop
- Lever-activated spring
- Four minifigures included
- Two bonus TV screens
- 7 Golden Rings
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 21331
- Theme: Sonic The Hedgehog
- Pieces: 1,125
- Mini Figures: Four
- Age Suitability: 17 years
- Happy childhood memories
- Set looks great
- Build is fun rather than taxing
- Scenes can be altered
- Dr Robotnik model not integral to the set
LEGO Ideas Sonic The Hedgehog Green Hill Zone Building Kit
Instantly recognizable to any Super Mario fans, the King of the Koopas is represented here in LEGO form, for your building pleasure. This kit has 2,807 pieces and should keep you happily busy for quite a while.
New LEGO features have been used to capture the look of Bowser’s spikes, and this set also includes a fireball launcher as well as a button to control Bowser’s head and neck movements. Bowser himself has fully poseable arms and legs as well.
A brick-build battle platform is included for you to stand your Bowser upon, and this also features two towers for The Mighty Bowser to knock over—if you decide he’s going to be destructive by nature.
A great Mario LEGO set for Nintendo and gaming fans, that is (in LEGO terms at least) reasonably affordable.
How’s a-Bowser-t that?
- Fireball launcher
- Button controlled head and neck movements
- Articulated arms and legs
- Includes battle platform for display
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 71411
- Theme: Super Mario
- Pieces: 2,807
- Mini Figures: None
- Age Suitability: 17 years
- Big and sturdy
- Poseable figurine
- Decent scale build that will last a while
- Would have benefited from a backdrop on the display stand
LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser Building Set
If the Bowser set choice was a bit too up close and personal for your liking, you might prefer this Bowser’s Airship Set instead. It has 1,152 pieces and is therefore less than half the challenge to build than the big fella himself.
In reality, this LEGO Mario set is actually an expansion set, if we’re being technical about it. But the truth is, it works well as a great gaming LEGO set in its own right. The Airship itself is very recognizable and comes with three Mario villain minifigures to patrol its decks.
Cool features such as a level starting canon, POW block, and Kamek’s spinning broom are included in the design, and these can all be interacted with—either with regular play or by accessing the LEGO Super Mario app.
A Starter Course Mario (or Luigi) figure is required to enable these app-led extra features, and as you might expect, these are sold separately. While this is a bit disappointing, it isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. The set itself is still a worthy addition to any gamer’s LEGO collection and still stands proud without these bonus features.
A great Mario LEGO set for gamers and their children to build together, and bond together with.
- Three mini-villain figures included
- Level starting canon
- POW block feature
- Spinning broom feature
- Optional interactive elements
- Brand: LEGO
- Set Number: 71391
- Theme: Super Mario
- Pieces: 1,152
- Mini Figures: Three
- Age Suitability: 8 years
- Airship looks great
- A great set for parents and children to build together
- Minifigures included are decent
- A shame that extra purchases are required to access interactive features
LEGO Super Mario Bowser’s Airship Expansion Set
FAQ
Q: Why Do Adults Like Playing With LEGO?
LEGO is great as a relaxing activity in the same way that cooking or scrapbooking is–it allows you to focus on a short-term goal and keep your hands busy.
If you are the kind of person who tends to overthink a lot, then unwinding with a LEGO set after work can be a great way to take your mind off the world.
Q: What Made LEGO So Popular?
Instead of offering kids ready-made toys, LEGO gives them the opportunity to build their toy —a much more challenging activity that kept kids engaged for hours.
Q: How Does LEGO Manage to Constantly Reinvent Itself?
LEGO partnered with other franchisees in the toy industry. Brands like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Batman were competition for toy sales, but LEGO made their competition their collaborators, and licensed characters from these franchises to create exciting new LEGO toy sets.
It has similarly collaborated with several videogame manufacturers, and TV franchises like Stranger Things, to produce innovative new product lines.