The LEGO-Nintendo collaboration, initiated several years ago, has led to some of LEGO's most imaginative and inclusive sets. Initially, in 2020, LEGO distinguished between its child and adult audiences with distinct offerings. Children were introduced to Super Mario playsets, which blend digital and physical play, allowing them to construct their own Mario courses. Meanwhile, adults were treated to large-scale, iconic replicas that sparked waves of nostalgia among Gen-Xers.
However, over the years, LEGO has intentionally blurred the lines between these age groups. The newer LEGO sets for children are more intricate and engaging, while those for adults have taken on a more whimsical and cartoonish flair. This shift aligns perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly ethos, creating LEGO sets that appeal to a wide range of ages.
Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario
6$49.99 at Target
Set: #71439
Age Range: 6+
Piece Count: 218
Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 4 inches wide, 3 inches deep
Price: $49.99
The LEGO Super Mario playsets enable you to craft your own Mario courses. Using an LED Mario figurine, you can scan barcodes on enemies and obstacles, triggering audio feedback like music and classic Mario sounds. The coins you gather are tracked in an app that syncs with Mario, documenting your progress. This starter set includes the essential Mario LED figure, necessary for all other expansion sets, along with a starting pipe, a Yoshi figure, a flagpole, and a Bowser, Jr. figure in a Junior Clown Car.
Mario Kart – Standard Kart
3$19.99 at Amazon
Set: #72032
Age Range: 7+
Piece Count: 174
Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 5.5 inches long, 3 inches wide
Price: $19.99
The Mario Kart sets are designed to work with the Interactive Mario LED figure from the Adventures starter set. This classic Kart build includes a Glider, a Toad pit crew member, and a launcher for Green and Red Shells, making it an ideal starting point for designing race courses. Perfect for fans of the Mario Kart games, this set offers great value at just $19.99.
The Bowser Express Train
1See it at Amazon
Set: #71437
Age Range: 9+
Piece Count: 1392
Dimensions: 8.5 inches high, 26.5 inches long, 4.5 inches wide
Price: $119.99
The Bowser Express Train is a colorful and quirky set featuring a large Bowser head on its engine. It includes six enemies: a Hammer Bro, a Boom Boom, two Goombas, and two Para-Biddybuds. A fun and engaging build for any LEGO enthusiast.
LEGO Piranha Plant
10$59.99 save 20%$47.95 at Amazon
Set: #71426
Age Range: 18+
Piece Count: 540
Dimensions: 9 inches high, 4.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches deep
Price: $59.99
The LEGO Piranha Plant set delivers on its promise with charm and quality. Priced reasonably, this set offers great value and is highly recommended for its build experience and the delightful final product.
LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone LEGO Set
3$69.99 at Amazon
Set: #21331
Age Range: 18+
Piece Count: 1125
Dimensions: 7 inches high, 14 inches wide, 2.5 inches deep
Price: $79.99
Although not strictly Nintendo, the Sonic the Hedgehog set is included due to the collaboration between Sonic and Mario. This set recreates the iconic Green Hill Zone 1, complete with a loop and a confident Sonic minifigure. Ideal for adult beginners looking to explore LEGO building.
LEGO Animal Crossing Nook’s Cranny & Rosie's House
3$74.99 save 20%$59.95 at Amazon
Set: #77050
Age Range: 7+
Piece Count: 535
Dimensions: 6 inches high, 15 inches wide, 5.5 inches deep
Price: $74.99
Nintendo expands its LEGO offerings with Animal Crossing sets. Launched in March 2024, this set includes Tom Nook's shop and Rosie the Cat's cottage, allowing fans to build their own Animal Crossing village.
Fly With Dodo Airlines
1$37.99 See it at Amazon
Set: #77051
Age Range: 7+
Piece Count: 292
Dimensions: 5 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep
Price: $37.99
Another Animal Crossing-inspired set, Dodo Airlines features a seaplane, a dock, and minifigures of Wilbur and Tangy, perfect for creating roleplay scenarios.
LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi
55Set #71438, includes 1,215 pieces.$129.99 at Amazon
Set: #71438
Age Range: 18+
Piece Count: 1215
Dimensions: 15.5 inches high, 10 inches wide, 4 inches deep
Price: $129.99
This nostalgic set features Mario and Yoshi with moving parts activated by a crank. With vibrant 16-bit colors, this set is a standout for its detail and build experience.
LEGO Great Deku Tree Set
94Set #77092, includes 2,500 pieces. This 2-in-1 set lets you build the Great Deku Tree in the style of Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild with the same pieces.$299.99 at LEGO Store
Set: #77092
Age Range: 18+
Piece Count: 2500
Dimensions: 13 inches tall
Price: $299.99
A versatile set that allows you to build the Great Deku Tree from either Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild. It includes multiple versions of Link, Princess Zelda, and iconic accessories. A fun yet pricey set for fans of The Legend of Zelda.
LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser
51See it at Amazon
Set: #71411
Age Range: 18+
Piece Count: 2807
Dimensions: 12.5 inches high, 16 inches wide, 11 inches deep
Price: $269.99
The Mighty Bowser set is a highlight of LEGO's Nintendo offerings, showcasing a massive, endearing build of Mario's arch-nemesis. With a spring-loaded fire-breathing mechanism, this set is both impressive and fun to build.
How Many LEGO Nintendo Sets Are There?
As of January 2025, there are 34 LEGO Super Mario sets, 18 LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog sets, ten LEGO Animal Crossing sets, and 1 LEGO The Legend of Zelda set available for purchase on the official LEGO store.
What's Does the Future of LEGO Nintendo Look Like?
The Mighty Bowser set exemplifies LEGO's evolving approach to Nintendo sets, blending elements suitable for both children and adults. The early Super Mario playsets were simplistic and focused more on play than build, but the newer sets emphasize detailed construction and display value. This shift aligns with LEGO's core strengths and promises a bright future for LEGO Nintendo sets.
LEGO's journey, as explored in the Netflix documentary "The Toys That Made Us," underscores the importance of staying true to the essence of LEGO – the joy of building. The initial Super Mario playsets veered too far from this principle, but the current direction is more promising.
For more LEGO fun, explore our lists of the best Star Wars LEGO sets, best Harry Potter LEGO sets, and best Marvel LEGO sets.
