LEGO Nintendo Sets Delight Ages from Young to Old

LEGO's Nintendo Collaboration: A Retrospective and Look Ahead

For several years, LEGO and Nintendo's creative partnership has yielded some of LEGO's most innovative and accessible sets. Initially, a clear distinction existed between sets targeted at children (Super Mario playsets – digital/physical hybrids) and adults (iconic, nostalgic replicas). However, LEGO has strategically blurred this line, creating more complex children's sets and more whimsical adult sets. This reflects Nintendo's family-friendly branding and the cross-generational appeal of their characters.

Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario

6 - Available at Target!

Mario Kart – Standard Kart

2 - Available at Amazon!

The Bowser Express Train

1 - Available at Amazon!

LEGO Piranha Plant

2 - Available at Amazon!

Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone LEGO Set

1 - Available at Amazon!

LEGO Animal Crossing Nook’s Cranny & Rosie's House

1 - Available at Amazon!

Fly With Dodo Airlines

0 - Available at Amazon!

LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi

0 - Available at Amazon!

LEGO Great Deku Tree Set

0 - Available at LEGO Store!

Mighty Bowser

0 - Available at Amazon!

LEGO Nintendo's sub-themes have expanded beyond Super Mario to include Sonic the Hedgehog, Animal Crossing, and now, Zelda. Below are some of the best sets available in 2025:

Detailed Set Descriptions (with paraphrasing and reorganized information):

• Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario (#71439): This starter set includes the essential LED Mario figure, a starting pipe, Yoshi, a flagpole, and Bowser Jr. in his Clown Car. It's required for other expansion sets. ($49.99, 218 pieces, 6+)

• Mario Kart – Standard Kart (#72032): Compatible with the interactive Mario figure, this set features a classic kart, glider, Toad, and shell launchers. ($19.99, 174 pieces, 7+)

• The Bowser Express Train (#71437): A large, whimsical train featuring Bowser's head and several Koopa Troop members. ($119.99, 1392 pieces, 9+)

• LEGO Piranha Plant (#71426): A charming and well-received Piranha Plant in a pipe. ($47.95, 540 pieces, 18+)

• Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone (#21331): A diorama of Green Hill Zone 1, perfect for adult beginner builders. ($79.99, 1125 pieces, 18+)

• Nook's Cranny & Rosie's House (#77050): Features Tom Nook's shop and Rosie's cottage from Animal Crossing. ($59.95, 535 pieces, 7+)

• Fly With Dodo Airlines (#77051): Includes a seaplane, dock, and Wilbur and Tangy minifigures. ($37.99, 292 pieces, 7+)

• Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (#71438): A nostalgic, crank-operated set with moving Mario and Yoshi figures. ($129.99, 1215 pieces, 18+)

• Great Deku Tree (#77092): A 2-in-1 set allowing construction of the Great Deku Tree from either Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild. ($299.99, 2500 pieces, 18+)

• The Mighty Bowser (#71411): A large, impressive Bowser figure with a fire-breathing mechanism. ($269.99, 2807 pieces, 18+)

Set Availability and Future Outlook:

As of January 2025, there are numerous sets across Super Mario, Sonic, Animal Crossing, and Zelda. The Mighty Bowser, while technically an expansion set, is marketed as standalone, showcasing a shift towards sets appealing to both children and adults, focusing on build quality and displayability. This marks a departure from the earlier, more simplistic Super Mario sets. The future of LEGO Nintendo seems bright, focusing on high-quality builds rather than solely on gameplay integration.

Poll: (Image of poll remains unchanged) Which Nintendo franchise deserves a LEGO set the most?

The article concludes by recommending a LEGO documentary on Netflix and mentioning other LEGO themed sets (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel).