Since LEGO formalized its creative partnership with Nintendo several years ago, the collaboration has produced some of LEGO's most inspired and accessible sets. Initially, in 2020, LEGO clearly distinguished between sets designed for children and those for adults. Children were introduced to Super Mario playsets, which are digital/physical hybrids that allow them to construct their own Super Mario courses. Meanwhile, adults were treated to iconic replicas that evoke waves of nostalgia among Gen-X enthusiasts.
However, in recent years, LEGO has intentionally blurred the lines between its child and adult audiences. The newer sets for kids have become more complex and engaging, while the adult sets have taken on a more whimsical and cartoonish flair. This shift aligns perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly ethos, making the LEGO sets appealing across generations.
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 create 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 collect are tracked in an app that syncs with Mario and records your progress.
This is the latest starter set that includes the Mario LED figure; other expansion sets require it to function. It also comes with essentials like 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 comes with a Glider, a Toad pit crew member, and a launching mechanism for Green and Red Shells, making it an ideal starting point for designing race courses. If you're a fan of the Mario Kart games, this set is a fantastic addition to your collection, and at just $19.99, it's one of the best budget LEGO sets available.
The Bowser Express Train
1 See 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 quirky, colorful, and delightfully narcissistic set featuring a massive Bowser head on the front of its engine. It includes six baddies: a Hammer Bro, a Boom Boom, two Goombas, and two Para-Biddybuds. All aboard for a fun-filled adventure!
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 We built this set for its launch, and it exceeded expectations. The LEGO Piranha Plant is full of personality and charm, and its price reflects its high quality. It's rare to feel like you're getting a deal with LEGO sets, but this Piranha in a pipe is reasonably priced and worth every penny. Highly recommended.
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 While not strictly Nintendo, we include this set due to our affection for Sonic games. Once rivals, Sonic and Mario now collaborate closely, with Sega being a mainstay on Nintendo's online service. This Sonic the Hedgehog set is a charming diorama of Green Hill Zone 1, complete with a loop and a confident Sonic minifigure. It's perfect for adult beginners looking to explore a new hobby. There are more Sonic LEGO sets available, offering options for building fun Sonic toys in 2025.
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 In 2024, Nintendo expanded its LEGO offerings with Animal Crossing sets. Launched in March, this set – the largest at launch – includes Tom Nook's shop and Rosie the Cat's cottage. With a few more sets like these, Animal Crossing fans can customize their own village, just as they do in the game.
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 iconic location from the Animal Crossing franchise, Dodo Airlines lets you travel to other players' islands. This set includes a seaplane, a dock/jetty, and minifigures for Wilbur and Tangy, allowing for engaging roleplay scenarios.
LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi
5 Set #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 LEGO set features Mario & Yoshi in motion with the turn of a crank. Not only do Yoshi's feet move, but his head and arm, as well as Mario's cape, also animate. A separate mechanism makes Yoshi open his mouth and stick out his tongue. Standing nearly 16 inches tall, the vibrant 16-bit colors really stand out.
LEGO Great Deku Tree Set
9 Set #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 We covered this set at its launch. A 2-in-1 build, it allows you to choose between the Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild versions. It includes three versions of Link, one Princess Zelda, and accessories like the Master Sword and a Hylian Shield. While fun to assemble, it's one of the pricier LEGO sets available.
LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser
5 See 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 is the finest Nintendo set LEGO has designed to date and one of the best LEGO sets overall. It's a massive, cartoonish, yet disarmingly adorable build of Mario's ultimate adversary. It's larger than you might expect, and a spring-loaded mechanism allows Bowser to "breathe fire."
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, technically an expansion playset, is marketed as a standalone set, signaling a new LEGO Nintendo approach for 2024 and beyond. This approach does not strictly delineate between children's and adult sets.
The early, child-oriented LEGO Super Mario playsets were very piecemeal and airy – isolated, singular elements and simple, flat plates that connected the elements together. The builds were too rudimentary, even for children's builds – they felt like LEGO sets designed for children who don't like LEGO.
Today, the LEGO Super Mario sets are more substantial and detail-laden, even though they still have the barcodes that designate them as expansion playsets. The best of these sets – like The Mighty Bowser – prioritize the display and building experience over mobile gameplay. This shift emphasizes the joy of building, which is central to the LEGO experience, whether for kids or adults.
There's an excellent LEGO documentary on Netflix, part of the "The Toys That Made Us" series, which I recommend to anyone interested. My key takeaway is that LEGO has tried to expand its appeal by creating other toys or reinventing the bricks with augmented reality or niche applications. However, these efforts rarely succeed, and LEGO always returns to what people love most about it.
The initial Mario playsets were a step too far, emphasizing play over build. Now that LEGO is creating sets that align more with their design and company strengths, the future looks bright.
Also, be sure to check out our lists of the best Star Wars LEGO sets and best Harry Potter LEGO sets. And if you're more into superheroes, you can take a look at the best Marvel LEGO sets as well.
