Lego Pokémon are high-quality sets, but I’m just not sure if they’re worth the cost

After years of trying to stomach the off-brand oddities that were Pokémon Megablocks, I was thrilled about the announcement of Lego Pokémon. This collaboration between two of the biggest global brands reached my high expectations for quality and presentation, even if the price is prohibitively high.

The three Lego Pokémon sets revealed are just as detailed as I wished they would be. Despite this, the eye-watering price tag of each was an unfortunate wake-up call for me. Knowing this, I consciously went through each set to decide if their quality and likeness are enough for their price.

✓ VideoGamer summary 

• There are three Lego Pokémon sets revealed so far.
• Each boasts a high level of quality, but also a high cost.
• One out of the three is worth its price tag.
• Those who can’t spend so much on nostalgia can be content knowing that their favorite Pokémon look faithful in Lego form.

Should you really build them all?

The first thing to look for in the Lego Pokémon sets is accuracy. If I’m going to heal my inner child by building my dream Pokémon team, then I would want them to look like their in-game counterparts.

All three Lego Pokémon sets revealed so far depict Kanto Pokémon. They were made for those chasing feelings of nostalgia and childhood comfort. Those feelings will only be found if our beloved pocket monsters are true to their original forms in the Pokémon games.

However, with the noticeable exception of Pikachu, all of the pocket monsters on offer here seem true to the pixellated forms of their original Game Boy-era incarnations. 

You’re paying for a Pokémon collector’s item as much as you are paying for the process of building. The number of pieces you receive and the experience of building are just as important as how impressive the final product looks.

Just a toy?

The flagship Lego Pokémon set is an impressive final build. It’s a colossal build of Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise, who each stand at a towering 9 inches (23cm), 8 inches (20cm), and 7 inches (18cm) tall.

Charizard’s unmistakable wing form instantly draws your eye, and Blastoise looks magnificent on its watery plinth. This level of accuracy and detail makes them feel straight out of the cover art of Red and Blue.

The set comes to a startling 6,838 pieces, topping Lego sets like Hogwarts Castle and Rivendell that are known for their scale. The build clearly makes use of them, as each iconic starter’s final evolution has full articulation. 

Their base is equally articulated and can be split into three, promising some creative methods to display them. It’s this type of ingenuity that makes both building Lego and owning the final build enjoyable.

But at $649.99 (£579.99), this is by far the most expensive Lego Pokémon set. It comes in at $130 (£100) more than Hogwarts Castle and Rivendell, yet sold out in mere hours.

The pre-order incentive, a set of Lego Pokémon badges, certainly helped to drive sales. 

However, even as a total package, this price is absolutely eye-gouging for all but the most die-hard collectors. For context, this Pokémon Lego set costs $100 (£74) more than a brand new PS5. It’s prohibitively expensive, and cements the set’s place as a luxury item rather than a more accessible product intended for fans en masse. 

A Premium Pikachu

Next in the lineup of Lego Pokémon sets is a fully posable Pikachu and Poké Ball. It’s a delightful and dynamic build that measures 13.5 inches (35cm) tall and 10.5 inches (26cm) wide.

This makes it 1.9 inches (5cm) off of Pikachu’s Pokedex height, but it doesn’t appear as faithful as the Kanto trio. There are plenty of extra flourishes, such as Pikachu’s Pokédex number “25” on the display base and an included interchangeable tail part. 

These, however, don’t do much to improve the overall likeness of the model. The bulging cheeks and uneven face leave a little to be desired. 

This lack of likeness means the impressive articulation of the build is the clear draw. The 2,050 pieces that make up Pikachu are all used to give it impressive articulation, even more so than the Kanto trio. With this, you can place it into various iconic poses and even have it hold its Poké Ball.

But the retail value of $199.99 (£179.99) is nothing to sneeze at. The premium feel of this Lego Pokémon set promises an exciting building experience. But viewed through the lens of a Pokémon fan, the cracks begin to show.

It may be worth the investment for those looking for a high-class building experience. But I’m here for some nostalgia, not for overpriced plastic.

Lego Eevee is full of surprises

If there’s a clear winner out of the Lego Pokémon sets, it would have to be the precious Eevee. It stands at 7.5 inches (19cm) tall, 4.5 inches (11.43cm), slightly smaller than Eevee’s pokedex height. This faithfully captures Eevee, particularly through the accurate printing of its eyes and mouth.

This Eevee isn’t as posable as Pikachu, but the likeness is far closer. The iconic tufts on its hair and its chest fur are captured perfectly, shaped just like they are within the games.

At 587 pieces, it’s much smaller than all the other sets. But for what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in surprises. There’s a yet unknown surprise that highlights Eevee’s many Evolutions, an exciting touch that promises to bring more joy to the building experience.

The $59.99 (£54.99) price tag is far easier to stomach. This sets it at a similar price to other Nintendo Lego sets with similar amounts of pieces, such as the Lego Piranah Plant and the Lego Game Boy.

This is the one Lego Pokémon set that has made me bite. Eevee being my favourite Pokémon certainly helps its case, as it brings back many memories of raising Eevees in Pokémon games when I was young. Getting to build one is a childhood dream I look forward to fulfilling.

The price tag isn’t negligible, but it’s hardly a PS5’s worth of plastic, making a purchase far easier to justify.

The Lego Pokémon sets have plenty of charm that reminds me why I’m so fond of the Pokémon they depict in the first place. 

Weighing up their likeness against their quality and price, Eevee is the only one that seems to offer true value for money.

I may only open my wallet on one Lego Pokémon set, but Lego Pokémon looks to be one of Nintendo’s most successful outings with the toy giant. I can only hope we see more, and that they are better value than some we’ve seen now.

After all, what use is a fun Pokémon toy if so few get to enjoy it? 

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