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Thanks to LEGO’s brand partnerships, plenty of video game franchises have seen themselves appear in new themes and sets. This includes Minecraft, Super Mario, Overwatch, Sonic, and now Fortnite. There’s also a few one-offs: LEGO Icons Atari 2600 and the Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck. We’re getting closer to the holidays, so we’re going to help you avoid the panic and point you in the direction of some LEGO gifts any gamer would be happy to receive.
There’s a LOT of gaming themed LEGO out there
If you’re shopping for a friend, child, partner or even yourself, there’s plenty of LEGO sets that are based on popular gaming franchises. LEGO’s partnerships with different brands and franchises are a brilliant way to put a collector’s item in the hands of a loved one, but they’re also just great fun. One of the most popular games of all time, Minecraft, has had LEGO sets in production for years, while LEGO Super Mario brings another even more recognisable brand into the fold.
Next year we’re going to see a new theme launch in LEGO Animal Crossing. You’re going to be able to build Nook’s Cranny & Rosie’s House from the games, while also collecting Minifigures of popular characters too.
71374 LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System
71374 LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System
Pieces
2,646
Price
$269
- Nostalgic
- Acute detailing renders it incredibly realistic
- Expensive set
The LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System is a fantastic kit tapping into the nostalgia that Mario and the NES bring. While the original console might have released in the 80s, its iconic design is extraordinarily recognisable even to those who might not have ever owned the console. In fact, I call myself a retro gaming enthusiast, yet the reality is that I’ve not played on an original NES once.
While you’re not going to be able to play any games on the LEGO NES, it will give you an opportunity to recreate the console classic yourself. There’s an incredible amount of pieces: 2,646 to be precise, and the final build itself is quite large. It shows a frame from Super Mario on the NES on-screen, explaining why it’s part of the Super Mario theme instead of Icons as the PAC-MAN Arcade is.
76989 LEGO Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck
76989 LEGO Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck
Pieces
1,222
Price
$89.99
- Articulate and posable
- Incredibly impressive to look at
- Good value for money
While the LEGO NES might have suited Nintendo gamers, the LEGO Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck set is definitely one for more contemporary gamers. The PlayStation exclusive game has made its way to LEGO in a set that’s incredibly grand, eye-catching, and extremely affordable considering the amount of pieces and articulation included.
You’re going to be able to pose the legs dynamically, while also using the included display stand covered in foliage to enhance the scenery. Horizon Forbidden West
21331 LEGO Ideas Sonic The Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone
21331 LEGO Ideas Sonic The Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone
Pieces
1,125
Price
$63
- Versatility
- Quite small
The final LEGO set we’re going to be recommending right off the bat is the LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone. It’s slightly cheaper than the rest, and the Sonic franchise is extremely recognisable.
The build itself is way more populated than the other two we’ve recommended, making it much easier to create different scenarios and layouts with the set. It’s going to resemble a level from the game itself too.
Here’s how to tell what’s worth buying
If you’re buying LEGO sets as a Christmas present for someone, you might be aware that some are considered an “investment.” The LEGO Group’s business model lets them release sets that are part of a limited production run. We’ve recently seen a LEGO Fortnite polybag which is only available as a make-and-take set if you go to the right place at the right time. They’re not available to buy in-store or online, and a product that would ordinarily retail for $4.99 is being marked upwards of $60 on second-hand marketplaces.
The same applies to many LEGO sets, especially those paired with an incredibly pop-culture franchise, Minecraft, Super Mario and Overwatch included.
If a LEGO set is retired, it means that The LEGO Group are no longer producing it. If that’s the case, it doesn’t mean retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy won’t still be stocking them. They’ll likely be available on those platforms, even with LEGO deals applied as retailers try and purge their stocks.
Other LEGO themes often worth paying attention to are LEGO Icons, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Technic. Icons and Technic both often feature quite complex LEGO sets – either with many moving parts or unique pieces and moulds that collector’s pine for. Star Wars and Harry Potter are both also consistently under the spotlight thanks to the massive franchises and fans that back them.
Keep on the lookout for retiring sets, mostly, as these are going to be quite valuable in the future simply due to the fact that they’re not commercially available any more.
This is how to find the best LEGO deals for gamers this Christmas
LEGO Marvel Nano Gauntlet
LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition
21249 LEGO Minecraft The Crafting Box 4.0
71423 LEGO Super Mario Dry Bowser Castle Battle Expansion
If you’re on the lookout for LEGO deals this Christmas, we’d recommend starting on the Amazon, Best Buy, and LEGO websites. We’d recommend using services such as CamelCamelCamel and Honey, both of which will tell you the lowest prices of retail items there.
For example, I’ve found interesting price patterns via BrickFact’s Minecraft tracker, and Brickwatch’s Overwatch hub lets you add LEGO sets to your watchlist with alerts when prices change on retail sites.
Consider themed LEGO Minifigures as the perfect Christmas gift
LEGO Minifigures are a great place to start. These are another LEGO theme that garner the attraction of collector’s and though the specific figure inside the pack is a surprise, you might just end up gifting a loved one an extremely sought after and valuable item. For example, you can pick up a 71394 LEGO Super Mario Minifigure pack from Amazon for $9.99. It should be noted that LEGO Minifigures only contain a few, 12 in most cases, pieces at most.
LEGO Minifigures are best served with a larger set
If you do end up deciding to pick up a LEGO Minifigure for a Christmas present, you might consider serving it up with a larger set. For example, any one of the LEGO Super Mario Minifigures would fit in extremely well with a 71424 LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set or similar.
That’s as much as we have on LEGO gifts for gamers this Christmas. Check back in periodically as we edge closer to the festivities, during which we’re going to keep an eye out on any potential LEGO Fortnite sets.
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