Whether you’re 4 or 40, Lego is always a blast. We all have memories of rummaging through a giant plastic bin of parts looking for that one thing we’ve seen 50 times before we needed it. If you grew up just a few decades ago, the best you could do was apply your generic Lego sets to recreate the best video games as closely as possible. Now, Lego partners with almost every major brand and company under the sun to create official Lego sets for everything from Star Wars to your favorite video game series.
If there’s a popular gaming franchise, it probably has a Lego set. Whether you’re looking to give a gaming fan a artistic gift or want to build yourself a pretty display piece in honor of your favorite game, here are the best video game-based Lego sets.
Nintendo Entertainment System
This isn’t a Lego based on a specific game, but it’s probably the most critical console in gaming history. This set lets you build a scaled Lego model of the legendary NES, complete with controller and replica TV. Be prepared for some intense building, though, because the entire set comes with a total of 2,646 pieces. The icing on the cake, and the reason it’s worth the effort to build, is that this set isn’t just awesome for display purposes. Turn the crank and a little Mario figure will run and jump, reproducing a miniature 1-1 recreation of the world. Of course, it won’t be as fun as playing the best Mario games live, but for a Lego set, it’s very impressive.
The Legend of Zelda The Great Deku Tree
There are so many obvious choices for Zelda-themed Lego sets. Hyrule Castle is simple, but we’d even suggest the Temple of Time or the Red Lion King before we even think about the Great Deku Tree. Now that we’ve seen it, we can’t wait to get our hands on it. Sure, it’s not the same Great Deku Tree from Ocarina of Time, But Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom version is a close second. It’s not an overly complicated build, with only 2,500 pieces, but it does come with three amazing figures of Link in different outfits, Zelda, and even a baby Korok. The ability to swap out the branches for different colors is a great addition that makes it simple to match your decor.
Lego Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck
If the existence Lego Horizon Adventures wasn’t enough evidence that the Horizon universe is perfect for Lego, but this Tallneck set certainly does. The world is filled with huge, intricate machines that fit Lego’s blocky style perfectly. We think Thunderjaw would be a better option, but maybe he’ll show up later. For now, we have the majestic Tallneck, which serves as the moving towers in the game that you have to climb to reveal the map. While it looks detailed, this set only has 1,222 pieces, plus a chilly Aloy and Watcher figure. This is a set that looks so chilly and elegant, you won’t be ashamed to display it in your living room.
Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block
There are dozens of Mario Lego sets out there, so we had to make a tough decision by choosing just one. When forced to, we settled on the iconic Question Mark Block set. What makes it more unique than most is that it can change a bit from being a regular block from the games to being expanded with smaller sets based on Mario 64 levels to check out. This includes chibi little Peach’s Castle, Cool, Cool Mountain, Lethal Lava Land and Bob-omb Battlefield. It will be a fun build with 2064 pieces.
Deep, Dark Battle
Everything comes full circle Minecraft Lego set, right? Technically, any huge pile of Lego bricks could be sold as Minecraft set, but thankfully Lego has gotten a bit more artistic. There are a few, but Deep Dark Battle seems to be the coolest. This set lets you build and adventure through an historic city where you can place treasure chests and other miniature items throughout the level. With a handful of figures, including one immense mob to fight, this is one of the cheaper and kid-friendly Lego sets, with only 584 pieces.
Sonic the Hedgehog Green Gables Zone
Sonic is back in a massive way with a fresh series of games and a hit movie, so what better time than now to show your love for the feisty blue hedgehog? Sure, Green Hill Zone isn’t as iconic as World 1-1, but it’s a much more intriguing Lego set than a flat brick road with a few pipes and pits. While it’s just a section of the level, it does have a miniature bridge over water, a few enemies, a jumping platform, and an all-important loop that you can rearrange however you want. This set doesn’t skimp on the figures either. You get Sonic, Eggman, the Eggmobile, the Moto Bug, and Crabmeat. And don’t forget the seven Chaos Emeralds. At 1,125 pieces, this is another great choice for kids and adults alike.
A Visit to Isabelle’s House
Apart from Minecraft, Animal Crossing might be the most natural choice for a Lego crossover. There are plenty to choose from, but they’re all aimed at a younger audience and are perfect for adding slowly. For a first set, Isabelle’s House Visit is a great choice. This little set includes a cute house to build, a miniature garden to decorate with plants, and an Isabelle and Fauna figure to play with inside and outside the house. With only 389 pieces to put together, even teenage Animal Crossing fans can put it together and have fun.
