LEGO's Nintendo Collaboration: A Retrospective and Look Ahead

LEGO's partnership with Nintendo has yielded some of their most creative and popular sets. Initially, a clear distinction existed between children's (Super Mario playsets) and adult (iconic replicas) offerings. However, LEGO has since blurred this line, creating more complex sets for children and more whimsical sets for adults, reflecting Nintendo's family-friendly brand.

The LEGO Nintendo lineup has expanded beyond Super Mario to include Sonic the Hedgehog, Animal Crossing, and now, Zelda. Here's a highlight of some top sets available in 2025:

Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario (#71439): This starter set includes an LED Mario figure, essential elements for course building, and figures like Yoshi and Bowser Jr. (Price: $49.99, 218 pieces, Age: 6+)

Mario Kart – Standard Kart (#72032): Compatible with the interactive Mario figure, this set offers a classic kart build with accessories. (Price: $19.99, 174 pieces, Age: 7+)

The Bowser Express Train (#71437): A large, whimsical Bowser-themed train with multiple characters. (Price: $119.99, 1392 pieces, Age: 9+)

LEGO Piranha Plant (#71426): A charming and well-priced Piranha Plant build. (Price: $47.95, 540 pieces, Age: 18+)

Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone (#21331): A delightful diorama of Green Hill Zone 1. (Price: $79.99, 1125 pieces, Age: 18+)

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

Fly With Dodo Airlines (#77051): Includes a seaplane and Animal Crossing characters. (Price: $37.99, 292 pieces, Age: 7+)

Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (#71438): A nostalgic and highly detailed Mario and Yoshi set with moving parts. (Price: $129.99, 1215 pieces, Age: 18+)

Great Deku Tree (#77092): A 2-in-1 build representing the Great Deku Tree from Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild. (Price: $299.99, 2500 pieces, Age: 18+)

The Mighty Bowser (#71411): A massive and impressive Bowser build. (Price: $269.99, 2807 pieces, Age: 18+)

Future of LEGO Nintendo:

The Mighty Bowser signifies a shift towards sets that prioritize build quality and display value, appealing to both children and adults. The initial Super Mario sets, while innovative, prioritized gameplay over the building experience. The current trend emphasizes the inherent satisfaction of the LEGO building process itself.

As of January 2025, there are 34 LEGO Super Mario, 18 LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog, 10 LEGO Animal Crossing, and 1 LEGO Legend of Zelda sets available. The future looks promising for LEGO Nintendo, focusing on high-quality builds that appeal to a broad audience.