Also just released for 2024, LEGO Ideas’ new Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera is designed for lovers of vintage photography gear, bringing Polaroid’s iconic camera to life in build-it-yourself brick form.

Once assembled, this 516-piece model kit will display beautifully just about anywhere, and it even has some functional elements you can play with, including a working viewfinder, a rotatable exposure compensation dial, and a few LEGO Polaroid ‘photos’ you can load into the openable film door and actually eject out the front with the red shutter button!

Get this nostalgic LEGO camera set for $80 on Amazon.

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Brand new for 2024 — and released alongside a whole bunch of other awesome sets in the past couple days — LEGO’s new Modular Space Station (model# 60433) is perfect for kids who love outer space and imagining sci-fi adventures.

The station itself is essentially an “orbiting” anchor ring that a series of detailed room pods and other spacecraft can dock with.

The room modules include a science lab, a kitchen, a repair workshop, sleeping quarters, and a biodome, all of which can be moved around and arranged as desired. In terms of spacecraft, you get a space bike and a shuttle ship, the latter of which can become the head of a “space train” made up of the room pod modules linked together.

Of course, none of this would make much sense if there weren’t astronauts aboard to fly the ships and keep things working, so six crew member minifigs are included.

What’s more, the set makes use of LEGO’s “Airlock” system — i.e. the orange door pieces — to connect with other space-themed sets, like the also-new Command Rover and Crane Loader (model# 60432) and the Space Base and Rocket Launchpad (model# 60434).

Get the Modular Space Station LEGO set for $110 on Amazon.

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As a kid, it seemed like every movie I saw, every TV show I watched, and every book I read featured a tree house in some form or another. The things seemed to be everywhere. But no matter how much I wanted one of my own, it sadly just wasn’t meant to be.

If you’re like me and never got to experience having a tree house, you can still capture a bit of that magic with the LEGO Ideas 21318 playset. Originally conceptualized by Kevin Feeser of France, this interactive 3,036-piece model set is a fairly intricate kit best tackled by an experienced LEGO builder (bold emphasis mine):

[This playset] features a landscape base and 3 LEGO tree house cabins—a main bedroom, bathroom and kids’ room. The tree has interchangeable sets of green summer leaf elements and yellow and brown fall leaf elements—these and various plant elements on the base are all made from sustainable-plant-based polyethylene plastic [using sustainably sourced sugar cane]—and the treetop and cabin roofs are removable to allow easy access.

The model is packed with play-inspiring features including a buildable picnic table and seats, swing, bonfire, treasure map and hidden gem element to play out a treasure hunt, and a wind-up crane on the balcony of the bedroom cabin.

Here’s what those summer and autumn leaves look like:

And as this video with set designer César Soares shows, the tree house is also full of fun details and little references to things like the “Ship in a Bottle” LEGO set:

Included with the tree house are a four-member minifigure family (mom, dad, and two kids) along with a bird figure.

Get this fun and nostalgia-filled LEGO set for $200 on Amazon.

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If I could visit the world of The Lord of the Rings, the elven valley of Rivendell would be high on my list of places to see, alongside The Shire/Hobbiton. And as it turns out, a few months ago LEGO released a Rivendell building model kit — inspired by the design from the Peter Jackson films — that brings this beautiful Middle-earth locale to life in your own home.

At 6,167 pieces, the highly detailed Rivendell LEGO kit joins the ranks of the 10 biggest LEGO sets ever, and every bit of it is filled with movie magic, plus Easter eggs for the most hardcore LOTR fans.

It can be built in three separate sections (copied from their press release):

Section one, featuring:
– The Council Ring – complete with a semicircular ring of chairs for the council and the plinth where the ring is first revealed and the Fellowship discuss how to destroy it
– Frodo’s Bedroom – with a desk and chest where the young hobbit recovers following his rescue by Arwen from the hands of the Nazgûl, before being reunited with Bilbo
– Elrond’s study – with famous paintings from the history of Middle–earth

Section two, featuring:
– An elven tower – featuring five Elven statues of unnamed famous warriors from the past

Second three, featuring:
– Gazebo, river and bridge – to recreate the scene where the Fellowship departs Rivendell.

The set also includes a whopping 15 minifigures, including all nine members of the Fellowship — Gandalf the Grey, the four hobbit friends (Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin), Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Boromir — along with Elrond, Arwen, Bilbo Baggins, Gloin the dwarf, and a couple of unnamed elves.

Once assembled, the set measures over 15″ high, 29 ½” wide and 19½” deep, resulting in a jaw-dropping display piece that you’re gonna need a big shelf to accommodate.

You can get the LEGO Icons Rivendell set for $500 on Amazon. A hefty price to be sure, but the extravagance of the completed set and the enjoyability of the build process make it worth the cost. I recommend listening to the film soundtrack along the way 🧙‍♂️🧝‍♀️️

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We all know how fun it is to build stuff with LEGO bricks. You might’ve even made a sweet race car or two with them. Think about this, though: What if you could not only build your dream ride, but use it in actual races against other people?

That’s exactly what you get to do in LEGO 2K Drive, a brand new open-world driving adventure game that can be thought of as the spiritual successor to LEGO Racers from way back in the N64/PS1 days.

LEGO 2K Drive takes place in BrickLandia, a brick-filled world with various distinct regions and biomes to explore. Whether you’re racing on a track or simply seeing the sights, your car has the ability to automatically transform between Street, Off-Road, and Water forms based on terrain (although you can switch to manual transformation if you need more of a challenge).

Additionally, you have various driving abilities at your disposal such as boosting, jumping, quick-turning, and drifting. There are also power-ups you can pick up throughout races to liven up the competition a bit. Perhaps most importantly, there’s a Garage mode where you can build and modify vehicles to your heart’s content, brick by brick.

I could list out more features and such, but honestly I recommend just watching the IGN review for an honest and well-considered opinion on the game, plus a good look at that car building mode I mentioned:

As mentioned in that review, the fact that LEGO 2K Drive has a $60–$70 price tag yet still offers microtransactions and a season pass on top of that will definitely be a turn-off for some. However, if you can ignore that aspect of the game entirely, you’ll find it a super fun and humorous racing title that should satisfy your inner Master Builder.

The standard edition of LEGO 2K Drive is available on the following platforms:

• PlayStation 5 ($70)
• PlayStation 4 ($60)
• Xbox Series X ($70)
• Xbox One ($60)
• Nintendo Switch ($60)
• PC / Windows 10 ($60)

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Looks like nostalgia’s back on the menu, boys! Standing over 13.5″ tall and fully capable of transforming back and forth between robot and semi truck modes without disassembly, this Optimus Prime LEGO model kit is the stuff our childhood dreams were made of.

The set clocks in at 1,508 pieces and includes accessories that any diehard Transformers fan will recognize, like Optimus’ ion blaster, Energon axe, an attachable jetpack, and even the Matrix of Leadership that resides within the robot’s opening chest.

Speaking as someone who grew up watching the original ’80s cartoon, this is one of the coolest LEGO sets I’ve ever seen, and I’ve had the opportunity to write about lots of great ones.

Get the transforming Optimus Prime LEGO model for $145 on Amazon.

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After constructing LEGO Architecture’s brand-new Great Pyramid of Giza, you’ll be able to see what one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World might’ve looked like in its heyday — except, y’know, without needing tens of thousands of laborers or having to employ ancient building techniques over the course of literally decades.

Once assembled, this 1,476-piece set actually allows you to lift off the outer pyramid “shell” to reveal a cross-section of the stone-moving system they might’ve used during the original pyramid’s construction, along with inner tunnels and chambers.

You also get a bit of surrounding landscape to enjoy, including sphinx statues, a bit of the Nile River with two boats floating on it, an obelisk decoration, two smaller pyramids, and more.

It’s worth noting that the full build only represents half of the pyramid, with the backside revealing the structure’s inner workings. However, if you’re feeling like treating yourself, you can buy two of this set and simply attach them together to create a full pyramid. Either way, it’s a very cool display piece to have on your shelf.

Order the Great Pyramid LEGO set for $130 on Amazon.

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One of the latest entries in the LEGO Ideas lineup is this awesome globe display model, which is based on a fan-created build designed in 2020 by France-based LEGO hobbyist Guillaume Roussel (aka “Disneybrick55”), who was himself inspired by the adventurous tales of Jules Verne.

This customizable vintage-style Earth globe is comprised of 2,585 pieces that include printed name tiles for the continents and oceans, which just so happen to glow in the dark!

Moreover, the set makes use of LEGO Technic pieces as part of the globe’s axis, allowing it to spin just like the real thing. There are even little ship and compass icons you can assemble and attach anywhere on the globe.

This will make a wonderful gift for anyone you know with a passion for travel and adventure. It’ll also be a brilliant display piece in your own home (or if you’re a teacher, your classroom)

Get the LEGO Ideas globe set for $200 on Amazon.

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Add a nautical touch to your LEGO collection with the beautiful and intricately detailed ship-in-a-bottle model kit. Featuring 962 pieces and measuring a foot long (if you include the bottle), this kit is one you’ll want to display on your shelf long after you’ve built it — which, by the way, is a lot less labor-intensive than the real thing.

Here are some stats about the kit, taken from the LEGO listing:

• Bottle features a detailed, buildable cork with wax seal-style element and over 280 translucent-blue, water-style elements inside.
• Ship features a raised deck at the stern, captain’s quarters, 6 cannons, 3 masts, a crow’s nest and assorted elements including printed sails and the ship’s flag.
• Display stand features the ship’s ‘Leviathan’ nameplate, a built-in ‘compass’ (non-functioning) with detailed compass rose and spinning gold-colored needle, 2 globe elements, and gold-colored detailing.

The ‘water’ pieces that go inside the bottle are maybe the neatest touch of all, because that’s not something you usually get with typical ship-in-a-bottle models.

Point of note: On the official LEGO site you’ll find the ship-in-a-bottle kit listed under both the retired model #21313 and the soon-to-be-retired (and currently out-of-stock) #92177 It was listed at $70 there, but since they don’t have any to buy as of December 28th, 2021, you’ll be stuck paying $156 on Amazon or shopping elsewhere if you want a kit of your own.

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The LEGO Art World Map (model 31203) released on June 1st, 2021, but ran out of stock so fast that I wasn’t able to write about it. Now, two months later (August 2nd), it’s finally available for purchase again.

Measuring 40.5″ x 25.5″ and with a whopping 11,695 pieces, the LEGO World Map has usurped the 9,036-piece Colosseum model as the largest set in LEGO history, beating it by 2,659 pieces. And that’s not very far from doubling what the Colosseum had over the previous winner, the 7,541-piece Millennium Falcon.

So yeah, this one’ll take you a while to put together before you display it on your wall.

What’s cool about the map is that, in true LEGO style, you can totally customize it to your liking. Its built upon three main sections of baseplates, which can be rearranged so that whatever continent you’re on lives in the center.

And while they include paint-by-numbers-style directions for filling in the oceans — using a pattern inspired by the bathymetric mapping of the ocean floor — you can go with a totally custom design:

…or leave them black for a more minimalist look:

They also include red-capped ‘push pin’ pieces so you can mark places you’ve been or track your dream travels of the future. I mean…I love every single thing about this set. Even the frame itself is brick-built!

Get the LEGO World Map for $250 on Amazon. When you receive it, be sure to scan the QR code on the box to access the special soundtrack they’ve put together (including various interviews and travel stories) that you can listen to while you build.

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Slated for release in a little under two weeks from today, LEGO and DC’s Batman Cowl set (#76182) is a 410-piece display model that recreates the Dark Knight’s iconic pointy-eared helmet, right down to the stern glare.

The completed model measures 8.5″ tall, 4″ wide, and 4″ deep, and it comes with a sturdy base and small plaque, so not only is it fun to put together, it makes a great focal piece for your desk, comics shelf, etc.

The Batman Cowl LEGO set begins shipping on April 26th, 2021. Pre-order it for $60 on Amazon.

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A bit over two years ago, I wrote about these clever things called Swoop Bags, which are large drawstring toy storage bags that doubled as play mats when open, then cinched back together to hold all those LEGOs and other things together when playtime was over. I still think they’re awesome too!

However, it seems that none of their products are available on Amazon anymore — at least as I write this in February 2021 — so if you’ve got some credit to spend there and need an alternative, the Play&Go toy storage bag is a very similar thing made by another company (which, incidentally, got its start four years after Swoop Bags, but that’s neither here nor there).

Made from a durable polycotton material and available in a wide range of fun colors/prints, the Play&Go is an effective addition to your parenting arsenal — and sure, your kid will love it too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR9ph4pQNw0

You can get the standard 55″ Play&Go for $40 on Amazon. If you need something much smaller — meaning, just a little bag and play mat for the toys alone, not something for kids to sit/lay on — the 16″ Play&Go mini is just $19.

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Background image above via Nick Fewings on Unsplash, with edits by yours truly.

Launched several weeks ago on Black Friday, the new LEGO Colosseum set (model 10276) is an epic, expertly created recreation of the actual place. At 9,036 pieces, this tribute to Rome’s most iconic landmark is easily the largest LEGO brick set created to date. (Sorry, Millennium Falcon, you had a good run.)

https://youtu.be/1OpdRFuqVjU

The set features a whole bunch of true-to-life details, some of which come through the creative re-use of existing LEGO pieces (such as rollerskates, minifig hands, etc):

This epic LEGO model features a recreation of the three distinct stories from the Colosseum, with each of these stories adorned with the columns of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. These columns have been faithfully recreated in LEGO brick form using a variety of creative building techniques, including decorative volutes that have been created using a recoloured LEGO roller skate element that has been turned upside down to create an authentic look.

Every detail of the set has been meticulously crafted to stay true to the real-life Colosseum — including having 80 ‘ribs’ in the spectator stands (the exact same number as the original) and having three different shades of brick to replicate the different columns and aging of the almost 2,000 year old landmark.

Once assembled, the LEGO Colosseum measures over 10½” (27cm) high, 20½” (52cm) wide and 23½” (59cm) deep, so it’ll definitely attract attention wherever it’s displayed. And despite that size, the whole thing can be picked up by the base without falling apart, so it can be moved around if needed, or simply lifted to the eye for closer examination.

Get the Colosseum set for $550 from the LEGO site and savor the process of assembling this awe-inspiring model, then admiring it for years to come. (I would’ve linked the Amazon listing, but as of January 7th, 2021 it’s only being “offered” by third parties who have it listed for {checks notes} $900???)

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The LEGO Group and Nintendo have teamed up to produce an original NES LEGO set (model #71374) that looks just like the real deal, right down to the old-school TV set with the first Super Mario Bros. game being “played” on it.

And when I say “played”, I mean it a bit more literally than you might be thinking. When the set is fully assembled, you can turn a crank on the side of the TV to make Mario actually run and jump through the game’s iconic first level. I mean…WHAT. Where’s take-my-money.jpg when I need it?

As that video above shows, you can take the Mario figure from the LEGO Super Mario Starter Course kit (sold separately) and slot it into the top of the TV, where he’ll react to things happening “on-screen” while playing the original game’s theme music and sound effects!

Seriously guys, 6-year-old me would freak out for this toy. Heck, 34-year-old me is doing that right now.

The set releases on August 1st , 2020 and will go for $230.

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Ever feel like you’d like to just…get off this planet, if only for a little while? I’m right there with you. Until commercial space travel is a thing though, we’ll have to settle for dreaming.

With the NASA Apollo Saturn V set by LEGO Ideas, your imagination can take flight as you assemble all 1,969 pieces — which, yes, is totally a reference to the year of the moon landing — to create this meter-high (~1:110 scale) model of the iconic Saturn V rocket.

That alone should help kill half a day of dedicated brick building, but it gets even more fun when you’re done, since the impressively detailed model includes three removable rocket stages for you to play with, including the S-IVB third stage with the lunar lander and lunar orbiter, plus a few astronaut buddies and an American flag accessory.

Also included are three stands for displaying the rocket horizontally when you’re not (carefully) swooshing it around in the air making blastoff noises while no one’s watching.

Get this brilliant space-lovers’ LEGO set + display/collection piece for $248 on Amazon.

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