Top LEGO Nintendo Sets for All Ages

Since LEGO formalized its creative partnership with Nintendo several years ago, the collaboration has produced some of LEGO's most innovative and engaging sets. Initially, in 2020, LEGO clearly distinguished between its child and adult audiences. Children were introduced to Super Mario playsets, which combined digital and physical elements to allow kids to construct their own Mario courses. Meanwhile, adults were treated to detailed replicas of iconic scenes, tapping into waves of nostalgia for Generation X.

However, in recent years, LEGO has intentionally blurred the lines between these audiences. The newer sets for kids are more intricate and engaging, while those for adults have become more playful and whimsical. This shift aligns perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly ethos, creating LEGO sets that appeal across generations.

Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario

6$49.99 at Target Set: #71439 Age Range: 6+ Piece Count: 218 Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 4 inches wide, 3 inches deep Price: $49.99

The LEGO Super Mario playsets enable you to craft your own Mario courses. With an LED Mario figurine, you can scan barcodes on enemies and obstacles, triggering audio responses like classic Mario sounds and music. The coins collected are tracked through an app that syncs with Mario, documenting your progress.

This is the latest starter set that includes the Mario LED figure; other expansion sets require this figure to function. It also comes with essential elements: a starting pipe, a Yoshi figure, a flagpole, and a Bowser, Jr. figure in a Junior Clown Car.

Mario Kart – Standard Kart

3$19.99 at Amazon Set: #72032 Age Range: 7+ Piece Count: 174 Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 5.5 inches long, 3 inches wide Price: $19.99

The Mario Kart sets are designed to work with the Interactive Mario LED figure from the Adventures starter set. This classic Kart build features a Glider, a Toad pit crew member, and a launching mechanism for Green and Red Shells, making it an ideal starting point for designing race courses. At just $19.99, it's a fantastic budget-friendly option for LEGO enthusiasts.

The Bowser Express Train

1See it at Amazon Set: #71437 Age Range: 9+ Piece Count: 1392 Dimensions: 8.5 inches high, 26.5 inches long, 4.5 inches wide Price: $119.99

The Bowser Express Train is a quirky, colorful, and charmingly narcissistic set, featuring a massive Bowser head on the front of its engine. It includes six baddies: a Hammer Bro, a Boom Boom, two Goombas, and two Para-Biddybuds. All aboard for a fun-filled adventure!

LEGO Piranha Plant

10$59.99 save 20%$47.95 at Amazon Set: #71426 Age Range: 18+ Piece Count: 540 Dimensions: 9 inches high, 4.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches deep Price: $59.99

We built this set at its launch, and it exceeded expectations. The LEGO Piranha Plant is both charming and adorable, offering great value for its price. It's rare to feel you're getting a deal with LEGO sets, but this one, with its pipe, is reasonably priced and well worth the investment.

LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone LEGO Set

3$69.99 at Amazon Set: #21331 Age Range: 18+ Piece Count: 1125 Dimensions: 7 inches high, 14 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep Price: $79.99

Though not strictly Nintendo, Sonic's inclusion is justified by the close collaboration between Sonic and Mario, with Sega being a staple on Nintendo's online service. This set offers a delightful diorama of Green Hill Zone 1, complete with a loop and a confident Sonic minifigure. It's perfect for adult beginners looking to explore a new hobby without a significant commitment.

LEGO Animal Crossing Nook’s Cranny & Rosie's House

3$74.99 save 20%$59.95 at Amazon Set: #77050 Age Range: 7+ Piece Count: 535 Dimensions: 6 inches high, 15 inches wide, 5.5 inches deep Price: $74.99

In 2024, Nintendo expanded its LEGO offerings with Animal Crossing sets. This build, the largest at launch, features both Tom Nook's shop and Rosie the Cat's cottage. With more sets like these, Animal Crossing enthusiasts can customize their own village, mirroring the game's experience.

Fly With Dodo Airlines

1$37.99 See it at Amazon Set: #77051 Age Range: 7+ Piece Count: 292 Dimensions: 5 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, 3.5 inches deep Price: $37.99

Another iconic Animal Crossing location, Dodo Airlines lets you travel to other players' islands. This set includes a seaplane, a dock/jetty, and minifigures of Wilbur and Tangy, perfect for roleplay scenarios.

LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi

55Set #71438, includes 1,215 pieces.$129.99 at Amazon Set: #71438 Age Range: 18+ Piece Count: 1215 Dimensions: 15.5 inches high, 10 inches wide, 4 inches deep Price: $129.99

This nostalgic set depicts Mario & Yoshi in motion through a crank mechanism. Not only do Yoshi's feet move, but his head and arm, along with Mario's cape, also animate. A separate feature allows Yoshi to open his mouth and stick out his tongue. Its vibrant, 16-bit colors stand out at nearly 16 inches tall.

LEGO Great Deku Tree Set

94Set #77092, includes 2,500 pieces. This 2-in-1 set lets you build the Great Deku Tree in the style of Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild with the same pieces.$299.99 at LEGO Store Set: #77092 Age Range: 18+ Piece Count: 2500 Dimensions: 13 inches tall Price: $299.99

We covered this set upon its launch. As a 2-in-1 build, it allows you to choose between the Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild version. It includes three versions of Link, Princess Zelda, and accessories like the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. Though it's one of the pricier options, it's fun to assemble.

LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser

51See it at Amazon Set: #71411 Age Range: 18+ Piece Count: 2807 Dimensions: 12.5 inches high, 16 inches wide, 11 inches deep Price: $269.99

The Mighty Bowser is arguably the best LEGO Nintendo set to date. This massive, cartoonish, and surprisingly adorable build of Mario's arch-nemesis is larger than you might expect and features a spring-loaded mechanism for "breathing fire."

How Many LEGO Nintendo Sets Are There?

As of January 2025, there are 34 LEGO Super Mario sets, 18 LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog sets, ten LEGO Animal Crossing sets, and 1 LEGO The Legend of Zelda set available for purchase on the official LEGO store.

What's Does the Future of LEGO Nintendo Look Like?

The Mighty Bowser, although technically an expansion playset, is marketed as a standalone set. It represents LEGO Nintendo's evolving approach for 2024 and beyond, moving away from strictly delineating children's and adults' sets. The early Super Mario playsets were quite basic, focusing more on play than build. Today, LEGO Super Mario sets are more robust and detailed, even retaining the barcodes for expansion, yet prioritizing the aesthetic and build experience. This shift emphasizes that the joy of LEGO comes from the building process, with the final product being a rewarding outcome.

For those interested in the history of LEGO, there's an excellent documentary on Netflix as part of "The Toys That Made Us" series, which I highly recommend. It highlights how LEGO has tried to expand its appeal but always returns to what people love most—its core building experience. The initial Mario playsets were perhaps a step too far in focusing on play over build, but LEGO's recent sets are more aligned with their design strengths, promising a bright future.

For more LEGO fun, be sure to check out our lists of the best Star Wars LEGO sets and best Harry Potter LEGO sets. And if superheroes are more your thing, explore the best Marvel LEGO sets as well.