Since LEGO and Nintendo joined forces several years ago, the collaboration has produced some of LEGO's most innovative and universally appealing sets. Initially, in 2020, LEGO clearly targeted two distinct groups: children with the interactive Super Mario playsets, allowing them to build and navigate their own Mario courses, and adults with nostalgic, large-scale replicas. However, in recent years, LEGO has intentionally blurred these lines, creating more complex sets for children and more whimsical, cartoonish sets for adults. This approach aligns perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly ethos, offering 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 let you construct your own Mario courses. With an LED Mario figurine, you can scan barcodes on enemies and obstacles, triggering audio feedback like classic Mario sounds and music. The coins you collect are tracked in an app that syncs with Mario, documenting your progress. This starter set includes the essential Mario LED figure, a starting pipe, a Yoshi figure, a flagpole, and a Bowser Jr. figure in a Junior Clown Car. Note that other expansion sets require this starter set to function.
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 comes with 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. It's a must-have for Mario Kart enthusiasts and offers great value at just $19.99.
The Bowser Express Train
1 See 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 set featuring a massive Bowser head on the engine. It includes six baddies: a Hammer Bro, a Boom Boom, two Goombas, and two Para-Biddybuds. This set is perfect for fans looking for a fun and unique build.
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 were impressed by its charm and quality. The LEGO Piranha Plant is both adorable and detailed, offering great value at its price point. It's a highly recommended set for adult LEGO enthusiasts.
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, 2.5 inches deep Price: $79.99 While not strictly Nintendo, Sonic's inclusion is justified by the close collaboration between Sega and Nintendo. This set recreates the iconic Green Hill Zone 1 with a loop and a confident Sonic minifigure. It's an excellent choice for adult beginners looking to explore LEGO building.
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 Nintendo's expansion into Animal Crossing LEGO sets began in March 2024 with this set, featuring Tom Nook's shop and Rosie the Cat's cottage. It's a great start for fans looking to build their own Animal Crossing village.
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 This set brings the iconic Dodo Airlines from Animal Crossing to life, complete with a seaplane, a dock, and minifigures of Wilbur and Tangy. It's perfect for roleplay scenarios and expanding your Animal Crossing collection.
LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi
5 Set #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 features a crank-operated Mario & Yoshi, with moving parts including Yoshi's feet, head, and arm, as well as Mario's cape. A separate mechanism allows Yoshi to open his mouth and stick out his tongue. Its vibrant, 16-bit colors make it a standout display piece.
LEGO Great Deku Tree Set
9 Set #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 This set offers a versatile build, allowing you to choose between the Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild versions of the Great Deku Tree. It includes three versions of Link, Princess Zelda, and accessories like the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. While it's a fun build, it's on the pricier side.
LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser
5 See 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 a standout LEGO set, capturing the essence of Mario's ultimate villain in a massive, cartoonish, and adorable build. It features a spring-loaded mechanism that allows Bowser to "breathe fire," making it a must-have for collectors and fans alike.
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, while technically an expansion playset, is marketed as a standalone set, signaling a new approach for LEGO Nintendo. This design ethos blurs the lines between children's and adults' sets, focusing on the joy of building rather than just play. The early Super Mario playsets were too simplistic, but recent sets have become more detailed and engaging, emphasizing the build experience. This shift aligns with LEGO's core strengths and promises a bright future for LEGO Nintendo collaborations.
For a deeper dive into LEGO's history and evolution, check out the "The Toys That Made Us" series on Netflix, which offers fascinating insights into the company's journey. LEGO's attempts to diversify beyond traditional bricks have often been less successful, reinforcing the importance of focusing on what fans love most: the building experience itself.
Be sure to explore our lists of the best Star Wars LEGO sets, best Harry Potter LEGO sets, and best Marvel LEGO sets for more building inspiration.