LEGO's creative partnership with Nintendo, established several years ago, has led to some of the most inspired and accessible LEGO sets on the market. Initially, in 2020, LEGO clearly distinguished between sets for children and adults. The children's sets were the Super Mario playsets, digital/physical hybrids designed for building custom Super Mario courses. Meanwhile, adults were treated to iconic replicas, massive sets that evoked waves of nostalgia for Generation X.
However, in the years following, LEGO has intentionally blurred the lines between these audience segments. The newer sets for kids have become more complex and involved, while the adult sets have adopted a more cartoonish and whimsical aesthetic. This shift aligns perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly ethos, resulting in LEGO sets that appeal to a wide range of ages.
### Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario
6$49.99 at TargetSet: #71439Age Range: 6+Piece Count: 218Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 4 inches wide, 3 inches deepPrice: $49.99The LEGO Super Mario playsets offer an interactive experience where you can build your own Mario courses. Using an LED Mario figurine, you can scan barcodes on enemies and obstacles to trigger audio feedback, including classic Mario sounds and music. The coins you collect are tracked in an app that syncs with Mario, recording your progress.
This starter set includes the essential Mario LED figure, which is required for all other expansion sets to function. It also comes with a starting pipe, a Yoshi figure, a flagpole, and a Bowser, Jr. figure riding in a Junior Clown Car.
### Mario Kart – Standard Kart
3$19.99 at AmazonSet: #72032Age Range: 7+Piece Count: 174Dimensions: 1.5 inches high, 5.5 inches long, 3 inches widePrice: $19.99The 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. Priced at just $19.99, it's a fantastic budget-friendly LEGO set for Mario Kart enthusiasts.
### The Bowser Express Train
1See it at AmazonSet: #71437Age Range: 9+Piece Count: 1392Dimensions: 8.5 inches high, 26.5 inches long, 4.5 inches widePrice: $119.99The Bowser Express Train is a vibrant and quirky 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. This set is perfect for fans looking for a unique and colorful addition to their collection.
### LEGO Piranha Plant
10$59.99 save 20%$47.95 at AmazonSet: #71426Age Range: 18+Piece Count: 540Dimensions: 9 inches high, 4.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches deepPrice: $59.99The LEGO Piranha Plant set exceeded expectations upon its launch. It combines charm and quality in a way that makes it seem like a steal at its price point. Highly recommended for those looking for a delightful and reasonably priced build.
### LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone LEGO Set
3$69.99 at AmazonSet: #21331Age Range: 18+Piece Count: 1125Dimensions: 7 inches high, 14 inches wide and 2.5 inches deepPrice: $79.99While not strictly a Nintendo franchise, Sonic's inclusion is justified due to its collaboration with Nintendo. The Green Hill Zone set captures the essence of Sonic's world with a loop and a confident Sonic minifigure. Ideal for adult beginners, it's a great introduction to LEGO building with more Sonic sets available for further exploration.
### LEGO Animal Crossing Nook’s Cranny & Rosie's House
3$74.99 save 20%$59.95 at AmazonSet: #77050Age Range: 7+Piece Count: 535Dimensions: 6 inches high, 15 inches wide, 5.5 inches deepPrice: $74.99Nintendo's expansion into Animal Crossing LEGO sets includes this set featuring Tom Nook's shop and Rosie's cottage. Released in March 2024, it's the largest set available at launch and offers fans a chance to build their own Animal Crossing village.
### Fly With Dodo Airlines
1$37.99 See it at AmazonSet: #77051Age Range: 7+Piece Count: 292Dimensions: 5 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, 3.5 inches deepPrice: $37.99Another iconic Animal Crossing location, Dodo Airlines, comes to life with this set featuring a seaplane, a dock/jetty, and minifigures of Wilbur and Tangy, enabling various roleplay scenarios.
### LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi
55Set #71438, includes 1,215 pieces.$129.99 at AmazonSet: #71438Age Range: 18+Piece Count: 1215Dimensions: 15.5 inches high, 10 inches wide, 4 inches deepPrice: $129.99This nostalgic set features a moving Mario & Yoshi model operated by a crank, which activates 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 striking display piece.
### 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 StoreSet: #77092Age Range: 18+Piece Count: 2500Dimensions: 13 inches tallPrice: $299.99This versatile 2-in-1 set allows builders to choose between the Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild version of the Great Deku Tree. It includes three versions of Link, Princess Zelda, and accessories like the Master Sword and a Hylian Shield, making it a fun but pricey build.
### LEGO Super Mario The Mighty Bowser
51See it at AmazonSet: #71411Age Range: 18+Piece Count: 2807Dimensions: 12.5 inches high, 16 inches wide, 11 inches deepPrice: $269.99The Mighty Bowser set stands out as one of the best LEGO sets ever designed, featuring a large, cartoonish, yet adorable build of Mario's ultimate adversary. Its imposing size and spring-loaded fire-breathing mechanism add to its appeal.
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.
The Mighty Bowser set, while technically an expansion, is marketed as a standalone set, indicating a new approach for LEGO Nintendo in 2024 and beyond. This approach emphasizes a design ethos that does not strictly delineate between children's and adults' sets.
The initial Super Mario playsets were overly simplistic and focused more on play than on the joy of building. However, LEGO has since shifted towards creating sets that are more substantial and detail-oriented, aligning with their core strengths. This focus on the building experience, whether for kids or adults, is where the true joy lies.
For those interested in LEGO's history and evolution, the Netflix documentary series "The Toys That Made Us" offers an insightful look. It highlights LEGO's repeated attempts to expand beyond its core product, only to return to what fans love most: the bricks themselves.
The future of LEGO Nintendo looks promising as they continue to create sets that celebrate the building process and cater to a broad audience. 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.