The best Lego sets in 2022 – must-have kits from Star Wars to Marvel

Seeing as there are hundreds of kits on offer these days, finding the best Lego sets is no easy task. In fact, it’s like looking for a minifigure in a haystack; when your options span Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, Disney, and beyond, there’s no shortage of choice. That’s why we’ve rounded up some suggestions here.

To give you a helping hand, our team of master builders have listed their favorites below. In our humble opinion, these are the best Lego sets available right now. And because more are being added all the time, it’s also the perfect place to find a gift for yourself or someone else.

Speaking of which, you can rely on our bargain-hunting software to uncover the lowest prices as well. It’s always on the lookout for discounts, and the cheapest price for the best Lego sets will always be displayed below.

Best Lego sets – top 3

1. Central Perk

Even though the beloved sitcom came to an end two decades ago, it still has a place in our hearts. That’s what makes this kit so special. Designed by the community and then turned into a real product by Lego, it recreates the show’s Central Perk cafe set with plenty of references (it even has the lighting rigs that would have been present on-stage). As you’d expect, it’s crammed with iconic features; alongside minifigs for Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe, there’s also an open mic area to go with the gang’s trusty sofa and numerous props from storylines on the show. What we’re left with is one of the best Lego sets out there, and it’s a perfect gift for fans.

2. The Upside Down

As one of the most popular shows of the last few years, it’s no surprise to see Stranger Things get a Lego kit. However, that’s where it stops being predictable. Whoever designed this set really understood the assignment; it of course includes the most iconic elements of season one, but it also leverages the Upside Down for a clever, double-sided build with trees that act as a stand. It’s a slice of brick-based genius and worthy of inclusion on any list of the best Lego sets. Plus, the inclusion of the entire team in minifig form (not to mention Joy, Hopper, and the Demogorgon) make it a perfect ode to the Netflix franchise.

3. Ultimate Millennium Falcon

It may have a wince-inducing price, but there’s good reason for this being one of the most sought-after Lego kits ever made; it’s absurdly detailed thanks to a design featuring more than 7,500 bricks. Depicting everyone’s favorite freighter from the original Star Wars trilogy and the sequels, it boasts removable panels that allow you to peer inside a ship that made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, a cockpit that can carry four figures, and seven minifigs inspired by the craft’s long history. This is the ultimate Millennium Falcon, and no guide to the best Lego sets would be complete without it.

Best Lego sets – Star Wars

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking the Millennium Falcon for a spin, Lego Star Wars sets will hit the spot. Some of the best Lego sets depict a galaxy far, far away, and we’ve listed our favorites – along with the most tempting prices for them – below.

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1. Millennium Falcon

The best Star Wars Lego set overall

Specifications

Item number: 75257Pieces: 1,353Minifigures: 5Ages: 9+

Reasons to buy

+Faithful recreation+Hidden details+Reasonable price

Reasons to avoid

-Not as good as the Ultimate version

As all Star Wars fans will attest, being a collector can be punishing on the bank balance. Star Wars Lego is no exception; many sets are eye-wateringly expensive. That’s what makes this version of the Millennium Falcon so eye-catching. You’re getting the galaxy’s greatest hunk o’ junk at a reasonable price, but it doesn’t come at the cost of authenticity.

Based on the ship’s appearance in The Rise of Skywalker, it’s not short on details; lift the lid and you’ll find individual rooms, trusty smuggling compartments, and a mini-fig crew including a dashingly middle-aged Lando. You can even fit a couple of them in the cockpit.

Yes, the Ultimate Collector Series edition (opens in new tab) may be more feature-rich. But this one’s no slouch either. It’s a loving recreation that’d take pride of place on any shelf and is one of the best Lego sets out there right now.

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2. The Razor Crest Microfighter

The best cheap Lego Star Wars set

Specifications

Item number: 75321Pieces: 98Minifigures: 1Ages: 6+

Reasons to buy

+Very affordable+Cool minifig+Easy to build

Reasons to avoid

-No Baby Yoda

There’s no denying The Mandalorian’s popularity these days, so this aggressively affordable kit is perfect as a last-minute present or desk ornament. At just 3.5 inches long, it won’t take up much room and doesn’t require an entire evening to build either.

Besides being straightforward enough for everyone to construct without blowing a gasket (be they kids or time-starved adults), this pack features a cool minifig of Mando himself. Although Baby Yoda isn’t included, the addition of a teeny jetpack makes it awesome enough to compensate for a distinct lack of Grogu. Oh, and his ship even fires little Lego discs. Yup, it’s awesome.

As a result, this kit more than earns its place on our list of the best Lego sets – it’s the ideal budget option for Star Wars fans.

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3. Ultimate Collector Millennium Falcon

The best premium Star Wars Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 75192Pieces: 7,541Minifigures: 11Ages: 16+

Reasons to buy

+Ridiculous level of detail+Perfect recreation+Minifigs from two eras

Reasons to avoid

-Much more expensive than the standard version

OK, so we appreciate that we’ve included a version of the Millennium Falcon already. But this one really does rank amongst the best Lego sets ever made. Yes, it’s expensive. But oh my, does it justify the cost.

The level of detail here is utterly ridiculous. Thanks to an impressive 7,500 bricks (which makes it a contender for biggest overall Lego set), it has more realistic dimensions than the cheaper equivalent. That includes a realistic exterior mimicking the ship’s cobbled-together nature, individual rooms, a gunner’s station, the iconic cockpit, and even that holographic Dejarik game Chewie hates to lose at.

You’re getting minifigs from both the original trilogy and the sequels, too – there are 11 in total. Han Solo and Chewbacca are obviously front and center, but Princess Leia, C-3PO, Rey, Finn, and Han as he appeared in The Force Awakens are also included. It’s weird that Lando is nowhere to be seen, but at least the swappable radar dish allows the kit to represent either time-period.

Best Lego sets – Harry Potter

Harry’s world of witchcraft and wizardry is perfect for the brick treatment – Hogwarts alone is full of hidden secrets that result in some of the best Lego sets. They capture the childlike wonder of the series with ease, so we’ve listed a few of our favorites right here.

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1. Hogwarts Express

The best Harry Potter Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 75955Pieces: 801Minifigures: 5Ages: 8+

Reasons to buy

+Iconic setting+Relatively affordable+Plenty of Easter eggs

Reasons to avoid

-Slightly more complex to build

Beyond the castle itself, few things say ‘Harry Potter’ more than the Hogwarts Express. This miniature version of the train is stuffed with nods to the series (The Prisoner of Azkaban in particular), and it’s right up there as one of the best Lego sets as a result. Seriously, the nostalgia will make fans giddy.

Besides the iconic steam engine itself, one of the coolest things about this kit is its take on Platform 9¾. Much like the films, this includes a magic wall your minifigures can ‘run’ through to reach the train. It’s a totally unnecessary but much-appreciated touch.

Because the kit also features Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go with a Dementor they can battle, you won’t feel short-changed if this is the only Potter Lego set you buy. Even Professor Lupin and the Trolley Witch make an appearance in mini-fig form. Anything from the trolley, dears?

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2. Hogwarts Moment: Charms Class

The best cheap Harry Potter Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 76385Pieces: 256Minifigures: 3Ages: 8+

Reasons to buy

+Inexpensive+Unusual ‘book’ design+Won’t take up loads of space

Reasons to avoid

-No Hermione for “Wingardium Leviosaaaah” moments

The best Lego sets can cost a pretty penny, especially where Harry Potter’s concerned. That’s what makes this particular kit so appealing – it’s incredibly cheap yet still captures the magic (no pun intended) of the franchise.

Portraying the boy wizard’s Charms classroom, it comes with Harry himself, one-time love interest Cho Chang, and Professor Flitwick (before he had a makeover in the third film, that is). It’s a shame Hermione and Ron aren’t featured for impromptu “Leviosaaaah” moments, sure, but at least Mr Potter is here for the ride.

In a cool twist, the set actually folds up into a book featuring the Hogwarts crest as well. This is a neat party trick that proves useful if storage space is an issue.

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3. Hogwarts Castle

The best premium Harry Potter Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 71043Pieces: 6,020Minifigures: 4Ages: 16+

Reasons to buy

+Perfect recreation of the castle+Straight up iconic+Loads of hidden details

Reasons to avoid

-Hard to find at a reasonable price

Despite being gut-wrenchingly expensive, there’s no denying how cool this kit is. It recreates Hogwarts Castle in full, right down to the little row-boats that newcomers ride during their first visit to the school. Tiny versions of the Whomping Willow and Hagrid’s hut make an appearance, too.

Staffed by 27 micro-figures and riddled with Easter eggs (ranging from iconic spaces like the Great Hall to the Chamber of Secrets), it’s a treasure-trove of throwbacks. In addition, most films in the series have some sort of presence here; whether it’s puzzle rooms guarding the Philosopher’s Stone or Professor Umbridge’s very pink office, your favorite’s almost certainly going to be featured somewhere.

Building the thing is an impressive feat as well. There are more than 6,000 pieces to this mammoth kit, and that makes it a contender for the title of ‘best Lego sets’ in terms of scale alone – it’s a monster.

Best Lego sets – Super Mario

This Nintendo crossover is just as joyful as you’d expect from the company that made Mario. In fact, the best Lego Super Mario sets feature customisable courses and interactive figures you can run through them. We’ve listed our top picks from the range here.

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1. Super Mario starter set

The best Super Mario Lego set overall

Specifications

Item number: 71360Pieces: 231Minifigures: 3Ages: 6+

Reasons to buy

+Everything you need in one box+Only set to feature Mario+Can be mixed and matched with other kits

Reasons to avoid

-Turned off Mario is creepy

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this starter set is the one we’d recommend picking up if you’re new to the Lego Mario range. Besides being a great introduction to the idea, it’s the only pack to feature Mario himself.

In addition, it’s got everything you need for a self-contained adventure. Along with iconic staples like warp pipes and end-of-level flag poles, there are obstacles to overcome (including Bowser Jr.) that can be arranged in any order. You can actually construct the course in any way you like, so no two builds have to be the same either.

It’s possible to mix and match with other sets as well. Want to create the ultimate level? Throw in one of the add-on packs. No matter what you use, the interactive Mario figure will react accordingly. He’ll even respond to Lego Luigi if you bring the two models together, so this is the best place to start your collection.

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2. Character packs

The best cheap Super Mario Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 71402Pieces: 29Minifigures: 1Ages: 6+

Reasons to buy

+Really darn cute+Great display stands+Lots to choose from

Reasons to avoid

-Older lines are hard to find

As well as being the cheapest Lego Mario sets, these blister packs are also some of the coolest in the entire range. Although you never know what you’re going to get, they’re inexpensive and often cute pieces of Nintendo history that can be added to your existing course… or put on your desk as a tabletop companion.

There are four lines now available (giving us around 40 figures in total), and each model boasts an Action Tag to go with a display stand that allows you to show them off on their own. These are surprisingly detailed mini-dioramas that can be attached to an existing set or simply left by themselves as a self-contained little scene.

What’s more, Lego seems to be adding new lines every few months. That means there’s always a new figure to chase, and your favorite from Mario games of yesteryear might be next to get immortalised as a minifig.

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3. Nintendo Entertainment System

The best premium Super Mario Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 71374Pieces: 2,646Figures: N/AAges: 18+

Reasons to buy

+Phenomenal recreation+Side-scrolling TV+Oodles of nostalgia

Reasons to avoid

-Interactive Mario figure sold separately

Although it’s an expensive purchase, the Lego NES is definitely worth the investment if you’re an old-school Nintendo fan. Besides offering a blocky slice of retro bliss, it’s a display piece that you can actually play with in a very literal sense. 

That’s because the ‘CRT TV’ has a side-scrolling screen with the first Super Mario Bros. level, complete with an 8-bit Mario sprite to navigate it. Add an interactive Mario figure from the starter set and that iconic theme tune will start playing too (it’ll give you chills). In fact, the figure will respond to obstacles and power-ups when you encounter them. It’s a very cool addition.

Even without that neat touch, this is still one of the best Lego sets anyway because of the bricky NES itself. This model is a perfect recreation of the 1980s machine, right down to a life-size controller. There’s even a cartridge tray you can open alongside a faux-Super Mario Bros. cartridge for good measure.

Best Lego sets – Marvel

Marvel is one of the biggest franchises in the world right now thanks to the Avengers and Spider-Man, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s got some of the best Lego sets as well. Ranging from movie adaptations to kits based on comics and cartoons, there’s something to suit everyone.

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1. Iron Man Hall of Armor

The best Marvel Lego set overall

Specifications

Item number: 76125Pieces: 524Minifigures: 6Ages: 7+

Reasons to buy

+Lots of Iron Man suits+Very cool MCU throwback+Loads of extras

Reasons to avoid

-Missing some of the coolest armor

Tony Stark kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, and he’s been the closest thing to a franchise mascot the series has had. That’s why this is one of the best Lego sets for lovers of Marvel; it brings together a truly memorable location with some of the most iconic Iron Man suits we’ve seen over the past decade.

More specifically, you’re getting the original MK 1 armor Tony used to escape his captors in the first film, the briefcase MK 5 suit from Iron Man 2, a Hulkbuster-style Igor from Iron Man 3, and the nanotech MK 50 from Infinity War. The comics’ black and gold MK 41 is also included for good measure.

Throw in some Outriders (those monstrous henchmen of Thanos) to go with an assembly area and you’re left with a very cool ode to the MCU – it’s a perfect snapshot of the Marvel Universe during the Infinity Saga.

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2. Black Panther Dragon Flyer

The best cheap Marvel Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 76186Pieces: 202Minifigures: 3Ages: 8+

Reasons to buy

+T’Challa and Shuri+Awesome Wakandan ship+Affordable

Reasons to avoid

-No Okoye

Want an MCU memento that won’t break the bank? This Black Panther kit hits a homerun thanks to being damn cool but very reasonably priced.

Naturally, T’Challa is front and center. Bedecked in the kinetic suit from his solo film and laced with purple energy, it’s a great minifig that – much like the fantastic Shuri model – captures the character perfectly. However, the Dragon Flyer is the real star of the show. It’s got an adjustable cockpit for vertical ‘hovering’, and that elevates it beyond other Lego vehicles in this price range.

It’s true that there are cheaper Marvel Lego sets on shelves, but this still earns our vote thanks to the amount of ‘awesome’ you’re getting for your money.

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3. Daily Bugle

The best premium Marvel Lego set

Specifications

Item number: 76178Pieces: 3,772Minifigures: 25Ages: 18+

Reasons to buy

+Crammed with references+Loads of characters+Exclusive mini-figs

Reasons to avoid

-Lego Store exclusive

Few institutions in Marvel are more iconic than the Daily Bugle. The home of New York City’s favorite fictional publication and a certain Spidey-hating J. Jonah Jameson, it’s been gracing Marvel comics since the 1960s. This kit makes the most of that history. 

An enormous 32-inch tall building with more than 3,000 pieces to its name, the mammoth project is crammed with nods to all eras of webhead history – ads for JJJ’s recent ‘Just the Facts’ show to the infamous Spider Buggy. Even the Scarlet Spider makes an appearance.

Featuring a wealth of Spider-Man minifigures as well (25, to be precise), this is hands-down one of the best Lego sets for fans of Marvel’s webhead. Besides Peter Parker and his superhero alter-ego, you’re getting most of the Bugle staff, Spider-Verse allies like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen, foes including Venom, and supporting players such as Aunt May. Throw in the ability to have Spidey dangling from the side of it while battling Green Goblin (who’s just burst out of the building in a shower of glass) and you’ve got the ultimate Spider-Man collectable.

Best Lego sets – FAQ

best Lego sets

(Image credit: LEGO)

It’s entirely possible that something simple like the Classics Bricks and Animals pack beats the competition

However, it’s not all about pop-culture. Recreations of world monuments are always popular too, and vehicles (including those in the Technic range) have an enormous following. In fact, cars and ships make up more than a dozen entries on the bestsellers list we mentioned above.

It’s entirely possible that something simple like the Classics Bricks and Animals (opens in new tab) pack beats the competition, though. This tried-and-tested option offers a wealth of building materials for your own designs, so it’s perfect no matter whether the customer is a child or master builder. 


Want some gift ideas? Be sure to drop in on these must-have gifts for gamers. Don’t forget to check in with the best Harry Potter merchandise or Star Wars gifts, either!

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