8 Best Lego Sets for Adults

When it comes to killing time, there are few activities better than building a Lego set. We all have fond memories of sitting on the floor on Christmas morning putting the pieces together on our latest addition and there’s no reason why we can’t recapture that innocence.

In the years since the pandemic lockdowns forced us to find new and interesting ways to keep ourselves entertained, puzzles and games have emerged as major mood-boosters, proving the past times aren’t just for kids. It’s something Lego, the world’s largest and most profitable toymaker has known for quite some time. The brand has literally hundreds of Lego sets for adults, ranging from simple to construct designs for the part-timer builder, all the way through to the super-complex, life-sized replicas of cars, people and pop-culture icons.

Let’s face it, Lego has been killing the toy game for almost 90 years and the Danish giant isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. There is no reason you should either.

Best Lego Sets for Adults

So, you already know why buying an adult Lego set is an awesome thing to do – but how do you go about choosing the best Lego set for you? Well, the good news is; you don’t have to. We’ve gone ahead and done the heavy lifting for you by putting our top picks in order.

Here is a list of the 8 best Lego sets for adults.

The Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 #77092

• Pieces: 2,500
• Price: AUD$449.99

This isn’t something we thought we’d see in our lifetimes, but Nintendo seems to have finally realised the cultural cache its franchises hold and is milking them for what they’re worth. While Super Mario is undoubtedly Nintendo’s most important asset, The Legend of Zelda is right up there, especially following the huge success seen with the Switch’s Breath of the Wild.

However, there are Zelda purists out there that miss the way the games used to be. The Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 set looks to bridge that gap, offering fans a choice between a BotW-style Deku Tree, or one inspired by the Nintendo 64’s revolutionary Ocarina of Time entry. Both look amazing, in all honesty, though the little Lego Skulltula is a fantastic touch in the OoT version.

Honestly, it just makes us want more. Do we want Ganon’s Castle or Temple of Time next?

The Lord of the Rings Rivendell #10316

• Pieces: 6,167
• Price: AUD$799.99

At over 6,000 blocks, the Rivendell set is the biggest project on the list. In saying that, it represents one of the most memorable moments in the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, the moment the Fellowship is formed, and the heroes set out on their true journey to destroy the One Ring.

It includes 15 minifigures, including Frodo, Sam, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, Bilbo, and more, as well as a number of important moments from the film.

It’s an authentic recreation of Rivendell as it appeared on screen, and would absolutely take you longer to build than it would to rewatch the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy, maybe even if you added in the Hobbit movies and Rings of Power? That sounds like a challenge, actually.

Land Rover Defender 90 #10317

• Pieces: 2,336
• Price: AU$369.99

You might not be able to afford the real thing, but a Land Rover Defender the fraction of the size is thankfully a fraction of the cost. And best of all, you get to build it yourself! This amalgamated recreation of one of Land Rover’s most iconic vehicle series comes with fully-functioning steering, working suspension, and all of the adventure-ready kit you’d expect: from fire extinguishers, to a working winch.

It’s one of the more impressive designs to come out of Lego, really, given that you could realistically winch another toy of the sandpit using this little guy. The Defender has been launched, retired and relaunched about as much as the real thing, making it a more faithful reproduction that Lego probably intended.

Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night #21333

• Pieces: 2,316
• Price: AUD$259.99

While not a substitute for the real thing, this brick-based interpretation of Vincent van Gogh’s essential artwork The Starry Night can double up as a hangable piece of art. Plus, the real thing is kept safe in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, so getting it for your home would be a bit tricky.

This set, which includes a tiny van Gogh minifigure, uses some custom bricks to recreate the swirling patterns found in the original artwork, while also adding a level of literal depth to the painting. If you’ve always wanted to have a famous artwork in your own home, this is not a bad backup.

X-Men: The Mansion #76294

• Pieces: 3,093
• Price: AU$499.99

If you don’t have the X-Men Animated Series’ theme tune running through your head right now, I don’t know what to tell you, but you’re doing it wrong. Professor X’s Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, also known as the X-Mansion, is a faithful reproduction of the school-turned-homebase of the mutant superheroes known as the X-Men.

The set looks awesome, and features 10 mini-figures based on the main cast of the show, bringing together Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Jean Grey, Gambit, Iceman, Bishop, and Magneto, as well as a far larger Sentinel. No Jubilee, but we’ll take what we can get.

The school isn’t just a facade, either, but can be opened up and explored. It’s essentially a diorama of the animated series’ school, which is really cool. If you grew up on this show as we did, this is probably high on your list.

McLaren P1 #42172

• Pieces: 3,893
• Price: $699.99

According to Lego this is the most ‘advanced Lego Technic Ultimate set yet’, and I can see why. This is literally a 1:8 model of a McLaren P1: you build the engine from the scratch, and can operate the car’s famous dihedral ‘butterfly’ doors. It’s an incredibly faithful reproduction, which makes sense, considering McLaren have given it the seal of approval.

The details don’t stop though. The model has a wind-up rear spoiler, working suspension, and working steering, as well as its own serial number, which is like a VIN number for toys, and unlocks exclusive online content for buyers. If you can’t afford the real thing, you can live out your dreams of driving one of the world’s most beautiful cars: just, do it on your dining table instead.

Star Wars: Millennium Falcon #75192

• Pieces: 7541
• Price: AU$1,299.99

Somehow, the original Star Wars brought us several incredibly iconic starship designs, from the X-Wing and the T-Fighter, to the Imperial Star Destroyer and Death Star. But it’s the Millennium Falcon that is perhaps best remembered, with the rag tag group of renegades using it as a mobile base of operations to weaken the grip of the Galactic Emperor. And, now it can sit on your coffee table!

This is one of the bigger Star Wars models that Lego makes, but for good reason. It’s the ship that has tied the Star Wars saga together, and it makes sense that this recreation does too: delivering character mini-figurines from the original trilogy, as well as the newer movies, where the famous ship made it’s return.

And, with over 7,000 pieces, it’s likely to take up a fair bit of time to pull together, so make sure you take a few days off work and maybe put on the extended cut of the movies on in the background.

Batman: The Classic TV Series’ Batmobile #76328

• Pieces: 1,822
• Price: AU$249.99

Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed! You can keep any of the 21st-century incarnations; this is what a real Batmobile looks like. The hallowed ride of the incomparable Adam West and Burt Ward, the Caped Crusader’s wheels from the 1960s Batman TV show have never been bettered. Only Michael Keaton’s ‘89 Batmobile comes close.

Thankfully, LEGO brought this iconic vehicle to life with a 1,822-piece set featuring a moulded windshield, rotatable wheels, authentic decorations, and an opening trunk containing the Bat-Computer. Sadly there’s no Shark-Repellent Bat Spray, but then again that’s in the Bat-Copter, hopefully coming soon. The set also comes with a 1966-style Batman minifigure as well as a plaque outlining key stats. Who knew this customised Lincoln Futura had a top speed of 350 mph? I hope Alfred’s kept the Bat Brakes in working order.

What to Look For in an Adult Lego Set

The biggest thing to look for when buying an adult Lego set is something that will keep your attention. Most Lego sets for adults will be surprisingly more challenging than you might remember from those Christmas mornings. Look for a big Lego set that will take you some time to complete and one that focuses on a theme you are interested in.

Whether you want to go for the nostalgia hit and build something 8-year-old you would think was awesome, or you want to try your hand at putting together Dom’s Charger from Fast and the Furious, thinking about your interests will make your decision a little easier.

Why Choose a Lego Set For Adults

For the past few years, Lego has really honed in on the adult market. Sure, it makes sense from a business perspective; a brand that matures with its consumers will always perform better than those that cater to strictly youth audiences, but there are other advantages to hitting the adult Lego sets hard; mindfulness. We are constantly surrounded by technology, stress and anxiety, which for many of us, can make it difficult to unwind. Adult Lego sets give you the opportunity to step back and remove yourself from the general day-to-day drama and focus on one thing, however menial it may seem. But more than just that, Lego gives you the permission to take time out.

The best part about adult Lego sets is that they are, quite obviously, for adults. Many of the kits are pop-culture-themed or focus on a key character from your favourite movie. Lego sets for adults are doorways to fulfilling passions you may have forgotten or simply just lost to the sands of time. There is literally a cool Lego set for everyone, regardless of age, creed or interest.