According to LEGO’s 2015 Annual Report, LEGO Minecraft has been doing exceptionally well. In fact, two LEGO Minecraft sets made it to the Top 10 List in Consumer Sales; the #21113 LEGO Minecraft The Cave, and the #21116 LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box. This is very interesting because amongst adult LEGO fans you don’t hear much talk about the LEGO Minecraft sets, however they are obviously very popular with kids. 🙂
In the first wave of LEGO Minecraft sets back in 2014 we got six sets, then four more were added in 2015. For 2016 LEGO just released four sets, and more will be coming later this year. Having such a large collection also indicates that the theme is doing very well. Also, it appears that LEGO designers are getting themselves more familiar with the game, and thus the sets, characters and play-features are more in line with what Minecraft fans would want.
Even if you don’t play Minecraft, the sets are worth taking a look at because they mostly contain basic LEGO elements in really nice earth-tone colors. Also, this year’s sets include some very clever play-features that you wouldn’t expect form such blocky designs. From this perspective the 2016 sets are best, and they definitely offer some interesting building techniques to learn from. In addition, each sets encourages free-building with alternate models and inspirations. So they really have a lot to offer for LEGO fans. Below we will discuss the four new sets in a bit more detail.
➡ #21123 LEGO MINECRAFT THE IRON GOLEM: While this is a smaller set, it has a very clever play-feature for creating the Iron Golem (see video below on how it works). The Iron Golem itself looks great with the printed details, although one of the printed tiles tend to come off. Unfortunately the ball-joint pieces don’t come in white, so LEGO added them in light and dark gray – not terrible, but white would definitely have been better. Even with those minor faults, this is a nice set overall for Minecraft fans. Here is the official description: Spring a surprise attack with The Iron Golem! The sun is heading for the horizon and hostile mobs will soon be roaming the Minecraft landscape. You’ll need to protect yourself and your baby pig! Mine the iron ore with your diamond pickaxe, smelt iron ingots in the furnace and craft iron blocks using the crafting table. Then use the pumpkin head to create the iron golem, and spring a surprise attack on the zombie! Includes 2 minifigures: Alex and a zombie, plus an iron golem and a baby pig. 208 pieces. Price: $19.99 – BUY HERE
➡ #21124 LEGO MINECRAFT THE END PORTAL: I would say that this is one of the best LEGO Minecraft sets – the way the portal operates is done brilliantly, with a simple yet effective mechanism (see video below on how it works). All other features of the set are well done, and can be configured in several different ways – and that’s before the included alternate models! Here is the official description: Venture into the stronghold and activate the End portal! The eyes of ender have led you across a snowy mountainous landscape to a secret stronghold. Don your diamond armor, grab your diamond sword and proceed with caution! Search for bookshelves in the cobwebbed, torchlit library. Battle the scary cave spider and seize the chest containing diamonds, redstone and an iron ingot. Then defeat the endermen to retrieve the eyes of ender and activate the End portal! Includes a Steve minifigure, plus 2 endermen and a cave spider. 559 pieces. Price: $59.99 – BUY HERE
➡ #21125 LEGO MINECRAFT THE JUNGLE TREE HOUSE: This is another really well done set, and it also looks great with those brown, nougat, green and blue pieces. As far as play-features, the waterfall elevator is very fun. There is also a trap-door to drop intruders into a flaming lava-pool, and exploding steps. Of course this set also comes with inspirations for rebuilding. And you get a very cute and brand new ocelot. Here is the official description: Build and defend The Jungle Tree House! You’ve built an awesome tree house with Alex, where you can farm sheep, harvest cocoa pods and wheat, and craft cookies. But hostile mobs are gathering in the dense forest surrounding your new jungle home. Join forces with Alex and your tamed ocelot to defeat the intruders! Activate the secret trapdoor to surprise the roaming skeleton. Lure the exploding Creeper onto the floor trap and make a quick exit down the cool waterfall. Enjoy action-packed Minecraft adventures! Includes 2 minifigures: Steve and Alex, plus a Creeper, skeleton, ocelot and a sheep. 706 pieces. Price: $69.99 – BUY HERE
➡ #21126 LEGO MINECRAFT THE WITHER: The skeletons are probably the best feature of this set. They come with new leg designs with very useful clip-on pieces. The wither heads look useful too. The rest of the set is quite plain, and for $40 you can get much better LEGO Minecraft sets. However if you need dark-red and orange pieces, this set is a good source for both. Here is the official description: Prepare to battle the wither! You’ve discovered a fortress defended by the fearsome, 3-headed wither and 2 wither skeletons, deep within the Nether. The forbidding structure holds vital supplies, such as nether wart and mushrooms. Use your Minecraft know-how to build a TNT cannon. Then don your iron armor and helmet, grab your bow and launch a surprise attack! Fire the powerful cannon and bring the fortress walls crashing down! Then muster all your strength, reload and fight to survive! Includes a Steve minifigure, plus a wither and 2 wither skeletons. 318 pieces. Price: $39.99 – BUY HERE
All in all I would say that three of the four new sets are excellent and worth getting for LEGO Minecraft fans. The #21125 LEGO Minecraft The Jungle Tree House looks particularly impressive, and the play-features of the #21124 LEGO Minecraft The End Portal are very well done. While the #21123 LEGO Minecraft The Iron Golem is small, it comes with nice pieces, and a clever play feature, plus the Iron Golem, which – despite its faults – still looks great. You can find all of the new LEGO Minecraft sets – along with previous releases – under the LEGO Minecraft section of the Online LEGO Shop.
So what do you think? How do you like the new LEGO Minecraft sets? Are you planning to pick up any of them? Or do you have them already? Which is your favorite LEGO Minecraft set so far? Feel free to share your thoughts and review in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
