The best Lego sets in 2023 - must-have kits from Star Wars to Marvel

Tracking down the best Lego sets is like hunting for minifigures in a haystack of plastic bricks. With literally hundreds of kits on offer at any one time, narrowing things down to the most essential buys is no easy task. That's why we've saved you the bother and done it ourselves.

To help you track down must-have kits, our master builders have listed their favorites below. In our humble opinion, these are the best Lego sets available right now across any and all themes - be it Star Wars, Technic, or something else entirely. And because we're always adding more entries to this lineup, 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 constantly on the lookout for discounts, and the cheapest price for the best Lego sets will always be displayed below.

Wondering how we decide on the kits that are included in this guide? We'll only ever include products that we - or our colleagues - have been hands-on with. In other words, you can be confident that only the best of the best have made it onto this page.

Best Lego sets overall

The Ghostbusters Cadillac is one of the most iconic cars in the world, and this kit does it justice. Besides recreating the vehicle down to every last detail, it's surprisingly tactile with plenty of tricks up its (metaphorical) sqleeve. Does the steering wheel need to be functional? Absolutely not - but it is anyway. Do those gizmos on the roof have to spin into life when the car rolls along? Nope. That hasn't stopped Lego, though.

This version is based on 2019's Aftermath, so there are plenty of unexpected party tricks as well. Namely, the boot has a ramp you can activate to release a tiny Ghost Trap on wheels. In addition, there's a cleverly-hidden button on the side of the door that makes the swiveling gunner's seat pop out when pressed. It's an absolute delight.

In short, this kit is just as appealing on display as it is when you take it down to show off for guests. That makes it one of the best Lego sets by a country mile.

• Read more: Lego Ghostbusters ECTO-1 review

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 with references to spare. The lighting rigs that would have been present on the live stage are included, for example.

As such, this kit nails it in terms of 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. Props from the show's many seasons are included too. Phoebe's guitar, ready for an impromptu rendition of Smelly Cat? Check. Chandler's laptop for his job as a 'transponster'? You bet. Even Gunther is along for the ride, flanked by his trusty coffee machines.

What we're left with is one of the best Lego sets out there. In other words, it's perfect for fans of any age.

As fans will know, being a Lego collector is punishing on the bank balance. And yes, this kit is eye-wateringly expensive. But oh my, does it justify the cost.

The level of detail here is ridiculous. Thanks to an impressive total of 7,500 bricks (which makes it a contender for biggest overall Lego set), it's much more intricate than the cheaper equivalent based on Rise of Skywalker. That includes a realistic exterior mimicking the ship's cobbled-together nature, individual rooms full of furniture, a gunner's station, and even that holographic Dejarik game Chewie hates to lose at. This isn't just an empty shell.

You're getting minifigures from both the original trilogy and its sequels, too. Actually, there are 11 characters to be found in total. Han Solo and Chewbacca obviously lead the pack, but Princess Leia, C-3PO, Rey, Finn, and Han as he appeared in The Force Awakens are also included (yes, it's weird that Lando is nowhere to be seen). There's a swappable radar dish too, allowing the kit to represent either time-period. In other words? It's amongst the best Lego Star Wars sets, no questions asked.

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.

Y'know when your parents used to say "we don't need [insert cool thing here], we have one at home" and the 'one at home' is rubbish? Lego's Bowsers remind me of that. Yes, there is a much cheaper version of the King Koopa on offer… but in comparison to the new version, it feels like a bootleg knockoff.

Whereas the original Bowser wasn't much bigger than Lego Mario himself (and was similarly blocky), this alternative weighs in at a much more impressive 2,807 pieces. That makes it a whole lot taller and more detailed than its predecessor, leaving us with the most accurate take on the villain yet - right down to a display stand modeled after his iconic castle. 

However, it's not just bigger. This one also has moveable arms, eyes, head, and mouth to go with an ability to shoot 'fireball' rockets from its jaws. That makes it a fun centerpiece and conversation starter as a result. It's sure to enchant any guests who see it, and is comfortably one of the best Lego Super Mario sets.

If there's a Lego set that deserves a hero's welcome with herald's trumpets and pageantry, it's this one. The Lion Knights' Castle is a throwback to classic kits from decades past, and it combines that nostalgia with modern advancements for the ultimate project… no matter whether you're new to Lego or a veteran of countless brick-based builds.

Crammed with hidden nooks and charming details (including a fun Easter egg for the 1978 'Yellow' Castle), this is the sort of project that's just as much fun to look at after it's finished as it is to build. The fact it can be displayed as a sprawling facade - allowing you to peek inside its many rooms and cubby-holes - or as a 'complete' building is another feather in its medieval cap.

Sure, there's no denying that it's expensive. But you're getting a lot of Lego goodness for your money here (including more Minifigures than most sets combined). It is, in a word, magnificent.

Read more: Lego Lion Knights' Castle review

Few institutions in the Marvel universe 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 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 - from ads for JJJ's recent 'Just the Facts' show to the infamous Spider Buggy. Even the Clone Saga's Scarlet Spider makes an appearance.

Because it features 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 the building while battling Green Goblin (who's just burst out of the offices in a shower of glass) and you've got the ultimate Spider-Man collectable.

This has one of the coolest selling points of any Lego set: it can actually transform. Going from butt-kicking robot to souped-up truck with a few twists and turns, Optimus Prime certainly makes an impression.

Sure, the process is clunkier than we'd like. But with a design that's lightning in a bottle for fans of the '80s cartoon and multiple points of articulation which make it easy to pose, there's no arguing with this kit. Multiple accessories allow you to personalize your own robot in disguise as well. You can equip Optimus with an Energon cube, axe, ion gun, jetpack, or Matrix of Leadership - the choice is yours.

With that in mind, it's the ultimate slice of fan-service for anyone who grew up on Transformers. And even if you didn't, it's still worth checking out; there's some clever engineering behind Optimus Prime. In fact, it's one of the more ambitious projects that Lego's put on shelves.

• Read more: Lego Optimus Prime review

The precision, thought, and craftsmanship that's gone into this particular Lego set is absurd. It recreates the car down to the last detail, and when those details include an engine with moving pistons that go faster or slower depending on the gear you're in, the mind boggles.

Lego's dedication to the Sián FKP 37 goes beyond this kit's inner-workings, though. Alongside two coffee table-style books with interviews and behind-the-scenes info to go with your instructions, the figure is actually constructed in two halves before being combined because that's how the real vehicle is made. It's a totally unnecessary touch, but a wonderful inclusion nonetheless.

And speaking of those pieces, they're all contained in boxes sporting a carbon fiber design meant to evoke the back of the car. That means you'll have a smile on your face from the moment you open the box. Yes, this is an expensive model… but you're getting a truly premium experience for your money.

Lego spared no expense with this particular kit, and it shows. Although there have been brick-based versions of the T. rex showdown before, this one strikes a much better balance between cost and scale than they did. It's still very impressive and is crammed with references, but it won't eat up your bank balance in quite the same way.

Although its reliance on stickers will be a downside for some, this set still achieves an incredible amount with the limited real-estate it has. Tiny details like cups of water (ready to shake with each step of approaching dinos) and a CD-ROM player on the jeep's dashboard will instantly fill you with nostalgia for the 1993 movie. Meanwhile, thin jungle pieces hint at shrubbery in the predator's enclosure without overcrowding the background. Oh, and puddle-filled footprints also ensure that the diorama floor isn't a dull bed of studs. It's magnificently designed.

Crucially, it's not hard to build either. That means anyone can enjoy the process regardless of how familiar they are with the best Lego sets; it's not overwhelming or fiddly.

• Read more: Lego Jurassic Park T. rex Breakout review

Best Lego sets - FAQ

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!