Buckle up, because I think the new Lego Smart Play is about to change everything

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It's being called one of "the most significant evolutions" for the toy since minifigures were introduced in 1978

Lego Smart Play sets being played with by children in a home environment
(Image credit: Lego)

Lego Smart Play just changed the game – literally.

Announced at CES 2026, this design injects new life into the best Lego sets with interactive technology that lets them react to what you're doing. Rather than just being played with, models powered by Lego Smart Play can now play back.

Lego Smart Play will first be available in a trio of Star Wars sets: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing (which also includes Leia, R2-D2, a Stormtrooper, and a Rebel), Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter, and the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing kit. The latter recreates the final battle between Vader and Luke before the Emperor, with handles that let the two minifigs 'fight' using their lightsabers – all to context-sensitive sound effects.

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Lego Smart Play sets being played with by children in a home environment
(Image credit: Lego)

These three sets will become available on March 1, 2026.

Suffice to say, this is a huge change – Lego is calling it one of the most significant evolutions since the minifigure was added in 1978. Senior VP & head of Lego's Creative Play Lab, Tom Donaldson, seems to agree, saying that the invention "brings creativity, technology, and storytelling together to make building worlds and stories even more engaging, and all without a screen. We truly believe we are setting a new standard for interactive, imaginative experiences and can’t wait to see this innovation in the hands of kids when we launch this year."

While I think it'll be appreciated most by those kids, there's a lot of rope here. How about movie-inspired sets like Rivendell, where the Fellowship spit out context-sensitive quotes based on who/what they're with? You could spend a long time dreaming up applications for Smart Play.

It feels like the logical next step from those interactive Super Mario models, anyway – but in my mind, it goes one better by cramming all that technical wizardry into standard minifigures.

For more toy-related fun, why not check out the best toys, the best Star Wars toys, or the best Nerf blasters?

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Benjamin Abbott
Benjamin Abbott
Tabletop & Merch Editor

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and now manage GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage. You'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news.

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