Fellow Toy People, with only a few days left until 2024 draws to a close, the Toy People editorial team wants to ask everyone, "What LEGO sets have you purchased this year?" At the same time, we're posing another question we're equally curious about: "What LEGO sets have you *not* bought yet this year?" Because in this roundup of 【Ten Must-Buy LEGO Sets of 2024】, your editor will be presenting the ten best LEGO products in our opinion! We invite all Toy People to discuss with us; perhaps you'll discover some overlooked gems in this article that are actually very much worth collecting.
This time, following our usual practice, we're using "set piece count" as a sorting criterion, starting with LEGO sets that have fewer pieces and are easier to display. This is not only to accommodate the fact that LEGO sets do require a certain amount of space for proper display, but also to prevent this recommendation list from becoming an evaluation focused solely on ultra-large sets, which might not be practical for most Toy People. So, let's begin~!
● LEGO 77049 Isabelle's House VisitPiece Count: 389 pieces total, Price: US$39.99
First up is the 'Isabelle's House Visit' set, released in March, from the *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* theme. This set not only features a house and apple tree that closely match the game's art style, but also includes many adorable in-game elements, such as a gift floating in the air tied to a balloon, a DIY workbench, DIY recipes, ground cracks, fossil printed tiles, and more. The interior layout can also be easily rearranged, just like in the game. Coupled with the truly adorable LEGO minifigures of Isabelle and Fauna, your editor personally believes this is absolutely the top choice among Animal Crossing LEGO sets!
See the full unboxing report:
LEGO 77046~77050 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Five Set Unboxing Report – Super Cute Minifigures & Game-Accurate Printed Elements!
● LEGO 76924 Mercedes-AMG G 63 & Mercedes-AMG SL 63Piece Count: 808 pieces total, Price: US$49.99
We wonder if you often hear car-loving LEGO fans say, "If I can't afford the real car, at least I can buy the LEGO version"? The G 63, an off-road vehicle that blends the rugged spirit of the G-Class with Mercedes-AMG DNA, is certainly a romantic notion. And in this set, the LEGO version of the G 63, with its excellent body proportions, angular lines, and distinctive Panamericana grille, is sure to capture your attention. Moreover, its 18 cm length after assembly has a significant presence without taking up too much space, making it truly stunning when displayed.
Of course, the Mercedes-AMG SL 63, which fully showcases its iconic long hood and short rear, and impresses with its sharp headlights, also delivers an outstanding performance.
For more detailed information:
Three new LEGO Speed Champions sets (76923, 76924, 76925) will be released in June 2024!
● LEGO 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster ParkPart Count: 986 pieces, Price: US$99.99
The third set our editor wants to recommend is from the City series, the Robot World Roller-Coaster Park, which is similar in type to the Creator series "31142 Space Roller Coaster" that we recommended in 2023! This set includes a roller coaster scene with a strong sci-fi style and color scheme, a brick-built mech, arcade machines and screens scaled for LEGO minifigures, and 8 minifigures. The overall elements are incredibly rich, and with the video game joystick-shaped decorations, it exudes a retro vibe reminiscent of an 80s arcade amusement center. Plus, with the potential for modifications to add more chains and power functions, MOC enthusiasts might consider making the roller coaster self-operating, transforming it into a super therapeutic amusement ride.
For more detailed information:
LEGO City Series H2 2024 New Product Lineup Announcement (Part 1) – The incredibly rich Robot World Roller-Coaster Park is a must-buy!
● LEGO 75389 The Dark FalconPart Count: 1579 pieces, Price: US$179.99
The next set we're looking at is absolutely our editor's top Star Wars set recommendation for this year, and it will also make Star Wars fans exclaim, "Darth Jar Jar is indeed no mere rumor!" (laughs) This product, designed based on the special animation "LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy," not only gives the galaxy's fastest and most iconic starship, the "Millennium Falcon," a brand new look, but the model itself also offers excellent playability. Coupled with a powerful minifigure lineup including Jedi Vader and Darth Jar Jar, it definitely possesses the design gravitas to be a 25th-anniversary commemorative product for the LEGO Star Wars series! Although set 75375's Millennium Falcon is also great, The Dark Falcon is truly exceptional.
For more detailed information:
LEGO "LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy" – "75389 The Dark Falcon" and "75393 TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-up" – Darth Jar Jar is indeed real!
● LEGO 42171 Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E PerformancePart Count: 1642 pieces, Price: US$219.99
Toy enthusiasts and LEGO fans who follow F1 racing might already know that your wallets are about to take a big hit next year. If you don't know yet, no worries, let me tell you why now~ Because in March 2025, LEGO will release nearly twenty F1 sets across its Technic, City, LEGO Icons, and Speed Champions series! This wave of LEGO Formula 1 racing fever can be said to have started with the launch of the Mercedes W14 E Performance in March 2024.
This 1/8 scale W14, built with a large number of black Technic parts and measuring 63 cm in length, will definitely make people take a second look when displayed. The futuristic feel brought by the black, green, and red color scheme, the rich sponsor stickers, and the eye-catching top air intake are all incredibly cool. Beyond its appearance, this model also boasts the excellent playability typical of the Technic series, including front-wheel steering driven by a rotating central gear, and an easily removable engine cover to admire the six-cylinder engine with movable pistons. What's even more amazing is that the engine incorporates transparent parts, making it absolutely stunning; although a minor drawback is that the rear wing appears a bit thin when viewed from behind, the overall performance is still quite spectacular.
For a more detailed introduction:
LEGO 42171 Technic Series "Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance" 1/8 Scale Brick-Built Model
● LEGO 31212 The Milky Way GalaxyPart Count: 3091 pieces, Price: US$199.99
If today we can actually present the vast Milky Way galaxy on our desktop, then we must view everything from a different perspective. If you're not ready yet, no worries, the LEGO design team will introduce you with this Milky Way set! Besides the unexpected fact that a single piece represents the entire solar system, everyday objects like telescopes, combs, mugs, ice cream, and bicycle helmets all shine brightly in this "Milky Way," existing in a brand new form. This approach is not only very LEGO but also incredibly romantic.
And while building and studying red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, The Pleiades, The Crab Nebula, and The Pillars of Creation – these nebulae in the universe – you'll naturally become more and more interested in this vast and boundless galaxy. Coupled with its overall flat yet richly layered presentation and wall-mountable display option, I can absolutely guarantee that this set is incredibly fun and beautiful! Displaying it on the wall also saves space.
For a more complete unboxing report:
LEGO 31212 "The Milky Way Galaxy" Unboxing Report: A Single Piece Represents the Solar System! The Therapeutic Experience of Filling the Universe Grid by Grid
● LEGO 21348 Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's TalePart Count: 3745 pieces, Price: US$499.99
This editor still remembers mentioning when playing this LEGO set that "this LEGO set alone is an excellent diorama; but if paired with the adventure book co-written by LEGO and Wizards of the Coast, this set will transform into what this editor currently considers the most fun and story-complete LEGO set to date."
This idea remains unchanged even at the moment of writing this article. It features not only a stone tower ruin scene that can be disassembled into multiple parts, the Inn Plain Sight, an adventurer party whose appearance and race you can change, a wealth of brick-built fantasy creatures, rare item accessories, and the magnificent red dragon Cinderhowl. It is absolutely a set that offers abundant enjoyment both during and after assembly.
▼ If you've already acquired this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set, don't forget to also grab this Dungeons & Dragons Minifigure Series, set number 71047!
▼ It's worth noting that the cover of this instruction manual was illustrated by Taiwanese LEGO fan "Chainsaw BAR"! The way it displays an embossed, three-dimensional layered effect on a flat print is truly spectacular! Yet another reason to absolutely want to get this.
See the full unboxing report:
LEGO 21348 "Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon's Tale" Unboxing Report: An Excellent Story Infusion, Your Perfect Opportunity to Dive into the World of DnD!
● LEGO 21353 The Botanical GardenPart Count: 3792 pieces, Price: US$329.99
If one were to choose the most beautiful LEGO Architecture set of 2024, everyone's answer would certainly differ based on their aesthetic preferences. However, if the criteria were narrowed down to the most transparent LEGO Architecture set, then The Botanical Garden, which we are about to see, would undoubtedly rank first.
This editor still remembers that when playing with the "10326 Natural History Museum," the official description mentioned that natural light could shine into the museum's roof and curator's office through transparent windows. This feature is completely emphasized and specialized in The Botanical Garden! The Botanical Garden utilizes a large number of sizable transparent parts to create one of the largest and most transparent roofs among LEGO products, giving the entire set an excellent sense of lightness and airiness. Coupled with a house full of plants and beautiful architectural structures, it truly is a wonderful work capable of healing the mind and body.
See the full unboxing report:
LEGO 21353 "The Botanical Garden" Unboxing Report: Fulfilling Your Pursuit of Greenery in Life!
● LEGO 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham CityPart Count: 4210 pieces, Price: US$299.99
Animations we loved as children are highly likely to be revered as undeniable classics later in life, and if it's a childhood classic that influenced a generation, its charm will remain undimmed even decades later! "Batman: The Animated Series," which began in 1992, is one of the best examples.
This LEGO set, based on the animated series, not only fully recreates the groundbreaking black baseplate technical color scheme but also transforms the mysterious Gotham City into a beautiful, painterly masterpiece. It also delivers Gotham City's famous "product": a full complement of supervillains. As you unpack iconic landmarks like the Galaxy Broadcasting System, Gotham Enterprises, Ace Chemical Plant, and Arkham Asylum, you'll find their corresponding villains. Of course, your familiar heroes are also present in Wayne Manor. The entire set is infused with a wealth of in-show elements; fans of "Batman: The Animated Series" will absolutely adore this set.
For a more complete unboxing report:
LEGO 76271 "Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City Skyline" Unboxing Report: Dark Black Baseplate Aesthetic Recreated, A Magnificent Love Letter to Dark Knight Fans!
● LEGO 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûrPiece Count: 5471 pieces, Price: US$459.99
The tenth and final recommendation is the ultimate evil from Middle-earth in "The Lord of the Rings," a darkness capable of completely swallowing the glimmer of your paycheck at the beginning of the month – the 83 cm tall Barad-dûr fortress once assembled! While this set is indeed very tall, very large, and very black, making it challenging to display properly, it contains far too many compelling reasons to collect it. These include the first-ever LEGO rendition of this fortress, the first-ever LEGO minifigure of the Dark Lord "Sauron," a plethora of new helmet elements, a light-up Eye of Sauron, and intriguing details and mechanisms hidden within this mysterious black tower. Alongside the 2023 "Lord of the Rings" product, Rivendell, this is undoubtedly one of the most exciting heavyweight releases for "Lord of the Rings" fans in recent years!
▼ Including "Gothmog" in the very center, there are a total of five Orcs waiting for you to collect.
▼ In previous "Lord of the Rings" series products, Sauron had never appeared in his true form. This regret, which began with the "Lord of the Rings" sets in 2012, surprisingly had to wait until 2024 to be fulfilled. This Sauron minifigure also boasts a remarkably cool appearance. Owning this minifigure will undoubtedly bring a sense of accomplishment, like checking off a long-awaited item on a "Lord of the Rings" fan's bucket list!
For a more complete unboxing report:
LEGO 10333 "The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr" Unboxing Report: An 83 cm Tall Black Iron Citadel!
And there you have it – the 10 must-buy LEGO sets for 2024, carefully selected by the Toy People editorial team! Of course, there were also sets this year that we really wanted to include but reluctantly had to leave out, such as "71438 Super Mario World Mario & Yoshi," "76433 Mandrake," "21349 Tuxedo Cat," and "10391 Pharrell Williams's Planet of Pink," which includes the most minifigure head elements ever – it was truly difficult to choose!
If this list of 【Top 10 Must-Buy LEGO Sets for 2024】 has helped you discover some unmissable products, that's fantastic! Of course, if you have different opinions or any LEGO sets you think are absolutely worth getting, please feel free to discuss them with us in the comments section.