These days, LEGO is for all ages. But not so long ago, it was exclusively targeted at kids. The AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) always existed, but sets targeted at them are a fairly recent phenomenon.
This overlap in audience can be overwhelming for parents who are trying to buy LEGO sets for their kids. It used to be, for example, that the age on the box indicated building ability; the higher the age range, the more complex the build was. But these days, the 18+ age range can mean multiple things. It can mean that the build is simple. But it can also mean that thematically, the set is catered to adult interests.
It can also mean that the set is for display rather than play. Many of the adult builds do not stand up to the rigorous play of an eight-year-old, and many of the kid builds are designed more for play convenience and accessibility than to look 100% realistic.
In that spirit, here are the best LEGO sets for kids in 2024 – the sets designed with youthful play and pretend in mind.
TL;DR Best LEGO Sets for Kids in 2024
- Fortnite Bus
- Moana's Adventure Canoe
- New Captain America Figure
- Retro Camera
- Medium Creative Brick Box
- Nightmare Shark Ship
- Fantasy Forest Creatures
- Burger Truck
- Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica
- Majestic Tiger
- Traditional Chess Set
- Medieval Castle
- 3-in-1 Pirate Ship
- Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp
- Mosaic Maker
Fortnite Bus
Sharply detailed and brilliantly colored, the LEGO Fortnite Bus is one of the company's runaway successes – it is currently available only on backorder. It is a traditional simple bus build underneath all its mecha attachments, which makes it an excellent place to start a child on LEGO, especially one who could use a little more physical play and a little less digitial play.
Moana's Adventure Canoe
Tied to the release of Moana 2 (which had an incredible box office opening this Thanksgiving, this canoe has both a removable top deck and a hidden living quarters below it. It comes with minifigures of Moana, Loto, and Moni, plus an animal accessory of sidekick Pua.
New Captain America Figure
On February 14, 2025, Captain America: Brave New World will debut in theaters, featuring Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. This foot-tall action figure comes with a detachable shield, a Redwing drone, patriotic wings, and fully articulable limbs. It's a simple build with an eye-catching end result, which makes it perfect for kids.
Retro Camera
It can also be a video camera or a retro television. But most kids will elect to build the camera, which has a movable lens and buttons along with a strap. It even opens in the back so that you can load the film. That a LEGO set looks this good, for such a low price and piece count, is rare. It's one of the best cheap LEGO sets you can buy.
Medium Creative Brick Box
This is how most of us start our LEGO journeys – with a pile of spare parts that we craft into whatever we dream up. The Medium Creative Brick Box is an excellent gateway for a person who is completely new to LEGO. The Box has a good mixture of every major piece type and color, and it gives you some preliminary, simple builds to teach basic technique.
Nightmare Shark Ship
This creepy build from the new LEGO Dreamzzz line combines a pirate ship with a shark to create the stuff of nightmares. It contains numerous hidden details, including a hidden treasure chest, and kids can build it as either a ship or a tank to increase its playability.
Fantasy Forest Creatures
This set is part of the LEGO Creator line, and it's a "3 in 1" set. That means you can build this set as a squirrel; or an owl and a hedgehog; or a deer and a rabbit. The 3-in-1 concept guarantees hours of building and is extremely cost efficient.
Burger Truck
Good things come in small packages. This build is less than 200 pieces, but it's incredibly colorful and expressive, looking every bit like a hipster food truck ought to. You can also detach the stand from the truck and incorporate the build into your LEGO city, should you wish.
Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica
There are several vehicles in the $50 range which are targeted at the 9+ age group. The Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica is one of the best rated of these, with its V10 engine, working doors, and steering. You might also want to check out the Bugatti Bolide and the Ford Mustang Shelby as well.
Majestic Tiger
It's another 3-in-1 set! You could build a koi fish or a red panda. But most builders will opt for the tiger, which is sleek, realistic looking, and uncommonly pretty for a beginner LEGO set. The face looks dangerous and fierce, and every limb is poseable, allowing the figure to languish or pounce, depending on your preference.
Traditional Chess Set
We built this set when it launched, and we were impressed by its no-frills presentation and its uncanny ability to mimic wood via plastic. Most importantly, it is big enough to play with as a chess set, rather than simply looking like one.
Medieval Castle
If you have your eye on the recent LEGO Lion Knights castle, but think it might be too expensive or too difficult, try this smaller scale Medieval Castle, which has a water mill, a throne room, a smithy, and a prison. And best of all, it's also a 3-in-1 set, which means you rebuild it as a medieval marketplace or a castle tower.
3-in-1 Pirate Ship
Yarr. Everything about this build, from the swell of the sails to the tension in the riggings to the cannons that line the sides, looks perfect. This is also a 3-in-1 build, which means that if you'd like, you can also build a Pirates' inn or a Skull Island (where you bury your pirate treasure) out of the same bricks.
Jungle Explorer Helicopter at Base Camp
The helicopter measures nearly a foot-and-a-half long – an impressive size, given its 8+ age range. The set also comes with three gorilla figures (including a little baby) for you protect, five explorer figures. a motorcycle, and a swamp boat. It's a whole lot of personality in a single package.
Mosaic Maker
This concept is really cool. You upload a photo to LEGO's website, and they convert it into a 15×15 inch mosaic, composed of LEGO dots. You can then order this mosaic as a custom set and assemble your family photo.
How Many LEGO Sets for Kids Are There?
There are hundreds of LEGO sets available for every age range; this guide is just a small sampling of what's out there. The official LEGO store allows you to search and sort sets by age range. And as of December 2024, there are 649 sets available for 6, 7 and 8-year-olds. There are 732 sets available for 9, 10, 11 and 12-year-olds.
That's our guide for kids, but take a look at our roundup for the best LEGO sets for adults if you want something a bit bigger or more complex. Those who like video games, including retro games, can take a look at our favorite Nintendo LEGO sets.
We also have suggestions for Star Wars LEGO sets for the sci-fi fans in your life. Fantasy fans can check out our favorite Harry Potter LEGO sets, and superhero stans can take a look at the best Marvel LEGO sets.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
