Sure, it's a good story that's gotten a lot of well-deserved attention for its artwork by Naoya Matsumoto. We know all that already. But something I hadn't seen was this variant cover (which isn't surprising on reflection, because it's exclusive to the Crunchyroll Store - mystery solved). Showing off hero Kafka's kaiju form staring right out at us with a single, eerie green eye illuminated, it's attention-grabbing stuff. And happily, it's got a discount at the moment; you can pick it up for $9.59 at Crunchyroll instead of $11.99. That may only be a small reduction, but hey - every little helps. 

If this doesn't float your boat, there's probably something for you in the wider manga sale that also includes art books. (You can pick up the official Elden Ring Art Book for $41.84 at Crunchyroll rather than $59.99, for example.) My eye was drawn to the statues, though. Whether it's something more subdued like the Demon Slayer Giyu Tomioka figure or the more ambitious Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba scale statue with its gravity-defying pose, I'm consistently impressed with how sharp they look.

Looking for potential present ideas? Don't miss these gifts for gamers - it's packed with everything from accessories to the best Lego sets.

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) features

• Includes Isabelle and Fauna minfigures
• Nice customization options
• So many different elements

Lego Isabelle's House Visit is the second largest in the Animal Crossing range - at least at the time of writing - consisting of a villager house, and some smaller details that you can arrange around the exterior. The house itself is two-sided, like a doll's house, and includes so many of the little details that so many of us spent many hours (read: days) fiddling around with during the hazy days of 2020-21. From the little vegetable patch and tool station out front to the gift balloon flying overhead, there's a lot to love about the external details of this delightful build. 

But it's the house itself that's bound to please. There's so much crammed in here, from a patchwork bed to a table and chairs, but also smaller items like a Nook Phone and a K.K. Slider album to mount on the wall. A tiny stove and sink makes for an adorably compact kitchenette. 

I had great fun messing around with the placement of everything, and the good thing about this build - and all of the Animal Crossing Lego sets - is that there's so much versatility with how you layout and connect all the pieces together to make your own display or playset. It also means you can make it neat and compact enough to ensure it doesn't take up much room on a display shelf.

It's also worth noting that you get two minifigures with this set - Isabelle herself and Fauna the deer villager - which feels like great value for a set this price.

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) build

• So many brilliant details
• Build only takes an hour or so
• Lots of ways to display

Altogether it took me just over an hour to complete the Isabelle's House Visit build. It's not complex, but there are plenty of little details and some hidden features to appreciate as you work your way through the manual. If anything it's easy to get distracted by how detailed the set is as you build, rather than stumbling on any complexities in creation. It's a great set for a family to enjoy together, just as you can the Animal Crossing game itself. 

There are a lot of small pieces that aren't able to be fixed down though, which can be annoying if you're looking to display or neatly tidy away the set - including a small basket, a paintbrush, and a book. Not a deal breaker, but I can see them getting lost if this set is being played with regularly. 

Lego Isabelle's House Visit (77049) design

• Sweet minifigures and accessories
• Plenty of interactivity
• Excellent two-sided design

Nintendo and Lego's partnership with these Animal Crossing sets really feel like a celebration of both bricks and the video games themselves. Lego Isabelle's House Visit is a brilliant example of this, and easily the best set in the range. The villager house itself is a compact slice of island life, with excellent detailing in the house's exterior fixtures and fittings like the chimney complete with 'smoke,' a tiled roof that lifts up for even more interior access, and the option of choosing between two window styles. The interior comes complete with so many pieces of furniture, household items, and decorations that you may well struggle to actually get it all inside the house. It definitely encourages playing around with all the pieces until you get the interior look you want. 

However, I also love that you can fling open the door to your villager house to appreciate the details beyond too. There's a little postbox, which even comes with a letter you can post through the slot and store inside. There's a vegetable patch with pumpkin and carrot, a little tool station where you'll find you can hang your slingshot, axe, and shovel - clearly minifigs don't get inventory space.

There are also other placeable items like an apple tree – which has hidden secrets – with a fossil and dig spot, flowers, and even a balloon-lifted present held aloft by a clear Lego block that you can hide other items inside. There's so much here to appreciate that it's a real treat.

It's all displayed on a variety of little grassy squares too, interconnected to hold them together, but also to allow you to not only display the set however you want but also connect it to other sets in the Animal Crossing Lego range. I love this detail, as it encourages you to try and recreate your island in Lego form, although it's a dangerously slippery slope for my wallet too.

Should you buy Lego Isabelle's House Visit?

I honestly can't think of a reason not to recommend this set as the best in the Animal Crossing Lego range. It's affordable, offers plenty of spectacle in the build, comes with two minifigures, and oozes with Animal Crossing charm. Your villager's house is one of the most iconic visuals in the Animal Crossing games, and it's somehow better immortalized in Lego bricks.

Buy if if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Lego Isabelle's House Visit

The Isabelle's House Visit set was built over the course of a sunny Sunday morning, taking around an hour and a half including photography. We compared the quality and features of the set to the rest of the Animal Crossing Lego range, much of which I had also bought and built myself in the same weekend. 

For more on our review process, make sure to check out our 'how we test' guide.

Want other recommendations? Be sure to check out our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets. You can also add to your collection for less with the latest Lego deals.

In terms of those exclusives (which you can check out here), the Crunchyroll Store isn't lacking big names. An eye-catching One Piece - Monkey D Luffy G.E.M Series Figure (the Run! Run! Run! 15th Anniversary Version) immediately springs to mind. This smaller, $49.99 statue nails the character's on-screen look and demeanour - it's so full of personality. The thing that impresses me most though is the molded, clear sea that looks perfect for taking a dip in. It's so well done.

Speaking of which, I'm a big fan of this Jujutsu Kaisen Suguru Geto 1/8 Scale Deluxe Edition Figure too. Aside from a screen-accurate sculpt that makes it feel as if it's leapt out of the anime, it's surrounded by waves of dark energy recreating the moment he breaks out his Cursed Spirit Manipulation technique. It's a little pricier at $201.99, but it's a showstopper and no mistake.

As it so happens, a bunch of cool items at the Crunchyroll Store are also heavily reduced right now as part of the Summer of Anime sale. You can currently save up to $96 across a variety of products that range from the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Manga Box Set to Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid statues, for example. One of the biggest discounts I've found so far is on a Limited Edition My Cat is a Kawaii Girl - Kinako 1/6 Scale Figure that is currently $139 instead of $214.99.

Anyway, those were just my standouts. You can take a look for yourself via the links below.

It’s a great time for fans of both cinema and Lego, with some of the best Lego sets in recent years being tie-ins for big screen movies, both old and new. We’ve seen Lord of the Rings sets for Rivendell and Barad Dur, and there’s also a Jaws set that’s just around the corner. 

But this isn’t the time for fantasy; we’re getting out sci-fi on so, let’s sandwalk over to the table and get building this thing. Hey, stop laughing at my sandwalk, you want to get eaten by a sandworm? I didn’t think so.

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter features

• Eight minifigures
• Moving wings and landing gear
• Based on Dune: Part 1

The Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter was launched to coincide with the release of Dune: Part 2 back in February 2024. While the movie itself is PG-13, this set is recommended for ages 18 and up. Teenagers can handle violent scenes and ruminations on what it means to be human, but a moderately complex Lego build is seemingly beyond them. 

Jokes aside, this kit would be absolutely fine for most teenagers.

The Ornithopter is a dragonfly-inspired sci-fi version of a helicopter in the Dune universe, and it’s one of the main modes of transportation for members of House Atreides when they first arrive on the desert planet. This Lego version replicates the iconic profile of the aircraft beautifully, while also going the extra mile and including mechanisms to extend and retract the wings and landing gear.

Fans of the movies will also be thrilled by the healthy roster of minifigures that come with the set. There are eight figures comprising all the major characters in the first movie: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho and Baron Harkonnen in his hilariously long robe.

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter build

• 3-4 hour build
• Lots of Technic pieces
• Fun build with plenty of variety

With 1,369 pieces, the Dune Ornithopter is a mid-sized Lego set that took me around 3-4 hours to assemble over a couple of days. It could easily be done in one night if you have thumbs of steel, but the large number of Technic pieces in this set meant pushing a lot of pins into holes, which can take a toll on your hands.

They’re not here without good reason though, as there are a lot of mechanisms that are needed for the moving parts of the Dune Ornithopter — namely the landing gear and folding wings. Given the relatively simple shape of the Ornithopter’s fuselage, the build process is fairly straightforward, with most of the construction focused on the main body of the aircraft, attaching the various gears and linkages as appropriate.

To keep things fresh, eight out of the ten bags of Lego pieces contain one of the minifigures. Once the fuselage is done, you then move onto assembling the cockpit and finally attaching the rather remarkable wings.

Despite my complaints about my poor thumbs, I had a lot of fun assembling the Lego Ornithopter. It has a good mix of regular and Technic Lego pieces, and there aren’t really any repetitive sections to drag the pace down. There are also no stickers in the set, with all the details coming from printed pieces — huzzah!

Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter design

• Folding wings and landing gear
• Clear cockpit with room for pilots
• Wings can actually move

When it’s all assembled, the Lego Ornithopter is a real work of art that perfectly captures that sleek and unusual design from the movies. It’s not the most colorful piece, sporting the gray paintjob of its movie counterpart, but it’s full of sharp lines and fascinating details that draw the eye.

At the back of the craft is the boarding ramp, which can be raised or lowered using a cleverly-disguised dial on the side of the hull. You’ll have it down by default, as the controls are tied together with the landing gear.

The cockpit looks great too, with that unique inverted triangle shape that sees it get wider at the top. If you detach the cockpit glass, you can fit two minifigures in the pilot seats, which come with little printed computer screens and moving levers to represent the flight controls.

The wings are definitely the most striking part of the set, especially when they’re extended out to their full width via the sliding lever on the top. The Lego Ornithopter has an impressive wingspan of around 31-inches (79 cm), and there is even a button on top that you can press rapidly to flap the wings, which is a very nice touch. In practice, you’re only going to extend the wings when you’re showing it off to friends though, as it’ll be impossible to display on any normal shelf with the wings out. Fortunately, with the wings tucked in the Ornithopter shrinks down to a very display-friendly profile.

I have found that there is a panel near the wing assembly that occasionally pops off when I extend the wings out. One of the gear linkages is clearly catching on it as it moves past. It’s a minor annoyance, but on a $165/£150 set, minor annoyances are worth mentioning. 

Outside of the craft itself, you also get a very decent array of minifigures. Most of them are fairly standard — Lady Jessica has a dress instead of legs, and a couple of them have helmet on or off head options. The star of the show is definitely Baron Harkonnen though. Look at this big tall boi… he’s hilarious! His robe is fashioned from a long piece of fabric that hooks under his head, and I love him.

Should you buy the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter?

Whether you're a fan of the movies, the books, or both, the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is an absolute must-have for Dune fans. As a display piece, it looks fantastic and thanks to the folding wings, it fits neatly on normal-sized display shelves. Then, when you want to show it off, you can extend the wings out and blow some minds.

It’s not the cheapest Lego set out there, especially for the relatively tame piece count (for the price), but you get your money’s worth with the build thanks to the blend of classic Lego and fancy Technic mechanisms — just do it in a couple of sessions to stop your thumbs from falling off.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Lego Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter

I built this set over the course of two evenings, and it took around 3-4 hours to complete. I followed the instructions, making notes of sections that were difficult, confusing or, in this case, painful, as well as highlighting enjoyable aspects of the build.

Once the build was finished, I considered the overall design: how good it looks, how accurately it replicates the Ornithopter from the movie, and any special features that it has (or is lacking).

You can find out more about our process in our 'how we test' guide. 

For more bricky goodness, check out our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets. You can also boost your collection for less with these Lego deals.

The Lego Mario Kart lineup includes Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Donkey Kong, and my personal go-to, Lemmy. Because this is part of the full Super Mario range - which already includes a few of the best Lego sets, namely The Mighty Bowser and Piranha Plant - you'll also be able to add the interactive and full-grown Mario, Peach, and Luigi figures to your karts for audio and visual effects taken from the video game series. 

Naturally, these kits include plenty of accessories pulled straight from the games and  a course to go with them. Baby Mario and Luigi come with the balloons from the Balloon Battle mode, and I swear they have violence in their eyes. Anyway. I imagine you can create some pretty wild tracks if you combine all that with the existing Super Mario kits.

Design director of the Lego group, Simon Kent, says in a press release that "we are beyond excited to turbo-charge our Lego Super Mario universe with the reveal of these latest Mario Kart sets, that we know fans have been eagerly waiting for. We can't wait for builders of all ages to put their pedal to the metal and bring Mario Kart races to brick-built reality at home with friends and family. The brand-new Lego Super Mario: Mario Kart sets provide an immersive building experience and capture the heart-pounding action of the beloved video game series – showing fans that the world is your track like never before!"

All of the Lego Mario Kart sets will arrive on January 1, 2025, and they range from cheaper $14.99 / £12.99 kits to the full Grand Prix box at $79.99 / $69.99. I've broken them down for you below.

Lego Mario Kart - Baby Peach & Grand Prix Set

This seems to be the tentpole release for the Mario Kart range, and as such it features three racers, Lakitu to set you all off, a starting line, accessories, and bumpers to keep you on the straight and narrow. In other words, it's a good base on which to build regardless of whether you're looking for a collectible to go on your shelf or a kids' playset.

Those three racers include, as the name would suggest, Baby Peach. She's racing in a Wiggler kart and is joined by Toad on a bike and Lemmy in a car based on Bowser's flying galleons.  

Lego Mario Kart - Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi

This duo recreates the iconic (and utterly chaotic, let's be honest) Balloon Battle mode from the video game franchise. This is where you go if you want a break from racing, and instead tootle around an arena trying to hit your targets with items and remove their balloons. And judging by the look of them, both Baby Mario and Luigi are ready to settle their differences with the business end of a red and green shells. Though I feel as if Mario may have the advantage here, seeing as he has a homing red shell...

Naturally, you don't need to keep them with the balloons if you'd rather just have them racing around the track - it looks like they're separate rather than being attached. 

Lego Mario Kart - Yoshi Bike

This is the cheapest and simplest of the Lego Mario Kart range, so it's perfect either as a cheap-and-cheerful gift for gamers or an easy addition to the toy box for your little ones. It has Yoshi racing around obstacles like banana skins on a bike... based on another Yoshi? I mean, look, that's always going to be weird. It'd be like a horse riding a bicycle made to look like a horse. But he's happy, so good for him I guess?

Lego Mario Kart - Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo

We recently got a full Lego Donkey Kong range, so it's only right that the Kong himself makes the transition over to Mario Kart too. He comes in a hefty kart based on the famous barrels from the Donkey Kong Country series, and he comes with a target that'll fling a banana skin at other racers when hit with a shell (or anything else, I imagine). A fun bit of interactivity for you, there.

Lego Mario Kart - Standard Kart

This kit may just be a kart, some accessories, and a pitstop Toad to keep everything in working order, but it's clearly made to fit the bigger, interactive Mario figure. It's decked out in his livery, after all, and is the 'classic' Mario Kart car complete with a glider for soaring through the air.

Lego Mario Kart - Toad's Garage

Much like the Standard Kart, this set is very obviously made to go with other figures in your Lego Super Mario collection. However, this one's a bit more advanced with a full pitstop, spare wheels, and various doodads to make sure your car's in perfect working order. There are two pitstop Toads to keep everything ticking over, too.

As with all the other sets listed here, it'll arrive on January 1, 2025.

Want more brick-based goodness? Boost your collection with the latest Lego deals. As for some Nintendo fun, check out the best Nintendo Switch gifts.

Due to arrive this September as part of the 'Back to Hogwarts' event at Lego's store, The Burrow is 18 inches tall and features 10 minifigures – the entire Weasley family, along with Harry. This includes some characters who haven't had Lego Harry Potter models before.

I've broken the set down below, but the impatient amongst you can check it out now at the Lego store. It'll be available this September 4, but Lego Insiders (anyone that's signed up to Lego's free membership program) can get their hands on the Lego Burrow from September 1 instead. This is a pretty common occurrence where new kits are concerned, as demonstrated with the new Lego Nightmare Before Christmas set.

As for the upcoming Back to Hogwarts event, that'll feature exclusive deals and special giveaways that are mostly connected to this release (little sets such as the Floo Network at Borgin and Burkes and the Weasley Clock). It begins this September 1.

Lego The Burrow - Collectors' Edition

We've had a version of the Burrow in Lego before, but it was a lot smaller and less ambitious. Indeed, that kit – a now-retired set called 'Attack on the Burrow' – was several inches shorter and featured half the number of bricks. That meant it was open-backed and didn't really capture the scale of the Weasley home, whereas this Collectors' Edition does. Moreover, its 2,405 pieces mean that it can close completely to be displayed at any angle. 

That also means it can fit a lot of rooms into its interior. Besides bedrooms and bathrooms, it features the iconic kitchen complete with 'magically animated' (e.g. they're held up by clips) tools. The fireplace Floo Network also makes minifigs 'disappear' if you turn the cog, which is a fun touch.

Judging by the minifigures (with Bill and Charlie being featured for the first time), this Lego Harry Potter set is based on Chamber of Secrets. That means it's a lot more cheerful than the last set, which featured Death Eaters… well, setting the place on fire. Charming.

Much like last year's Lego Gringotts Bank, this is something of an engineering clever clogs. It's distinctly top-heavy and doesn't look as if it should be able to stand, but the folks at Lego have solved that problem through some brick-based wizardry. 

If you're keeping score, this is the fourth Collectors' Edition Harry Potter kit. Before now we've had Gringotts, Hedwig on Harry's school gear, and the Hogwarts Express. What will be next, I wonder?

For more brick-based goodness, check out the best Lego Star Wars sets. You can also save while building your collection with the latest Lego deals.

Formed of over 2,000 pieces, this kit recreates some of the Tim Burton film's most iconic locations - and characters. Alongside the graveyard and its curved hill, Jack's house and the Halloween Town Hall are featured. The Pumpkin King himself, Zero the ghost dog, Sally, the Mayor, and more are also included in the Lego Nightmare Before Christmas set.

The kit will arrive on shelves this September, but the date varies depending on whether you're signed up to Lego's free rewards program ('Insiders,' which basically earns you points and exclusive offers) or not. If you are, you can pick up the Lego Nightmare Before Christmas set on September 3. Otherwise, you'll need to wait until September 6. It will cost $199.99 at the Lego store or £169.99 for UK shoppers.

Seeing as this will likely rank as one of the best Lego sets for fans of the movie, I can imagine it being very popular. I adore it myself, so am already reaching for my wallet faster than you can say 'Oogie Boogie.' Hopefully it'll live up to the hype.

Lego Nightmare Before Christmas

As a Lego Ideas kit, this set was designed by a fan - Simon Scott from the UK, to be precise. He notes that he loves both Lego and the movie, so is "honored to see my creation come to life in physical brick form. The film is such a family hit with young & old fans from around the world. The ideas team have done a fantastic job creating a wonderfully playable set that is just as appealing as a display piece." 

Comprising 2,193 pieces, it mimics Lego Rivendell in its construction, being made up of three distinct pieces that can come together to form one scene or be split up and displayed separately. The pumpkin-strewn graveyard with its curled hill is probably the most memorable location recreated here, but Jack's house and the Halloween Town Hall are fun additions too - particularly because the latter comes with the green goo fountain Jack emerges from at the beginning of the film. You can turn Jack Skellington's house around to reveal little rooms inside, including the study where he ponders the mysteries of Christmas. There are bound to be plenty of other hidden references and Easter eggs tucked away in this one, so it'll be as much fun to find them as it is to build the kit itself.

The minifigure choices are equally crowd-pleasing. While it's a shame Oogie Boogie himself doesn't appear, you're getting the other major players from Nightmare Before Christmas: Jack, his ghost dog Zero, Sally, the Mayor of Halloween Town (who has two faces, naturally), the three trick-or-treating terrors Lock, Shock, and Barrel, and Sandy Claws.

With any luck, the kit will be up to pre-order soon. However, because it's a Lego store exclusive, don't expect to find it on Amazon et al just yet.

For savings on all things brick, be sure to check out the latest Lego deals. As for other kits you should keep an eye on, why not try these Lego Star Wars sets?

Whether you'll be happy with your younger Lego builders wielding this set unsupervised is certainly a question I'm not qualified to answer. It isn't one of the best Lego sets of all time, either. But it's certainly going to create some fun storylines as you put Sonic up against his age-old nemesis Dr. Eggman in this set. 

Features & design

• Features a robot, minifigs, & accessories
• Relatively small in size
• Fun interactive touches

The Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set is only 615 pieces but feels like a lot more because you're building lots of smaller elements to round out this imaginative set. I personally find the fact it's not contained within one build a bit frustrating purely for display purposes, but this set is laser-targeted at kids who are going to play and get creative with this set. 

There are so many little nods to the original Sonic games with this set, from the little lab where animals can be turned into Dr. Eggman's bots to the golden ring floating on a see-through plinth, that this makes for a great set for the entire family to enjoy too. Not necessarily one of the best Lego sets, but fun nonetheless.

Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot (76993) build

• Takes around 2.5 hours
• Fairly straightforward build
• Some more complex elements

Because there are so many smaller elements of the Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set to build alongside the larger, more complex Death Egg Robot, it makes this a wonderfully varied build. I particularly liked that there's a variety in pace to proceedings, starting with the smaller bits as almost a warm-up to the main event, which is definitely the mech itself. 

What's interesting about that part of the build though is the fact you build smaller sections at a time and then click them onto the mech. It keeps things feeling fun, and keeps you guessing as to how it's all going to fit together. The working weaponry is also fascinating from a mechanical point of view too.

I'm still not entirely sure how successful the middle portion of the mech actually is though. The build book outlines that you should be able to slam the back portion in to cause the front panel to fly off and ideally into the incoming Sonic, but no matter how hard I try (and I even got my partner involved) that front section isn't budging for me. I've even ensured that I've actually put everything together correctly and rebuilt it again, but to no avail. If I'm not strong enough - or potentially smart enough - to figure it out then I doubt little builders will have any chance. 

One other odd little quirk was that the build instructions stated the turtle and second bird were in bag three, but were actually in bag five. That's not a huge deal, but I did worry that they'd been lost as I emptied the bags onto my coffee table. 

Design

• Plenty of interactive elements
• No way to cohesively store all the elements
• Mech is seriously cool

I was delighted to discover how many little characters you get with the Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set. The Sonic minifig is an excellent rendition of the Blue Blur, but then you also get the heavily mustachioed Dr. Eggman, and there's also the surprise addition of building a quirky robot minion for him too. The trio of critters makes for cute bonus friends for this set as well.

The best thing about the Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set is how creative you can get with the storytelling. Sonic in his speed sphere can be launched directly at Dr. Eggman in his robot mech suit, via the spikes and ramps that are also included as part of the build. Then the Death Egg Robot itself is armed to the teeth, with a working minigun-esque arm that fires out studs with alarming speed and range. Seriously, they could take an eye out, which may well be a concern for parents. It does work impressively well though, and certainly adds to the drama of the boss battle this set creates. 

As mentioned before, the Death Egg Robot also comes with a mechanism that lets you push away incoming attacks, but despite it all being built correctly, I just can't get it to function properly, which is frustrating – and would no doubt be more so for kids. 

Of course, there are also the added extras with this set outside of Sonic and Dr. Eggman. There's also a little sciencey montage where you can let Dr. Eggman turn Sonic's little pals - an adorable turtle and duo of birds - into robots. Or you could, of course, let Sonic turn them back into critters again. All those features, plus the added elements, including a gold ring, make this set really interactive and I could imagine kids having hours of fun building a story around the battle that's about to ensue. 

Should you buy Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot (76993)?

Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set ticks a lot of boxes. It's a nostalgic build for the whole family. The attention to detail is a fantastic celebration for Sonic fans, while the interactivity makes it a great joy for all kinds of Lego enthusiasts to enjoy. It might not be the most display-worthy set in full, but there's something for everyone with this action-packed build.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot (76993)

I built the Lego Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman's Death Egg Robot set on one rainy Saturday afternoon watching the Handmaid's Tale - I know, what a juxtaposition. I assessed the ease of the build, how straightforward the instructions were, and how satisfying the build was overall to complete.

For more information on our process, check out our guide on how we test products.

Revealed following a leak that had already started to set the internet alight, Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi recreates the pair as they appeared in the sidescrolling 1990 game of the same name - complete with moving limbs and a tongue that shoots out (presumably to grab those tasty 16bit apples). This is all operated by a handle at the back, giving your decor something of a party trick. Not many of the best Lego sets can do that.

You can get the full lowdown on the Lego Super Mario World set below, but it'll hit shelves this October 1 and is available to pre-order now at the official Lego store. That means it'll be launching on the same day as the new actual Lego Fortnite sets (including the most unsettling kit I've ever seen).

Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi

Unlike so much of the Lego Super Mario range, this is a for-adults kit primarily designed to look cool on your shelf rather than being a 'playset' in the traditional sense. Well, sort of - as per the Lego NES, turning the handle will bring it all to life. To be precise, Yoshi's legs and arms will move as if he's running along the model's pixellated base. His tongue also pops out on command, just like it did in the SNES game.

Mario himself doesn't seem to move, but look into his eyes. I bet he's thinking about jumping off Yoshi mid-way over a chasm, the monster. I don't know about you, but I never used to do that. No sir.

While all this is undeniably neat, something that took me by surprise about this kit is its size. Yes, it's over 1,000 pieces strong. But it's also 15.5in (40 cm) high, so isn't in danger of vanishing into the background. 

I don't know about you, but this feels like it'd make a great present. If you want inspiration in that regard, don't miss our guide to gifts for gamers. As for the latest brick-based bargains, check out the latest Lego deals.

This handful of Lego Fortnite sets cover all the big hits you'd expect; the Battle Bus, Loot Llama, Durr Burger, and a truly haunting version of Peely. (Seriously, am I the only one who finds it unsettling?) These run the gamut of prices, from $15 / £13 at the low end to the more ambitious $100 / £90 kit. After covering the best Lego sets for years, I was pleasantly surprised at these price tags - I was expecting the upper band to be higher. Instead, they're in line with the pretty reasonably-priced Animal Crossing range.

You can get a look at the full range for yourself (and pre-order them) at the official Lego store, but here's a more detailed breakdown of these new Fortnite Lego sets.

Lego Battle Bus

The tentpole set for Lego Fortnite is, of course, the Battle Bus. This vehicle is our ticket into matches during the video game, so it's only fitting that it should get the biggest kit of the initial wave. Not that it's particularly complex in terms of size; it weighs in at just under 1,000 pieces, so shouldn't be a headache for younger builders.

Alongside the bus itself (which seems able to actually detach from the balloon), you're getting nine minifigures based on Fortnite's most recognizable characters - the Adventure variant of Peely, Cuddle Team Leader, Meowscles, Raven, Brite Bomber, Battalion Brawler, Cube Assassin, Trespasser Elite, and Drift. 

Naturally, lots of accessories will be included here too. That apparently includes the obligatory pickaxes, a Grappler, Slurp Juice, and Slap Juice.

Lego Supply Llama

Much like the Battle Bus, it'd feel plain wrong if Fortnite's Llama wasn't included in the range. Luckily, Lego agrees - and this surprisingly big kit is the result. Coming in at  9.5in (24cm) high and just shy of 700 pieces strong, the Supply Llama is a display piece with a moving head and openable mouth. 

As you'd expect with a name like that, the Supply Llama is also hiding some handy Fortnite loot including Slurp Juice, dynamite, Rough Ruby, a Grappler, and a Good Luck Charm.

Lego Peely Bone

This is the only strictly 'for adults' kit in the Lego Fortnite range, and it's not a playset like the others. Even though the others can be put on display and will look mighty fine if so, Peely Bones - based on the in-game skin of the same name - is exclusively made to sit on a shelf.

Honestly, this one freaks me out a bit. It's cool, yes, and is much bigger than expected. But also... man, that's a banana with a skeleton. Which is sticking out. 

In the immortal words of Randy Jackson, it's gonna be a no from me, dawg.

Lego Durrr Burger

This lil guy is the cheapest and easiest to build of all the Lego Fortnite sets. At 190-odd pieces and a cost of $14.99 / £12.99, it's seems poised to become the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for Fortnite fans this Christmas. 

Also, look at those fun googly eyes. Who knew Lego bricks could have so much personality?

For more present ideas, hit our guide of gifts for gamers. As for ways to get bricks for less, don't miss the latest Lego deals.