LEGO Is Launching Its 90th Anniversary Sets, And They’re Epic!
Time to get really excited. These are by far the hottest sets you’re going to see this year…
Just the other day I read an article about someone wishing back the old LEGO days, when everything was more brick-like. While to some extent I agree that a few decades ago LEGO sets had a very limited number of brick shapes and types, that’s only half the story. First of all, there are still plenty of simple classic sets one can buy brand new, as the company never really ended that line. Secondly, as part of their 90th anniversary, LEGO is bringing back a number of sets with just a touch of updates, so customers reminiscing about “the good ol’ days” can start saving their cash, as they’re about to get their wish fulfilled.
I completely missed that 2022 was LEGO’s 90th anniversary, but that’s fine, as I guess the surprise was even bigger realising new sets were going to get released in celebration of this milestone. When I say new sets, I actually mean old sets, with a touch of new. Clever, LEGO, very clever.
The LEGO Knights Castle
I was always fascinated by LEGO castles. I remember as a kid flipping through the catalogues with a bleeding heart, as my parents could never afford those big sets. I obviously did what I could with the pieces I had and used the sets in the catalogue as inspiration for MOCs, but that wasn’t the same.
Seeing the 1978 castle reimagined put a huge grin on my face as now, well, I’m an adult and I can bloody afford it. Even if that means eating bread and butter for the next month, this is the one set I will refuse to let slip away! The 22 minifigs alone are a reason to snap this up! And you know what? At 400 bucks with a 4514 piece-count, the price-to-brick ratio isn’t actually that bad. Furthermore, 20 years from now, people will pay with their kidneys to get their hands on it!
The Galaxy Explorer
This one I am somewhat less excited about, though, don’t get me wrong, it’s a brilliant set to own, if you’re into space stuff. I was always somewhat on the fence. That’s why I never took to Star Wars or Star Trek, either. Just, the whole concept of space was kind of meh to me.
Having said that, no matter the LEGO set, if there are enough parts, and it’s a cool building experience, I’ll take any set, and for 99 bucks, this one isn’t exorbitantly priced either. Could be cheaper, don’t get me wrong, but price-to-brick ratio with 1254 pieces is not that bad. This is a re-imagination of the 1979 LEGO 497 set. An interesting fact I calculated is that this set originally sold in 1979 for $32, adjusted for inflation in 2022 that’s $129. So, those claiming that LEGO prices have gone up, might want to rethink that. I would argue that the prices have stayed largely the same and in some cases have even gone down over the years. Make of that what you will.
Who is LEGO targeting?
I’d like to say kids, but that’s probably not the case. In fact, let me put it this way. These sets, while perfectly suitable for kids of as young as 7 or 8 years, the target-audience is the adults who can first of all afford these sets and secondly appreciate the obvious nod to the 1970s line.
That being said, here’s my take on this. Kids just want to have fun, and if they already like LEGO, these sets will undoubtedly be fun to build and play with. If anything, given the less number of specialised parts, they might find the set easier to build than other contemporary sets they’re used to. The Knights Castle, for instance, I see as a perfect escape for the entire family with up to three kids even. The Galaxy Explorer is a medium-size set. This will probably be a one parent, one child situation, or even just the kid on their own.
Anything else worth keeping an eye on this year from LEGO?
Absolutely. These sets, while great, they’re not the only releases this year. If anything, it feels like 2022 has been a massive year for LEGO in terms of new sets, and there’s a ton of stuff out there to consider, at prices ranging from just 10 bucks to 4–500! Some of these I already reviewed myself, while others are coming soon. Check them all out below. 👇
Attila Vago — Software Engineer improving the world one line of code at a time. Cool nerd since forever, writer of codes and blogs. Web accessibility advocate, Lego fan, vinyl record collector. Loves craft beer!
