Who says LEGOs are just for kids? I secretly love LEGOs. Since our oldest kids were quite young, I have been buying challenging LEGO sets which I pretend are for the kids, but I’m not fooling anyone. These sets look great and are a blast to put together.
Now that we have some teenagers, they enjoy putting together difficult sets with their dad. I love that it requires some thinking, allows for social interaction, and uses no screen! Did I mention it gets teens away from electronic devices? These sets are great for getting a kid to think creatively and can help kids get excited about the sciences. In some areas there are even clubs were teens and tweens can get together and put LEGOs together.
I have spent hundreds of hours researching, building LEGO sets, and shopping to bring this page to life.
What to Look for in a Hard LEGO Set for Teens and Adults?
- Number of pieces and difficulty of build. How much time will be required to build this set and will the build be enjoyable?
- Presence and appearance. How does this set look once its built?
- Theme. Are you a fan of mechanics, Star Wars, superheroes, or world landmarks?
- Play-ability. Are you looking for a set to play with or just to display as a show piece?
- Price. Are you prepared to spend over $100 for a LEGO set? These sets are all over $100. If you are ready for less expensive set, check out our recommended budget LEGO sets.
What New Large Sets are Available in 2023?
I will update this section monthly as information presents itself. There are some great new large and difficult sets that have come out in the last year that you can buy in 2023. I’ve listed my favorite of the new sets from the last 12 months below.
Last Updated November 26th, 2023
LEGO.com has added some great new sets!
- Harry Potter Hogwarts Express– Release date November 24th, 2023 with 5,129 pieces
- Avenger’s Tower– Release date November 24th, 2023 with 5,201 pieces
- Himeji Castle– Release date August 1st, 2023 with 2,125 pieces
- Batcave – Shadow Box– Release date June 5th, 2023 with 3,981 pieces
- PAC-MAN Arcade– Release date June 4th, 2023 with 2,651 pieces
- Rivendell LOTR – Release date March 3rd, 2023 with 6,167 pieces
- 2022 Ford GT– Release date March 1st, 2023 with 1,466 pieces
- A-Frame Cabin– Release date February 1st, 2023 with 2,082 pieces
- Jazz Club– Release date January 1st, 2023 with 2,899 pieces
31 Difficult LEGO Sets for to Buy in 2023
There are a lot of good LEGO sets of just about everything you can imagine, from favorite characters like Bowser from Super Mario to landmarks to vehicles and everything in between. We have found the sets that are the most difficult, the most challenging out there. They contain tons of pieces and are as much of a puzzle as they are a toy.
A good challenging set can take days worth of time for a teen or an adult to complete. Almost all of these large LEGO sets are over 1000 pieces, with some over 5000 pieces. Click on the Link below to go to the review of each set.
LEGO SET | TECH SPECS/SIZE/BUILD TIME | PROS/HIGHLIGHTS |
---|---|---|
RECENT SETS | ||
Eiffel Tower Read Review | 18″X7"X54" | |
Titanic Read Review | 18″X7"X54" | |
Creator Colosseum Read Review | ||
Old Trafford Read Review | ||
Expert Roller Coaster Read Review | ||
Technic Bulgatti Chiron Read Review | ||
Lamborghini FKP 37 Read Review | ||
Hogwarts Castle Read Review | ||
Diagon Alley Read Review | ||
Ford Mustang 1950 Read Review | ||
Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Read Review | ||
Kylo Ren’s Shuttle Read Review | ||
A-wing Starfighter Read Review | ||
LEGO Disney Castle Read Review | ||
RETIRED SETS | TECH SPECS/SIZE/BUILD TIME | PROS/HIGHLIGHTS |
Taj Mahal Building Kit Read Review | ||
Big Ben Building Set Read Review | ||
Creator Tower Bridge Read Review | ||
Sydney Opera House Read Review | ||
Porsche 911 GT3 Read Review | ||
Porsche 911 RSR Read Review | ||
Millennium Falcon Read Review | ||
Star Wars Death Star Read Review | ||
Star Wars Sandcrawler Read Review | ||
Imperial Star Destroyer Read Review | ||
1st Order Star Destroyer Read Review | ||
Disney Train and Station Read Review | ||
Voltron Read Review | ||
The SHIELD Helicarrier Read Review | ||
LEGO Ninjago City Gardens Read Review | ||
Tumbler Batman Car Read Review | ||
The Joker Manor Read Review | ||
Apocalypseburg Read Review |
World Landmark, ICON, and Architecture LEGO Sets
These LEGO sets are probably the most challenging of any that are listed. I love these world landmark sets because while we build we can talk about why each landmark is important–a history lesson and family bonding time in one!
1. Eiffel Tower 10307
Summary: Most people probably know a few things about the Eiffel tower. It is truly a site to behold, built a whopping 1083 feet to the tip. Having visited this structure, I can attest it is truly a marvelous engineering wonder. Of course the beauty and magic of the Eiffel Tower is more than the steel and rivets that put it together. Gustave Eiffel was also instrumental in building the Statue of Liberty.
This enormous icon of a set is incredible in size and scope. The set comes in three beautiful boxes which are well organized like all of these large sets. There is incredible scope and detail in each of the sections of the tower. I love that there is a large garden at the base of the towers that help add some color and adds to the beauty of the set. My favorite part of the set is the the lattice metal work and arches that are brought to life with some unique pieces. If you want a challenging Saturday or love France as I do, this work of art is the set for you.
Dimension: Height: 59″ (149cm), Width: 23″ (57cm), Length: 23″ (57cm)
Our Age Recommendations: 14- Adult
Number of Pieces: 10,001
Pros:
- Tallest LEGO set ever made
- Easy to move
- Amazing architectural lines and details
- Beautiful manual and boxes tell the story of the tower
Cons:
- Can be difficult to find a good place to display
- Accurate to the tower, but lacking some color
2. LEGO Titanic Set 10294
Summary: The story of the luxury vessel RMS Titanic is legendary. Everyone knows how this indestructible ship met its unfortunate fate after hitting an iceberg. Over 1500 people died in the titanic in April 15, 1912, but the story of the titanic is a cautionary tale that can teach us a lot about the limitations of invulnerability and pride.
As the largest LEGO set ever built by the number of pieces, this LEGO work of art is truly a fantastic journey of a build. LEGO took on the painstaking role of replicating so many critical details of The Titanic. Recreating this work of art is incredible, but make sure you plan on a lot of time to put this Titanic together.
Some of my favorite features are how intricate the cross section of the ship is. I really love how long this ship is. It allows the Titanic to appear almost lifelike. LEGO has truly created the floating palace that this ship was. You can see tons of port holes to represent all the rooms of the 2224 people. I think my favorite part of The Titanic is the bridge and crow’s nest.
Dimension: 18″(44cm) high, 7″ (16cm) wide, 54″ (135cm) long
Our Age Recommendations: 14- Adult
Number of Pieces: 9090
Pros:
- One of the largest LEGO set ever made
- Working set
- Difficult but reasonable build
- Slick lines
Con:
- Although a decent value set is expensive
3. LEGO Creator Colosseum
Summary: This incredible feat of Roman engineering built in Rome at about 80 A.D. and is one of the seven wonders of the world. This amphitheater was built by the Romans as a place of entertainment. Up to 80,000 people witnessed the gruesome gladiator and fighting engagements.
As a LEGO set, in my opinion, it is probably one of the best seven LEGO sets ever built. It has the look and feel of the great 159 foot tall building that was 512 ft × 620 ft in width and length. Although not perfectly to scale, this set has a massive 9036 pieces and will take about 30 hours to build.
This set comes with 4 full and well organized boxes full of multiple thousands of pieces. The build is a great challenge for any adult and is my favorite choice right now for most challenging LEGO set. This set will not only make a great build, but also makes a stunning display piece for a room, office, or anywhere else.
Dimension: 10.5” (27cm) high, 20.5” (52cm) wide and 23.5” (59cm) deep
Our Age Recommendations: 14- Adult
Number of Pieces: 9036
Pros:
- 2nd Largest LEGO set ever made
- Incredible detail
- Challenging build
- Realistic look
Con:
- For a new set it’s expensive at over $500
4. Creator Expert Taj Mahal 10256 Building Kit
Summary: This elaborate LEGO set is the most complicated and challenging out there. If you are looking for a 24-hour challenge, this will do it. Unless you are a glutton for punishment, this set might be more ideal when built with two people. If you take it on by yourself, good luck and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
LEGO went all out with this white and gold Taj Mahal LEGO Set. This set is one of the largest sets ever built, with a whopping 5923 pieces! Every piece is needed to form this beautiful structure.
Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in 1631 in memory of his wife, the Empress Mumtaz Mahal. You can enjoy assembling this beautiful replica and then display the finished product and impress your friends!
Any adult LEGO enthusiast would truly love this massive palace.
Dimension: 16” (43cm) high, 20” (51cm) wide and 20” (51cm) deep
Weight: over 16 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13- Adult
Number of Pieces: 5923
Pros:
- Easier to put together than large piece count would suggest
- Incredible detail
- Modular design makes it easy to move
- Bragging rights as one of the sets with the most pieces ever made
Con:
- Can be a bit top heavy around the roof
5. Creator Expert Old Trafford – Manchester United 10272
Summary: Welcome to Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 110-year-old stadium. Football (soccer to Americans) fans from all over the world will recognize the iconic details of this amazing replica of this stadium. LEGO used a 1:600 scaling factor to create a truly remarkable piece of art.
This set has a 16+ difficulty rating from LEGO, which is as challenging as you can get with a set. If your teenager is really patient and is good at LEGO sets, a 13 or 14-year-old can probably put this together. Certainly it will go together faster if you have an adult working along side them.
This is a modular build, which makes it really easy to move around. The Old Trafford set has 5 different cross sections including the four sides and the pitch that go together with some simple locking features. This makes it really fun to look at the great detail of the set including iconic statues of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Denis Law. This is an absolutely amazing set and the scale and detail of the enormous set cannot be undersold.
Dimension: 6.5” high, 18” long, and 15” wide
Weight: 13.5 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13- Adult
Number of Pieces: 3898
Pros:
- An absolute must have for Manchester United
- Incredible detail
- Exact scaling
- Bragging rights as one of the sets with the most pieces ever made
Con:
- A little smaller in size then some of these other large sets
6. Creator Expert Big Ben Building Set
Summary: Nothing says London or England more than the world’s most famous clock tower Big Ben. Big Ben is 315 feet in real life with clock dials 23 feet in diameter. This set is not 315 in height but feels large at 23” tall. This incredible model of London’s Big Ben is an astounding 4163 pieces.
Big Ben is a London cultural icon with its Gothic Revival Style. This Gothic style is poured into every detail of this complex LEGO set. The tree and lampposts add to the beautiful grounds of Big Ben. The tower roof can be removed in order to access the belfry.
This huge set is a great sight when completed and makes a great decoration in any room. Be ready for hours of technical fun putting it together. Big Ben is sure to be a fun set to buy for any teen or adult.
Dimension: 23” high, 7” deep, and 17” wide
Weight: 7.9 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13- Adult
Number of Pieces: 4163
Pros:
- The clock hands can be moved
- Showcase piece
- Pieces come in marked bags
Con:
- Repetitive steps can become tedious
7. Creator Tower Bridge Set 10214
Summary: This replica of the London Tower Bridge contains 4287 pieces. It is recommended for ages 16 and up, but it is really doable for children 10 and up. The finished Tower Bridge is symmetrical. Some find that enjoyable, while others prefer a bigger challenge.
The working drawbridge is fantastic, and the set also comes with four mini vehicles including a taxi, truck, car, and double-decker bus.
The final product is eye-catching, with great color contrast between the water and the bridge. Finished size measures over 40” long and is truly impressive once completed. Once assembled, the Tower Bridge can come apart in sections for easy moving.
London Tower Bridge Dimension: 40” long, 17” wide, and 10” high
Weight: 9.6 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 12- Adult
Number of Pieces: 4287
Pros:
- Beautiful finished piece
- Working drawbridge
- Compatible with other LEGO bricks for creative play
Cons:
- Pieces do not come sorted
- Bags are not numbered
8. Creator Expert 10234 Sydney Opera House
Summary: Build one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, the Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. The Syndey Opera house is located on the beautiful Sydney Harbor. The large structure is meant to look like sea shells and is supported by hundreds of concrete piers.
This complicated adult set is built out of almost 3000 bricks. This set uses a variety of LEGO techniques in order to build the architectural shape of the Sydney Opera House. Prepare yourself for hours of LEGO build with your child or by yourself with this challenging set.
London Tower Bridge Dimension: 11″ (28cm) high, 25″ (63cm) wide, and 15″ (38cm) deep
Weight: 12.0 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13-Adult
Number of Pieces: 2989
Pros:
- Set broken into 4 different sections makes building easier
- Delicate and fantastic roof design
- Build is fairly straightforward considering the size
Con:
- A little bit of open space behind the roof
9. Creator Expert Roller Coaster 10261 Building Kit
Summary: Take all the grand amusement of a roller coaster and combine it with LEGO ingenuity and you have this fantastically fun LEGO roller coaster. This 2019 toy of the year winning set includes 11 minifigures that fill a variety of different roles at an amusement park, including grandparents, kids, and park attendants. Although I wish that powered cars would be the standard at this price, the manual mechanics on this set are really ingenious.
You can upgrade the set with power functions if you want to see a little more automation. One of my favorite features is the track will move to bring in a new set of cars. With over 4000 pieces, this set can be really challenging. It’s really only age appropriate for kids over 10 years old, but most kids will need help from an adult. Make sure to give yourself a few days to put it together.
Roller Coaster Dimensions: 20″ high, 34″ wide, 16″ deep
Weight: 16 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 10-Adult
Number of Pieces: 4124
Pros:
- So many great details including hats that have dropped to the ground
- Mechanical aspects of the model function well
- Is not only fun to assembly, but tons of fun to play with
Cons:
- A little disappointing that the cars are only manually driven unless you pay extra to upgrade
- Some of the build can be a bit tedious
Intricate and Unique Lego Vehicle Sets
These vehicle sets are impressive to say the least. The details are incredible, and you will be proud to showcase your hard work. These sets are for show only; they do not lend well to being played with. LEGO vehicle sets often have available light sets (sold separately). They often have movable parts to complete the set (also sold separately).
What is a Lego Technic Set?
According to Wikipedia’s page on Lego Technics, “Lego Technic is a line of Lego interconnecting plastic rods and parts. The purpose of this series is to create more advanced models with more complex technical functions, compared to the simpler brick-building properties of normal Lego.” Technic allows those using the LEGOs to build complex mechanisms such as gear boxes, motors, or allow for mechanisms to be used that involve power.
10. Technic Bugatti Chiron Building Kit Set 42083
Summary: This cool Bughatti car LEGO set is truly remarkable–a piece of art that any car enthusiast would appreciate. It is extremely large and challenging for a car set, at 3599 pieces. LEGO engineers worked hand-in-hand with Bughatti engineers to make sure every detail from this beautiful car is present inside and out. This beautiful car measures over 5” (14cm) high, 22” (56cm) long, and 9” (25cm) wide. All 16 pistons in this set move up and down.
The cockpit can be opened and features a Technic 8-speed gearbox with a movable paddle gearshift and a steering wheel bearing the Bugatti emblem. This is an absolute monster of a LEGO set that contains not just a great looking car, but a great looking package to go with it. Every detail is covered in this set. This set may be expensive, but it isa work of art. Maybe it is the car fan in me, but this is my favorite set of all of these difficult to build sets. If you are to own just one set, to me this is it.
LEGO Bughatti Dimensions: over 5” (14cm) high, 22” (56cm) long, and 9” (25cm) wide
Weight: 13 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14-Adult
Number of Pieces: 3599
Pros:
- Amazing detail that contains many moving pieces
- Beautiful showpiece
- Great looking packaging
Cons:
- Pricier than most of these sets
- Takes a long time to build (not necessarily a con)
11. Lamborghini Sián FKP 37
Summary:
The most anticipated LEGO set for a long time has finally arrived. This Lamborghini model is not only a fantastic LEGO set, but just like the car it is based off ,it’s a work of art with its sleek lines and amazing details. Don’t worry this gorgeous model will not set you back $3.7 million like the car, but it comes at a respectable retail cost of $380.
The Lamborghini is called FKP after the great designer Ferdinand Karl Piëch, and boy is it packed full of amazing Technic features. The hood can be moved up in the back and expose this complicated and beautiful 8-speed V12 engine. The Sián comes with a whopping 3696 pieces. My favorite functioning feature of the car is the Scissor Doors. They move up and down just like the car.
Other great features included on the car are the Epsilon light in the back, the typical Countach hood, the angular intake, and most of all the curves that give Lamborhini its definitive shape are all maintained and highlighted on this LEGO set. Just like the LEGO Porshe and Bughatti, the box of this model is almost as nice as the car itself. While some may think the new cost is too high, for the details and elements included this set is actually a good value. Make sure to get it before LEGO runs out.
Dimension: 23” (58cm) long, 9” (23cm) wide and 5” (13cm) tall
Weight: over 16 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13- Adult
Number of Pieces: 3696
Pros:
- Sleek lines
- 8 speed engine
- Scissor doors
- Looks great as a display
Con:
- Not a ton of moving features for a Technic set
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12. Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Summary: This LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS set is beautifully detailed. With 2704 pieces, it is recommended for 16 and older, but we find it to be doable for 14 and up. The instructions have you build this car in a very similar order to how an actual Porcsche is really built. This beautiful car measures over 6” high, 22” long, and 9” wide. Included with the set is a book detailing the history of Porsche GT vehicles.
LEGO and Porsche engineers spent a year making sure all the mechanisms function. The only downside to the great working gear train on this Porsche is that it is hard to see once the Technic Porsche is fully put together. This set is beautiful from opening the box, through gear trains, and through final assembly. I strongly recommend that this set not be given to anyone under than 14 without adult supervision.
LEGO Porsche 911 GT3 RS Dimensions: over 6” high, 22” long, and 9” wide
Weight: 11.2 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14-Adult
Number of Pieces: 2704
Pros:
- Excellent instructions
- Lifelike details
Cons:
- Showpiece only
- Not usable as a toy
13. Porsche 911 RSR 42096 Race Car Building Set
Summary: In yet another collaboration between Porsche and LEGO, this great set is a great representation of the Porsche 911 RSR. LEGO has gone through a lot of hard work to create this great GT racer. Some of the best parts of this LEGO set are the great racer features that you can see and feel up close, including the car suspension and incredible engine. You can steer the car by opening up the accessible cockpit and moving the steering wheel back and forth. It also has moving pistons as one of its key features.
At over 19 inches long, this car is truly massive. This car is beautiful and the detailed instruction book describes every step of the built. With 295 pages of instructions, this set will definitely keep you busy for quite a while. The stickers on this set area also very well done and add a lot of detail to the car. This Technic set is definitely worth having in your collection and looks fantastic on your shelf. This set will be great purchase for adults or teens.
Porsche 911 RSR Dimensions: 5″ high, 19″ long, 7″ wide
Weight: 5.3 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 11 years to adult
Number of Pieces: 1508
Pros:
- Excellent instructions
- Fantastic racing details including suspension, spoiler, and working steering
Cons:
- Could be a few more moveable parts for a Technic set
- Mostly made just for display
14. Ford Mustang 1950
The Ford Mustang was built to be a fierce speed machine. This exclusive muscle car from the year 1950 is bound to impress muscle car and LEGO enthusiasts alike. The Ford Mustang was a force of classic car muscle. The Ford Mustang 1950 was equipped with an incredibly powerful 380 v9 engine. This gorgeous classic car measures over 3” (10cm) high, 13” (34cm) long and 5” (14cm) wide.
Ford and LEGO spared no expense to make sure all the details are just spot on. I really like the way the engine looks and feels. Although this isn’t a Lego Technic set, it is sure to be a classic display set in your house. I think tweens and kids ages 9 and up will enjoy building this set with some extra help from an adult. It isn’t quite as complicated as the Bugatti or Porsche, but it is still a winner.
Ford Mustang Set Dimensions: Over 3” (10cm) high, 13” (34cm) long, and 5” (14cm) wide
Weight: 11.2 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 9 years old up to adult
Number of Pieces: 1471
Pros:
- Tons of exquisite car details
- Classic look and feel
Cons:
- Showpiece only
- Few moving parts
15. NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander 10266 Kit
Summary: The Eagle Lunar Lander was made in tandem with NASA to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first steps on Mars. This great set is not only educational, but a ton of fun to put together. It has a LEGO difficulty rating of 16+, but your 12 or 13-year-old can put it together if they are careful.
One of the best features of this set is the white bricks that represent the steps that Neil Armstrong took. This set has quite a few rare gold bricks to show the great metallic look of the Lunar Lander. The American flag is prominent to show that the Eagle has landed and US has won the space race to the moon.
This set has a modest 1087 pieces, but it feels like more. The best part of the set is the great manual that comes with it. It’s like a history manual with all the pictures, facts, and details of this momentous spacecraft. The space minifigures that come with set are fantastic with their gold helmets and NASA uniforms.
Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Dimension: over 7″ (20cm) high, 7″ (20cm) long, and 8″ (22cm) wide
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13-Adult
Number of Pieces: 1087
Pros:
- Fantastic space details
- Lots of gold pieces
- A great looking manual loaded with history making pictures
Con:
- Not a lot of pieces for the cost
Largest Star Wars LEGO Sets for Teens and Adults
These Star Wars Sets are not only fun for teens and adults alike, but are they perfect for Star Wars fans. They make great LEGO sets to build again and again, and they also make a great decoration after completion.
These challenging Star Wars sets cover some of the most iconic crafts in all of Star Wars. They are fun for adults, teens, and children, but they take a lot of time, patience, and organization.
16. LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon
The Millenium Falcon is the absolute crown jewel of Star Wars rebel Han Solo. It comes to life in this huge set which contains 7541 pieces. This Star Wars set is great for adults and teens. Included are 4 figures from the original Star Wars crew: Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO. It also includes three Episode 7 and 8 figures: Original Han Solo, Finn, and Rey.
Measuring over 33″ long, the Falcon includes a blaster cannon that is revealed by sliding the panel open. An included card explains the specs and dimensions of the Millennium Falcon from the movies. This Star Wars set is perfect for ages 14 up to adult.
Millennium Falcon Dimension: over 8″ (21cm) high, 33″ (84cm) long, and 22″ (56cm) wide
Weight: 32.6 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14-Adult
Number of Pieces: 7541
Pros:
- Realistic external features that include satellite dish and blaster cannon
- Interior details include seating area and holographic game combat
- Very detailed instructions
Con:
- Requires quite a lot of maneuvering to put together (lifting and turning)
17. Star Wars Death Star
A Star Wars LEGO collection is never complete without a Death Star. This large detailed cruising planet destroyer takes all of its over 4016 pieces to complete.
This huge Star Wars Death Star contains 25 detailed mini figures including many of your favorite Jedi and Imperial Troops. This set also allows you to put together the famous trash compactor monster.
These mini figures bring the adventure to life for play or modeling. This Death Star Set includes classic movie scenes staged inside it including a trash compactor, detention center, and Emperor Palpatine’s throne room. Any Star Wars fanatic would love to get this as a gift, or maybe you just want to put it together yourself.
Death Star Dimension: 21″ x 18.1″ x 15.2″
Weight: 20.6 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 12-Adult
Number of Pieces: 4016
Pros:
- A large number of mini figures
- Stage scenes from either the original movies or recent movies
- Great Tie Fighter vehicle included
Cons:
- Can be a little unstable if played with too much
- Harder to mount than some of the other Star Wars sets
18. Star Wars Sandcrawler 75220
Summary: This large Sandcrawler LEGO Set is a great representation of the Sandcrawler found in Star Wars Episode IV—A New Hope. The 3296 pieces come to life with 7 great mini figures: Luke Skywalker, C-3PO and 4 Jawas, R2-D2, Unlce Owen and main other great droids. There are also some fun mechanisms including a 8 different tracks that can be steered, a front door that can lower to form a ramp, two claws that can be lowered, and a speeder bike that allow staging of scenes from the movie.
Sandcrawler Dimension: 9″ (24cm) high, 18″ (48cm) long, and 6″ (16cm) wide
Weight: 9.9 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 11-Adult
Number of Pieces: 3296
Pros:
- Functioning tracks and doors
- Contains two working cranes
- Goes together easily with precise instructions
Con:
- Not as pretty as some of the other Star Wars Lego sets
19. LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer 75252
Summary: This one of the most massive LEGO sets ever made. You have to see this Star Destroyer to believe it. As a huge fan of the Star Wars movies, I believe this gives you everything you want in an imperial ship including great guns, sharp angular lines, and fantastic details that look so realistic. One of my favorite features is the unbelievable engine exhausts. With the blue color in the middle and sophisticated shapes up close, you would swear this would be a real spaceship.
This is one of the more difficult sets to build, with almost 5000 pieces. Many of these pieces look similar so it takes a lot of patience and manipulation to put together, but once it is put together this would be a trophy any adult would love to show off. This set comes with 2 different minifigures (imperial officer and crew member) that are nice looking but not super exciting.
Imperial Star Destroyer Dimensions: over 14“ high, 43“ long, and 26“ wide
Weight: 11.2 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14 years to adult
Number of Pieces: 4784
Pros:
- Enormity of this set at almost 4 feet long
- So many great looking weapons, blasters, and ship details
- Tantive IV is a part of the set as a separate small ship
Cons:
- Expensive set
- Monotone colors can make it difficult to assemble
20. First Order Star Destroyer 75190 Kit
Summary: There is no ship of greater intimidation in the Star Wars Galaxy than the Empire’s Destroyer. Teens and kids alike will get a thrill with this incredible ship. This Star Wars Star Destroyer will bring hours of fun with its 6 rebellion fighting mini figures. It has a Medical Droid that you can put together. Multiple weapons allow interaction and pretend combat play.
This set is probably more appropriate for younger audiences; I don’t think adults will get the same enjoyment out of it that a young teen would. This set is a much smaller and simpler version of the set above, but it’s also much less expensive. The top panels open up to show the interior of the ship. Although this set can be played with, it is still mostly a display item.
Star Destroyer Dimension: 5″(14cm) high, 22″ (56cm) long, and 12″ (32cm) wide
Weight: 6 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 12-Adult
Number of Pieces: 1416
Pros:
- Opening the doors of the destroyer is fun
- Great theme with lots of mechanical extras
- Easy to move the ship around
Cons:
- Can be a bit fragile when opening the doors
- Lacking some of the detail of some of the other Star Wars sets
21. Kylo Ren’s Shuttle 75256 Kit
Summary: This great looking shuttle is Supreme Leader Kylo Ren’s ominous attack vehicle from the Rise of Skywalker. It is one of the more fun Star Wars LEGO sets to not only build but to play with as well. This set is one of the easier to build sets with a LEGO build rating of 10 years old and older. I think that age group is appropriate for a build on this set.
This set comes with 6 fun and playable minifigures which are unique and loaded with details. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren’s minifigure has a great dual sided face as well as a cracked helmet to signify his fascination with Darth Vader. This is the first set to feature a Sith Trooper. General Pryde also has a dual face with grey and dark colored uniform. The set is finished off with two sets of knights of Ren as well as a First Order Storm trooper.
My favorite part of this set is the mechanical function of the set. The wings can not only be open and closed by hand, but they can be opened by turning the engine on the back. This is a very clever mechanism that makes it function very similar to how it looks in the movie. It is easy to fit up to 3 minifigures in the cockpit that can open and close. The large wings give this set a huge presence when the wings are folded in.
Overall this is a great buy for LEGO fans at a little over $100. If you are a fan of Kylo Ren, this is a great build for you.
Dimension: 13” high, 8” long, and 19” wide
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 9 – Adult
Number of Pieces: 1005
Pros:
- Includes a stand and makes a great display piece
- Comes with 6 great looking minifigures
- Functional wings that open and close
Con:
- Set better for display rather than play
22. A-wing Starfighter 75725
Summary: The dark side knows the power of the A-wing. In Return of the Jedi an A-wing took down a star destroyer. This set won’t win the war for the Jedi, but it is a great set to build. This A-wing has the distinction of having the hardest to build classification that LEGO gives, that of 18+. Although it is really challenging I think that with a little patience, sharp kids 15 and older can put this together.
The Starfighter is an Ultimate Collector Series set and everything is premier and top of the line. This set includes 2 great minifigures to pilot your A-wing to victory. The A-wing pilot with green pilot shit has a happy and sad face to show the highs and lows that can come from a space battle. A C3PO minifgure is also included. The cockpit can only comfortably fit 1 minifigure, so it looks like C3PO will have to sit this battle out. The set features a few Technic style pieces and the guns can rotate into position.
This is one of the better looking of the Ultimate Collector Series, and it makes a truly great model to proudly display on the shelf. Rounded LEGO pieces and engine pieces that look like they move give this set some very realistic details. Included is a mount to display the A-wing with. Depending on your preferences, the set can be displayed in four different ways.
A-wing Starfighter Dimension: over 10.5″ high, 9″ long, and 7″ wide
Weight: 5.29 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13-Adult
Number of Pieces: 1673
Pros:
- Contains tons of great round Lego pieces to create a slick spaceship look
- Many ways to display the set
- Love the look of the glowing engines
Cons:
- Some of the engine pieces can wobble a little bit if played with
- Stickers can be a bit challenging to place
Heroes and Villain LEGO Sets
From Harry Potter to Batman, from Disney to Marvel, these LEGO sets are complex, challenging, and perfect for the adult builder. These sets take some of our favorite characters immortalized in books and movies and combine them with a large complex model. Some of these sets will truly bring to life some of the most famous scenes from Hollywood.
23. Disney Castle Set 71040
Summary: Experience the magic of Walt Disney with this elaborate and challenging castle LEGO set for adults. Your young son of daughter may love looking and playing with this, but this large LEGO set will definitely take an adult touch to build. This set truly captures some of the remarkable details of this iconic castle. If you are going to tackle this build, make sure to give yourself at least 13 hours to build this unless you bring a friend.
What Disney castle is complete without a few friends? Mickey, Minny, Donald, Daffy, and Goofy bring this Disney LEGO set to life. Remove the roof of the castle to find Cinderella’s glass slipper and some Disney magic.
Cinderella’s Castle Dimensions: 29” (74cm) high, 18.8” (48cm) wide, and 12” (31cm) deep
Weight: 12.7 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13-Adult
Number of Pieces: 4080
Pros:
- Extremely ornate design
- Captures the magic of Cinderella’s castle
- High-quality details and stickers
Cons:
- Difficult to move the set once assembled
- Cinderella figurine not included
- You might be building this set for a young child, but it is more of a display piece
24. The Ice Castle Set #43197
Summary:
Finally LEGO has done it. LEGO has made the amazing Frozen castle where Elsa learned to really use her powers to let it all go in the first “Frozen” movie. Fans of the movies and LEGO collector will love the ornate nature of this castle. The castle comes with 5 minifigures including 2 different Elsa minifigures. One is the Elsa with ice coming out of her hands, the other is the Coronation Elsa before she lost control of her powers.
The 3 other minifigures capture the nature of the different characters including Olaf, Anna, and Christoff. The only themed character I would have loved to see that wasn’t included was that of the giant snowman sentinel that Elsa created to guard the castle.
Overall this is a really great looking set with a ton of focus spent by LEGO to capture the magic of this castle. Some of my favorite features are the actual tiles themselves. Some pieces are translucent, some pieces are glittery, and some are just sharp and ornate. The staircase is a combination of translucent pieces as well as some technic pieces that go together to make a truly stunning staircase.
Ice Castle Dimensions: 26 in. (65 cm) high, 14 in. (35 cm) wide and 8 in. (19 cm) deep
Weight: 5.8 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13-Adult
Number of Pieces: 1709
Pros:
- Magnificent details and colors
- Captures the magic of the Frozen Ice Castle
- Set is very playable
Cons:
- Not a ton of pieces
- Doesn’t include the ice castle snowman sentinel
25. Disney Train and Station
Summary: One of the most magical memories I had at Disney in the theme parks as a child were the monorails that take you between Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. Just like most things that Disney has created, this Disney train station and train set captures the magic of Disney and the ingenuity that the parks are known for.
One of the best parts of this set is the 5 uniquely designed Disney minifigures the set comes with. After all, what would a Disney park be without Mickey and Minnie Mouse and friends? This set is all built from LEGOs but still functions great as a standard train set with power functions. Make sure you have your batteries available. This is a great set to not only build and look at, but it is also a great set to play with.
Disney’s Train Dimensions: over 4” high, 30” long, and 3” wide
Disney’s Train Station Dimensions: 15” high, 14” wide, and 6”deep
Disney’s Train Track Dimensions: 37” long and 27” wide
Weight: 9.5 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 9 years to adult
Number of Pieces: 2925
Pros:
- Captures the magic of Disney transportation
- Fully functioning train and train track
- Comes with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, and Dale
Cons:
- Although the miniatures are great, it would have been nice to have a few more
- Set is a little expensive for the number of pieces
26. Voltron
Summary: Voltron Unite! I grew up in the 1980s and loved the show Voltron. For those that do not know the background on the TV show, Voltron is similar to Power Rangers in that human characters get together and fight together as a mega robot. This set is not only a great model, but it is fun to play with.
Each of the lions can move their feet and move independent of the mega robot. The mega robot can have its sword moved by moving the arm. This set would make a perfect gift for fans of the TV show or fans of the Japan-style cartoon genre.
Voltron Assembled Dimensions: 15” high 5” long, and 8” wide
Black Lion’s Dimensions: 6” high, 8” long, and 5” wide
Other Lion’s Dimensions: 3” high, 7-8” long
Weight: 8.25 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 9 years and older
Number of Pieces: 2321
Pros:
- Lions can be separated and assembled
- Captures the full 1980s glory
- Great detail and scale
Cons:
- Pretty simple build
- Not as complex or intricate as some of these other sets
27. Marvel Super Heroes 76042 The SHIELD Helicarrier
Summary: Marvel Agents of Shield Hellicarrier is 2996 LEGO pieces and over 31″ of superhero complexity and challenge. This set is challenging enough to keep anyone busy for hours. It not only contains the Hellicarrier, but this set also contains 3 microscale Quinjets, 3 fighter jets, a gasoline truck, and 2 forklift trucks. I really enjoy how the rotors look and feel. The blue rotors can be turned by hand.
Lego Minifigures Nick Fury, Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Maria Hill, and 8 shield agents are included to help create a unique Shield experience. You can buy three extra light and power function kits if you want to bring this set even more to life.
Marvel Agents of Shield Hellicarrier Dimensions: 11” high, 31” long, and 17” wide
Weight: 12.0 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14 years-Adult
Number of Pieces: 2996
Pros:
- Includes lots of vehicles
- Includes a detailed runway
- This set includes 5 minifigures and 13 microfigures
Cons:
- Lights and spinning rotors can be added but have to be purchased separately
- Some of the micro details and figures are almost too small
28. LEGO NINJAGO NINJAGO City Gardens 71741
Summary: LEGO Ninjago fans, we have truly found the set for you. Tweens and teens are going to love this large Ninjago City Garden Set which comes with 19 great looking minifigures including Tito, Young Lloyd, Mei, Kai, Zane, Urban Cole, Cece, Urban Jay, Urban Nya, Hai, Wu Legacy, Misako, and Ronin. This set is just incredibly massive with its 5 different tiers and stands at over 29 inches.
Every inch of this set is just packed and loaded with details. This set is a fan’s dream, where each of the rooms is individually themed based on the Ninjago universe. This set is better suited for the collector, but can be carefully played with. Some of my favorite features are the hidden rooms and literal easter eggs hidden in the set. Between Chen’s Noodle Shop and the Ninjago Museum this set has something for everyone.
Ninjago City Garden Dimensions: 18″ (45cm) x 29″ (73cm)x 13″ (33cm)
Weight: 15.5 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 11-Adult
Number of Pieces: 5685
Pros:
- Details, details, details
- Over 5000 piece build
- Includes 19 minifigures
Cons:
- Some parts of the set are scaled strangely
- Must be played with carefully
29. LEGO Superheroes 76023 The Tumbler
Summary: The Dark Knight is back in this great Batmobile set called The Tumbler. If you are a Batman and hard LEGO set fan, this is a great choice. This large vehicle is dynamic and full of awesome details. The Tumbler set also comes with a spec sheet on the vehicle from the movie. There is an additional light kit available separately that really adds a lot to the look of this set. Plan on at least 8 hours for this Dark Knight build. Some of the key features of this set are custom wheels, great looking cockpit that fits a minifigure, and included movie spec card. This set looks and feels much bigger than the picture shown.
Batman’s Tumbler Dimensions: over 5″ (15cm) high, 15″ (40cm) long, and 9″ (24cm) wide
Weight: 7.5 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14-Adult
Number of Pieces: 1869
Pros:
- Batman and Joker mini figures are incredible
- Cool factor is off the chart
Con:
- The Tumbler can be a little flimsy if played with
30. BATMAN MOVIE DC The Joker Manor 70922
Summary: The Joker’s Manor in this replica from Batman the Movie is a huge set which contains 3444 pieces. This set is themed exactly how you would expect from the Joker’s lair. It has a working roller coaster as well as punching bags, bold color, a bendy mirror, and a trapdoor. The Joker’s Manor contains a cinema room, music studio, pool room, and kitchen, among other rooms.
This set contains 10 mini figures including: The Joker, Batman, Harley Quinn. It also includes multiple Disco mini figures including Batman and the Joker. The best features of this set are the playability of it. It truly allows for imagination to run wild including hosting a disco party with the disco minifigures. This set may not be cheap, but the details, and fun of the set make it worth it. This challenging set is highly recommended as a buy for Batman LEGO fans.
Joker’s Mansion Dimensions: over 21” (55cm) high, 25” (66cm) wide, and 10” (27cm) long
Weight: 12.0 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14-Adult
Number of Pieces: 3444
Pros:
- Great mechanical pieces that are fun to explore
- Theme is embedded in every aspect of this set
- Set is separated well and instructions to build are very thorough
Con:
- Roller coaster is so large that it can get in the way of accessing the manor’s rooms
31. Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle 71043
Summary: I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and this set is absolutely amazing. Just like everything that JK Rowling does, this set has every detail that the Hogwarts castle should have. This set has 4 minifigures that represent the founders of Hogwarts including Rowena Ravaenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. It also includes a whopping 27 microfigures including everyone’s favorite movie characters–Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Lord Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and many, many more.
This gorgeous and difficult set takes over 6000 pieces to come together. This set is not cheap, but is worth it because of all the great details that are viewable everywhere with this castle. Plan on spending at least 2 days to build this set, and I’d strongly recommend a helper. Younger kids may enjoy the playability of this set, but this set will require an adult or older teenager to build. This set is truly a great build and an amazing ginormous set for tweens.
Hogwarts Castle Dimensions: over 22″ (58cm) high, 16″ (43cm) deep, and 27″ (69cm) wide
Weight: 18.0 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 13 years-Adult
Number of Pieces: 6020
Pros:
- Set is truly stunning and is over 22″ high
- Tons of mini and microfigures to allow for movie scene creation
- Set is fun for kids and adults
Cons:
- Microfigures are to scale, but more minifigures would have been preferred
- Many of the pieces are very small in order to create the level of details that the set contains
32. Harry Potter Diagon Alley
Summary: This Diagon Alley set was released September 1, 2020 and is a must have for Harry Potter Fans. The set captures the same magic as the best Diagon Alley buildings from all of the movies. This set has the following Diagon Alley buildings: Olivander’s Wand shop, Scribbulus, The Daily Prophet, Quality Quiddich Supplies, Flourish & Blotts, Florean Fortescues Ice Cream Parlor, Knockturn Alley, and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.
Unlike some of the sets on this list, this set is meant to be played with. It allows Harry Potter fans to recreate many great moments from the Harry Potter series. To make this set playable, it has 14 amazing minifigures themed from what the characters were wearing while at Diagon Alley in the movies. Some of the best scenes you can create include Harry Potter’s magical trip to Olivanders and the opening of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. I think the best minifigures are Gilderoy Lockhart with his purple and gold cape and Hagrid with his large beard and trench coat. Both Hagrid and Gilderoy capture the unforgettable nature of these characters.
At over 3 feet long with the buildings placed next to each other, this set feels really big. Adults and kids alike will have tons of fun looking at this set. It looks just as good as a display with its vibrant colors and magical design. Overall, this set can’t be missed.
Hogwarts Castle Dimensions: over 11″ (29cm) high, 40″ (102cm) deep, and 5″ (13cm) deep
Our Age Recommendations: 12 years-Adult
Number of Pieces: 5544
Pros:
- 14 minifigures and Hedwig
- Easy to play with and re-create scenes
- Amazing details from the movie maintained
Cons:
- Each building is split between two themes
33. LEGO Apocalypseburg
Summary: This circular LEGO set is unlike any I have ever seen before. Just like the crazy events that connect a LEGO Movie together, this set is connected together in a circular summary of some of the best scenes of this exciting movie. Apocalypseburg is tons of fun in a LEGO movie sort of way.
This set includes 12 amazing minifigures including: Emmet, Batman, Lucy, Chainsaw Dave, Green Lantern, Scribble Cop, Harley Quinn, Larry the Barista, Mo-Hawk ,and a few others. With this great piece that represents so many movie scenes it is easy to re-create some of your favorite action scenes from the movie. My ten-year-old loves this set, and it is doable for tweens and teens, though they may need some help. I really like the shear playfulness of this set, as well as the size of Statue of Liberty.
Dimensions: over 20” high, 19” wide, and 12” deep
Weight: 12 pounds
Our Age Recommendations: 14 years-Adult
Number of Pieces: 3178
Pros:
- Great representation of THE LEGO MOVIE 2
- Lots of fun minifigures
- Detailed instructions
Cons:
- It can be difficult to attach the platforms together
- Contains a lot of stickers
What are the different distinctions LEGO gives of difficulty ranking and what distinguishes a challenging set from an easy set.
The recommendations on age are a combination of difficulty, patience, and safety. The younger age recommendations are related to the safety of the child, while with the older age recommendations the intent is to make sure that the set is enjoyable. A 16+ set may be possible for a 10-year-old, but a 10-year-old would probably get frustrated and bored building it. Here are a few of the LEGO ratings. For the younger ratings I would always follow the recommendations LEGO gives to protect your child.
Duplo: LEGO recommends ages 2-5
Juniors: LEGO recommends ages 4-8
16+: The most difficult rating prior to the 18+ designation. This set is going to be a hard build and younger kids are probably not a good fit for it.
18+: From everything I have read this designation makes it a collector piece, but it’s not necessarily more difficult than those in the 16+ category.
FAQs
What is the largest LEGO set every built?
The LEGO Colosseum released in November of 2020 is the largest LEGO set ever built with 9036 pieces.
Which LEGO set takes the longest to build?
The Colosseum and Millennium Falcon are really close, but I think the Taj Mahal takes the longest to build. All of these will take all day to build.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
If you are looking for a set to buy today, I’d recommend buying those sets that are currently in production. You can get a lot more bang for your buck if you pick one of these. Some of the best sets of all time are out of production, but you may have to pay for it. Out of the sets currently in production, I’d recommend the Taj Mahal for a difficult build, or if you want a fun set for kids to play with I would recommend the Harry Potter or Disney Castles.