With 2023 ending, I decided share my 10 favourite sets of 2023. It was not an easy list to produce. The LEGO® Group released around 450 set over the past 12 months. I can’t be sure of the precise number, but it was around there. Initially, my list sat at about 20 sets. However, I have not bought all of them. Since something is holding me back from purchasing them, I eliminated those un-purchased sets. Then, there were others I liked for the Minifigures or animals, but I didn’t really care for the builds as much. I scratched those too. Finally, I went back over my reviews and eliminated some with lower scores. A few sets remain that I have not built. However, I felt the need to go out and buy them, so I’ve kept them onboard. Without further ado, here are my 10 favourite sets of 2023.

This return to Middle Earth was a hotly anticipated set by many AFOLs, myself included. Despite the price, I knew I had to get this set. Luckily, I was still a LEGO® Community Ambassador at the time, and I didn’t have to pay for this one (though I totally would have). The set was not an amazing value, and large swaths of the build were boring as sin. However, I also enjoyed other parts of the build and found them amazingly educational. Additionally, the Minifigures were amazing, and I still have this beautiful set on display months later. You can read my full review of Rivendell by clicking here.

I liked the Botanical Garden enough to buy two of them. Granted, my plan is to combine the two sets into one complete model since I don’t like the open back. The set also doesn’t score higher on my 10 favourite sets of 2023 because it comes with mini-dolls rather than minifigs. With that said, I did find the new Friends mini-dolls a little less creepy than the originals. The large number of windows and the big dome pieces are also great. This set makes my list largely because I liked the build and it inspired me to want to build more. Click here to read my full review of the set.

The Botanical Collection quickly became one of my favourite themes with the first releases of the Bonsai Tree and Flower Bouquet sets. Since then I’ve also acquired and built the Bird of Paradise, and have a few others in my pile of shame. I love these sets for the neat parts they contain. Additionally, the NPU (nice parts usage) in each kit is fantastic. What really struck me about the Wildflower Bouquet was the bright colours. I bought this set almost as soon as it came out, but I have not had the time to build it yet. However, I am sure I will enjoy it when that time comes.

The 1989 Batmobile is my favourite version of Batman’s car. I had the earlier LEGO® GWP version of the car, but was thrilled with this new iteration. In fact, I like it a little bit more. For those who missed out on the earlier GWP, this set is really an amazing score. Additionally, it saves you a lot of money compared to buying the GWP version on Bricklink. I wasn’t too thrilled about another Batman Vs Joker set… as if we have not seen enough of those. This particular set should have focused on Batman Returns and included Red Triangle Gang members to go with Penguin from the Batcave Shadowbox set. You can read my full review of the two 1989 Batmobiles by clicking here.

Similar to the Botanical Collection, I have grown quite fond of LEGO® Art. While I have not built all of the sets, nor have they all interested me, I’ve been inspired by the ones I have. The soundtracks included with each set added to my enjoyment. The Great Wave was the first to stray from the early Dots-format LEGO® Art sets. It added dimension and texture. Additionally, the final build looks beautiful and is worth hanging in any room. This set inspired a couple of my own little LEGO® art projects in the form of two shadowboxes I built. One featured the Pocahontas Minifigure, and the other my cave people collection. Each used layered plates similar to the Great Wave. You can read my full review of the Great Wave by clicking here.

This was a hard pick. A number of my favourite sets this year were from the Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary collection released in June. However, I decided to try to only pick one to be representative of the group. After careful consideration, I decided Dilophosaurus Ambush was my favourite. There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about it. The scene is iconic, the Minifigure is great, and the Jeep is spot on. On top of that, the details for such a small set were impeccable. All that for the extremely affordable price of $24.99. Click here for my review.

The A-Frame Cabin topped my wish list as soon as LEGO® Ideas announced it as an upcoming set. I bought mine on day one. With that said, I have yet to build it. This is one of those sets that I just want to sit down and savour for hours on end. In fact, the top three sets in my 10 Favourite Sets of 2023 are all like that. I’ve been waiting for a day where I can just sit and build for each of them because I SO looked forward to getting each. This particular one speaks to my love of cabins and woods. I also love the use of hammers in the stonework around the base.

I missed out on the original Vikings theme during my Dark Age. I wish I had not. I’m originally from Finland, and even though Finns were not Vikings, the Nordic culture, history, and mythology still speaks to me. LEGO® Ideas really scored this year with two of my favourite sets of the year. I have this set and the Creator 3-in-1 Viking Ship ready for a nice, long build session. I even bought the Marvel Goat Boat to modify for my scene.

El Dorado was one of my biggest surprises of the year. The set was suddenly announced by LEGO® in June, and it didn’t even leak before to the best of my knowledge. The original El Dorado was one of my dream sets as a child. I never had it, it was one of the large, too expensive sets. Just like Pirates of Barracuda Bay, this set immediately topped my wish list. And someday when the mood is right, and a day without other obligations presents itself, this project sits waiting in my LEGO® room for my enjoyment.

2023 was a big year for LEGO® sets. Every year, the bar goes higher and higher. I’m looking forward to seeing what sets amaze me in 2024. What was your favourite set of 2023? Did any others make your 10 favourite sets of 2023 that I did not mention here? Let me know in the comments or reach out on social media.

Until next time,

-Tom

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