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Lego Super Mario
Lego Super Mario
from Wikipedia
Lego Super Mario
SubjectSuper Mario, Luigi's Mansion, Donkey Kong, Mario Kart
Licensed fromNintendo
AvailabilityAugust 1, 2020–present
Total sets178
Official website

Lego Super Mario (stylized as start case) is a Lego theme based on the platform game series Super Mario created by Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.[1] It is licensed from Nintendo.[2] The theme was first introduced on August 1, 2020. Since its release, the Lego Super Mario theme has received generally positive reviews.

Overview

[edit]
Mario stomping a Goomba in My First Course

The Lego Super Mario theme was the result of the collaboration between The Lego Group and Nintendo for the 35th anniversary of the 1985 game Super Mario Bros.[3] The sets are essentially a mix between a Lego set and a video game, where people can build real life versions of 2D Super Mario levels, including grasslands, deserts and Bowser's Castle.[4] The key part of the theme is the interactive Super Mario figurine. Unlike traditional Lego figurines, the Mario figure is large and electronic,[a] with the eyes, mouth and chest use an LED display. Another key feature of the figurine is the scanner on the bottom of the Mario figurine, and Bluetooth connectivity. The scanner uses colors or machine-readable codes to operate.[5] The scanner can change the LED display to affect the expressions or actions of Mario. For example, if the scanner scans the color red, Mario will detect it as lava and pretends to "lose a life". Codes can be placed on enemies, ? Blocks, power-ups, Warp Pipes and flag poles to display action on the chest display, like coins when Mario defeats an enemy.[6][7] All of these produce sound effects, attributing the Super Mario franchise. Finally, the Mario figurine utilises Bluetooth to connect to the official app.[5] The app can also be used for challenges, as a camera and as a digital instruction booklet,[8] and to update the firmware on the Mario figurine. The theme was sold with 11 sets of Mario levels, 4 costume packs which reference previous Mario power ups[b][9] and a blind-bag collection featuring 10 reoccurring Mario enemies.[10][11]

Lego Nintendo Entertainment System

In July 2020, Nintendo unveiled the Lego Nintendo Entertainment System. This set includes a full size replica of the console with a cartridge and controller and a miniature CRT TV which displays gameplay of Super Mario Bros.' World 1-1.[12] The TV supplies a crank, which when turned, can make the game scroll manipulating the 8-bit Mario on the screen move. While unrelated to the original theme, the TV can connect with the interactive Mario figurine, causing it to make sound effects when winding the crank. Inside the console is a homage to the warp zone.[13] This is the largest set out of the whole theme.[14]

In addition, The Lego Group built a life-sized model of Super Mario who appears in the video game. Super Mario contained a total of 23,000 Lego bricks and stands at 1.2 metres tall. Just like the small version, he features a screen on his chest, for his eyes and for his mouth. Pressing the various buttons will elicit different reactions that match up with what happens when regular Lego Super Mario stands on certain types of bricks.[15]

In 2022, The Lego Group built a king-sized model of Bowser who appears in the video game. Bowser contained a total of 663,900 Lego bricks and stands at 14-foot-tall. A king-sized model of Bowser displayed in San Diego Comic-Con.[16][17][18][19]

Development

[edit]

Talks began between The Lego Group and Nintendo in Summer 2015, where the upper management of Nintendo asked to collaborate with the company.[20][21] This followed into a discussion which generated many ideas, before voting on what idea to use. The idea that was the most popular was the idea of an interactive figure. The team didn't have much to work with, with the only words to work with were "do something that only these two companies could do together. It's a Lego product, but it's also a Nintendo product". Lead designer, Jonathan Bennink took some inspiration from the toys-to-life video game Lego Dimensions, but in reverse by bringing the video game to life using toys.[4] The team also took inspiration from Super Mario Maker, taking the idea of players constructing Mario levels and incorporating it into Lego building.[6] The sets themselves took inspiration from many mainline Mario games, however describing the result being "a mix between Super Mario Bros. and also 3D World, with the rounded corners".[20][22]

With the figure itself, the concept for making Mario took 2 years. Bennink and his teams brainstormed a wide range of ideas and prototypes that took advantage of different technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality. Another design involved the figure having a giant screen to display Mario's face, but decided against it due to the vacant void left when being turned off. Bennink then came up with an interactive 3x3 brick with a display, something of which the team hadn't seen before, and decided to settle on it.[20] The design went through rigorous testing for durability and strength, resulting in Nintendo dropping 6,000 prototypes to ensure its quality.[23] Many prototypes were taken to Kyoto workshops for further testing, with the help of Nintendo's creative leader, Takashi Tezuka.[24] These visits occurred often before they were stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sound effects that are emitted from the figure were newly recorded lines from Mario voice actor Charles Martinet, as well as music from composer Koji Kondo.[25]

A Lego Super Mario booth at Lego Trading expo in Taiwan

The Lego Super Mario theme was first teased on March 10, 2020, also known as MAR10 / National Mario Day on both the official Nintendo Lego Twitter, depicting Mario's LED display.[26] The theme itself was then official revealed two days later, when Nintendo released a trailer detailing the sets and overview.[27] Official Lego Stores set up demos for the theme, allowing customers to test it out.[28] The Lego Nintendo Entertainment System was first leaked online by Chinese website VJGamer and German websites Promo Bricks and StoneWars, leaking price and date info.[29] On July 13, 2020, the Lego Twitter account posted a silhouette of the set before being officially revealed the next day.[30][31] Both the theme and the NES set released on August 1, 2020.[32][33] Three sets were made available on July 10, 2020.[24] In Italy, Lego Italia partnered up with Trenitalia in July 2020 to advertise the Lego Super Mario theme on one of their ETR 521 "Rock" electric trains,[34] which would operate between Orte and Fiumicino Airport.[35]

The Trenitalia ETR521 Rock with Lego Super Mario livery at Roma Tiburtina railway station

In July 2020, Design Manager Jonathan Bennink and Marketing Director Christian Munk discussed the Lego Group and Nintendo became close collaborators on Super Mario. Jonathan Bennink explained, "But there is also LEGO DNA at the core of it because after that rough patch that we had, with management saying “where are the bricks?”, in one of the online brainstorms we came up with the idea of the start and the finish. And that anything you build in between out of LEGO bricks is a level. This was also the time where we added the colour sensor to it and this meant that Mario didn't just react to the RFID bricks but also any other bricks, because he can read the basic LEGO colours. Now the whole level became interactive. Then we came up with the idea of collecting coins and you can get coins from jumping on the enemies, from beating the challenges. We added a timer to it, you can get blocks that will give you a little bit more time, for example on the Piranha Slide where you spend a lot of time balancing, you want more time. That is how it evolved into what it is now." Christian Munk explained, "I think we have a unique partnership with Nintendo. This is a LEGO line and the LEGO development process but this has truly been cocreated together with the partner – three times a week we are having Skype calls with Nintendo, they have been helping us as Jonathan said with the tech part and also with the game part, what makes this fun for kids to play, so it’s a good Nintendo and LEGO experience. It’s all about being creative, so what we are hoping is the kids will create the coolest and wackiest creations possible and then play them out to see how many coins they can collect."[36]

Jonathan Bennink revealed why the upcoming theme doesn't use minifigures and how the interactive character was developed. Jonathan Bennink explained, "Mario himself looks like he is built out of fused LEGO bricks. For instance, his tummy is the car element, the car hood, and his hair is 1×1 LEGO set plates, so he looks like he is built up from LEGO bricks. Then the enemies followed suit, because the line is all about building and creativity we also felt that the enemies needed to be built rather than moulded out of one piece. Boo is super rounded in the game but he is square because it is a LEGO version."[37]

Jonathan Bennink and Christian Munk revealed why Super Mario took four years to develop and what they learned from Lego Dimensions. Jonathan Bennink explained, "Yes it did, our bosses are not too happy with it but we made something in the end, so that’s good. It’s definitely about finding the play recipe, that took one and a half years, from that initial idea of an interactive character, then what do you do with him? Because a lot of tech toys out there, they are fun for maybe a day, and then they drop off and here we hope there is a longevity in building levels, just coming up with your own ideas and putting your own creativity into it, and then sharing that with people around you. That just took a little while, then we had to make everything, and then Nintendo was also very concerned about quality and safety so everything that we shipped to them, they dropped five thousand times as well to make sure that it is strong." and Christian Munk explained, "Just to build on that, what also makes me really proud is we have probably one of the first truly interactive play experiences from the LEGO Group. But also what makes it truly unique is it is a hand held interactive play experience where you have the LEGO Super Mario figure in the middle but then you can build this whole world of interactive play around, so you actually build the world yourself. Of course you can follow instructions but you can creatively free build your own level, it’s not special bricks, he reacts to the colour of the bricks, so you can also use the bricks you already have to build a cool world, and then he reacts both to the way you play out the world but also how you have built it, and that’s what I am particularly proud of in this line."[38]

Jonathan Bennink discussed the building instructions are digital rather than the traditional printed instructions and explained, "Thank you for that question, as I would really love to explain to everybody why they are not there. We simply couldn't explain this new way to play on paper. We tried to prototype that a lot, believe me, with arrows kind of showing how to jump with Mario... on paper, it's just too difficult to explain. Kids just skip it. Basically, anything that's not a building instruction they skip because they think it's optional. So by putting the building instructions in the app, it also allows us to put videos in the app, and a 2 or 3 second video tells so much more than a page with say 15 arrows kind of flying around trying to explain a movement. And we know from other projects that kids really appreciate the 3D building instructions because they can get a good 3D view of the build and see exactly where the brick is being placed."[22]

List of sets

[edit]
This is a list of all current Lego Super Mario sets.[39][40]
Number Name Pieces Year Notes
30385 Super Mushroom Surprise Pack[41] 18 2020 Free with qualifying purchases on the Lego shop website or at brand stores.[3]
30389 Fuzzy and Mushroom Platform Pack[41] 39 2021 Free with qualifying purchases on the Lego shop website or at brand stores.
30509 Yellow Yoshi's Fruit Tree[42] 46 2022 Free with qualifying purchases on the Lego shop website or at brand stores.
30702 Toad (Pit Crew) 39 2025 Includes a Lego toy figure of a Mario Kart character - Toad in a pit crew outfit.
40414 Monty Mole & Super Mushroom Expansion Set[43] 163 2020 Only available from preorders of the "Adventures with Mario Starter Course" or from any purchases at official Lego stores.[3] Includes Lego toy figures of iconic Super Mario enemies - Monty Mole
77907 Toad's Special Hideaway Expansion Set[44] 120 2020 Was planned to be a 2020 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, but with cancellation of the event this limited edition set was distributed through Target.
71360 Adventures with Mario Starter Course[45] 231 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario[46] and enemies; Goomba, and Bowser Jr.[47]
71361 Character Packs[45] 23 2020 Every pack contains a buildable character and action brick to play within Lego Super Mario games – it could be a Paragoomba, Fuzzy, Spiny,[48] Buzzy Beetle, Bullet Bill, Bob-omb, Eep Cheep, Blooper, Urchin, or Peepa.
71362 Guarded Fortress Expansion Set[45] 468 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies - Bob-omb, Koopa Troopa, and Piranha Plant.[49]
71363 Desert Pokey Expansion Set[45] 180 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies; a buildable Pokey cactus-like figure and a Monty Mole figure.
71364 Whomp's Lava Trouble Expansion Set[45] 133 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies; Whomp and Lava Bubble figures.
71365 Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set[45] 217 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies; Goomba and Koopa Troopa.
71366 Boomer Bill Barrage Expansion Set[45] 132 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies; 2 'flying' Boomer Bills and a Shy Guy.
71367 Mario's House & Yoshi Expansion Set[45] 205 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of figures - Yoshi[50] and Goomba figures.
71368 Toad's Treasure Hunt Expansion Set[45] 464 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of figures - Goomba, 2 Cheep Cheeps, and Toad[51] and Toadette figures.[52]
71369 Bowser's Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set[45] 1010 2020 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies - Bowser,[53] Dry Bones, Boo and Lava Bubble figures.
71370 Fire Mario Power-Up Pack[54][45] 11 2020 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to use fireballs to defeat enemies quicker.
71371 Propeller Mario Power-Up Pack[54][45] 13 2020 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to fly.
71372 Cat Mario Power-Up Pack[54][45] 11 2020 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to climb walls.
71373 Builder Mario Power-Up Pack[54][45] 10 2020 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to stomp the ground to collect coins.
71374 Nintendo Entertainment System[55] 2646 2020 Not under the Super Mario brand, but can connect with the Mario figurine.
71376 Thwomp Drop Expansion Set[45] 393 2020 Only available from Amazon and Lego stores in the United States and Canada.
71377 King Boo and the Haunted Yard Expansion Set[45] 431 2020 Only available at Target and Lego stores in the United States and Toys "R" Us stores in Canada.
71380 Master Your Adventure Maker Set[56] 366 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of four enemy characters – Larry,[57] Goomba, Bob-omb,[58] and Paratroopa, along with 3 customizable blocks. 2 of them are ?-blocks, and one being a timer block.
71381 Chain Chomp Jungle Encounter Expansion Set[56] 160 2021 This toy playset includes two Lego figures of enemies – a Chain Chomp[59] and Bramball.[60]
71382 Piranha Plant Puzzling Challenge Expansion Set[56] 267 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of enemies; 2 Piranha Plants and Spiny.
71383 Wiggler's Poison Swamp Expansion Set[56] 374 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of a Wiggler,[61] Goomba and Paratroopa.[62]
71384 Penguin Mario Power-Up Pack[56][63] 18 2021 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to belly slide along the ground.
71385 Tanooki Mario Power-Up Pack[56][64] 13 2021 Costume for the Super Mario figurine, giving it the ability to spin and run to collect coins.
71386 Character Packs – Series 2[56] 24 2021 10 unique Lego Super Mario toy characters to collect: Huckit Crab, Spiny Cheep Cheep, Ninji, Foo, Parachute Goomba, Para-Beetle, Poison Mushroom, Thwimp, Fly Guy and Bone Goomba.
71387 Adventures with Luigi Starter Course[65][66][67] 280 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of Luigi, Boom Boom, Pink Yoshi, and Bone Goomba.
71388 Boss Sumo Bro Topple Tower Expansion Set[68] 231 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of Boss Sumo Bro and Crowber.
71389 Lakitu Sky World Expansion Set[68] 484 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of Lakitu, Fuzzy, and Bullet Bill.
71390 Reznor Knockdown Expansion Set[68] 862 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of two Reznors, Blue Toad and Grrrol.
71391 Bowser's Airship Expansion Set[68] 1152 2021 Includes Lego toy figures of Magikoopa, Goomba and Rocky Wrench.
71392 Frog Mario Power-Up Pack[68] 11 2021 Costume for the Mario figure, giving it the ability to jump to collect coins.
71393 Bee Mario Power-Up Pack[68] 13 2021 Costume for the Mario figure, giving it the ability to fly around to collect coins.
71394 Character Packs – Series 3[68][69][70] 23 2021 Every pack contains a buildable character and action brick to play within Lego Super Mario games – it could be a Swoop, Boo, ScuttleBug, Crowber, Torpedo Ted, 1-Up Mushroom, Amp, Galoomba, Bony Beetle or Parachute Bob-Omb.
71395 Super Mario 64 ? Block[71] 2064 2021 Can connect with the Mario figure.
71396 Bowser Junior's Clown Car Expansion Set[72] 84 2022 Vehicle for the Super Mario figurine to ride in. Also contains a Bob-omb.
71397 Lab And Poltergust Expansion Set[73] 179 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Luigi's Mansion enemies and figures - Professor Egad, and Golden Ghost, and a Poltergust costume for the Lego Luigi figurine.
71398 Dorrie's Beach Front Expansion Set[72] 229 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Dorrie and Huckit Crab.
71399 Entryway Expansion Set[73] 504 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Luigi's Mansion enemies and figures - Polterpup, Boo, and Bogmire.
71400 Big Urchin Beach Ride Expansion Set[72] 536 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Big Urchin, Yellow Yoshi, Dolphin, and Cheep Cheep.
71401 Haunt And Seek Expansion Set[73] 877 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Luigi's Mansion enemies and figures - King Boo, Toad, TrashCan Ghost and a Grabbing Ghost.
71402 Character Packs – Series 4[72] 29 2022 Every pack contains a buildable character and action brick to play within Lego Super Mario games – it could be a Stingby, Bully, Goombrat, Ant Trooper, Mechakoopa, Scaredy Rat, Freezie, Coin Coffer, Para-Biddybud or a Baby Penguin.
71403 Adventures with Peach Starter Course[74][75][76] 354 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Lemmy Koopa, Yellow Toad and Lava Bubble.
71404 Goomba's Shoe Expansion Set[75] 76 2022 Vehicle for the Mario figure to ride in. It also contains a Goomba.
71405 Fuzzy Flippers Expansion Set[75] 154 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of 2 Fuzzies.
71406 Yoshi's Gift House Expansion Set[75] 246 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Yoshi and Monty Mole.
71407 Cat Peach Suit And Frozen Tower Expansion Set[75] 494 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Cat Goomba, Magikoopa and Toad. Also contains a cat power-up suit for Lego Peach.
71408 Peach's Castle Expansion Set[75] 1216 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Ludwig Von Koopa, Toadette, Goomba, Bowser and Bob-omb.
71409 Big Spike's Cloudtop Challenge Expansion Set[75] 540 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Big Spike, Boomerang Bro and Piranha Plant.
71410 Character Packs — Series 5[77][78] 47 2022 Every pack contains a buildable character and action brick to play within Lego Super Mario games – it could be a Blue Shy Guy, Red Yoshi, Purple Toad, Waddlewing, Nabbit, Hammer Bro, Toady or Baby Yoshi.[79][80]
71411 The Mighty Bowser[81][82][83][84][85] 2807 2022 Can connect with the Mario, Luigi and Peach figures.[86]
71412 Big Bad Island Expansion Set[87] 354 2022 Includes Lego toy figures of Goomba, Giant Goomba, Giant Red Koopa Troopa and Iggy Koopa. Only available at Target and Lego stores.
71413 Character Packs - Series 6[88] 52 2023 Every pack contains a buildable character and action brick to play within Lego Super Mario games – it could be a Birdo, Green Toad, Ice Bro, Bramball, 2 Cat Goombas (In 1 pack), a Blooper (with 3 baby Bloopers), a Sumo Bro and a Spike.[89]
71414 Conkdor's Noggin Bopper Expansion Set[88] 130 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of only a Conkdor.
71415 Ice Mario Suit and Frozen World Expansion Set[88] 105 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Cooligan and Goomba, also contains an Ice Suit compatible with Mario, Luigi and Peach.
71416 Lava Wave Ride Expansion Set[88] 218 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Fire Bro and 2 Lava Bubbles.
71417 Fliprus Snow Adventure Expansion Set[88] 567 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Red Koopa Troopa, Freezie, Baby Penguin and Fliprus
71418 Creativity Toolbox Maker Set[88] 588 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Wendy O. Koopa, Blue Yoshi and Goomba, along with customizable blocks and items, 3 fruits, a gift box and Super Mushroom.
71419 Peach's Garden Balloon Ride Expansion Set[88] 443 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Pom Pom, Lava Bubble, Blue Toad and Pink Yoshi. Only available at Target and Lego stores.
71420 Rambi The Rhino Expansion Set[90] 106 2023 Vehicle for the Super Mario figurine to ride in.
71421 Dixie Kong's Jungle Jam Expansion Set[90] 174 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Donkey Kong figures Dixie Kong and Sqauwks.
71422 Picnic at Mario's house Expansion Set 259 2023 Includes Lego toy figure Yellow Yoshi
71423 Dry Bowser Castle Battle Expansion Set[91][92] 1321 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Dry Bowser, Bone Piranha Plant, Bone Goomba, Magmaargh and Purple Toad.
71424 Donkey Kong's Tree House Expansion Set[90] 443 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Donkey Kong figures - Donkey Kong and Cranky Kong.
71425 Diddy Kong's Mine Cart Ride Expansion Set[90] 1157 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Donkey Kong enemies and figures - Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Mole Miner and Snaggles.
71426 Piranha Plant[93] 540 2023 A Lego figure of the Piranha Plant enemy from the Super Mario series.
71427 Larry's and Morton’s Airships Expansion Set 1062 2023 Includes Lego toy figures of Super Mario enemies and figures - Larry and Morton. Only available at Target and Lego stores.
71428 Yoshis' Egg-cellent Forest Expansion Set 107 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Super Mario figures - Pink Yoshi and Yellow Yoshi.
71429 Nabbit at Toad's Shop 230 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Nabbit and Yellow Toad.
71430 Penguin Family Snow Adventure 228 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Mother Penguin and Baby Penguin.
71431 Bowser's Muscle Car 458 2024 Includes Lego toy figure of Bowser.
71432 Dorrie's Sunken Shipwreck Adventure 500 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Blooper, Cheep Cheep, Cheep Chomp and Dorrie.
71433 Goombas' Playground 173 2024 Includes Lego Goomba toy figures.
71434 Soda Jungle Maker Set 598 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Pink Shy Guy, Wiggler, and Piranha Plant.
71435 Battle with Roy at Peach's Castle 738 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of Roy, a Chain Chomp, and Toad.
71436 King Boo's Haunted Mansion 932 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of King Boo, a Yellow Baby Yoshi, a Dry Bones, and a Boo.
71437 The Bowser Express Train 1392 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of A Hammer Bro, Boom Boom, 2 Goombas, and 2 Para-Biddybuds.
71438 Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi 1215 2024 Based on the Super Mario World video game. Can interact with the Mario, Luigi, and Peach figures.
71439 Adventures with Interactive LEGO Mario 218 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of an interactive LEGO Mario figure, plus Bowser Jr., Yoshi, and a Goomba.
71440 Adventures with Interactive LEGO Luigi 210 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of an interactive LEGO Luigi toy figure, plus Kamek, a Pink Baby Yoshi, and a Boo.
71441 Adventures with Interactive LEGO Peach 208 2024 Includes Lego toy figures of an interactive LEGO Peach princess toy figure, plus Lakitu, a Yellow Toad, and a Lava Bubble.
72031 Yoshi Bike 133 2025 Includes a Lego toy figure of a Mario Kart racer and vehicle - Light Blue Yoshi and Yoshi Bike.
72032 Standard Kart 174 2025 Includes a Lego toy figure of a Mario Kart vehicle - Standard Kart.
72033 Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo 387 2025 Includes a Lego toy figure of a Mario Kart racer and vehicle - Donkey Kong and DK Jumbo.
72034 Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi 321 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario Kart racers and vehicles - Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Biddybuggy, and Trispeeder.
72035 Toad's Garage 390 2025 Includes a Lego toy figure of an Mario Kart vehicle - B Dasher.
72036 Baby Peach & Grand Prix Set 823 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario Kart racers and vehicles - Toad, Baby Peach, Lemmy, and Standard Bike, Wild Wiggler and Landship.
72037 Mario & Standard Kart 1972 2025 A Lego set of Super Mario and the Standard Kart.
72038 Wario & King Boo 512 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario Kart racers and vehicles - Wario and Boo, Badwagon and Teddy Buggy.
72039 Bowser's Castle 1068 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario Kart racers and vehicles - Bowser and Yoshi, Standard Quad and Mach 8.
72040 Captain Toad's Camp 159 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Super Mario enemies and figures - Captain Toad and a Goomba.
72041 Party at Toad's House 276 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Super Mario figures - Blue Toad and Green Toad.
72042 Prince Florian & Castle Bowser 1251 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Super Mario enemies and figures - Prince Florian and Pink Yoshi, Wonder Bowser Jr. and a Fiery Note Piranha.
72043 Interactive LEGO Mario & Standard Kart 278 2025 Includes Lego a toy figure of an Mario Kart racer and vehicle - Mario and Standard Kart.
72044 Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit 588 2025 Includes Lego toy figures of Mario Kart racers and vehicles - Toadette and Koopa Troopa, Cat Cruiser and Tanooki Kart.
72045 Shy Guy & P-Wing 249 2025 Includes Lego a toy figure of an Mario Kart racer and vehicle - Shy Guy and P-Wing.

App

[edit]

An app titled Lego Super Mario was developed by software development studio UsTwo for Android, iOS and Fire OS.[94] It was released on July 20, 2020. Since 2021, players have been able to activate the experience via the app and are not restricted to using only Lego Mario and Luigi, but can instead use any combination of the two characters.[95]

Reception

[edit]

Super Mario Theme

[edit]

The theme received generally positive reviews, with most claiming it is a perfect item for kids, but can work for Lego and Mario fans.[96][97] CNET's Scott Stein described the theme to be "solid summer entertainment" which allowed for something to do during lockdown, praising the cute, simplistic to build sets as well as the amount of intractability with the theme but criticized the overwhelming amount of open design and a lack of replayability.[98] Many reviews compared the idea to other Nintendo products such as Super Mario Maker and Nintendo Labo. For example, Alex Olney of Nintendo Life wrote how he realized this was like Mario Maker in a physical form. In the review, he summarized that the Mario figurine is very charming and quite likable as well as citing the simplicity being better suited for younger audiences. However, he did criticize that the level designs and concepts lacked the same charm that the figurine had.[99] Mike Fahey of Kotaku discussed that the best way to play with the theme was to use imagination to enhance the experience. With the figurine, whilst the design started to grow on him, the figurine turned off was unsettling. He felt as a Lego collector, he felt the theme lacked a certain element, adding that more interactive figures could help increase the experience of the theme.[100] In The Telegraph's review, Tom Hoggins felt that the homages in the sets added charm to the overall product, praising the idea as a whole, but did point out that the price range of the sets didn't seem to match with the age range, adding the pricing was more for Lego collectors.[101]

In July 2020, Lego Super Mario was shortlisted for the Play Creators Awards 2020.[102] In October 2020, Adventures with Mario Starter Course was listed on the Tesco’s top ten toys for Christmas 2020.[103] In November 2020, Adventures with Mario Starter Course was listed on the Top Toys for Christmas 2020 as selected by ITV's This Morning.[104]

Lego NES

[edit]

Similar to the Mario theme, this set received positive reviews. Many reviews praised the accuracy of the set to the original design.[105] Other reviews also praise the interactivity with set, mainly with the crank and the console.[106] Kevin Wong of IGN thoroughly enjoyed building the set, even with the long building time. He praised the set for its homages whilst staying faithful to the original design.[107] Graham of Brick Fanatics felt that the NES set was far superior to the Mario theme, praising the functionality and appeal of the set to hardcore Nintendo and Lego fans.[108]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

In 2020, Adventures with Mario Starter Course (set number: 71360) was awarded "DreamToys" in the Licensed To Thrill category by the Toy Retailers Association.[109]

In 2021, Lego Super Mario won the NPD Group's Global and European Toy Industry Performance Awards.[110][111]

In February 2021, Character Packs was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Collectible of the Year" by the Toy Association. Bowser's Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Playset of the Year" by the Toy Association.[112]

In September 2022, Adventures with Peach (set number: 71403) was awarded "Toy of the Year" and also "Playset of the Year" by the Toy Association.[113]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

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[edit]
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LEGO is a construction toy line developed by in collaboration with , integrating physical brick-building with interactive elements drawn from the franchise. Launched on August 1, 2020, following an announcement in April of that year, the theme reimagines classic gameplay through tangible sets that allow players to construct levels, obstacles, and environments using bricks. At its core is the interactive LEGO Mario figure, equipped with LCD screens for expressive eyes, mouth, and belly, along with a speaker for authentic game sounds, music, and reactions triggered by sensors detecting compatible bricks and actions. The inaugural Adventures with Mario Starter Course set, priced at $59.99, includes this figure and essential building pieces to create a basic level with seven action bricks for coin collection, enemy defeats, and power-up interactions. Expansion sets, such as the $19.99 Power Slide and $99.99 ’s Castle Boss Battle, enable modular additions to expand and customize play experiences. Designed for children aged 6 and older, as well as adult enthusiasts, the line promotes , , and problem-solving by bridging digital gaming with hands-on . A free companion app for and Android devices complements the physical sets by providing digital building instructions, score tracking, creative inspiration, and options to share custom levels with others. Since its introduction, LEGO Super Mario has grown into an expansive universe, incorporating additional interactive figures like Luigi, , and Toadette, alongside themed collections featuring elements from broader lore. In 2025, the line expanded further with Kart-inspired sets, including interactive vehicles like the Bike ($14.99) and & Grand Prix Set ($79.99), which integrate racing mechanics such as drifting tracks and shell launchers compatible with existing figures. These additions, targeted at ages 7–8+ with piece counts ranging from 133 to 823, enhance replayability by combining speed-based challenges with the theme's signature interactive feedback.

Background and Development

Origins of the Collaboration

The partnership between and originated in 2016, initiating a multi-year to develop an innovative line of interactive building sets based on the franchise. Initial discussions between the companies began in summer 2015. This marked the companies' first official tie-up, driven by shared goals of fostering creative, family-oriented play that combined physical construction with digital interactivity. Initial discussions evolved into intensive development over four years, with LEGO designers integrating technology seamlessly into brick-built experiences. On the side, key figures such as game producer provided creative oversight, emphasizing a blend of tangible building freedom and the whimsical, level-based synonymous with Mario's digital adventures. The project was publicly announced on March 10, 2020, via a teaser video shared on by both companies, highlighting it as LEGO's inaugural interactive theme where players could construct real-world levels without needing a companion app for core functionality. Early prototypes centered on as the interactive hub, featuring an initial 4-module-high brick figure with embedded LCD screen, speakers, and sensors to detect and respond to surrounding LEGO elements like coins or enemies, laying the groundwork for the final motorized figure design.

Design and Innovation Process

The design and innovation process for commenced around 2016, building on earlier partnership explorations between and to integrate physical brick-building with interactive digital elements. Lead designer Jonathan Bennink joined the project around 2016, overseeing the prototyping of an interactive figure that combined 's modular construction with 's gameplay heritage. The core innovation centered on embedding motors for movement, connectivity for app synchronization, and color-sensing technology within the figure to enable real-time responses to bricks. This allowed the figure to detect and react to colored surfaces and specialized Action Tags, mimicking 's platforming dynamics without relying on external screens. A primary challenge was animating the figures to feel "alive" while preserving Lego's emphasis on creative, hands-on play. Engineers incorporated LED screens in Mario's eyes for expressive animations, a speaker for authentic sound effects like jumps and coin chimes, and sensor-driven reactions to environmental bricks, all powered by tile-based programming encoded in the Action Tags. Early prototypes struggled with balancing mechanical complexity—such as smooth walking and jumping motions via internal motors—against affordability and durability, leading to iterations that used optical sensors and barcodes instead of costlier RFID chips. These elements ensured the figure's behaviors aligned with lore, including reactions to power-up representations and enemy encounters, without introducing punitive game-over mechanics that could frustrate young builders. Lego innovated further through the companion app, which extended gameplay beyond physical sets by tracking digital coin collection and offering intuitive level-building tools for custom courses. The app facilitated firmware updates for the Bluetooth-enabled figure, multiplayer challenges, and inspirational builds, encouraging iterative design without making digital control mandatory for core interactions. This hybrid approach addressed initial concepts that leaned too heavily on app dependency, refining them to prioritize brick-based creativity. Testing occurred iteratively from 2019 to the 2020 launch, with prototypes undergoing rigorous evaluations in at Lego's headquarters and in with Nintendo's team to ensure cultural and technical compatibility. Focus groups in these locations, alongside others in the , , and , refined mechanics like motor-driven movements and sensor accuracy, with each dropped 6,000 times to verify robustness. Weekly video calls between the Danish and Japanese teams facilitated adjustments, confirming seamless integration of power-ups and enemies from Super Mario's universe into the physical play experience.

Core Features and Gameplay

Interactive Figures and Mechanics

The interactive figures central to LEGO Super Mario, including , and , incorporate sophisticated mechanical elements to translate actions into tangible play experiences. Each figure is equipped with a positioned underfoot to identify specific colors and embedded Action Tags, and integrated Bluetooth speakers that deliver over 100 distinct audio reactions paired with animations on LCD screens located in the eyes, mouth, and chest area. These components allow the figures to respond dynamically to their environment without requiring external digital interfaces for basic functionality. Brick interactions form the foundation of gameplay mechanics, where the figures detect and react to specialized LEGO elements to mimic classic Super Mario challenges. Action bricks, when traversed by a figure, activate simulated jumps or rotations via sensor feedback, prompting visual and auditory cues like triumphant sounds or expressive eye displays. Enemy bricks, such as those representing Goombas or Boos, initiate confrontation sequences that require players to manipulate the figure—through tilting or shaking—to "defeat" them and earn rewards, while collectible coin elements register successful pickups by lighting up the figure's screens and playing collection chimes, thereby accumulating a digital score tracked internally by the figure. These physical interactions emphasize hands-on engagement, with the color sensor distinguishing between brick types to trigger context-appropriate responses. Power-up mechanics expand the figures' capabilities through attachable packs that interface with the built-in sensors to alter behavior and unlock new animations. The Fire Flower power-up, for example, equips the figure with a mechanism that detects tilting motions to simulate fireball projection, allowing players to target enemy bricks from afar and collect bonus coins upon successful hits. Similarly, the Tanooki Suit attachment enables spinning actions—activated by rotating the figure—which provide defensive boosts and extra rewards when followed by stomps on adversaries, with the suit's design incorporating ridges that engage torso switches for recognition. These power-ups integrate seamlessly with the core figure hardware, enhancing replayability by introducing varied strategic elements to brick-based levels. Multi-figure play leverages proximity detection to facilitate , supporting up to three figures in simultaneous interaction for cooperative or competitive scenarios. The figures' Bluetooth-enabled sensors allow them to recognize each other's presence within close range, enabling shared challenges like joint enemy defeats or races across courses, where synchronized reactions—such as celebratory sounds upon successes—encourage collaborative building and play. This mode promotes social interaction while maintaining focus on the physical mechanics of movement and brick sensing. The companion app can enhance scoring in these sessions but is not essential for the core hardware-driven interactions.

Role of the Companion App

The LEGO Super Mario companion app, available for free on and Android devices, was released in August 2020 to complement the physical building sets by providing digital enhancements to gameplay. It connects via to interactive figures like , and , providing digital building instructions, score tracking, creative inspiration, and options to share custom levels with others. Key features include the creation of custom challenges where users design levels and share them digitally, application of coin multipliers to boost scores during play sessions, and comprehensive progress tracking that logs collected coins, defeated enemies, and completed obstacles across multiple levels. Subsequent updates have expanded the app's functionality to support evolving product lines. In 2021, introduced multiplayer capabilities, allowing two players to compete or collaborate using paired figures and shared levels via the app. Further expansions in 2023 integrated support for Peach-themed sets, including new building instructions and interactive elements tailored to her unique abilities, such as emotion-based reactions. By 2025, updates added compatibility with sets, incorporating race modes that guide users on drifting, honking, and timing laps, with timers and scoring synced to the app for competitive play. The app also incorporates family-friendly tools, including through LEGO Account verification to manage sharing and access, previews for visualizing builds in real-world spaces before assembly, and a community sharing platform for uploading and downloading user-generated custom builds in a moderated environment. These features ensure safe, enhanced interaction while integrating seamlessly with the physical figures' sensors for a hybrid digital-physical experience.

Product Lines and Sets

Starter Courses

The Lego Super Mario line launched with the Adventures with Mario Starter Course (set 71360) in 2020, serving as the foundational set for the interactive building and play experience. This 231-piece kit, designed for ages 6 and up, includes the app-connected figure, which reacts with lights, sounds, and vibrations to in-game actions, along with enemy figures like a and Bowser Jr., a obstacle, and a flagpole goal to complete the level. Players navigate a basic course to collect virtual coins through jumps and interactions, typically in 7-15 second loops, with a suggested retail price of around $60 and a build time of 30-60 minutes. Subsequent variants expanded accessibility by featuring different characters while maintaining the core mechanics. The Adventures with Luigi Starter Course (set 71387), released in 2021 with 280 pieces, introduces the interactive Lego Luigi figure alongside a spinning challenge, Pink , , and a , allowing for solo or cooperative play via connectivity to the companion app. In 2022, the Adventures with Starter Course (set 71403) followed with 354 pieces, highlighting the Lego figure in a level incorporating a swing set, fruit gifts, Yellow , Koopa, and a Goal Pole for coin collection and role-play elements. These sets, also priced at approximately $60-70 and targeted at ages 6+, emphasize modular building to encourage customization and replayability. By 2025, the theme incorporated racing elements in the Interactive Mario & Standard Kart Starter Course (set 72043), a 278-piece set released in for ages 7+ at about $50, featuring a posable Mario figure in a customizable kart with speed boosts, banana peels, and track modules for dynamic 10-15 second races. All starter courses share the Bluetooth-enabled interactive figure for app-synced audio-visual feedback, basic level designs promoting problem-solving, and compatibility with expansion sets for larger worlds.

Expansion and Power-Up Sets

Expansion and Power-Up Sets form the backbone of customization in the LEGO Super Mario line, enabling players to build expansive, personalized levels by integrating modular elements with starter courses. These sets emphasize replayability through interactive brick-built components that trigger digital sounds, animations, and coin rewards via the app-connected figures. Packs focus on transforming the core character figures, while Expansion Sets introduce environmental challenges, allies, and adversaries, all compatible with the modular track system for seamless integration. Power-Up Packs are compact accessories, typically 4-18 pieces, that clip onto interactive figures like Mario, Luigi, or Peach to unlock video game-inspired abilities. Released starting in 2020, early examples include the Fire Mario Power-Up Pack (71370), a 4-piece set allowing the figure to launch fireballs at enemies for instant defeats and bonus coins. The Cat Mario Power-Up Pack (71372), also 4 pieces, equips the figure with claws for wall-climbing and double-jump actions, enhancing vertical exploration in builds. Another 2020 release, the Propeller Mario Power-Up Pack (71371) with 4 pieces, activates spinning propeller effects and gliding mechanics to traverse gaps. Subsequent packs, such as the 2021 Frog Mario Power-Up Pack (71392) at 11 pieces, reward extended jumps with extra digital coins, promoting skillful platforming. Expansion Sets offer more substantial builds, ranging from 133 to over 400 pieces, that add thematic sections like obstacles or hideouts to any course. The 2020 Mario's House & Expansion Set (71367), comprising 205 pieces, includes a buildable house with interactive elements like a and Super Star Block that reveals hidden rewards when scanned. For enemy-focused play, the 2020 Character Packs Series 1 (71361) provides buildable and figures, among others, enabling dynamic combat sequences where figures react with defeat animations and score boosts. Recent 2024-2025 additions continue this modular approach with themed expansions priced between $10 and $40. The Penguin Family Snow Adventure Expansion Set (71430), a 299-piece kit released in 2024, introduces icy slides and penguin interactions for slippery challenges. Similarly, the Nabbit at Toad's Shop Expansion Set (71429), with 195 pieces also from 2024, features a shopfront build for item-collection involving mechanics and chases. These sets snap directly onto existing courses, incorporating 5-20 seconds of new actions per module, such as belly slides or quick evasions, to extend adventures without requiring full rebuilds.

Subthemes and Special Editions

Lego Super Mario has expanded beyond its core platforming sets through specialized subthemes that draw from iconic Nintendo franchises, introducing unique gameplay elements and character-focused adventures. The subtheme, launched in 2021, brought ghost-hunting mechanics to the line with sets emphasizing puzzle-solving and exploration in a haunted mansion setting. Key releases included the Lab and Poltergust Expansion Set (71397), featuring interactive ghost-catching tools, and the Haunt-and-Seek Expansion Set (71401), which incorporated modular rooms with hidden gems and rotating hallways for dynamic play. These sets, priced between $20 and $60 with piece counts ranging from 200 to 800, retired by 2023, contributing to the theme's evolution toward more narrative-driven experiences. In 2023, the Donkey Kong subtheme debuted, shifting focus to jungle-based antics and barrel-throwing challenges, allowing players to integrate the ape character into existing courses. Notable sets included (71417), with climbable structures and collectible bananas, and the and Mine Cart Chase Starter Course (71422), combining rail-riding action with enemy encounters. These expansions, typically 300-500 pieces and retailing for $30-70, highlighted cooperative play between Mario figures and Donkey Kong, with most retiring by late 2024. The Mario Kart subtheme marked a significant 2025 development, introducing vehicle-building and variants that diverge from traditional platforming. Launched in , it featured sets like Toad's Garage (72035), a customizable with kart assembly elements; & King Boo (72038), including drivable karts with shell-launching and drifting functions; and Bowser's Castle Track (72039), a multi-level racetrack with hazards like Thwomps. These sets, with 200-800 pieces and prices from $20 to $100, emphasize speed-based interactions via app-connected figures, expanding the line's appeal to enthusiasts. Special editions and promotional releases have complemented these subthemes, often tied to events like MAR10 Day. In 2025, the App-Powered Award Podium (part of promotional polybag 40787) offered a victory stand for completed races, redeemable as a gift-with-purchase for qualifying buys. Earlier promotions included the Toad's Special Hideaway (77907) in 2020, a compact 120-piece hideout for $10. By 2024, over 100 expansion sets from 2020 onward had retired, including more than 50 modular add-ons that formed the backbone of customizable worlds, now sought after in secondary markets. These limited items underscore the theme's strategy of periodic refreshes to maintain collector interest.

Reception and Impact

Critical Reviews

Upon its 2020 launch, Lego Super Mario garnered positive critical reception for pioneering interactive gameplay within the ecosystem. praised the theme's core starter course for its engaging level-building mechanics and integration with the companion app, which tracks coins, scores, and progress in real-time, awarding it an 8.5 out of 10 and noting how it transforms traditional Lego play into a dynamic adventure once users grasp the setup. Critics, however, frequently highlighted the premium pricing of sets—starting at around $60 for the essential starter—as a barrier to , with expansion packs adding significant cost for full experiences. echoed this enthusiasm, describing the sets as a "clever and beautifully designed" hybrid that emulates by embedding digital feedback into physical bricks, though it critiqued occasional randomness in scoring outcomes. Customer and professional feedback from 2021 to 2023 remained consistently favorable, with Lego.com ratings for sets averaging 4.8 out of 5 across hundreds of reviews, commending the evolving product line's build quality, character variety, and innovative enemy interactions. The 2025 introduction of the subtheme drew acclaim for injecting fresh racing dynamics, such as posable karts and track elements that simulate speed boosts and drifts, with calling the Mario & Standard Kart set "arguably the best" in the series for its nostalgic fidelity and satisfying construction. Early assessments noted minor app connectivity glitches, like pairing delays, which occasionally disrupted multiplayer sessions but were resolvable via updates. Users have emphasized the theme's strong replayability, enabled by the app's tools for designing and sharing custom challenges, which has built a vibrant of player-created content. Despite an official 8+ age rating for complex builds, the intuitive figure controls and short play sessions make it accessible for children as young as 6, promoting family collaboration without overwhelming difficulty. In comparisons to longstanding Lego themes like or Star Wars, distinguishes itself through its digital-physical fusion, where motorized figures react to bricks via sensors—offering ongoing interactivity absent in static vehicular or vehicular display sets. This hybrid approach has been lauded for bridging toy and worlds more effectively than prior Lego digital experiments.

Commercial Success and Awards

Lego Super Mario has achieved significant commercial success since its launch in August , becoming one of the company's most successful product introductions to date. The theme's debut year contributed to Lego's fastest growth in five years, with consumer growing 21% to drive overall group to DKK 43.7 billion (approximately $6.4 billion USD), a 13% increase from 2019, driven in part by the innovative blend of physical bricks and digital interactivity in sets. The Adventures with Mario Starter Course emerged as Lego's top-selling product of despite its mid-year release, underscoring the theme's immediate market appeal amid heightened demand for at-home entertainment during the . The theme's momentum has sustained into subsequent years, supporting Lego's broader financial performance. In 2023, Super Mario sets formed a key part of the licensed IP portfolio that helped the company outpace a declining global toy market, with total revenue growing 2% to DKK 65.9 billion (approximately $9.7 billion USD). By 2024, revenue climbed 13% to a record DKK 74.3 billion, bolstered by ongoing expansions like the 2025 Mario Kart sub-line, which introduced interactive kart builds and new characters, further capitalizing on the franchise's enduring popularity. Available in over 120 countries through partnerships with , the theme has shown particularly strong performance in major markets such as the and , where bundled offerings with Nintendo products have enhanced accessibility and sales. Lego Super Mario has garnered several prestigious awards recognizing its innovative design and play value. In 2021, the Character Packs series won Collectible of the Year at the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, while the Bowser's Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set earned Playset of the Year, highlighting the theme's success in merging traditional building with app-enhanced gameplay. The following year, the Adventures with Peach Starter Course received Playset of the Year honors at the 2022 TOTY Awards, affirming the line's consistent excellence in interactive toys. These accolades have reinforced the theme's status as a benchmark for hybrid physical-digital products in the toy industry. The commercial achievements of have had a notable impact on , accelerating its shift toward digital-physical integration and inspiring further licensed collaborations. The theme's success boosted consumer engagement with the companion app, prompting investments in technology talent to expand online and hybrid experiences. This momentum has influenced subsequent IP partnerships, such as the 2023 launch of sets, which adopt similar interactive mechanics to tap into gaming franchises. Overall, has helped solidify 's position as a leader in innovative play, driving sustained growth amid evolving consumer preferences for tech-infused toys.

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