If you have kids between the ages of 6 and 15 chances are you are very familiar with Minecraft. I have a tween and a teen boy, and I have to admit of all the online games that get played in my house Minecraft is probably the one I spend the least amount of time worrying about. Minecraft has become hugely popular and actually has quite a few positive aspects for kids! It can be very creative, it inspires young minds to create and explore and it has a fun social side – who knows, it could even spark a young mind into becoming a budding architect!
Considering the current popularity of Minecraft and that it’s based around building with blocks, it’s not surprising that LEGO has jumped on the band wagon with their LEGO® Minecraft™ kits. These are the perfect anytime gift for your little fan. LEGO® has always been a great indoor play toy, no batteries, no screens – develops creativity, motor skils and problem solving skills! Having a surprise kit stowed away is also a lifesaver for when the weather might not want to cooperate with a planned outing, or to keep a kids occupied when you want some quiet time to relax or work!
Read on for our favourite LEGO® Minecraft™ picks ranging from $29 to $129 CAD and checkout our LEGO board on Pinterest to see some amazing LEGO creations from around the world!
The Desert Outpost
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 519
The Desert Outpost includes a lookout tower, TNT launch with explosion function (cool!), a boat, a door, 2 skeletons, Steve, Alex, a wolf and plenty of themed bricks to build with.
via LEGO® – “Hostile mobs are spawning like never before, and the desert is becoming a very scary place to be… it’s time to build The Desert Outpost! Help Alex construct the house and lookout tower, build a protective wall and ring the fortress with burning torches. Have the tame wolf stand guard while you craft a bed, table, door, ladder and a boat, then sail out in search of crops to farm within the outpost walls. As darkness falls, silhouettes of approaching skeletons appear on the desert horizon. Grab your weapons, load up the TNT launcher, and prepare for battle! Rebuild the set for more LEGO® Minecraft™ creations!”
The Snow Hideout
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 327
The Snow Hideout, comes with white and icy blue pieces featuring a Creeper™ with explode function, Snow Golem with shooting function, crafting table, Steve and more.
via LEGO® – “You’ve ventured out on an icy mining expedition, but the sun is heading for the horizon and hostile mobs will soon be roaming this snow-covered landscape. Lay down your wooden pickaxe, store your newly mined coal and build to survive! Use your wooden shovel and the crafting tables to craft snow blocks from the drift, then take your bucket and scoop water from the lake to make ice-block windows. Craft a door and build a netherrack fireplace and chimney. Finally, build a Snow Golem to ward off the exploding Creeper™ that roams after nightfall and you’re ready for action!”
The Nether Fortress
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 571
The Nether Fortress, is a slighter bigger set which comes with lighting portal and glowstone, fire-shooting Ghast, 2 torches, Zombie Pigman, Steve, Alex and more.
via LEGO® – “You’re running low on supplies that the Overworld just can’t offer… light the obsidian portal and step through to reach The Nether Fortress! This forbidding structure is protected by an array of hostile mobs. Help Alex defeat the Blaze that guards the fortress. Take your diamond pickaxe and mine glowstone to light your way, but be careful not to trigger a lava flow! Build an access point to breach the fortress wall, grab your diamond sword and spring a surprise attack on the Zombie Pigman. Take on the red-eyed, fireball-shooting Ghast to obtain the chest containing 2 diamonds and a golden sword, collect mushrooms and Nether wart, and mine Nether quartz ore. It’s all in a day’s work for a LEGO® Minecraft™ hero!”
Crafting Box
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 518
This is one of my favourites – I like the free play element of it. LEGO describes it as an 8-in-1 set – but you can of course create endless worlds with it or expand an existing set that you have. The LEGO® Minecraft™ Crafting Box includes instructions, inspirational guides, Steve, skeleton, TNT box, pickaxe and more.
via LEGO® – “Set your imagination free with the LEGO® Minecraft™ Crafting Box! Create your own Minecraft models, build from the 8-in-1 instructions or follow the inspirational pictures and scenarios to complete other awesome Minecraft biomes. Use the periodic table poster to identify the LEGO Minecraft elements. You can even try out a diamond pickaxe! This set really boosts your creative potential!”
First Night
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 408
Back to the basics of Minecraft with the LEGO® Minecraft™ The First Night set – this would be a great starter set. Build to survive – includes a shelter, bed, oven, crafting table, Steve, pig, a Creeper™ (of course!) and more!
via LEGO®: “Help Steve survive the hours of darkness with the The First Night! Use the daylight hours wisely to survive The First Night! Build a shelter and enclosure to protect your livestock, craft a bed, oven and a chest, but make sure you’re finished before nightfall if you wish to avoid the hissing Creeper™!”
The Mine
Ages: 8+ Pieces: 922
This is the ultimate Minecraft set with over 900 pieces – it’s also the most expensive of the series. Blast the ore free with LEGO® Minecraft™ The Mine, includes huge track, cart, TNT, ores, Steve, Creeper™, zombie, skeleton, spider and more. The cart track is just really cool!
via LEGO®: “Enter The Mine at your own risk! You’ll need to don your iron armor for this dangerous expedition. Grab your iron pickaxe and venture into the darkness, keeping an eye out for hostile mobs that lurk deep in the mine. Plant the TNT and activate the explosion function to blast away the rock face. Then load up the precious ores, jump aboard the minecart and hurtle past the Creeper, zombie and skeleton, using the iron sword to keep them at bay until you’re safely above ground. All in a days work fora LEGO® Minecraft™ hero!”
