More and more in recent years, LEGO has been releasing sets designed for the “18 and up” crowd. These sets might be more complicated builds than you’d expect a kid to sit through. They often depict nostalgic pop culture that appeals more to adults, like the Back to the Future Time Machine. In many cases, they look good enough to be display pieces you may set on a shelf or your desk, like the line of flower LEGO sets or the art ones meant to be hung on a wall.
Long story short: there’s no shortage of LEGO sets for adults. We’ve gone through and picked some of the best ones that are available and in production in 2024.
LEGO Bonsai Tree
There’s something calming about building a LEGO set, regardless of which one it is. Finding the right pieces and snapping them into place is oddly soothing. And so is looking at bonsai trees. This set combines both, resulting in a set you can display just about anywhere.
LEGO Lord of the Rings - Rivendell
For Tolkien fans with deep pockets, this intricate set depicts the serene elvish enclave from the movies. Specifically, the LEGO Rivendell set lets you recreate the memorable moment from the first film when the fellowship comes together to destroy the One Ring.
LEGO R2-D2
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the first Star Wars LEGO set, LEGO has released new models of some of the classics. Among them is this new R2-D2 set, which while aimed at the 10+ age group, works just as well for adults. It comes with an informational placard that you can set next to it on display.
See our larger list of the best Star Wars LEGO sets for more Star Wars gift ideas.
LEGO Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night
You could hardly name a more recognizable painting than Van Gogh’s Starry Night. This set lets you build it, with three-dimensional elements that pop right out of the painting, just like the thick paint in the real thing. It’s a great looking set, and one you can actually hang on your wall.
LEGO Captain America's Shield
There’s hardly a more iconic image in all of comics than Captain America’s shield. This set has you build the whole thing from the ground up, resulting in a display piece that would look great on any Marvel fan’s bookshelf.
See our larger list of the best Marvel LEGO sets for more Marvel gift ideas.
LEGO Pac-Man Arcade
Some of us are old enough to remember going to the arcade and playing Pac-Man back near the dawn of video gaming. This set brings back those memories, and even lets you move the hungry yellow character through the maze.
See our list of the best Nintendo LEGO Sets for more ideas.
LEGO Architecture London Skyline
The LEGO Architecture line lets you get away without leaving the house. The London Skyline set in particular does a great job of distilling the most recognizable landmarks of England’s biggest city down into a single set.
Indiana Jones - Temple of the Golden Idol
One of the most iconic scenes in cinema history gets its own LEGO set in this one that’s great for adults who grew up loving Indiana Jones. Unlike many of the adult-oriented LEGO sets, however, this one begs you to play with it. Just like the scene from the movie, it features lots of traps you can set off, including, of course, the giant rolling boulder.
LEGO Bouquet of Roses
Whether you’re in the market for a gift for your significant other, or you just want to build a set to put on your desk, the LEGO Bouquet of Roses is a solid pick. It doesn’t even have to be Valentine’s Day.
Polaroid OneStep SX-70 Camera
This set lets you build the classic Polaroid camera, one block at a time. It even comes with a buildable film pack, complete with photos of Minifigures. You can even load a photo into the finished camera, press the shutter button, and the photo comes out.
For more ideas, you can check out all the LEGO sets on the IGN Store.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads.
