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Brick Fanatics’ top 10 LEGO sets of 2022

09/12/202209/12/2022 Chris Wharfe 22287 Views 1 Comment 10297 Boutique Hotel, 10302 Optimus Prime, 10305 Lion Knights' Castle, 10497 Galaxy Explorer, 2022 in review, 21333 Vincent Van Gogh - The Starry Night, 71411 The Mighty Bowser, 75331 The Razor Crest, 75574 Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls, 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum, 76989 Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck, Avatar, Ideas, LEGO, LEGO Avatar, LEGO Icons, LEGO Ideas, LEGO Marvel, LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Super Mario, Marvel, Star Wars, Super Mario, The LEGO Group

From retro redesigns and fresh licences to massive masterpieces and underrated builds, here are Brick Fanatics’ top 10 LEGO sets released in 2022.

There’s no denying it’s been another incredible year for the LEGO Group in terms of product design. Even with a few duds in the mix, whittling down the list to just 10 sets hasn’t been easy – but between us, we’ve managed to come up with a final rundown that includes a wide range of the very best models the LEGO Group has put out this year.

Dive in below, and let us know your favourite sets from this year in the comments.

This list has been compiled with input from across the Brick Fanatics writing team.

10 – 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum

Theme: Marvel Price: £214.99 / $249.99 / €249.99 Pieces: 2,708 Available: Now

If you’re part of the crowd itching for more than one modular building per year, look to LEGO Marvel: for two years in a row now, the superhero theme has brought us a building that can slide seamlessly in with the likes of 10278 Police Station and 10297 Boutique Hotel. This year’s tackles a location many of us have been itching for in the format, bringing Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum to life at a bigger and better scale than ever before.

It’s skilfully executed from top to bottom, and packed with details inside and out. The minifigures could have been slightly stronger (particularly Scarlet Witch, who pales next to her Collectible Minifigures version from 2021), which is why this set isn’t higher on our list – but 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum is definitely the stand-out LEGO Marvel set for 2022. Sorry, Hulkbuster.

9 – 75574 Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls

Theme: Avatar Price: £129.99 / $149.99 / €149.99 Pieces: 1,212 Available: Now

Whatever your thoughts on the plot of Avatar, both the original and its sequel have incredible visuals that lend themselves well to LEGO sets. 75574 Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls is no exception, capturing the glowing Tree of Souls that played a key role in the first film.

LEGO elements in varying shades of pink and purple create a sweeping centrepiece, plus the towering Toruk Makto takes on a terrifying form, with intricate printed elements staying accurate to its on-screen markings. It’s not only one of the best sets of 2022, but easily the most underrated, too. Don’t sleep on it.

8 – 10497 Galaxy Explorer

Theme: Icons Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 1,254 Available: Now

The second 90th anniversary set of 2022 is yet another take on a classic fan-favourite build. Drawing its inspiration from a 1979 model that’s close to the heart of many fans of a certain age, 10497 Galaxy Explorer also manages to deliver an updated design for the 21st century.

As well as opening cockpits, an extendable ramp and retractable landing legs, the model includes four classic astronaut minifigures and robot helper. Sure, there’s no original moon baseplate or base mini-build, but it’s no fluke that this epic build has consistently remained in our Top 20 Sets List since it first launched.

7 – 21333 Vincent Van Gogh – The Starry Night

Theme: Ideas Price: £149.99 / $169.99 / €169.99 Pieces: 2,316 Available: Now

The LEGO Group’s Art theme has produced some impressive works, but they tend to lose a little something in translation. 21333 Vincent Van Gogh – The Starry Night is a much more faithful tribute, using some clever techniques to depict one of the world’s most famous paintings.

The use of stacked tiles can seem a little crude at first, but it adds wonderful tactility to the finished set. It also necessitates a certain dimensionality to the set – although this is a solid strategy for preserving its fine detail. The result is a LEGO set that’s sure to attract even the most dedicated LEGO holdouts.

6 – 10302 Optimus Prime

Theme: Icons Price: £159.99 / $179.99 / €179.99 Pieces: 1,508 Available: Now

2022 has been an experimental year for the LEGO Group, with 10302 Optimus Prime breaking ground as both the first official LEGO Transformers set and the debut of a partnership between the LEGO Group and Hasbro.

10302 Optimus Prime is impressive enough on its own, able to transform between truck and robot forms with almost no piece removal required. However, it’s the door this set opens that may prove more impactful, as we already know that LEGO Dungeons & Dragons (owned by Hasbro) is on the way as well.

5 – 75331 The Razor Crest

Theme: Star Wars Price: £519.99 / $599.99 / €599.99 Pieces: 6,187 Available: Now

Considering The Mandalorian is one of the most popular Star Wars TV shows from the last few years, it’s no surprise that one of the most detailed sets connected to the series made it on to this list – just as it was no surprise that the show would serve as the first venture beyond the Skywalker Saga for the Ultimate Collector Series.

75331 The Razor Crest has a tonne of references for people to pick up, from Boba Fett’s armour hanging on the wall to an Aurebesh sticker to complete the interior look. It’s the set that keeps on giving, making it worth even its mighty high bounty.

4 – 76989 Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck

Theme: Icons Price: £79.99 / $89.99 / €89.99 Pieces: 1,222 Available: Now

A sizeable LEGO model based on a relatively new PlayStation franchise was undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises from the LEGO Group in 2022, even if the first game in the Horizon franchise did sell over 20,000,000 copies.

Adding to the shock, 76989 Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck is nothing short of immaculate on display, including two robotic beasts and an exclusive Aloy minifigure – all of which combine for an accurate and beautiful build perfect for gamers. Truly this is one model not to miss from 2022, and we can only hope that this is just the start of the LEGO and PlayStation partnership.

3 – 71411 The Mighty Bowser

Theme: Super Mario Price: £229.99 / $269.99 / €269.99 Pieces: 2,807 Available: Now

With an impressive piece count and phenomenal attention to detail, 71411 The Mighty Bowser is sure to be the crown jewel of many a LEGO Super Mario collection.

The set uses a number of clever techniques to capture the appearance and personality of the Koopa King – but it also manages to preserve a degree of playfulness, thanks to its articulation and spitting fireball features. Since large LEGO sets don’t always thread that particular needle, 71411 The Mighty Bowser immediately stands apart from the crowd.

2 – 10297 Boutique Hotel

Theme: Icons Price: £199.99 / $229.99 / €229.99 Pieces: 3,066 Available: Now

The release of the annual modular building is always an event to look forward to, even if the final model doesn’t always satisfy everyone. There can be few complaints about this year’s set, however, which takes the upper-storey hotel of 10182 Café Corner and expands it to a full corner building.

Like the best modular buildings, it does so using inventive techniques, and is set over a unique footprint to keep the build experience, even 15 years into this subtheme. Throw in a detailed interior, an art gallery and rooftop terrace, and you’re looking at one of the greatest additions to this line-up in recent memory.

1 – 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle

Theme: Icons Price: £344.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 Pieces: 4,514 Available: Now

One of two major sets released in 2022 to celebrate the LEGO Group’s 90th anniversary, 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle is also a modern interpretation of a classic theme. Boasting 4,514 pieces, the design of the model allows for the massive build to be opened up, revealing numerous details, features, Easter eggs and a whopping 22 minifigures.

As both an homage to LEGO sets of yesteryear and the LEGO Group’s ability to give fans exactly what they want (and more), this is an essential addition to any serious collection, and far and away the best LEGO castle ever released. Even if it’s beyond your budget right now, it’s absolutely worth saving up for before it retires a few years from now, and deservedly takes our crown for the best set of 2022.