Brick Fanatics’ top 20 LEGO minifigures of 2023

From Pippin Reed to Pocahontas, here are Brick Fanatics’ top 20 brand new LEGO minifigures that arrived on shelves in 2023.

Nearly 1,000 new and unique characters debuted in LEGO sets in 2023 (or more than 1,000 if you count models released through the BrickLink Designer Program), so picking out the best of the best has obviously not been easy. But there were some clear winners in the pack – the Collectible Minifigures range has served up three more stunning series this year, for example – while choosing the very best minifigure of the year was surprisingly straightforward.

Each member of the Brick Fanatics team submitted a list of nominees for this list, and entries were weighted first by multiple appearances across individual lists, and then by rankings within those lists to break ties. The results are as eclectic as you’d imagine given the considerable number of characters in contention. Check them all out below.

This list was compiled with input from across the Brick Fanatics team.

20 – Police dog trainer

Appears in: 60369 Mobile Police Dog Training

LEGO designers have this continued ability to repurpose very specific LEGO parts that you had once only recognised as being for one very clear thing into something else entirely different – but that works just as perfectly. Case in point, the police dog trainer in this year’s wave of City Police sets.

Using the arms from the Cactus Costume Girl from Collectible Minifigures Series 18 as the arm protectors is a wonderful reimagination of a LEGO part that was otherwise so specifically created for something entirely different. Combined with the rest of the costume design, the police dog trainer is an excellent example of the creative eye that LEGO designers possess.

19 – Z-Blob

Appears in: 30636 Z-Blob and Bunchu Spider Escape, 71456 Mrs. Castillo’s Turtle Van, 71459 Stable of Dream Creatures, 71460 Mr. Oz’s Spacebus, 71461 Fantastical Tree House

It’s a minifigure because the head is one and we love this little guy, so he counts. Complete with a trans-green slime headpiece straight out of VIDIYO, this version of Z-Blob is incredibly cute, wholly unique to the DREAMZzz universe that the LEGO Group has launched us into this year and nicely versatile for anyone after a collection of little green aliens, perhaps.

18 – Robin Hood

Appears in: 71038 Disney 100

The third series of Disney Collectible Minifigures brought us a bumper crop of characters for the franchise’s 100th birthday, and among those were plenty of deep cuts and fan-favourites we never thought we’d see as minifigures. Robin Hood is one such example, proving the LEGO Group is happy to devote equal detail to more obscure Disney characters as their more iconic contemporaries.

His dedicated head piece is pitch perfect, without losing any of the LEGO DNA, while dual-moulded arms and legs convey the kind of detail seemingly only possible in the Collectible Minifigures series.

17 – Carl Fredericksen

Appears in: 43217 ‘Up’ House

Released as part of this year’s LEGO Disney 100 range of sets, 43217 ‘Up’ House recreates the iconic floating house from Pixar’s 2009 animated movie, complete with three exclusive figures. These include wilderness explorer Russell and Dug the dog, both featuring dual-moulded elements.

However, it’s the Carl Fredricksen minifigure that really nails its subject matter. With a choice of two faces (grumpy and slightly less grumpy), unique jacket print with grape soda badge and a brick-built walking cane, the character has finally been accurately immortalised in minifigure form at last.

16 – Newspaper Kid

Appears in: 71037 Series 24

While this year’s two licensed Collectible Minifigures series have both stolen the show, the in-house range that kicked off the year wasn’t without its notable characters. Call us biased, but the Newspaper Kid was easily one of the stand-outs, because every LEGO city needs someone to deliver the news.

That’s not the only reason he’s claimed a spot in this list, though: he’s also a great example of the LEGO Group’s continued ability to cook up fresh characters for this theme, some 24 series in, without relying heavily on new moulds.

15 – Donkey Kong

Appears in: 71424 Donkey Kong’s Tree House

LEGO Super Mario continues to refuse to release minifigures, yet has somewhat appeased classic video game fans with this marvellous version of Donkey Kong. Not quite a minifigure as much as a brick-built beast, this version of DK wonderfully captures his one-of-a-kind character design, from the expression in his eyes, to the huge gorilla hands and feet, to the red tie with his initials on.

But how best to demonstrate his size? Hmm, maybe some Super Mario minifigures stood next to him? Come on TLG, give us what we want in 2024 – one of 2023’s best minifigures deserves it.

14 – Bo-Katan Kryze

Appears in: 75361 Spider Tank

Fans of a galaxy far, far away have had plenty to celebrate in 2023, with numerous LEGO Star Wars sets released throughout the year, many of which have fulfilled longstanding community requests. That line-up includes 75361 Spider Tank, a model based on an episode of The Mandalorian Season 3 and one that includes an amazing Bo-Katan Kryze minifigure.

The character has only previously appeared in 75316 Mandalorian Starfighter, but this new version features much more detail (and a more accurate shade of blue) than its predecessor. Highlights include a new hair piece, arm printing, faithful helmet design and double-sided head prints.

13 – Mr. Knight

Appears in: 71039 Marvel Series 2

Moon Knight saw the reveal of two of the coolest MCU costumes so far, in Moon Knight and Mr Knight – but Mr Knight takes the edge. The dapper suit, the truncheons, the symbolic line down the centre of the face, it all comes together for an outfit that speaks volumes about the character. This has been captured in excellent detail in his corresponding minifigure in 71039 Marvel Series 2.

The printing is impressive, particularly considering Mr Knight wears all white, but the use of grey and gold accents in the minifigure still offers the much-needed depth that a costume made of mummy wrappings needs.

12 – Pippin Reed

Appears in: 21344 The Orient Express Train

Proving that not every minifigure needs to turn the details up to 11 to succeed, Pippin Reed’s redux in 21344 The Orient Express Train is surprisingly simple – but delivers the perfect modern reinterpretation of the classic Adventurers character. Her disarming red and green jacket and trousers have been swapped out for a calmer teal and dark red combo, while her dual-moulded hat-and-hair piece is such a smart choice that we can’t see her with anything else.

11 – Hera

Appears in: 75357 Ghost & Phantom II

Hera Syndulla has a unique look that’s translated neatly into live-action for the first time in 2023, and her minifigure in 75357 Ghost & Phantom II holds up just as well. The vivid blue eyes stand out from her green skin, and her lekku have been rendered perfectly – a tricky task that shouldn’t be underestimated.

The details throughout Hera’s outfit are in-keeping with her appearance as a general in Disney+ series Ahsoka, laden with weapons and kitted out in her ready-to-fly pilot’s jacket. For a character with so many unique attributes, the LEGO Group pulled it off.

10 – Vision

Appears in: 76269 Avengers Tower

Boasting a printed vinyl cape, trans-light blue legs and unique head, torso and leg printing, Vision is far and away the stand-out minifigure included with 76269 Avengers Tower. That’s a major achievement considering the character is just one of 31 figures included with the massive LEGO Marvel build.

The updated version of the synthezoid even beats out the previous pale and ghostly iteration that appeared in 71031 Marvel Studios, with the LEGO Marvel design team finally delivering the most accurate Vision minifigure to date. The phasing-through-walls effect only seals the deal.

9 – Bilbo Baggins

Appears in: 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell

10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell boasts any number of must-have minifigures, including wonderful updates to Gimli, Arwen and more for 2023. But it’s the otherwise unassuming Bilbo Baggins who pips his Hobbit head above the rest, if only for his genuinely frightening alternate face. Capturing the moment Bilbo briefly turns into a proto-Gollum to try to take the One Ring from Frodo, it’s a satisfyingly scene-specific reference that embodies this set as a love letter to Peter Jackson’s movies.

8 – Pocahontas

Appears in: 71038 Disney 100

Another stand-out LEGO Disney 100th anniversary character, Pocahontas debuted as both minifigure and mini-doll in this year’s range. But we have to defer to her minifigure in 71038 Disney 100 as the superior interpretation, from her dual-moulded legs and tattooed arm to her dual-sided face and – most significantly – one of the best new LEGO hairpieces introduced in 2023. This is a character long overdue in LEGO, and she’s pretty much perfect at first time of asking. 

7 – Echo

Appears in: 71039 Marvel Series 2

While Echo’s spin-off series has yet to debut on Disney+, there’s little doubt that her minifigure is a highlight for LEGO Marvel – and the Collectible Minifigures range as a whole – in 2023. She boasts printing on every conceivable surface, from her hair to her brand new prosthetic leg, achieving a level of detail rarely seen. Even if you don’t yet have a close affiliation with this character, it’s worth grabbing her before her show drops – she’s bound to shoot up in price afterwards…

6 – Indiana Jones

Appears in: 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol

Indy’s return to LEGO Store shelves may not have been as triumphant as initially anticipated, with a quarter of the initial range pulled just before release, but the sets that did arrive are all highlights of 2023. Nestled within each of them is a brand new take on Indiana Jones, but it’s the classic take on the whip-cracking adventurer in 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol that stands above the specialised variants in the other sets.

That this is only a minor refresh of the 2008 minifigure speaks to the quality of that original character, but the slight tweaks to printing and – in particular – the dual-moulded hat-and-hair piece bring Indy firmly into 2023.

5 – Dr. Robotnik

Appears in: 76993 Sonic vs. Dr. Eggman’s Death Egg Robot, 76994 Sonic’s Green Hill Zone Loop Challenge

While the brick-built LEGO Ideas Eggman served its purpose in the original LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog set, it’s hard to deny that the minifigure Robotnik is an improvement in every way. Adopting a similar scale to Hagrid with the longer LEGO Avatar legs is an ingenious move and one that truly captures the iconic proportions of this video game villain.

4 – Wolverine

Appears in: 71039 Marvel Series 2

Is there any better way to recapture the attentions of superhero fans than throwing it back to OG retro costumes? Wolverine’s yellow and blue is surely the most iconic outfit from the X-Men and, seeing as we’ll be getting him on the silver screen, it’s only right that we get him in minifigure form – and the LEGO Group has delivered in 71039 Marvel Series 2. The claws, fringed helmet and full-body printing all come together to make for the perfect homage to a beloved character.

3 – The Nightmare King

Appears in: 71457 Pegasus Flying Horse, 71469 Nightmare Shark Ship

Incredible LEGO minifigures and massive theme launches seem to go hand in hand. For LEGO DREAMZzz, we saw the debut of the Nightmare King. This terrifying character offers something completely new for the world of LEGO with a crowned hood and the amazing cape with a wolf silhouetted into the design. This minifigure alone marks a promising start for the new theme as it enters its second year in 2024.

2 – Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man

Appears in: 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle

Spider-Man: No Way Home gave the LEGO Marvel team the perfect opportunity to revisit the original LEGO Spider-Man based on Tobey Maguire’s version of the character from 20 years ago, and they did not disappoint. This updated design is modernised and finetuned just as it needs, with the same silver webbing across the torso and head to tie it back to the first version of this minifigure and really lean into the nostalgia of the original. 

With dual-moulded legs too, the 2023 Spidey – found in 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle – is perfectly rounded out as a must-have update for LEGO Spider-Man fans.

1 – Ahsoka Tano

Appears in: 75362 Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle

LEGO Star Wars fans have been calling for a new post-Clone Wars Ahsoka Tano minifigure for years – the aftermarket price of her Rebels variant is the proof, if you need it – and the LEGO Group finally delivered this year with probably the best LEGO Ahsoka minifigure to date.

Sporting trans-clear lightsabers, shorter lekku and just the right amount of printing – there’s such a thing as too much detail – she’s a perfect match for the character’s appearance in her Disney+ series, and well deserving of taking the crown as our favourite LEGO minifigure of 2023.

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