Eight LEGO sets you may have overlooked in 2023

With the hundreds of LEGO sets released in 2023, you'll inevitably have overlooked a few, but some of these models are well worth your attention.

2024 is nearly here and we're wrapping up another year of new LEGO sets, announcements and more by sifting through the hundreds of LEGO models launched this year, but we're not looking at the biggest, most expensive or top 10 sets of 2023. Instead, we're shining a spotlight on some builds that you won't want to miss out on and that you likely haven't paid as much attention to compared to others.

These sets aren't the biggest, don't always contain exclusive minifigures and may not necessarily stand out from the crowd in your LEGO collection but they're all underrated in their unique way. Featuring models big and small, here are eight underrated LEGO sets you might have overlooked in 2023.

8 – 43227 Villain Icons

Theme: Disney Price: £124.99 / $129.99 / €139.99 Pieces: 1,540 Available: Now

The LEGO Group's celebrations for Disney's 100th anniversary were bigger than anyone could have predicted, stretching across all kinds of sets. Only one focused on some of the less-adored characters in Disney history though, by design.

43227 Villain Icons shines a light on several iconic Disney villains, some of which debut as minifigures in this set. While these new minifigures are undoubtedly a highlight, the model is just as appealing too with life-sized LEGO Disney prop recreations ideal for display, and they store the minifigures in unique ways too. We're unlikely to see a LEGO set quite like this until another massive Disney anniversary blurring the lines between play, display and a minifigure-focused model. You can read our review by clicking here.

7 – 31141 Main Street

Theme: Creator 3-in-1 Price: £124.99 / $139.99 / €139.99 Pieces: 1,459 Available: Now

2023 has been a surprisingly big year for the LEGO Modular Buildings Collection, though the massive models remain undoubtedly expensive. LEGO Creator's ongoing line of more affordable modular buildings acts as a good alternative or introduction, but the several sets in the range are scattered across various years and price points.

Thankfully, 31141 Main Street makes it easier to display a LEGO street in your home in one fell swoop. With its many minifigures, rebuildable model and including shops, homes and facilities, 31141 Main Street is a good alternative or introduction to the world of LEGO modular buildings.

6 – 80044 Monkie Kid's Team Hideout

Theme: Monkie Kid Price: £89.99 / $139.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 1,582 Available: Now

LEGO Monkie Kid 80044 Monkie Kid's Team Hideout is compatible with both 80036 The City of Lanterns and the upcoming 80054 Megapolis City 5th Anniversary. It stands out from both of these builds though for its rural scenery and landscape. The mountainous model comes with many exclusive and desirable minifigures and it's surprisingly customisable to boot.

The modules can be placed on a few spots around the build and this blends well with the same feature in both of the aforementioned LEGO Monkie Kid sets. Its price is nothing to overlook either as stated in our review. Especially for LEGO Monkie Kid, this model is an excellent deal with all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from the theme but for a fraction of the price.

5 – 41737 Beach Amusement Park

Theme: LEGO Friends Price: £89.99 / $119.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 1,348 Available: Now

LEGO Friends has been experimenting with a great variety of models since the theme's recent reboot and while that looks to be continuing in 2024, make sure that you don't miss out on 41737 Beach Amusement Park.

As mentioned in our review, 41737 Beach Amusement Park's core function is endlessly fun, moving all three of the park's attractions at once. Add to that an appealing beach aesthetic and it's one of the most visually attractive and enjoyable LEGO Friends sets of 2023 that may be overlooked simply because of how creative the theme's recent sets have been.

4 – 76414 Expecto Patronum

Theme: Harry Potter Price: £62.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 Pieces: 754 Available: Now

LEGO Harry Potter has been experimenting with new kinds of sets in 2023 too, including the start of what appears to be a range of buildable figures or perhaps spells, the first of which is focused on Patronuses summoned by the Expecto Patronum spell.

The aptly-named 76414 Expecto Patronum is unlike anything we've seen in LEGO Harry Potter before and it comes with two minifigures and options to build either a staff or a wolf, depending on the minifigure you display alongside it. Their size isn't quite accurate to the film franchise but as a LEGO set based on a single spell, with some inspiration from a wider scene, 76414 Expecto Patronum is undoubtedly interesting and currently the only buildable spell model.

3 – 76256 Ant-Man Construction Figure

Theme: Marvel Price: £29.99 / $29.99 / €34.99 Pieces: 289  Available: Now

LEGO Marvel's range of buildable figures isn't quite as compatible with other superhero sets as some enthusiasts might hope. Thankfully, the only model for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania changes that. Playing to the strengths of Ant-Man's abilities, 76256 Ant-Man Construction Figure doesn't have to be a buildable figure, but a minifigure-scale Giant-Man to pose alongside other Marvel heroes.

Whether you're recreating scenes from Avengers: Endgame or missed out on one of the previous LEGO Giant-Man models, 76256 Ant-Man Construction Figure could be exactly what you've been looking for – complete with a Wasp nanofigure to boot.

2 – 76992 Amy's Animal Rescue Island

Theme: Sonic the Hedgehog Price: £46.99 / $49.99 / €52.99 Pieces: 388 Available: Now

LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog's minifigures aren't easily found in one singular set, as is to be expected, and you'll be picking up quite a few to grab every one of the video game minifigures. Though 76992 Amy's Animal Rescue Island makes that job a bit easier.

Instead of grabbing both 76994 Sonic's Green Hill Zone Loop Challenge and 76991 Tails' Workshop and Tornado Plane for Amy and Tails respectively, 76992 Amy's Animal Rescue Island contains both characters with relevant accessories, as well as a build that reminds us of the Chao Garden. It's unlike any other LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog set but is still packed with fun features and is ideal for the budget-conscious LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog minifigure collector. You can find out more by reading our in-depth review.

1 – 21341 Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage

Theme: LEGO Ideas Price: £199.99 / $229.99 / €229.99 Pieces: 6,163 Available: Now

As a pairing for the retiring 21325 Medieval Blacksmith or a standalone Disney set, 21341 Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters' Cottage is one of the most notable LEGO sets of 2023 that is destined to be overlooked. The LEGO Ideas set is based on a cult-classic movie of the same name that inevitably won't be instantly familiar with.

Its design makes it ideal for display alongside 21325 Medieval Blacksmith though and with its many exclusive minifigures and elements, there are many more reasons why this LEGO Disney set is one not to miss from 2023. Our review has plenty more images of the model to look through, including its intricate interior.

Check out more of our year-in-review content for 2023 by clicking here.

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