LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine review

60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine is sailing into LEGO Stores this summer, combining two different LEGO City subthemes in one box – with impressive results.

Putting aside the inadvertently terrible timing of this set for a moment (or, erm, the rest of this review – we all know what the elephant in the room is), 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine represents another string in the bow of the combined Deep Sea and Arctic subthemes under the refreshed LEGO City banner in 2023. The evergreen theme is enjoying a renaissance under the purview of new Creative Lead Simon Lucas, and we’re now seeing multiple subthemes meshed together across a single wave.

The question is: has that particular strategy paid off within the wider scope of what LEGO City is trying to do this year? And can 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine inject new life into a LEGO City staple?

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine set details —

Theme: LEGO City Set name: 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine Release date: June 1, 2023

Price: £94.99 / $109.99 / €104.99 Pieces: 842 Minifigures: 6

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine —

60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine is available to buy now from LEGO.com, in LEGO Stores and through various third-party retailers.

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine build —

Submarines are (nearly) up there with ships, helicopters and mechs in the realm of regularly-revisited LEGO sets, straddling themes from Monkie Kid and DC to Avatar and Creator 3-in-1. LEGO City has obviously had its fair share too, but traditionally within subthemes dedicated to deep-sea exploration – most recently in 2020, and before that in 2015. Both of those waves used dark blue and yellow colour schemes for their underwater vessels, but 2023’s coming together of two subthemes has seen 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine adopt Arctic’s white, orange and dark blue palette.

It means we’re looking at something immediately fresh from the moment you lay eyes on the box, and that ethos only continues as you crack the seals. Variety is the first order of the day, with the set’s 842 pieces split between a submarine, shipwreck and mini mech. (You thought you could get away from mechs in City? Sweet summer child.) The two-legged walker is cute, but a bit impractical: its legs detach from its torso with the slightest knock, so it probably won’t hold up for extended play. Articulation is also not its friend. But… it looks fun?

Things get better after that, and the star of the show is easily the submarine. It’s a hulking vessel of unusual shapes that often seem perplexing during the assembly process, but which ultimately coalesce into something genuinely fantastic. Some LEGO sets suffer for prioritising play over display, resulting in crude or unfinished models, but 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine strikes the balance between those two areas perfectly: there’s plenty to do with and inside the sub (more on that in a sec), but none of it comes at the expense of aesthetics. It really looks like a vehicle that would be useful in real life, from its bright orange ballasts and domed front window to its packed interior and mechanical claws, ready for salvaging treasure from the ocean floor.

A hook on the underside of the sub can carry the mech through the water (some kind of stand to display it as floating would have been cool, but probably not worth the added budget), while the middle of the hull holds a deployable drone. There’s still plenty of interior room, though, and almost every ounce of space is covered in screens, accessories and so on for the minifigures to interact with, while those grappling claws make smart use of elastic bands to incorporate a snapping motion without relying on complex Technic mechanisms. In short: there’s plenty going on here from a play perspective too.

This summer’s Deep-Sea Explorer sets feel like the underwater equivalent of 2021’s wildlife subtheme, representing the ocean depths as teeming with life. 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine includes a large shark, two smaller sharks, a handful of glow-in-the-dark fish and – maybe best of all – two ingeniously-designed brick-built jellyfish, all of which are scattered around the shipwreck. This still-substantial build is a smart story starter for a submarine set, and the sliding platform for the bigger shark to pop out and ensnare a minifigure is good fun. But even here there’s high regard for aesthetics, too: it hides its mostly asymmetrical build with colourful details, and pulls you into the idea of scouring a shipwreck (while navigating its teethy inhabitants).

It all adds up to something that feels more sophisticated and considered than previous deep-sea sets, crafting a narrative without forgetting to make things look neat. Which feels like a baseline for any good LEGO set, but is still worth pointing out when one does it this well…

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine characters —

60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine includes six minifigures, split evenly between divers exploring the ocean floor and scientists to pilot and monitor the submarine and mech. What really makes this collection of characters stand out is their gear, though: they’re equipped with all sorts of accessories, from metal detectors (there’s a treasure chest to hunt too – are these guys secret pirates?) and torches to air tanks and a camera.

There’s plenty of detail across each and every one, too – and, crucially for LEGO City sets, there’s a good mix of interesting face prints and hairpieces, ready to be repurposed for other characters. No complaints here.

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine price —

60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine might seem a little steep next to, say, 60366 Ski and Climbing Center, which retails for the same price (in the UK and Europe) but includes nearly 200 more bricks and two more minifigures. Those differences are less important in the flesh than on paper, though, as they gloss over the fact that 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine includes more detailed minifigures and plenty of large elements – including those three sharks.

The final build is just as substantial as 60366 Ski and Climbing Center, and for everything in the box it’s hard to argue with its price tag. That’s not something you often hear about LEGO City sets, so just imagine how good value this is going to be following the inevitable third-party discount…

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine pictures —

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine pros and cons —

If 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine is the result of squashing together two different subthemes in a single set, we’re happy for the LEGO Group to bring on as many mash-ups as it likes. The Arctic aesthetic does the Deep Sea formula plenty of favours, but never at the expense of playability.

There are minor nit-picks here and there – the mech’s a bit fragile, you can’t access the back of the submarine – but none of them are enough to sink 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine to the bottom of the ocean. And while it’s perhaps not the first set to grab your attention from the reinvigorated LEGO City 2023 line-up, it’s another piece of the puzzle that’s currently building into a new golden age for the theme. Maybe these minifigures are treasure hunting after all…

60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine pros	60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine cons
So much going on in the box	Mech falls apart if you glance in its direction
Fun builds that don’t sacrifice aesthetics for play	Timing, but you can’t pin that on the LEGO Group…
Those jellyfish are inspired

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine —

If you like the idea of taking a dip in the ocean but don’t like the idea of spending nearly £100 to do so, you could do much worse than 60377 Explorer Diving Boat, which is similarly packed with sea creatures – and costs just £24.99 / $39.99 / €29.99. Or you could go in the other direction with 60368 Arctic Explorer Ship, which is the only LEGO City set to include an orca.

For underwater experiences beyond LEGO City, check out Avatar’s 75577 Mako Submarine and 75579 Payakan the Tulkun & Crabsuit, or Creator 3-in-1’s 31130 Sunken Treasure Mission.

— LEGO City 60379 Deep-Sea Explorer Submarine FAQs —