LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop review

71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop revisits a couple of concepts and characters from previous LEGO Super Mario sets, but also signals a potential gear shift for the theme as a whole.

LEGO Super Mario is entering its fifth year in 2024 and 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop is part of the latest wave of sets – a wave that is treading new ground, but not in entirely different worlds.

71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop is a decent example of this concept, offering a fresh take on the Mushroom Kingdom buildings with familiar characters. However, what it has in its varied and focused build, it lacks in unique offerings.

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop set details —

Theme: LEGO Super Mario Set name: 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop Release: December 1, 2023

Price: £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 Pieces: 230 Characters: 2

LEGO: Order now

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop build —

Smaller LEGO Super Mario sets have had a variety of content with some one-of-a-kind play features, enemies and builds, but the same can’t be said for 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop. It consists of the shop itself with the iconic mushroom architecture and a printed sign, as well as two shelves filled with food and toys.

The scale and movement of the LEGO Super Mario figures make it hard to depict them playing with the toys and most figures will struggle to hold the shop’s products. The quick app-based nature of LEGO Super Mario means that you might not have the time or patience to take a toy off the shelf, fit it into Mario’s hand and pretend to play with the train, plane or duck before moving on.

The same can be said for the food. However, the builds for the contents of both shelves are excellent and it’s not hard to appreciate a callback to one of the original LEGO toys in such a prolific licensed theme (the duck). An action tag is featured in front of the shop, but even while the app has not been updated at the time of writing, it’s hard to see how a single interaction can expand on the limited app-based play features this model offers.

With that said, the models in 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop are adequate when separated from the app, offering a nice slice of the Mushroom Kingdom and one of the most affordable and widely-accessible mushroom buildings from LEGO Super Mario so far.

There’s not a lot of room or interior details inside the shop, but compared to previous buildings in the theme it’s a deluxe department store. The presence of a printed sign with the signature Mario font is a good inclusion too. There’s even a small cart to stock the shelves or assist with a bumper shopping trip.

It’s a shame that Mario’s interaction with the shop is unlikely to be more than a single tap before moving on – at least one more product-specific action tag could have drastically extended his time in the set. 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop functions surprisingly well as a standard playset though, despite the minimal posing options of the LEGO Super Mario figures limiting its potential.

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop characters —

There are only two characters in 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop, both of which are re-used from previous sets. Yellow Toad is included in 71403 Adventures with Peach and Nabbit is a little rarer, having only featured in the blind-boxed and retired 71410 Character Pack Series 5.

Both characters are of good quality, with printed pieces and mildly interesting techniques. Nabbit is home to the set’s second action tag and offers a bit more play. You can even store an item in his bag thanks to a hinged piece.

While neither character is exclusive, Nabbit is a rare LEGO Super Mario figure and including them as a guaranteed figure in a second set is appreciated, especially with their recent inclusion in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, this doesn’t help the set’s lack of unique offerings.

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop price —

For £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99, we can’t complain about the price and contents of 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop. Whether you use it as a playset or as part of the app-based course-building system, there’s enough here to satisfy LEGO Super Mario enthusiasts for the price.

While there’s less for the app to use, this shift towards more detailed builds is an appreciated change and as a first LEGO Super Mario set, the only major thing it’s missing is the theme’s main character. You’ll need 71360 Adventures with Mario for that.

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop pictures —

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop pros and cons —

LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop is one of the least-playable models within the course-building system but one of the theme’s better location-based sets at this price point. It’s an odd change for the theme but by no means a bad thing. Unfortunately, there’s still not a lot to play with via the app or physically.

The lack of new content other than a printed sign in this set doesn’t help its case either. It’s hard to fully recommend this model unless you’ve been waiting for an easier way to pick up Nabbit or a mushroom building.

Those looking at 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop as an expansion set rather than a standalone model may be disappointed with its contents. However, it presents good value and as a model separate from the app it’s not a bad way to add a slice of the Mushroom Kingdom to your home for a decent price.

71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop pros	71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop cons
A reliable way to pick up Nabbit	Not a lot of opportunity to play with the figures or in the app
Well-priced compared to other LEGO Super Mario sets	Reuses parts of other sets with little new content
Nabbit’s bag is a fun addition	Mario can’t really hold the shop’s wares

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop —

At this price point, there aren’t a lot of true alternatives to 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop. While other mushroom buildings are present throughout LEGO Super Mario sets, none have been as affordable as this model. The closest in size and RRP would be the limited-edition 77907 Toad’s Special Hideaway, but that fetches a high price on the secondary market.

Otherwise, Nabbit is featured in 71410 Character Packs – Series 5 though that series was blind-boxed and has now retired. Those looking for another small LEGO Super Mario experience to combine with the course-building system may be better suited with 71430 Penguin Family Snow Adventure and its exclusive content at the same price.

— LEGO Super Mario 71429 Nabbit at Toad’s Shop FAQs —