LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker review

LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker brings all the festive aesthetics you’ll need for Christmas, but don’t expect it to help prepare any holiday snacks.

It’s never too early to start preparing for Christmas, and the LEGO Group has decided that September 1 is the ideal time to start your festive shopping. The release date for 40640 Nutcracker is fast approaching, so if you’re wondering whether one of the latest additions to the brick-built festive range is worth adding to your Christmas decoration line-up, we’ve got you covered.

From the top of its shiny black hat to its quaint cuffed arms, here’s everything you need to know about LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker.

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker set details —

Theme: LEGO Set name: 40640 Nutcracker Release: September 1, 2023

Price: £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99 Pieces: 208 Minifigures: 0

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker —

LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker is available to buy from September 1 via LEGO.com and from LEGO Stores for £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99. It’s unlikely to show up at any third-party retailers.

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker build —

At just over 200 pieces, there’s no lengthy build process involved in 40640 Nutcracker. Nonetheless, you do still have two building options: a male and a female face to customise your final Nutcracker. The main difference appears to be that the male Nutcracker has a lot more facial hair and the female Nutcracker’s key characteristic is that she has long, fluttering eyelashes. While this is a long-lasting and mildly frustrating stereotype in gendered toys, you could easily fix it by simply using the same eye-printed studs in both genders for a less make-up-fuelled appearance for the female nutcracker.

The difference in hairstyles is also a fun opportunity to experiment, borrowing techniques from LEGO BrickHeadz to give the sense of shoulder-length brown curls in different masculine and feminine styles. Again, you could easily mix this up to suit what you prefer.

Other than that, there are plenty of festive details in 40640 Nutcracker, from the loose chains on the hat to the traditional cuffs on its miniature arms. Aesthetically, 40640 Nutcracker screams Christmas, from its gold-topped boots to its red and gold Santa-style outfit.

Of course, 40640 Nutcracker wouldn’t have its name if it couldn’t crack some nuts. The white lever on the back moves the lower jaw up and down, just like a real nutcracker would. While 40640 Nutcracker likely can’t crack any actual nuts at just 16cm tall and with only a tiny gap between the upper and lower jaw, it does have the ability to mimic the classic motion.

All in all, 40640 Nutcracker is a solid build that would make for a fun stocking filler for any LEGO fan, or a family build that you can then use as Christmas decor for years to come. At a relatively low cost and not taking long to build, it would be an easy one to put together with younger family members on Christmas morning.

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker price —

At just £10.99 / $12.99 / €12.99, 40640 Nutcracker is perfect stocking filler territory, making it one of the cheaper items on the LEGO festive line-up. Even at a low price, you still get a sturdy and aesthetic Christmas decoration, with a festive activity (building it) included as well.

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker pictures —

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker pros and cons —

You get what it says on the tin with 40640 Nutcracker: a small festive build that can easily function as brick-built decor for several years. Families are often looking for group activities at Christmas and 40640 Nutcracker will suit builders of all ages, as well as look good next to other festive decor on your fireplace or around the tree.

40640 Nutcracker pros	40640 Nutcracker cons
Festive aesthetic	Seemingly unnecessary gendered options
Perfect price for a stocking filler

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker —

Released alongside 40640 Nutcracker at the same price, 40642 Gingerbread Ornaments is a similarly festive build, also with its own customisation options and with the ability to hang on your tree (as the name would suggest). Both would make for fun brick-built decor, but 40640 Nutcracker gets a win in our book as it can stand on its own two feet. LEGO ornaments often get lost in the rest of the tree, so a standalone build will go further in that sense.

Other comparable builds include 40426 Christmas Wreath 2-in-1 and 40673 Christmas Tree. Both are quite a lot more expensive and so, predictably, would offer a bit more of a splash to your decor. However, in terms of stocking filler gifts, they would also both be overkill, so it depends on what budget and purpose you’re aiming for with your festive LEGO purchases.

— LEGO Seasonal 40640 Nutcracker FAQs —