The Scarcity of Gaming-Based LEGO Sets

While LEGO games and movie-based LEGO products are common, LEGO sets based on video games are surprisingly rare. Some gaming LEGO sets like Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Animal Crossing are still readily available in stores, but other gaming-based sets sell out quickly after release and become highly valued rare items among collectors.

These sets in unopened condition trade for hundreds of dollars more than their original retail price, with some selling for close to $1,000. Even individual minifigures alone can fetch hundreds of dollars on the secondary market.

Minecraft Micro World - The Forest

When Minecraft first launched in 2009, it seemed like a perfect match for LEGO, and three years later in 2012, those expectations became reality. Born from the LEGO Ideas project, "Minecraft Micro World - The Forest" was the very first LEGO Minecraft set.

This 480-piece set recreated a typical Minecraft forest biome and included "minifigures" of Steve and a Creeper. These weren't traditional minifigures but rather characters built from several bricks, faithfully reflecting the game's pixelated style.

Originally sold for $35, this set quickly sold out, and LEGO and Mojang subsequently released additional Micro World sets in 2013 and 2014 recreating other biomes including the Nether and the End.

As the first LEGO Minecraft set and a LEGO Ideas product, relatively few remain available today, with unopened units trading on eBay for $55-130, making it one of the more accessible collectible items.

The Collectible Value of Gaming LEGO Sets

Not all rare gaming LEGO sets are necessarily expensive, but they hold significant value as excellent display pieces for both LEGO and gaming collectors. Even excluding promotional event sets, small LEGO Dimensions level packs, and individual minifigures, the scarcity of regularly released gaming-based sets continues to increase.

Collaborations between gaming IP and LEGO remain relatively uncommon, and released sets tend to be discontinued quickly, leaving fans who didn't purchase early facing the prospect of paying significantly higher prices later.