Holiday gift guide: $100-$200
Posted by Huw,
Our penultimate holiday gift guide looks at sets in the $100-200 price range, of which 47 were released this year, 12 more than last year, and more than in any other year.
If you're looking for gifts at this price you are spoilt for choice, with exceptional 18+ sets and top-of-the-range play sets for kids to choose from.
Find out what the Brickset team recommend after the break then let us know what you would select in the comments.
Huw
10315 Tranquil Garden ($109.99 / €104.99 / £94.99)
2023 has yielded some exceptional Botanical Collection sets, most of which have been featured in our gift guide.
10315 Tranquil Garden is not branded as such but is likely to appeal to the same demographic: the discerning AFOL and those that have recently rediscovered LEGO through the botanical sets.
It's a wonderful and detailed display model that will not look out of place as a centrepiece on a coffee table or office desk.
MeganL
41737 Beach Amusement Park ($119.99 / €99.99 / £89.99)
This was the first year that Friends fans were truly spoiled for choice in this price range! This was the most difficult choice for me this year.
41732 Downtown Flower and Design Stores was stylish and modular-like, and 41748 Heartlake Community Centre was colourful and fun. In any other year either set would have made this an easy choice. I recommend both of them without hesitation.
However, the best Friends set of the year is 41737 Beach Amusement Park. With plenty of play value, and a complex, sophisticated build, it's unlike any other Friends set to date and is worthy of a very close look by gift givers this year.
CapnRex101
77015 Temple of the Golden Idol ($149.99 / €149.99 / £129.99)
This category is extraordinarily strong, between the outstanding sets others have chosen, 10318 Concorde and 21338 A-Frame Cabin, among others I could mention. 75357 Ghost & Phantom II is possibly my favourite Star Wars set released this year, for example.
Despite this, 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol is my selection for this price range. No other 18+ set achieves such an incredible balance between form and function. The model looks fantastic on display and incorporates some amazing functions, unlike anything else in the current LEGO product range.
The building experience is similarly unique, while the level of detail marks a new standard for other dioramas to strive for in the future!
TheBrickPal
75357 Ghost & Phantom II ($159.99 / €169.99 / £149.99)
I'd argue that a lot of LEGO's best sets have come from this category, as they're big enough to be impressive and packed with detail, but not so big that they're impractical for display or needlessly expensive. This is especially true for 2023, with gorgeous models such as 10315 Tranquil Garden, 10321 Corvette, 21343 Viking Village, 71469 Nightmare Shark Ship, and 80049 Dragon of the East Palace. The three Friends sets in this price range are also masterfully done. All of these are worthy options to consider.
I do have to choose just one, though, and 75357 Ghost & Phantom II takes the crown. The Ghost ship is beautifully designed, with all of the necessary angles captured. The interior is a bit empty, but that doesn't matter; what is here more than makes up for it. Throw in some nice minifigures, fun play features, and a detachable Phantom II shuttle, and you have a near-perfect set that any Star Wars fan will appreciate. Even better if they don't already have 2014's 75053 The Ghost! I can't recommend it highly enough.
For a slightly cheaper Star Wars pick, I quite like 75364 New Republic E-wing vs. Shin Hati's Starfighter, too. Speaking of Lucasfilm properties, I agree with CapnRex101 that 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol is practically flawless, and is a phenomenal display piece. That set is certainly my runner-up.
Looking for another licensed gift? Marvel fans would enjoy 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle or 76262 Captain America's Shield. Modern Disney fans may appreciate 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell, while those with nostalgia for classic animation would love 43227 Villain Icons. And of course, how could I forget the incredible 76419 Hogwarts Castle and Grounds! Too many great sets...
Alice
31209 The Amazing Spider-Man ($199.99 / €199.99 / £169.99)
Moving away from botanical sets, for this category I have picked 31209 The Amazing Spider-Man. I think it’s a striking display piece and will certainly stand out on the wall! I like the combination of textures and 3D effects.
I'm sure Marvel and Spider-Man fans will love this, whether they’re an AFOL or not.
benbacardi
76419 Hogwarts Castle and Grounds ($169.99 / €169.99 / £149.99)
There are few castles more iconic than Hogwarts, and this smaller-than-nanofigure-scale version is truly outstanding.
This is an excellent display piece, at a size that's easy to find a place for in anybody's home. The model has so many small details to discover as it's built or when admiring it once complete.
It's a gift that won't fail to please any Harry Potter fan, and even non-LEGO fans are unlikely to be daunted by its relatively small size.
SetToBuild
80044 Monkie Kid's Team Hideout ($139.99 / €99.99 / £89.99)
If you've got a Monkie Kid fan on your gift list, 80044 Monkie Kid's Team Hideout is an excellent addition to their collection. The layout consists of modular market stalls that can be swapped around within the model.
I love the hidden defence mechanisms in the roofs of the stalls, and how Monkie Kid's delivery bike can be hidden away behind the stalks of bamboo. Make sure your gift recipient doesn't sweat at the sight of stickers since, as with most Monkie Kid sets, the sticker sheet is what gives this set most of its detail. The minifigures are lovely, and the intricately detailed golden weapons are a sight to behold.
As a bonus, this set's modular components are compatible with 80036 The City of Lanterns from 2022 and 80054 Megapolis City coming out in 2024.
FlagsNZ
41748 Heartlake City Community Centre ($139.99 / €149.99 / £129.99)
Continuing my support for the spectacular Friends buildings that have been released this year, my pick for this price range is 41748 Heartlake City Community Centre.
The set offers a refreshing modular building concept in that the different coloured floors can be arranged in any order to create a vertical modular tower block. This format allows 41747 Heartlake City Community Kitchen to be added, making a five-level tower.
It wouldn't be too difficult to create your own floors, as the basic footprint for each level is quite simple. Hopefully, this format will continue in the next wave of Friends releases, enabling even taller tower blocks to be assembled in the coming years.
Which of the 47 sets would you choose to give?
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18 comments on this article
Love seeing some monkie kid on the list! couldn't agree more!
Why didn't anyone say 76261? It's up there in my top 5 sets of the year!
21343: Viking Village , 60366: Ski and Climbing Centre, 10325: Alpine Lodge , to stay within the winter season.
Elemental Dragon vs. The Empress Mech for me.
Such enjoyable build. The dragon and mech are relly well designed, both look very imposing and seem well priced. The only downside are minifigs. Only Empress looks exclusive, but saldy dont come with the cape.
For Ninjago offerings I would definitely recommend 71796 in a heartbeat. All round awesome selection of minifigures (though I would have preferred a Nya minifigure instead of Zane) and that dragon clearly stands out even among the wide range of dragons we get from Ninjago yearly.
I'm still considering getting myself the 10315 Tranquil Garden, but only because by now it is often well in the €50-€100 bracket, sometimes even in the lower half of that.
While at the very top end of this 100-200 range, my pick would easily be the 10318 Concorde. 21060 Himeji I already have (and like), but I'd guess for a gift guide that one might be a bit too specific. From the ones mentioned here, 76419 Hogwarts is easily my favorite. Not a set I'd buy myself as I'm not that big a Potter fan, but nevertheless a near perfect set. And other particularly good ones are 21343 Viking Village and 42154 Ford GT.
I got the new Hogwarts castle 76419 and the Tranquil garden 10315 as soon as they were released, they are perfectly designed!
It would have to be 77015 or 21343 if you ask me.
I’d like to cast a vote in for 21060, Himeji Castle!
76419 is £99 at Amazon UK at the moment :)
You could make a case for nearly every set in this category. It would be easier to do a "not recommend" than a recommendation (here's looking at you 75371...)
42157 all the way!
This one is easy, 75357 Ghost & Phantom II. I mean, just look at that thing, it's awesome!
I have 75348 and i would highly recommend it. But, 77015 is the number 2 pick.
Hmmm…I own the gunship, but I’m torn between the Indiana Jones set and the Viking village….
My top 5 picks...
- 10318 Concorde (this one's a marvel of Lego engineering. GREAT build, fantastic stunning display model. Only caveat is having the space for the wing span).
- 60368 Arctic Explorer Ship (excellent big xmas playset for kid and adult alike ;) Great underrated set. So many nice smaller vehicle builds, awesome large cargo ship and excellent figs too).
- 76261 Spider-Man Final Battle (the selection of superhero figs and great big Lady Liberty head you just can't beat!)
- 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol (you don't have to be a Raiders or Indy fan for this STUNNING model. Kids will have a great time building-unique Lego engineering, and playing with a ton of play features throughout this kit. A must get for any and all Lego fans!).
- 60366 Ski and Climbing Centre (another nice big playset for the kids for xmas. Tons of great detail throughout).
Honorable Mentions:
- 80111: Lunar New Year Parade (this I recommend not for the build/although fun, but more for the parts. Parts pack extravaganza and ALL 18 figs exclusive to this set).
- 10315 Tranquil Garden (very nice display desktop model).
- 60380 Downtown (HUGE customizable city/town set. All modular).
- 71469 Nightmare Shark Ship (like an official Lego MOC if that makes sense. Very unique and unusual).
- 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station (EXCELLENT alternative being easier on the wallet than getting 76405: Hogwarts Express - Collectors' Edition).
Nowadays, Costco Canada sells a lot of Lego sets - before that was just a few sets but now they have a pretty solid range. Anyhow, I just looked at it recently and two sets are sold out: 42157 and 60368. this can only mean that there is a strong demand for those two sets (both in the same price range at Costco Canada).
Second @WizardofOss regarding 42154 - belter of a Technic model that really looks like a Ford GT.