Brickset Awards 2021 - Nominations

favourite minifigure released during 2021? Betty Brant https://brickset.com/minifigs/sh726/betty-brant

Overall: 75313
Under $40: 60287
Minifig: idea102 Marvin 'Marv' Murchins

71741: NINJAGO City Gardens - favorite set
76387: Hogwarts: Fluffy Encounter - under $40
COLLT06: Sylvester

Best set: 10283
Best set under 40: 76239
Best minifig: SH774

Quality year for superhero themes I guess. Not what I expected going through the lists but Marvel and DC both earned a spot for each slot.

Minifigure - SH792: The Joker - Green Vest and Printed Arms

My favourite minifigure is Cosmo Kramer.

Best overall: 76389 Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets
Below 40: 75311 Imperial Armored Marauder
Minifig: Sam Wilson Captain America

Best overall set :10283: NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Best set below $40: 76900: Koenigsegg Jesko
Best minifigure: COLLT10: Marvin the Martian

Best set : 10283
Best <40$ set : 42117

Best minifigure: https://brickset.com/minifigs/vid004a/party-llama-(l-l-a-m-a-)-skates

Titanic was the best set.
Everyone is awesome was best under $40
Mickey Mouse spacesuit was best minifig

Favorite set, fender Stratocaster.
Favorite minifig, Sam Wilson Captain America from the marvel CMF

Best set Overall: 71747
Best set Under $40: 76940
Best Minifig: https://brickset.com/minifigs/njo686/thunder-keeper

@MrClassic said:
"Favourite minifigure: Candy Mermaid https://brickset.com/minifigs/vid001/candy-mermaid"
Should have been Candy Ballerina https://brickset.com/minifigs/vid021/candy-ballerina (it'd be neat if minifigs could be linked the same way as sets).

Overall: 21327: Typewriter
Under $40: 31122: Fish Tank
Minifig: IDEA102: Marvin 'Marv' Murchins

Best set - 10289 Bird of Paradise (amazing on display)

Best under $40 - 31122 Fish Tank (just a cute and straightforward set that looks great on display)

Best minifigure - VID002 Shark Singer (despite vidiyo being a flop, everyone can agree the minifigures were superb with the colours, the moulds and just how they looked. this one is the sickest imo, with second being the VID019 Metal Dragon)

Favourite set released during 2021 : 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Below $40 released during 2021 : 76177: Battle at the Ancient Village
Favourite minifigure released during 2021 : 71386-9: Fly Guy

Favorite set: 75312 Boba Fett's Starship
Favroite set under $40: 71750 Lloyd's Hydro Mech
Favorite minifigure: SW1163 Bo-Katan Kryze

Overall 10283 space shuttle

Best set overall : 10283 Space Shuttle Discovery.

Great build, looks great in display, swooshable and good play features.

Best under $40 : 31117 Space Shuttle Adventure.

Good build, looks good next to 10283,great features and good alternate builds that stand up against their bigger counterparts.

Best minifigure: COLLT02 Bugs Bunny.

One of my favourite cartoon characters perfectly executed in Lego.

I will limit myself by voting for a selection of stuff I actually bought..

best minifig : ancient warrior (col 381) ( collectible series 21)

best set(s) : both batmobiles : 76239 Tumbler and 76188 Classic Batmobile
Those can enter in both the overall as the sub 40 categories.

I bought few sets in the higher price range this year, and although also the modular police station and the Daily Bugle are great sets, I feel these sub 40 sets give more WOW! per euro spent..

Set: daily bugle or at at
Minifig: road runner or fly guy
Under 40:minecraft trading post

Best set overall: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Best under $40: 21176 The Jungle Abomination
Best minifgiure: col 381 Ancient Warrior

Best overall set: 80024 Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain (I have no interest in this theme, but this set stands out)

Best under $40: 76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown

Best figure: NJO636 Jacob (very groovy baby, yeah!)

Set 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Under $40 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile
Minifigure I’ll go with Monkie Kid. A lot of great minifigs in this theme(like the Demon Bros) since he’s the figurehead of the theme, as well as being awesome, let’s go with him.

Set: 75308: R2-D2
Set (<40$): 76239: Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown
Minifgure: SW1158: Boba Fett - Repainted Beskar Armor and Jet Pack

Best under $40 :60293 stuntz park. Includes the bike and plenty of different combinations

Best overall set: Boba Fett's Starship
Best set >$40: Trouble on Tatooine
Best minifig: The Mandalorian/ Din Djarin from Boba Fett's Starship.
As you can probably tell, I like my Star Wars!

10294, 10283, 21327, 42128, 76193 : a good year, many options

Have to nominate the one that got me started.
Best overall 10283 Space Shuttle.

Best ... 76391 Hogwarts Icons
Under 40 ... 76188 Classic Batmobile

Set: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens

Under 40: This is a really hard category this year. It could easily go to both Batmobiles ( 76188 and 76239 ), Polyjuice Potion Mistake 76386 , Bro Thor 76200 , Santa's Sleigh 40059 , and a few others. I think though that due to cultural significance it should go to Everyone is Awesome 40516

Minifig: Violin Kid 71029 because Blacktron and violins are a great combination!

Ninjago City Gardens
Speed Champions Ferrari F8 76895 small set

best minifigure SH742: Rocket Raccoon - Dark Bluish Gray Outfit, from set 76193, The Guardians’ Ship.
best set, 10294, Titanic.
best set under $40.00, 76903, Speed Champions, Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car and 1968 Chevrolet Corvette.

Favourite set: 80028
Favourite set below $40: 76384
Favourite minifigure: VID019 Metal Dragon

Favourite set of the year: Hogwarts Icons (solely for the amazing Hedwig)
Favourite set below $40: 76239: Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown
Favourite minifigure: Eeyore!

Best minifigure VID003: Alien DJ

@Peter_X said:
"Favourite set of the year: 76391: Hogwarts Icons (solely for the amazing Hedwig)
Favourite set below $40: 76239: Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown
Favourite minifigure: Eeyore! "

Best set: This was a hard one, but I'd nominate 71741 Ninjago City Gardens for the best set of the year. This one is amazing! Some other honourable mentions are the Queer Eye Fab 5 Loft, Friends Apartments, Winnie the Pooh, Daily Bugle, Modular Police Station, Spring Lantern Festival, Hogsmeade Village visit ... (so many great sets this year)
Best <40 set: this was way easier: 40516 Everyone is Awesome! Some honourable mentions are Santa's Sleigh, Mini Disney Castle, Duel on Mandalore, Hogwarts Polyjuice Potion Mistake, T.Rex Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition ...
Best minifigure: Tigger, with honourable mentions to Gold Dumbledore, Sam Wilson Captain America (CMF), Captain Carter (CMF), Wanda (CMF), Eeyore, Janice, Joey Tribbiani (lots of clothes), Korg, The Watcher, Tan France (Queer Eye), The Armorer (Mandalorian)

Favorite set: 71741 second: 75309
Favorite set below $40: 60287 second: 76188

What is your favourite set released during 2021?
Set 10290 Pickup Truck. Shocked not to see it here yet. It's just some wholesome good fun with a sense of timelessness to it. Also, the build experience was just lovely for that one. The build process was clean and felt as though the designers were able to make something very refined by not having to replicate an existing car's shape, and instead leaning into shapes that work best with existing elements.

Runners Up: Lantern Festival and ? Block

What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?
Set 21172 The Ruined Portal. Last year around this time I had a Minecraft world with two of my friends and we were exploring the new Nether update at that time. This set captures all of the important details of that experience. The function is also really slick!

Runners Up: Batmobile Tumbler, Tie Fighter

What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?
cty1319 - It's Rrrooccket Rrrraacer! Props if you get the double reference! But, seriously though, I waited so many years for this guy. I played the original LEGO Racers game as a kid, and when the CMF version of this guy came out I was stoked. To get a more faithful version of him this year in a set costing pocket money was icing on the cake!

Runners Up: Alien DJ, Mr. Tang (Robe version)

Best set 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Best <$40 76394: Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix
Best minifigure HP324: Rebeus Hagrid, 20th Anniversary Pearl Gold

Favourite set: 80107 Spring Lantern Festival

Favourite set under $40: 40499 Santa's Sleigh

Favourite minifigure: IDEA084 Black Falcon (female) and IDEA 085 Black Falcon (male). Classic Castle FTW!

@guachi said:
" @mavndad said:
"Overall: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
Under $40: 60287 Tractor
Minifig: Marvin the Martian"

Are you and I the same person? Because your choices are very likely going to be my choices."

You’re just awesome!

Best: AT-AT 75313
Under $40: Imperial Armored Marauder 75311
Minifig: Dark Trooper

Overall: Ninjago City Gardens

Sub 40 USD: Everyone is Awesome

Minifig: Folk Fairy (Vidiyo)

Favorite set 2021 overall: 10278-1 Police-Station
Favorite set 2021 under €40,-: 60285-1 Sports-Car
Favorite minifigure 2021: 71029-3 Shipwreck-Survivor

Overall: 75301 Luke Skywalker's X-wing Fighter
Under 40: 76173 Spider-Man and Ghost Rider vs. Carnage
Minifig: COL383 Space Police Guy

I don't think these are the best but the ones I bought that are my favourites from this year.
Favourite set: 21330 Home Alone - just for nostalgia
Favourite set below $40: 76239 Batman Tumbler- such a nice building process and an accurate looking set for the scale.
Favourite minifigure: Squid Drummer from 43114. The Vidiyo figures have amazing detail. If those hadn't come out this year, I would have gone with the girl from 60287 since it looks so much like my sister when she was young.

Overall: 75316: Mandalorian Starfighter
<$40: 76200: Bro Thor's New Asgard
Minifigure: Tech (From the 75314: The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle set)

Set: 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Minifigure: Loki or Sylvie from 71031

Best Set (that I've built): 10283: NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
--
-It's two fantastic models (with Hubble), and swooshable!
10295: Porsche 911 a close second, and haven't even opened my boxes for
21327, 10290, just started 10294, what a great building year 2022 will be!
--
Best Set under $40 (that I've built): 76200: Bro Thor's New Asgard
--
-Surprisingly fun, detailed build.
31113: Race Car Transporter a close second, simple build, luv the colors, and c'mon, you get to zzzooom zzzoom zzzoom those cars!
--
Best Minifgure (that I've built): 71030-9: Tasmanian Devil
--
-great rendition, the swirl base, and a turkey leg!
honorable mentions to 71029-7: Beekeeper and 71029-5: Pug Costume Guy
--
Amazing banner year for LEGO models, great fun to look back what all came out, and what there is left to build! Thanks to Brickset too for such an AFOL resource :-)

Set: 76178
Set under $40: 71735
Minifigure: 71031-8

Overall: 10278 Police Station

Under $40: 75311 Imperial Armored Marauder

Minifig: SW1157

Overall: 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Under 40: 76395: Hogwarts: First Flying Lesson
Minifig: Wandering Trader (Minecraft MIN087; 21167)

Best Set Overall: 76178 Daily Bugle

Best Set Under $40: 31121 Crocodile

Best minifig: COLMAR1 The Scarlet Witch

Best set overall:
10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Best set under $40:
75300 Imperial TIE Fighter
Best minifigure:
COL377: Ladybug Girl

Overall: 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
Under $40: 31117 Space Shuttle Adventure
Minifigure: 71031 Monica Rambeau (although I would also consider literally ANY minifigure from within 40516 because EVERYONE IS AWESOME!)
Special Consideration as one I could only dream to own: 6386182 LEGO Masters gift

I wrote the above nominations before looking at others' comments. I was surprised that there were so few nominations for the modular Police Station. Usually there's a ton of nominations for the year's modular set, but I think this is evidence that it missed the mark. Really, it could have been a lot better had they not tried to cram a news stand AND the obvious joke doughnut shop in there as well. It's like they tried too hard. It was also released during a period where a lot of people are starting to question the actions of some police officers. They probably wish they had done a police station 5 years ago instead, but it very likely started development a year or two before 2020 changed things.

overall:
31120: Medieval Castle
under $40:
76903: Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car and 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
minifigure:
SW1135: The Mandalorian (Din Djarin / 'Mando') - Silver Beskar Armor, Cape

Tough choice!! I think I'll go with
Best set: 10281 Bonsai Tree - who doesn't love 100 pink frogs!

Favorite set under $40 60287 Tractor - always loved Tractors and it includes one of the new pumpkins!

Favorite minifig: 71029-6 Centaur - this one was easy as I love fantasy!

Favorite set overall: 71738 Zane's Titan Mech Battle
Favorite set <$40: 76384 Hogwarts Moments: Herbology Class
Favorite minifig: Glow-in-the-dark Nearly Headless Nick

Overall: 76391
Under 40: 76200
Minifig: SW1160

Best Set Overall: 40478 Mini Disney Castle - regardless of price, this set is nearly perfect. Factoring in the price, it's an unbelievable must-have.

Best Set Under $40: 40478 Mini Disney Castle

Best Minifig: COL381 Ancient Warrior - the prints, accessories, etc are all amazing.

21327 Typewriter for best set of the year. A masterclass in Technics for functionality and Classic bricks for form. A+

Overall: 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
Below $40: 60297 Tractor

What is your favourite set released during 2021?* 76178: Daily Bugle
What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?* 76200: Bro Thor's New Asgard
What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?**71031-10: Captain Carter

What is your favourite set released during 2021? 75301 Luke Skywalker's Affordable But Still Good X-Wing Fighter.
What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021? 3117 Space Shuttle Adventures
I'll give the minifig. choice a miss.

Overall: 75313 UCS AT-AT
Under 40: 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard
Minifig: 71031-8 Zombie Hunter Spidey

I would like to suggest a new bonus category: "Favorite Rebrickable-MOC". My pick for 21 would be the amazing Sit-Complex by LegoArtisan

My personal Top 5 (If possible, I would nominate all of them ;)
1. 75313 UCS AT-AT
My new Nr.2 Lego Star Wars set ever, after the amazing UCS Falcon. I lost interest in the Star Wars theme, over the last few years. This one blew me away, because of minifig-scale! Makes me wanna build a Hoth battle diorama.

2. 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
Makes me feel cozy looking at it. Would love to see a whole line of medieval buildings in that style!

3. 10278 Police Station
Modulars are - by far - my favorite theme. l love how it looks on my shelf, between Book Store & Detectives Office. Can't wait for the Hotel.

4. 21330 Home Alone
This set of course has the nostalgic factor going for it. But more than that, it's really a nice looking & complete residential house for any Lego city.

5. 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
The only set on this list I currently don't own. Ninjago took some years to grow on me. I regret not buying Ninjago City when I had the chance. Will not make the same mistake again and let this one pass. I think this set looks even better then the original Ninjago City

Favorite set: 18+ Porsche 911
Favorite set under $40: 75299 Trouble on Tatooine
Favorite Minifigure: Mandolorian in Beskar Armor

Best set: 10280 Flower Bouquet
Best set under 40$: 60287 Tractor
Best minifigure: HP308 Nearly Headless Nick (Glow in the Dark) from 76389 Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets

Favorit set Daily Bugle
Minifigure golden Spiderman

Modest buyer of lego so 60294 stuntz truck and trailer , 60287 tractor and Shirley Keeper from 60292 town centre and 60303 advent calendar

Best Overall: 10295: Porsche 911
Best under 40: 40516: Everyone is awesome
Best Minifig: Amelia Earhart

Best set: 10293 Santa's Visit
Best Set under $40: 40499 Santa's Sleigh
Best minifigure: Ice Cream Saxophonist from 43101

There were so many excellent sets and minifigures produced this year. My two favorite sets were 10293 Santa's Visit and 21326 Winnie the Pooh. My two favorite sets under $40 were 71742 Overlord Dragon and 40499 Santa's Sleigh.

In terms of minifigures, there were so many great releases. Overall, the Best minifigures were the Ice cream saxophonist from 43101 and Prince Kalmaar from 71755.

Overall set: 10295 - Porsche
Set below $40: 31112 - Lion
Minifigure: IDEA090 - Eeyore

This year, I tried something new: instead of reading everyone else's comments (and possibly following others' lead), I looked up the sets I personally own and then made my selections from there:

Favorite set in 2021: 10294 Titanic, with 21326 Winnie the Pooh a close second (my teenage daughter was elated to receive this set for her birthday this year)
Favorite set <$40 in 2021: 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile, with 31122 Fish Tank a close second
Favorite minifigure in 2021: VID019 Metal Dragon (from a Vidiyo BeatBox set, of all places!), if only for its certain uniqueness

Overall: 10281 - Bonsai Tree
Under 40: 75311 - Imperial Armored Marauder
Figure: Dark Trooper

71741-1 Ninjago City Gardens
40460-1 Roses
71030-6 Sylvester the Cat

Daily Bugle, Medieval Blacksmith and AT-AT

best set: grand piano
Best set under forty: everyone is awesome
best minifig: marv from home alone
love the iron!

Set of the year: 21330 Home Alone
Best set under 40$: 40499 Santa's Sleigh
Best Minifig: IDEA087 Tigger

Daily bugle and bro Thor's new Asgard

What is your favourite set released during 2021? 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021? 76903 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car & 1968 Chevrolet Corvette
What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021? HOL224 Year of the Ox Guy

Best set: 21328 Seinfeld
Best set under 40$: 76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown
Best minifigure: IDEA094: Cosmo Kramer

I've already posted my choices above but upon reading the selections, I wondered: "does that reflect the actual ownership (not that you have to own a set to like it a lot). So I searched for the most owned set of 2021. I roughly compared that to the selections above (excluding GWP and minifig). And here is a list of the most owned sets of 2021 which were also voted for in the comments above (in descending order): 10281 , 21325 , 75301 , 10283 , 21326 , 40516 , 80107 , 71741 , 76188 , 40499 , 75311 , 60287 . (Sets owned but that were not voted in the comments do not appear here. This was done "back of the envelope" and not precisely at all). All in all, it seems that the sets voted here have been bought by a large number of members.
(Of course Titanic and AT-AT have only just been released and it will take some time for ownership numbers to settle.)

Best set: Creator Castle
Best minifigure: Black Falcon knight (the guy with the grey beard)

Overall: Spring Lantern Festival
Minifig: Beekeeper

Overall Set: 10294 Titanic
Under 40: 76188 Classic Batmobile
Minifigure: Scarlet Witch from Marvel CMF

Best Overall Set: 80107 - Spring Lantern Festival
Best Set Under $40 - 40516 - Everyone Is Awesome
Best Minifig: Ice Cream Saxophonist (VID015) from the set of the same, 43101

42128 Heavy Duty Tow Truck deserves a mention for best set, as it's the best Technic set of the year.

60287 Tractor would be my pick for under 40.

No idea on the figs.

Set: UCS AT-AT
Under 40: Santa's sleigh
MF: SW1148: Hunter

From my son:
Set: Home Alone
Under 40: GWP Coffee Stand
MF: Beskar Mando w scarf

Best set: 10283 NASA Space Shuttle
Just under £40 : 40499 Santa's Sleigh
Best Minifigure: VID009 Banshee Singer.

Favourite Set: 76178
Favourite Set under $40: 76195
Favourite Minifigure: Unicorn DJ

75315: Imperial Light Cruiser
76200: Bro Thor's New Asgard
SH752: Korg

Favorite Set - Daily Bugle 76178
Favorite Set Under $40 - Batmobile Tumbler Scarecrow Showdown 76239
Favorite Minifigure - Nya NRG Seabound NJO705

Favorite Set: 76389: Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets
Favorite Set Under $40: 75319: The Armorer's Mandalorian Forge
Favorite Minifigure: SW1135: Mando with Beskar Armour

Best set Overall: 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Best set Under $40: 71746: Jungle Dragon
Best Minifig: NJO705: Nya NRG - Seabound

76391: Hogwarts Icons Collectors' Edition
71746: Jungle Dragon
VID030: Mermaid Violinist

Best set: 10294 Titanic (see below)
Best set under £40: 40499 Santa’s Sleigh
Best minifigure: Day of the Dead Skeleton Mariachi (was available in the blister packs of three minifigures in Lego brand stores at Halloween, and is a great minifigure)

10294 Titanic is the Lego set that the eight year old me always wanted to be able to build and I can’t think of any greater compliment to the designer than that (I’m 53!).

80107 Spring Lantern Festival was another fabulous 2021 set (and so much better than the 2022 Chinese New Year sets, unfortunately).

Favorite Set - 75313: AT-AT
Favorite Set Under $40 - 40499: Santa's Sleigh
Favorite Minifigure - SW1162: Gar Saxon

Favourite set: 10278 Police Station
Favourite Set below 40: 76239 Batmobile Tumbler
Favourite minifig: Black and Gold Spider-man SH774

Best Set: 76391: Hogwart's Icons Collector's Editiom
Best Minifig: Zombie Captain America CMF
Best Set Under $40: 76940 T-Rex Dinosaur Fossil Exhibition

Best set Overall: 21325
Best set Under $40: 76188
Best Minifig: CAS554: Black Falcon

Favorite Set of 2021: Daily Bugle
Favorite Set under 40$ of 2021: Imperial Armoured Marauder
Favorite Minifigure of 2021: Captain Falcon (Marvel CMF)

Best set overall: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
Best Set < $40: 40516 Everyone is awesome
Best Minifig: IDEA084: Black Falcon, Female

Best set overall: 10278 Police Station (huge fan of Modulars and this one is too exceptional).
Best set under $40: 60287 Tractor

Set of the year: 21330 Home Alone
Set under $40: 40469 Tuk Tuk
Minifigure: 71029-7 Beekeeper

Best set: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Best under $40: 41686 Friends Magical Acrobatics
Best Minifig: Alien DJ from 43104 Vidiyo Alien DJ Beatbox

Favourite set: 76393 Harry Potter & Hermione Granger
Favourite set costing below $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Favourite minifigure: FTV003 (10292-1 ) Joey Tribbiana (remember - he's going commando under all Chandler's clothes).

For both over all and under $40
40516: Everyone is Awesome

It may not have the most complicated build techniques I would usually look for in a best set but the design and colour aesthetics are fantastic and the bold message TLG were sending is vitally important; it has also been a hugely popular set.

Best minifigure
HP308: Nearly Headless Nick, Glow in the Dark
The roll out of the white glow colour in to many more parts has been great this year but it was also wonderful to see a glow in the dark minifigure complete with hair and the sand green and silver printing looks stunning. (This made the top spot for me despite the lack of glow hands (although these have been unofficially produced from Lego's moulds and have been available on BrickLink) and the likelihood that both the creator of this character and the actor that portrayed him probably don't think highly of my favourite set).

Best set: 71741 - Ninjago City Gardens
Best set under $40: 40516 - Everyone is Awesome
Best Minifig: COLLT10 from set 71030-10 Marvin the Martian

Favourite set: 31120: Medieval Castle - Since it basically awakened my repressed nostalgia (I've bought small sets from time to time) and inspired me to begin collecting sets from my childhood - the ones from the late '80s and early '90s that I always wanted which my parents never bought!
Favourite set below $40 : 60283: Holiday Camper Van - Because the baby made me buy it!
Favourite minifigure: NJO684: PoulErik - Just because of the name! ;P

76168 Daily Bugle
76200 Bro Thor’s Apartment
71029 CMF Castaway

Best set = 76391: Hogwarts Icons Collectors' Edition

Best set under $40 = 76239: Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown

Best mini figure = 71031-5: Captain America (Sam Wilson)

75313: AT-AT: best set
76200: Bro Thor’s Apartment

Best set - 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
Best under $40 - 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard

Best set: 10280 Flower Bouquet
Best set under 40$: 40478 Mini Disney Castle
Best minifigure: VID011 Cotton Candy Cheerleader

Set: Ninjago City Gardens
Set Below $40: Bro Thor’s New Asgard
Minifigure: Gar Saxon

Favourite set - Spring Lantern Festival
Below $40 - Everyone is Awesome
Favourite minifigure - Alien DJ (Vidiyo)

Based on ones I own:
Best set - Spring Lantern Festival
Best <£40 - Roses
Best minifig - SH679: Spider-Man (Miles Morales) - Dark Red Hood

Best Set: 10281
Best Set <$40: 71031
Best Minifigure: SH753

Favorite set is: 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
Favorite set under $40 is: 40478 Mini Disney Castle
Favorite Minifigure is: SH777 Doctor Strange (love that new plastic cape)

(Very close 2nd and 3rd minifigures are: COLMAR01 Scarlet Witch and SH712 Firestar ;) )

@24nolf said:
" @HOBBES said:
"I've already posted my choices above but upon reading the selections, I wondered: "does that reflect the actual ownership (not that you have to own a set to like it a lot). So I searched for the most owned set of 2021. I roughly compared that to the selections above (excluding GWP and minifig). And here is a list of the most owned sets of 2021 which were also voted for in the comments above (in descending order): 10281 , 21325 , 75301 , 10283 , 21326 , 40516 , 80107 , 71741 , 76188 , 40499 , 75311 , 60287 . (Sets owned but that were not voted in the comments do not appear here. This was done "back of the envelope" and not precisely at all). All in all, it seems that the sets voted here have been bought by a large number of members.
(Of course Titanic and AT-AT have only just been released and it will take some time for ownership numbers to settle.)"

It will be interesting to see how 2021 is viewed in a few years. Hogwarts Icons, Titanic and Spring Lantern Festival are probably locks to be called classics but it falls off from there. Several of the D2C sets such as Ninjago City Gardens and the Blacksmith lack polish and seem destined to fall out of favor with more scrutiny. "

2017 is the greatest year ever imo. Think about this top 5: Ninjago city, Saturn V, old fishing store, UCS MIllennium Falcon, and Destiny’s Bounty. Don’t know if that list can be topped.

But 2021 has a very strong and deep list of great sets. In 5-10 years I think Titanic, AT-AT, Ninjago City Gardens, Medieval Blacksmith, Spring Lantern Festival, and Everything is Awesome could all be classics, and I think there could be strong secondary markers for Space Shuttle Discovery, daily bugle, Hogwarts Icons, Home Alone, bonsai tree, and Winnie the Pooh.

Best overall: 31203 World Map
It's got the most pieces ever, and the best price-per-piece ratio (~46.7 pieces per dollar and ~50.8 pieces per £), and I’m biased because I love looking at maps.

Best under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome, of course.

As someone who loves everything analog, my favourite set has to be 21327 - Typewriter!
Favourite set below $40 would be 60283 - Holiday Camper Van.
Favourite minifigure is Tigger from the 21326 - Winnie the Pooh IDEAS set.

Best set: 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens

I will only nominate sets that I own:
Overall; 10281 Bonsai
Under $40; 31122 Fish Tank
Minifig; Wile E Coyote

best set - 75313

best under 40 - 75311

best minifigure - sw1163

Best Set: 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Best Set Under $40: 40478 Mini Disney Castle, 71746 Jungle Dragon, and 60287: Tractor (Sorry can't decide)
Best Fig: COLMAR01 The Scarlet Witch (Marvel CMF)

Overall: 80024 Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain
Under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Minifig: 71030-10 Marvin the Martian

Definitely hard to choose, but I think I’ll go with these:

Top set: Ninjago City Gardens

Under $40: The Tumbler

Best Minifig: COL381: Ancient Warrior

Set-porsche
under 40 -bro thor's new asguard.

Best minifig: cmf castaway

Best Set: 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Best Set Under $40: 40478: Mini Disney Castle
Best Minifig: VID015: Ice Cream Saxophonist, Vidiyo Bandmates, Series 1

Favourite Set of 2021
1. 76193 The Guardians' Ship
2. 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
3. 42125 Ferrari 488 GTE

Set under US$40
76239 Batmobile Tumbler

I don't really care about minfigs so I'll just say Korg.
Other good 2021 sets, 76177, 76200, 75306, 10281. That's about it. It's been a very lean year for good sets for me.

Best Set: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Best Set (under $40): 76239 Batman Tumbler
Best Minifigure: Tigger from 21326 Winnie the Pooh

Overall: 10283: NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Under $40: 43192: Cinderella's Royal Carriage
Minifig: 71031-9: Zombie Captain America

Overall: Typewriter
Under $40: Mini Disney Castle
Minifig: Tigger

The Typewriter charmed me from Day 1 (and a lot of non-Lego fans I know), and it's the first expensive set that I bought early in its lifespan. Ninjago City Gardens was a very close second, as it can beautifully stand on its own even if someone has no other Ninjago sets.

The Everyone is Awesome set was neck-and-neck with the Mini Disney Castle, but the tiebreaker was the fact that the Mini Disney Castle is a more affordable version of a set that a lot of people really want (the $350 large Disney Castle) but will never be able to afford. Though I do love the message of Everyone is Awesome (I think it may be a more important set in the long run), and I also love those monochromatic minifigs.

Best Minifig is always a tough category to pick a single favorite, but Tigger is one of the most beloved fictional characters of the past century, and the minifig does a great job capturing what I love about Tigger. They had one shot to get it right (I don't expect any more Winnie the Pooh sets, at least for a long time), and the designers nailed it. Well done!

Favorite Set: UCS AT-AT
Favorite Set under 40: Imperial Troop Transport
Favorite Minifigure: Gar Saxon

Overall: Fender Stratocaster
Under $40: Classic batmobile
Minifigure: Bandmates (just lots of cool figures)

What is your favourite set released during 2021?
76178 Daily Bugle
What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?
76174 Spider-Man's Monster Truck vs. Mysterio
What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?
SH722 The Punisher

Favorite set = 10278 Police Station with 21325 Medieval Blacksmith as a close second

Favorite Minifigure = COL380 Beekeeper

Set: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
under 40: 40469 Tuk Tuk

Overall Set - 76178: Daily Bugle
Under 40 - 75311: Imperial Armoured Marauder
Minifig - COLMAR05: Falcon Captain America

Set of the Year: 21325-1 Medieval-Blacksmith
Set under 40$/€: 40516 Everyone is Awesome

10290 Pickup truck
40516 Everyone is awesome
Hol253 Santa

Best set 76178 Daily Bugle
Best sub $40 set 40499 Santa's Sleigh
Best minifigure SH722 The Punisher

Overall: 75313: AT-AT - Stunning Set (although Blacksmith and Winnie the Pooh both run a close 2nd)
Under $40: 76239 Batmobile Tumbler - Solid set
Minifigure: Fat Thor – SH753 - cracks me up.

Favourite set released during 2021: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens
Favourite set costing below $40 of 2021: 60287 Tractor
Favourite minifigure released during 2021: Col 376 Shipwreck Survivor

Best set: Ninjago city 71741
Best set under 40: Everyone is awesome 40516
Best minifig/character: Shy Boo (MAR0075: Boo, Super Mario, Series 3)

From a quick count, Medieval Blacksmith's going to win it easy, and NCG will be a close second, followed by Spring Lantern Festival and Daily Bugle. All great sets. Will there be last minute surprises?

Best Set: Medieval Blacksmith (Honorable Mentions to Daily Bugle and UCS AT-AT)
Best set <$40: Armourer’s Forge (HM: Everyone is Awesome, Tumbler)
Best Minifigure: Beskar Mandalorian (HM: Daredevil, Bro Thor, Newman)

Overall: 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens (honorable mentions: 43114 Punk ship, 80107 Lantern)
Under 40: 40516: Everyone is Awesome (honorable mentions: 76200 Bro Thor, 76394: Fawkes, 76239: Tumbler)
Minifig: VID031: Alien Singer and NJO677: Chief Mammatus (honorable mentions: SW1163: Bo-Katan SH753 Bro Thor ;COLMAR05: Captain America)

What is your favourite set released during 2021?
80107: Spring Lantern Festival
(The colours, the inventiveness of the build, and the modular compatibility made for a set that for me was the perfect way to get through a dark lockdown February!)

What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?
40516: Everyone is Awesome
(A really enjoyable set that both felt like a throwback, with large bricks and an assortment of colours, coupled with a lovely progressive statement of support for the LGBTQ community. And those monofigs!!)

What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?
71031-10: Captain Carter
(I think perhaps Sam Wilson is the more detailed fig from this collection, but Captain Carter's detail is also stellar, and offers more opportunities to mix and match parts which has made this my favourite fig of the year)

Looking forward to seeing the results and enjoying everyone's submissions!

Overall: 76178 Daily Bugle
Under 40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Minifig: SH724 Daredevil from 76178 Daily Bugle

Overall: 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Minifig: COL384 Alien

21325 Blacksmith for overall
31117 Space Shuttle Adventure under $40
IDEA102 Marv for best minifigure

My fav set overall: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens. The build experience was exceptional, the build itself is exceptional, and it looks fantastic on display.

My fav set under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome, because everyone is awesome and I appreciate the philosophy behind this set very much. Great parts pack.

My fav minifig has to be Grogu/Baby Yoda.

Thanks for organizing this again, I'm excited to see the outcomes :-)

Best set: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
Best < $40: 71746 Jungle Dragon
Best Minifigure: HP308 Nearly Headless Nick

Honourable mention: 10290 Pick-up truck

Favorite Set:
75313 UCS AT-AT

Favorite Set under $40:
76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown

Favorite Minifig:
COLMAR05: Captain America, Marvel Studios

Best: 21315 Medieval Blacksmith
Best <40: 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard
Best Minifig: sw1161 Dark Trooper

Favourite Set: 76905 Ford GT Heritage Edition and Bronco R
Favourite Set Below $40: 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile
Favourite Minifigure: Rocket Racer (60298)

Best : 10283 NASA Space shuttle Discovery
Best <$40 : 71746 Jungle Dragon
Best minifig : NJO692 Prince Kalmaar

best set: https://brickset.com/sets/theme-Harry-Potter/subtheme-Hogwarts-Moments/year-2021 (the four sets as a whole)

best under 40USD set: https://brickset.com/sets/40516-1/Everyone-is-Awesome

best minifig
a) with accessories: https://brickset.com/minifigs/njo705/nya-nrg-seabound (the ensemble with the all the elemental pieces is just glorious)
b) without accessories: https://brickset.com/minifigs/category-Super-Heroes/subcategory-Eternals (the entire line)

Best set: 21325 Mediaeval Blacksmith
Best set < $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Best minifig: SH749 Captain Carter (Stealth Suit)
Thanks :)

Best set has to be the Imperial Marauder, so much playability for a great price.

Best under $40 is the marvel cmf

For the best minifigure I might have to go with Beskar Mando. Sure he’s come in a ton of sets but he’s a great figure

Best set- 71741
Best set under $40- 60283
Best minifig- COL379 centaur

Can we vote for the Bricklink Designer Sets ? Maybe someone would like to vote for the castle in the forest? ;) 910001

Best set of the year's gotta be
71741: NINJAGO City Gardens

Best set under $40 is hard to say, but I'm gonna go with one of these:
21165: The Bee Farm
31111: Cyber Drone
40516: Everyone is Awesome

Best minifig is either
TWN401: Cyber Drone Robot - Flat Silver Spacesuit with Harness and White Panel with Classic Space Logo, Trans-Light Blue Head
or NJO705: Nya NRG - Seabound if you include her accessories

Best set- 76178
Best set under 40- 76194
Best minifig- njo677

Best Set: 80024 The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain

Best Set Under $40: 40478 Mini Disney Castle

Best Minifig: SW1135 Beskar Mando

Best overall: 10278
Best <$40: 40499

Set: 71741: NINJAGO City Gardens
Set <40: 71735 Tournament of Elements
Minifigure: SH724 Daredevil

best under $40 40448 Vintage Car, 40499 Santa's sleigh is good too
best overall 10280 flower bouquet
best minifig mk039 spider queen with cape, from monkie king

Overall: 10283 space shuttle discovery
Under $40: 75300 tie fighter
Minifigure: sw1163 Bo katan

It is very difficult to choose a single set. There are too many wonderful sets together with other very interesting sets that attracted my attention.
So I think I'll list only sets that I bought or I already decided to buy as this clearly elucidate what are my priorities and helps to give the right weight to very large sets (ok, fantastic sets, but does it really deserve to replace many other smaller sets?).

Set: 31120 (Because I was waiting for something like this one for long time, but the competitors was hard-bitten: 71738 31120 10293 80107 21325 10283 21327 76178 10281)
Set under 40$: 40469 (among some interesting ones)
Minifigure: CAS555 (hard choice among a subselection of: MK039 COLMAR02 MK050 HP308 HP310 CAS555 NJO667 )

PS: it is possible to filter minifigures separing standard-minifig, microfig, bigfig, minidoll, microdoll, brickBuildFig, robot-alien-droid, Duplo, anyother?
Maybe standard minifigures could be splitted into: standard, hybrid, mouldedhead, teenager, child.

Best set: 76178 Daily Bugle
Best set < 40: 30516 Everyone is awesom
Best minifigure: Bro Thor from 76200

favourite set released- 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
favourite set costing below $40- 76239 Batmobile Tumbler Scarecrow Showdown
favourite minifigure- Bro Thor SH753

21325 Medieval Blacksmith
76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard
SW1135 Beskar Mandalorian

Best Minifigure is easily (SW1162) Gar Saxon.

Overall: 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Under 40: 75300 Imperial TIE Fighter
Minifig: SW1149 Wrecker (The Bad Batch)

Overall - 21325 Medieval Blacksmith
Under 40 - 42121 Heavy Duty Excavator
Minifig - MK001 Monkie Kid

Favorite minifigure: NJO667 Clutch Powers.
Favorite set under $40: 76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown.
Favorite set: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.

For best set from 2021 : 71741 Ninjago City Gardens wich celebrates Ninjago's tenth year.

For the best set under $40 : 71742 Overlord's dragon, an excellent set that retranscrate the "first" final battle from 2013.

And for last, for best minifigure : vid019 Metalic Dragon (despite Vidyo's flaws thank you Lego for keep trying and testing new horizons, just keep the build experience as core and app/digital just option).

Overall: 21330 Home Alone
Under $40: 40478 Mini Disney Castle

I am torn on what minifigure to nominate, so here is what i would like to see in the list:

SH753 Bro Thor for the belly color on the hips
SH777 Dr. Strange for the molded robe
SW1150 Tech for the use of colors and all the details
TLS108 as an example of everyone is awesome, being monofigs, and all people are awesome

Overall: Daily Planet
Under $40: Scarecrow/Tumbler
Minifig: Sam Wilson as Captain Falcon

Best Overall Set: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith (Runner Up: 75313 UCS AT AT)
Best Set Under $40: 75311 Imperial Armored Marauder
Best Minifig: The Mandalorian (Beskar Armor)

Best Overall Set: 71391 Bowser's Airship
Best Set Under $40: 71746 Jungle Dragon
Best Minifig: https://brickset.com/minifigs/cty1319/stuntz-driver-rr-white-helmet-blue-and-red-arms-white-legs (Rocket Racer)
Honorable Mention Minifig: https://brickset.com/minifigs/mar0062/luigi (Luigi)

Overall: 21325 - Medieval Blacksmith
Under $40: 76200 - Bro Thor's New Asgard
Minifig: COL380 - Beekeeper

is there a way to see how much money does one have to spend to buy all the sets annually? what is the worth of all the sets per year?

Best Set: World Map 31203
Best under 40: Tuk Tuk 40469
Best Fig: Hiphop Robot VID014

Definitely 31120 Medieval Castle for me. The blacksmith is lovely, but is sadly not in proper minifigure scale.

For set of the year I am going with 75308 R2-D2. There was just something about it that made me smile when building it. Closely followed by 76191 Infinity Gauntlet. I have just started on the AT-AT which is also awesome.

For <$40 40516 Everyone is Awesome, closely followed by Bro Thor.

For the figure HP308 Nearly Headless Nick as it looks great in the dark.

Best Set: Medieval Blacksmith 21325

Best Set $40 under: Batmobile Tumbler, Scarecrow Showdown 76239

Best Minifigure: Gar Saxon sw1162

Best Set : 21325: Medieval Blacksmith
Best Set under 40$ : 75311: Imperial Armoured Marauder
Best Minifigure : COL379: Centaur Warrior

Below $40- Imperial Armoured Marauder

Best set Overall : 21327 Typewriter (closely followed by 10294 Titanic)
Best set Under $40: 40451 Tatooine Homestead (also 40478 Mini Disney Castle is great)
Best Minifig: MAR0041 Bob-omb (from 71380)

I'm not really interested in either Star Wars lego or Disney lego but I think Tatooine Homestead and the Mini Disney Castle are really well made. There's something about miniature sets that, if designed well, I really like.

I really like quite a few of the Supermario minifigs. Another one I wrestled putting was MAR0044 Spiny (from 71382). My daughter is into lego Disney and she told me that the DP142 Snowgies (from 43194) appeared when Elsa sneezed and for that they're worthy of a mention!

Favorite set: 31120 Medieval Castle
Favorite set under $40: 31112 Wild Lion
Favorite minifig: VID002 Shark Singer, followed closely by VID010 Bunny Dancer (the vidiyo sets and app leave much to be desired, but the minifigs are some of the best ever)

Best set Overall: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith and 21326 Winnie The Pooh
Best set Under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Best Minifig: NJO705 Nya NRG with VID028 Squid Drummer a close second

Best set overall: 21330 Home Alone
Best under $40: 60287 Tractor

Best set Overall: 21325
Best set Under $40: 76239
Best Minifig: IDEA087: Tigger

Best set overall: 71738 Zane's Titan Mech Battle
Best set under $40: 75310 Duel on Mandalore
Best minifigure: https://brickset.com/minifigs/mar0052/wiggler (Wiggler)

Best set under 40$: 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard, lovely little set filled to the brim with details.

Best Minifigure: Captain Carter from 71031 CMF, there is something about this minifig that awes me still to this day, and that hairpiece alone merits a mention.

Best set overall: Maybe a controversial choice, but it's gonna be 75301 X-Wing for me. Yes, the back is a bit too boxy, it could have used more greebling, the front landing gear is locked and so on, BUT that wing mechanism, for the first time in years not needing rubber bands, is wonderful, the scale is not that much reduced comparing it with previous iterations while the price is halved. All in all it is what I wanted from a Lego X-Wing, aforementioned "flaws" notwithstanding.

Over All: 80107: Spring Lantern Festival
<40: 31121: Crocodile
Minifig: SW1163: Bo-Katan Kryze

Best overall: 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Best under 40: 31117 Space Shuttle Adventure
Best minifig: COL383 Space Police Guy https://brickset.com/minifigs/col383/space-police-guy-minifigure-only-entry

Little bit mono-thematic, I know :-)

Set: 21325, Medieval Blacksmith
Set under $40: 71752, Ninja Sub Speeder
Minifigure: COLMAR10, Captain Carter

71741 Ninjago City Gardens HAS to be the best set of the year. Lots of other great sets but this one is just absolutely immaculate.

House vote
Set 71741 Ninjago City gardens
Smaller set 40516 Everyone is awesome (nearly won best overall here)
Minifigure Hermione with cat head in 76386

Overall: 21325, Medieval Blacksmith
(I'm normally a dedicated Star Wars fan, but since the day this came out I've spent most of 2021 focused more on Castle. If one set can make me reprioritize like that, I should probably vote for it!)

Under $40: 31111-1, Cyber Drone
(admittedly, an odd choice for me, but it has a great combination of nostalgia and creative design)

Minifig: 71029-12, Cabaret Singer
(can't stop leaving this minifig on display...! The mould of the headgear and quality of the cloth piece are excellent, and the entire minifig just looks so alive)

What is your favourite set released during 2021? LEGO IDEAS HOME ALONE 21330
What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?* LEGO DISNEY CASTLE MICROSCALE
What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?** FALCON CAPTAIN AMERICA CMF

Best set : Ninjago City Gardens
Best under $40 : Ninjago Tournament Of Elements
Best Figure : Nya (Ninjago city Gardens)

Favourite overall -
21325 Medieval Blacksmith ( but Winnie the Pooh, Spring Lantern Festival and Hogsmeade Village Visit also contenders)
Under $40 -
40499 Santa's Sleigh just because it was the only set I was tempted to buy in this price range.
Favourite minifigure -
IDEA090 Eeyore.

Overall: 31120 Medieval Castle
Under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Minifig: 71030 Road Runner

Overall: 10294-1 Titanic
Under $40: 40516-1 Everyone is Awesome
Minifig: 71031-10 Captain Carter

overall is k-pawp concert, under 40 is unicorn dj beatbox and minifig is flying unicorn

So many interesting things this year :
Overall favorite is the 910001 Castle in the forest. The Blacksmith and the 3 in 1 castle are also awesome

Under $40, I choose 40516 everyone is awesome. Santa's Sleigh and the classic Batmobile are great challengers

My favorite minifig is the 71029-6 Centaur Warrior. The candy mermaid from vidiyo is cool, and so is the dark purple monochrome from everyone is awesome !

Favorite overall set: Medieval Blacksmith 21325-1
Favorite set under $40: 76190-1
Favorite minifigure: Centaur https://brickset.com/minifigs/col379/centaur-warrior-minifigure-only-entry

Set of the Year: 21325-1 Medieval-Blacksmith
Set under 40$/€: 40516 Everyone is Awesome

Favorite overall: Medieval Blacksmith
Favorite under $40: Everyone is Awesome
Favorite minifig: Vidiyo Folk Fairy

Favorite set: 10294 Titanic.
Favorite set under $40: 40516 Everyone is Awesome
Favorite minifigure: Captain America (Sam Wilson)

Favorite set: There are too many to have just one.

Seasonal: 10293 Santa's Visit.
Ninjago: 71741 Ninjago City Gardens.
Creator: 31120 Medieval Castle.
Ideas: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith.
Harry Potter: 76388 Hogsmeade Village Visit.
City: 60302 Wildlife Rescue Operation.
Friends: 41448 Heartlake CityMovie Theatre .
Duplo: 10944 Space Shuttle Mission.

Under $40
40499 Santa's Sleigh.

Overall 10283-1 Space Shuttle Discovery
Under 40499-1 Santa Sleigh
Minifig SH753 Fat Thor

Favorite set: 10294 Titanic.
Favorite set under $40: Nothing.
Favorite minifigure: Nothing.

Favourite set: 75313 AT-AT (although mine's not arrived yet) ...

Favourite set below $40: 75313 The Armourer's Mandalorian Forge

Favourite minifigure: SW1159 Fennec Shand

PS - would have gone Wile E. Coyote but he already has three votes, and an honourable mention ....

Best Set : The terrific 80107 Spring Lantern Festival
Best set below $40 : 75550 Minions Kung Fu Battle
Best Minifg : GEN152 Amelia Earhart

Ninjago City Gardens and Clutch Powers :) Best under 40$ is 76383, a Harry Potter set with 3 sets of robes for my house instead of Gryffindor.

Best set/ Ninjago Gardens 71741
Best under $40/ Everyone Is Awesome 40516
Best figure/ Tigger

76178 Daily Bugle —best overall
40454 Spider-Man vs. Venom —best under $40
Sw1161 Dark Trooper—best minifig

Ninjago City Gardens is easily the best set of the year :)

Best set: 910001. TLG should really release a non exclusive castle!
Best set below $40: 76395. This is almost what I want: a modular castle with simple building techniques. However, it should use light bluish grey instead of brick yellow.
Best minifig: col379. We need more generic knights but in non-exclusive sets!

80107 Spring Lantern Festival,
40499 Santa's Sleigh,
All Looney Tones Minifigures, select one

@Norikins said:
"Ninjago City Gardens and Clutch Powers :) Best under 40$ is 76383, a Harry Potter set with 3 sets of robes for my house instead of Gryffindor."

Whoops, I meant 76386 "Polyjuice Potion Mistake" instead! What happened to the edit button?

Favorite set - 21326: Winnie the Pooh

Favorite set <$40 - 40469: Tuk Tuk

Favorite Minifigure - IDEA087: Tigger

Best overall set: 21325 medieval blacksmith
Under 40: 76386 Polyjuice potion mistake

Favourite set: Light blue Fiat 500 77942

Under $ 40: Tumbler 76239

Fav minifig: Daffy Duck

As for set nominations... I don't own any of them, but from a spectator's point of view, I have to say:

Overall: 80107, it has to be; my favourite-looking CNY set to date, from a theme that never fails to impress. Runner-up nomination goes to 43197, for simply looking spectacular- and not to mention very true to the movie, too.

Less than $40: I'm gonna be non-conventional and say 41690 - the Friends advent calendar was SUPERBLY impressive this year, and in addition to a very good selection of builds, the theme of being a flashback to when the main characters were kids was also a really cute touch that I felt added nicely to the calendar. Runner-up for me is 76185, although that has as much to do with its incredibly appealing minifigure selection as anything else!

Fave big set - Hogwarts Icons Collectors' Edition 76391

Fave under £40 set - Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix
76394-1

31111 for favourite set below $40

Overall The modular Police Station 10278 is my favorite set of 2021!

Fave set of the year - 76178 : Daily Bugle

Admittedly, a lot of my excitement for this set came from the inclusion of a Firestar minifigure, but that doesn't stop it from being on of the few 'almost first day' purchases I've ever made.

Fave under $40 - 76394 : Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix

Had so much fun building Hedgwig and this was just as good.

Set tho one to rule them all :D - 21325: Medieval Blacksmith
Set under 40 - 76185: Spider-Man at the Sanctum Workshop
Minifigure it could be only one - IDEA090: Eeyore with Bow

Best set: 71738 Zane's Titan Mech Battle
Best set under $40: 71735 Tournament of Elements

Best set overall: 21325, Medieval Blacksmith

Best set below $40: 76185, Spider-Man at the Sanctum Sanctorum Workshop

Best set; medival blacksmith

Best: 21325: Medieval Blacksmith

Under 40$: 40499: Santa's Sleigh

Minifigure: 71029: Airplane Girl

I'm Sorry, Ninjago garden :P

Best set overall: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith

Best set below 40: 76188 Classic TV Series Batmobile

What is your favourite set released during 2021?
ANSWER: Medieval Blacksmith 21325

What is your favourite set costing below $40 of 2021?
ANSWER: Santa's Sleigh 40499

What is your favourite minifigure released during 2021?:
ANSWER: Tigger

Overall: 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens
Under 40: 31111: Cyber Drone OR 71735: Tournament of Elements

A lot of love for the Blacksmith, which is indeed a great set, as is the 3-in-1 Castle. Ninjago City Gardens is excellent, and I would argue that the original Ninjago City is the greatest set of all time. I really like the new, smaller scale Star Wars ships. Loved the expert 911, Spring Lantern Festival, Zane's Titan Mech, Everyone Is Awesome and Battle at the Ancient Village (really!). I can't wait to buy the Daily Bugle. And so on, and so forth.

But I would absolutely have to vote for 10280 Flower Bouquet as the best set of 2021. We built a copy and displayed it at home, where guests were drawn to it (double-takes, "That's LEGO?!" etc.), then gifted it to our daughter's primary school. It has been a focal point of their offices ever since, and they even had an Instagram exchange with LEGO about how awesome it is. We need another copy for our house, to go along with the Bird of Paradise and Bansai Tree, and I will be buying MANY copies for friends and family. It's just brilliant.

Favorite set: 10293 Santa’s Visit. Objectively Ninjago City Garden is better, but I had such a sweet time building it with my kids.
Favorite below 40€: 71742 Overlord Dragon. Great colours, figs, posability. And somehow the only set my wife likes on display.
Favorite minifig: NJO705 Nya NRG. Golden Zane NJO710 a close second.

Favorite set: 71738 Zane’s Titan Mech Battle. Such a hard pick though, the Bonsai was verrry close behind. Wouldn’t mind that winning either, or possibly Spring Lantern festival and Ninjago City gardens (we all know that’s going to win though, right?). I have a very soft spot for the Hydro Bounty too, but that’s completely me being biased and it’s simply not the objective winner. Zane’s mech though, maan… they nailed it here. In my opinion the best LEGO mech ever made. It looks absolutely stellar and has an unbelievable amount of articulation for such a massive and heavy build. Fantastic techniques used all around too, I just can’t praise this thing enough. Even though building a beautiful building is a work of art, making something that moves all around really is next level.

Favorite set below $40: 71742 Overlord Dragon. It’s an amazing depiction of a very iconic character from the show, and since it’s in the Legacy line they were able to take some creative liberties like incorporating the golden armor from a later season. Even without all the context though, this is just an amazing dragon. It’s not even all that complex, but sometimes less is more and that’s really been achieved well here. You just know it’s an incredibly evil and powerful being by seeing it on a shelf, which I think says enough to how well this is designed.

4002021: The Temple of Celebrations

Best set: Home Alone
Best set under $40: Everyone Is Awesome
Best fig: cabaret singer

Best set: 76178

42128 is my "Set of the Year 2021" because it has unbeatable play-value for money, with 15 functions for RRP £140 (I waited for discount to £112 so far in the UK).
It doesn't suffer from the overpriced phone control nonsense.
It includes pneumatic pieces, enough to make a steam engine later, or a 3-function automaton. It is the first set to have two 1/11 cylinders.
It has many mod and MOC possibilities. Some have rebuilt it with UK "cab-over" design.
We need more sets like this one. Every AFOL and every child of suitable age should build one.

Overall: 76391 - Hogwarts Icons Collection
Less than $40: 76200 - Bro Thor's New Asguard

"Sets costing less than $40 can appear in the overall poll, should they receive enough nominations."
40516 Everyone is Awesome received more than 50 votes while 10294 Titanic got as few as 14 (both sets also received some secondary choice votes) - then why is 40516 Everyone is Awesome not included in the favourite set poll when 10294 Titanic is?? Several other below $40 sets also received many more votes than some of the larger sets that are somehow part of the poll, which should be renamed "What is your favourite set costing above $40 of 2021".
https://brickset.com/article/68636/what-is-your-favourite-set-of-2021

Set 910001: Castle in the forest

@MrClassic said:
"why is 40516 Everyone is Awesome not included in the favourite set poll when 10294 Titanic is??"
Just realized that I misunderstood the rules - below $40 sets that were nominated as "Favourite set of the year" could qualify to that poll, but if they were nominated in the below $40 category, they could only qualify for that. Sorry...