// WIRED US/UK — GAMING
Best Lego Gifts for Brick Builders (2026): Smart Bricks, Video Games, and More
Lego isn't going anywhere. Those beloved little bricks won't biodegrade, are machined to incredibly tight tolerances, and—unless your dog chews one up—retain what Lego refers to as their “clutch power” for decades. Their relevance in terms of cultural pastiche isn’t fading on me either. They're as irresistible to me today as they were as a kid.
If you and your loved ones are also obsessed with Lego sets, we have some great gift ideas. For more recommendations, don't forget to check out our other gift guides.
Updated October 2026: I added the Lego Ideas Peanuts: Snoopy's Doghouse, a Lego Batman game, Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026, Star Trek light kit, and Lego Architecture Paris: City of Love.
One of the reasons that Lego sets are so popular is the company's innumerable licensing deals. No matter what you're into, Lego has signed a deal to make a Lego set about it. (And then, in an ouroboros of advertising, the company will then make a movie about the Lego set about the franchise.) Anyway, this is a long and roundabout way of saying that my son and I are obsessed with the Lego Formula 1 sets. I even got to watch the Lego cars hit the track at a Formula 1 race. Ever since then, we've been watching the races and Netflix's Drive to Survive. It's the perfect collaboration because Lego bricks and Formula 1 engineers are on the same page when it comes to precise engineering and tight tolerances. Also, once you're done building, the cars work as toys as well as sets. —Adrienne So
If you’re curious about Lego’s new Smart Play system, the Star Wars Throne Room Duel and A-Wing set is a great way to dip your toe in the water. This fun build enables you to reenact the climax of Return of the Jedi, with Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker duking it out as Emperor Palpatine looks on and a space battle rages outside. Smart Bricks add lightsaber noises, lasers, explosions, heavy breathing, and even a rendition of “The Imperial March.” They also light up, but you’ll have to remember to charge them.
My daughter and my husband love the Lego Botanicals collection. These gorgeous tree and flower sets work well as holiday centerpieces once you're finished building—you can leave them right out on the table, instead of hiding them away in your Lego basement once you're done. My 11-year-old built this lovely rose bouquet, which has articulated heads so you can arrange them in the case. For the winter holidays, we also recommend the Lego poinsettia set ($50), which was our centerpiece last year. —Adrienne So
A superbly loving parody that throws the best of Batman’s movie outings into the blender with a pinch of slapstick comedy and plenty of charm. Gotham is packed with collectibles, puzzles to solve, and an endless supply of thugs to bash. Melee combat is fun, as you counter and dodge to build combos, and there’s plenty of gadgetry to try out. This is the most fun I’ve had with a Lego game in years, and it’s perfect for split-screen couch co-op. If you’re not a Batman fan, there are tons of other great Lego games, based on other worlds, like Star Wars, Ninjago, and Marvel.
Who doesn’t love Snoopy? This set is an easy build and includes Snoopy, his doghouse, and Woodstock. There’s also a typewriter (fans will recognize the line, “It was a dark and stormy night”) and a campfire, with alternative legs if you want Snoopy to stand, hunch over to type, or lie back on the top of his doghouse. The Ideas range from Lego is based on fan creations that have been shared and voted on to become real sets. This one is lovely, but it’s definitely a display set, not something you’d actively play with.
If you have a coworker who likes Lego and would like to gift him or her something tiny and thoughtful, I suggest this little notepad. It's very cute, with 224 pieces of paper, and one side looks like a brick. The notes themselves are about 5 inches long, which is big enough for a pretty substantial note! Chronicle Books has a whole line of Lego books, puzzles, and sta