A long time ago in a toy factory far, far away, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to save a failing brand by sealing commercial tie-ups with well-known movie franchises.
LEGO had always been popular, but before they started issuing tie-in kits, it seemed that, in the face of a growing console market and various modern children’s toys, they had hit a ceiling, where the only thing left to do was use LEGO bricks to manage your time better.
Although tools have been released that make it possible to design your own LEGO builds (and perhaps even have them released as toys), the real success of LEGO over the past 20 years has been the realization of popular franchises in brick form.
Thus, a behemoth was born.
LEGO’s tie up with Lucasfilm is probably the most famous and recognizable result of this decision, a concept that mashes together the idea of Star Wars toys with the LEGO Space brand of the 1980s and 1990s. It is a range that is so big, it can be difficult to know where to begin…
As with any good Star Wars-related exercise, the place to start is, of course, the Original Trilogy. Sure, the prequels are chronologically first, but they represent an evolution of the storyline (various TV documentaries and books prior to the prequels will bear this out).
Based on the detailed exterior shots of the Mos Eisley Cantina in the Special Edition release of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, this affordable release includes figures such as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Greedo, a sandtrooper, 3 Cantina Band musicians – but curiously, no Chewbacca.
A booth is provided to relive the “Han shot first” moment, along with a dewback and Luke’s landspeeder. This is a great little playset, being atmospheric and accurately invoking the spirit of the movie scene. For convenience, this wretched hive of scum and villainy can be folded up when your characters are done.
Curiously, there’s no droidist bartender, but other than that, this is a great set.
LEGO Star Wars 75052 Mos Eisley Cantina Building Toy
Recreate the famous showdown between Han Solo and Greedo from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope!Despite Han Solo being seemingly unaware that a parsec is a measure of distance rather than speed, this mid-budget Millennium Falcon is another superb choice from the first trilogy of movies, featuring, as you might expect, Han Solo and Chewbacca.
However, this release is a The Force Awakens tie-in, so also features Finn, Rey, and BB-8. What do you mean we cheated? Did we hide under the floorboards (included)? Did we activate the hyperdrive for a fast Doctor Who-style getaway?
No, we just couldn’t find an Original Trilogy Millennium Falcon in the right price bracket (unless you want to buy the discontinued model for nearly $10,000 – yes, you read that right), and let’s face it, what is a roundup of the Original Trilogy without mention of cinema’s most famous spaceship?
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon 75105 Building Kit
Hide weapons and other cargo in the secret compartmentIt’s hard to describe this playset. In fact, it’s no playset – it’s a space station. Literally a monster (as reflected in the price), this kit comes with all of the recognisable characters from the first movie PLUS an Emperor’s guard and the shriveled evil personification of Palpatine himself, enabling you to relive moments from both Star Wars and Return of the Jedi.
But which moments?
How about Obi Wan Kenobi switching off the tractor beam? Or Luke, Leia, Chewy, and Han discovering an “incredible smell”? Luke and Leia swinging across a ravine? Luke and Darth Vader dueling? A TIE Fighter launch bay? Grand Moff Tarkin taunting Princess Leia?
It’s all here in this remarkably large playset, as represented by the remarkably large price tag. Please note that there is a separate Japan-only Return of the Jedi Death Star, which is more of a model than a playset.
LEGO Star Wars Death Star (10188)
Some of you may be unaware of this, but between 1999 and 2005, a second trilogy of Star Wars films was released. No, really, I’m not making this up. They were well received by the cinema going public, and expanded on the legend of the Clone Wars and the Jedi, as discussed in the original movies. But their greatest legacy is probably the spacecraft design, if not their rewriting of the previously established Star Wars timeline…
Such an example is the Jedi Interceptor, as seen in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This is Anakin Skywalker’s craft and includes an R2-D2 figure alongside the conflicted brat Jedi himself, enabling you to relive scenes from the film all the way up to the infamous DO NOT WANT moment.
The ship fires laser torpedoes, has a hideaway for Anakin’s lightsaber, and the wings can be adjusted to switch between space and atmosphere mode, just like in the movie (which you may want to forget).
LEGO Star Wars 75038 Jedi Interceptor
Recreate exciting battle scenes from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith! Includes Anakin Skywalker minifigure with a Lightsaber and R2-D2Droids are servants in the Original Trilogy. Perhaps this is because 20 years previously they had been used by the Trade Federation and the forces of the Dark Side to wreak so much havoc.
This collection of Hail-Fire and Spider Droids is surprisingly expensive, partially due to the age and availability of the kit. While not the biggest collection of Star Wars LEGO, however, it is one that completists will be interested in owning, and enables you to relive particularly, um, memorable (?!) scenes from the Prequel Trilogy. You know, like that one where… oh never mind.
LEGO Star Wars Hail-Fire Droid & Spider Droids
The Separatist army is on the attack! Roll into battle with the giant-wheeled Hailfire droid with 8 flick-firing missiles.Do you have too much money to spend on merchandise from a movie everyone will forget about after December? Then you have come to the right place.
This transporter from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace includes a Naboo security guard, a baby-faced Obi-Wan Kenobi, plus a battle droid pilot, seven battle droid figures, PLUS a mini Liam Neeson ready to get revenge-tastic on their metal asses using his particular set of skills.
It’s not immediately obvious into what other designs you might modify this Trade Federation transporter, but we reckon a dank Eastern European block of flats for Qui-Gon Mills Jinn to break every droid’s neck in hand-to-hand combat is a good option.
(Is it me, or do battle droids look like ducks with guns?)
LEGO Star WarsTM Trade Federation Multi Troop Transport (75058)
Includes 3 minifigures with assorted weapons: NabooTM Security Guard, Obi-Wan KenobiTM, Qui-Gon JinnTM, plus a Battle DroidTM Pilot and 7 Battle DroidTM figuresYAY! New Star Wars! It looks like Star Wars! It feels like Star Wars! George Lucas didn’t write the script! (Yes, “write” is a stretch, but stick with us – here, try these parodies of the first trailer.)
There isn’t a lot we can say about this kit at present, other than it includes Rey and a crowbar wielding masked man/droid called “Unkar’s Thug” (what, no BB-8!?). Rey has a mask, presumably to keep the sand off her face while riding in the speeder itself, which has a storage hatch on the side.
As with all three of these kits from The Force Awakens, you’ll be intrigued by the mystery until you see the movie, so until then, just make your own stuff up. It’ll be better than the prequels, after all.
LEGO Star Wars Rey's Speeder 75099 Building Kit
Rotate the engine to open the storage hatch; gb the side-mounted accessoriesNot dissimilar to the Imperial shuttle used by Darth Vader to travel from the second Death Star to the Forest Moon of Endor, the craft of Vader-obsessed lunatic Kylo Ren has storage bays, spring-loaded firing weapons, and foldable wings for flight.
When in place, the wings give it an appearance that is part Imperial shuttle, part TIE fighter, and it is certainly a striking craft.
This comes with Kylo Ren, a hoodie, some First Order troops, and some pilots. And mystery!
LEGO Star Wars Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle 75104 Building Kit
Launch the spring-loaded shooters; access the storage baysThe First Order certainly seems well equipped. This TIE fighter is not only an imposing size and decorated in red and black, it comes with two pilots, a crew member, and an officer!
Unsurprisingly, Disney/Lucasfilm are giving little away about The Force Awakens, but if you’re looking for something to fly this TIE fighter into combat with, spare a thought for the Millennium Falcon above.
And if you’re feeling particularly short of ideas, get your smartphone out, film some scenes, and add some J.J. Abrams-style lens flare!
LEGO Star Wars First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter 75101 Building Kit
Open the cockpit and load up the crewSurely there are no other LEGO Star Wars toys to mention? Well, there are actually, and more than we can shake a website at, but if you want a recommendation for something a little different…
Available for PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS (hey, it’s a few years old now), The Complete Saga is a collection of six LEGO Star Wars games spanning the Original Trilogy (and apparently some other films made in the late 1990s/early 2000s that you’ve probably forgotten about by now).
It kind of looks like this:
See how it doesn’t take itself too seriously (yeah, we’re looking at you, Prequel Trilogy). Best of all, the game has been reissued in the Greatest Hits and Platinum Family Hits lines on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, meaning you should be able to get hold of a copy reasonably easily.
Disney Interactive Lego Star Wars Complete Saga
So, there you go, Star Wars fans: an immense list of 10 LEGO toys to suit all budgets (unless you don’t own a games console, in which you’ll have to break your budget).
Do you already own some LEGO Star Wars figures and playsets? If so, what’s your favorite? Are you looking to get into LEGO Star Wars toys? If so, which of these are you keen to purchase?
Tell us in the comments below, and May The Force Brick With You (that’s right, isn’t it?)
What MMORPGs Taught Me About Self-Improvement
Mortal Kombat X Guide: How to Play Kano
NBA 2K16: How to Reset Your MyPlayer Character
Until Dawn Death Totem Location Guide
7 Skill-Building Photography Exercises That Really Work