Best LEGO Super Mario Sets: Starter to Collector Picks
Super Mario — the red-capped plumber who raised a generation — outgrew "video game character" status long ago. When LEGO and Nintendo teamed up for the Super Mario line, a lot of childhood wishlists got checked off in one go. This guide runs through the sets genuinely worth buying, from cheap interactive starter courses up to 18+ display pieces.
Why LEGO Super Mario Is So Popular
Since its 2020 debut, LEGO Super Mario has become one of the brick market's fastest-selling themes. The hook is interactive play: the Mario figure packs an LCD screen, a speaker and a color sensor. Stomp an enemy and you get the classic thud; grab a coin and you hear the bright pickup chime. That game-plus-bricks blend is why a Mario set isn't a static model on a shelf but a level you can run again and again.
If game-based bricks are your thing, our complete guide to game-themed LEGO sets covers more classic game IPs turned into sets.
Entry-Level LEGO Super Mario Picks
1. LEGO 71360 Adventures with Mario Starter Course
- Pieces: 231
- Price: about ¥500
- Recommended age: 6+
This is the best starting point for the whole Super Mario world. It includes the interactive Mario figure, a full course running from the start pipe to the goal pole, and classic enemies such as a Goomba and a Koopa Troopa. You can expand your own adventure using the Mario MOC course plans on BrickPlan.cn, building endless level combinations from the parts you already own.
2. LEGO 71403 Adventures with Peach Starter Course
- Pieces: 256
- Price: about ¥550
- Recommended age: 6+
The Peach starter course arrived in 2022 and lets players take the lead as Princess Peach. Compared with the Mario version it adds more pink parts and castle elements, making it a natural fit for Peach fans. If you're hunting for a Super Mario set for a child and want more variety, pair it with the Mario starter course — the two combine for two-player co-op runs.
Mid-Range Expansion Sets
3. LEGO 71387 Adventures with Luigi Starter Course
- Pieces: 280
- Price: about ¥550
- Recommended age: 6+
The Luigi figure carries the same built-in interactive tech and links up with the Mario figure. Place both characters side by side on a course and they greet each other and tally a combined team score — something solo play simply can't do. This set is the foundation for building brother co-op courses.
4. LEGO 71369 Bowser's Castle Boss Battle
- Pieces: 1010
- Price: about ¥900
- Recommended age: 8+
If you want one Mario set with real shelf presence, Bowser's Castle is the obvious pick. Over 1,000 pieces build a complete castle scene with a rotating fire bar, a lava pit and Bowser boss-battle mechanics. Add a Mario or Luigi figure and you can recreate the game's signature boss fight. On BrickPlan.cn you'll also find MOC expansion plans for Bowser's Castle that stretch the final adventure out further.
Collector-Level Sets
5. LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System
- Pieces: 2646
- Price: about ¥2000
- Recommended age: 18+
This is less a set than a piece of nostalgia art. LEGO faithfully recreates the 1985 NES console, complete with a buildable controller and a retro TV. Turn the crank on the side of the TV and Mario on screen jumps and runs through the level just like the original game. Its display value far outweighs its play value — the ultimate collector's piece for adult builders and Nintendo fans.
6. LEGO 71395 Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block
- Pieces: 2064
- Price: about ¥1700
- Recommended age: 18+
Modelled on the iconic question mark block from Super Mario 64, this set uses a folding mechanism to reveal four classic level scenes, among them Peach's Castle, Cool, Cool Mountain and Lava Bubble Land. The clever mechanical design and the density of Easter eggs make it one of the most creative LEGO sets of 2021.
Buying Advice and Money-Saving Tips
- Watch the sale calendar: during major shopping festivals such as 618 and Double 11, LEGO Super Mario sets regularly drop to 70–80% of list price, with starter sets falling to around ¥350.
- Start with a starter course: the interactive figure is the core of the theme, so buy 71360 or 71403 first and add expansion sets only as interest grows.
- Use compatible MOC plans: you don't need to buy every official course. Search "Super Mario" MOC plans on BrickPlan.cn and build levels from parts you already have — cheaper, and far more creative.
- Mind version compatibility: every Super Mario set works with the interactive figures, but the 2020 and 2022 versions differ slightly in color-sensor sensitivity. Basic play is unaffected.
If game-themed bricks appeal to you, take a look at our review of classic game LEGO sets for more game IP sets worth picking up.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're buying a gift that teaches through play or collecting a piece of gaming history for yourself, this list has an option that fits. From the entry-level interactive adventures to the NES replica, every set carries the charm the Mario series has built over more than forty years. With the MOC resources on BrickPlan.cn, you can keep extending your own Super Mario world — after all, a plumber's adventure never really ends.