This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Growing up I was never really a big Lego fan. It’s not that I didn’t like them, but I was just preoccupied with Hot Wheels and other toys. They just weren’t on my radar. However, last year when strolling through Target I experienced a life-changing moment. While my girlfriend was entrenched in the makeup aisle and I was left to wander in destitute, I saw a Lego set of the Porsche 963. The iconic endurance race car caught my eye and soon enough I was sitting at the kitchen table putting it together. I was instantly hooked. One year and hundreds of dollars later, I now have an impressive Lego collection. But the funny thing is, until that day I didn’t know the vast amount of Lego sets that cater to adult interests. As their popularity continues to rise, many are asking, can adults play with Legos?
Can Adults Play With Legos?
So, can adults play with Legos? Of course they can! There will always be people who see it as childish, but those people are boring. Everyone should be able to do what they love and enjoy their hobbies. You should never feel bad over outside perceptions of something you’re passionate about. Yes, there can be a stigma associated with being an adult who likes to build Legos, but as they have become increasingly popular that stigma is fading away. Also, who cares anyway? Granted my TikTok feed is curated to my interests, but there are plenty of Lego enthusiasts out there. With each passing year, their numbers just seem to grow.
Of all publications, even Vouge is talking about Legos. If that’s not a sure sign of rather pervasive popularity, then I don’t know what is. You have to hand it to them; Lego has relied on a massively successful marketing campaign to convert such a large swath of individuals into Lego lovers. They even have a section of their website that filters sets based on what they think adults will find appealing.
Further demonstrating the brand’s popularity is the huge success of the Lego movie franchise. There is even a TV show called Lego Masters which features a building competition between participating teams. Both productions illustrate that Legos really are for everyone.
Why Do Adults Love Legos?
Nostalgia
There are plenty of reasons why adults enjoy immersing themselves in the experience Lego sets provide. For one, there is a big element of nostalgia. Despite not playing with them much in the past, it does bring out my inner child in a positive way. All the self-help gurus of TikTok always talk about rekindling or nurturing your inner child and building Legos is a pretty straightforward method of doing that. Plus, with the help of adult money, the more complex and expensive sets are far more attainable than when you were 12.
Creativity
Legos are also a great way to harness your creativity. While sets with detailed instructions make up most of the Lego market, tons of people use those pieces to create something entirely new. Or you can even buy individual pieces from Lego stores to craft a unique piece of art.
Stress Reduction
For me, a major reason I was drawn to Legos was the stress reduction. Granted, there have been plenty of sets where I get stuck on a step and it is a bit enraging. However, more often than not I realize I made a mistake a few steps back and all is well. Legos are challenging but they are also relaxing. Their stress-relieving qualities are founded on an opportunity to unplug and do something hands-on. Whether you’re lying in bed doom-scrolling or having an Excel spreadsheet burned into your eyes, screens can easily rule most of your day. And let’s be frank, these days it’s nearly impossible not to get sucked into the vicious and terrifying news cycle. It’s not only frustrating but honestly a bit depressing. Legos represent an opening to escape from all that. It’s very demure, very mindful.
Community
Some people recommend doing Lego sets together, but based on my experience I would caution against that. When too many hands are in the pot it can lead to confusion. It may work for you and your Lego building companion, but I think there is a better way to enjoy Legos together. My recommendation would be to get two different sets and build them at the same time. That way you can both relax and enjoy building together without pissing anyone off. Another way to connect with fellow Lego lovers is also over the internet. I realize that is contrary to my earlier point about disconnecting, but there are a ton of online communities for Lego enthusiast to share their passion.
Explore Your Passions
Lego has been able to enjoy its growing popularity because of its uncanny ability to cater to a wide array of interests. Enjoying building is central to all the fun, but there are so many things you can build. Since they incorporate a variety of themes they appeal to endless demographics. It’s no surprise Lego has such a cult following. From floral arrangements to famous buildings and race cars, all the way to leaning into popular fandoms, the possibilities are truly limitless.
Legos appeal to me mainly because I love cars. Out of all the cars I have gotten to build with Legos, I will likely never have a chance to own the real thing. Granted, a toy made of plastic bits isn’t the same as a roaring V8, but it’ll do. Ultimately, Legos provide a way to explore your interests and passions in a way that is unrivaled by other toys and is often not found in another tangible form.
Lego Collections
If you are new to Legos or don’t know where to start, I don’t blame you. With such a bloated lineup it can be hard to gauge the difficulty of sets or understand the different collection themes. But fear not, here’s a basic rundown of what they have to offer.
Architecture
This category is relatively self-explanatory. The Architecture collection provides various sets resembling world-famous monuments from various regions and periods. Right now, their cheapest set based on the London skyline will only set you back $39.99. However, if you’re ready to make a bigger investment Notre Dame, the Statue of Liberty, as well as others are available for a steeper price tag.
Botanicals & Art
If you love displaying flowers in your home but hate when they die, look no further than Lego’s Botanical collection. From plum blossoms to orchids, to bonsai trees, there is a dense selection. A huge plus to this theme is that it’s on the cheaper side as most sets are available for less than $50, which in the world of Legos is a bargain.
However, if you have a bit more money to spend and you strive for that perfect home aesthetic you could opt for the Art collection. Here you’ll find famous masterpieces you can build and display such as the Mona Lisa and the Great Wave.
BrickHeadz
The BrickHeadz collection may be more geared toward kids, but they are still widely raved about. Most sets are only $9.99, and they are based on the typical mini-Lego figures just blown up to a larger size. Your options range from popular superheroes such as Captain American and Batman, all the way to Tom & Jerry.
Speed Champions
Personally, this is my favorite collection. The Speed Champions theme is all about cars. There are options from everyday vehicles like a Mercedes G-Class to their newly expanded F1 collection. The great thing about Speed Champions is that they are some of the more reasonably priced sets. There is some variation, but most are only about $30 or less which is great because their larger vehicle builds are quite pricey. If you love cars but don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on Legos, this is a great place to start.
Creator Expert, Icons, Ideas
These three categories are a bit more complex, and not just concerning build difficulty. The Creator Expert collection doesn’t necessarily have a cohesive theme to its offerings. Their unifying characteristic is that these sets fall on the pricey side and will take you a few hours or even days to complete depending on your skill and experience level. Heading the collection at the moment is the massive Titanic replica which will set you back nearly $700. Crazy I know. But also, totally worth it. The classic Porsche 911 Turbo however is a modest $169.99.
The Icon collection also has some impressive and bank-breaking offerings too. While the choices are also a bit all over the place, these sets are all certifiably iconic, hence the name Icons. Here lies the top of my current wish list, Barad-dûr from The Lord of the Rings. There is also a wide price range from the $29.99 Chrysanthemum to the $629.99 Eiffel Tower.
Another standout is the Ideas collection. It contains one set that I think will resonate particularly well with Zillennials which is The Cullen House from Twilight. My personal favorite is the Tuxedo Cat, which is quite frankly adorable.
Technic
The last specific collection I’ll touch on is the ever so frustrating Technic theme. I’ve done a couple of these sets, and they are unbearably difficult at times since there are so many moving parts. But they’re incredibly satisfying once you finish them. Most of this collection is based on cars, trucks, and motorcycles which is why they take up plenty of shelf space in my house. However, there are some outliers like the Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit set and the Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000.
Any Many More!
This is by no means an exhaustive list of Lego sets or collections and themes. Many of these themes overlap and you’ll find them listed in various search categories. A lot of Lego’s offerings are centered around popular fandoms from Marvel and DC Comics to Star Wars, Disney, and Harry Potter. The point is, no matter your interests, there is a Lego set you’ll enjoy.
Can adults play with Legos? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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