TOP 10 LEGO sets released in January by Raftul lui Octav
Well done, LEGO! It was hard to choose ONLY 10 sets…
At the end of last year, LEGO listed over 350 sets on the “Retiring Soon” list, and people wondered why, and especially why so many excellent sets, like Lion Knights Castle, Disney Castle, Daily Bugle, two modular buildings and many, many more!
Well, we received the answer gradually, reveal after reveal, and on the “New” page of the LEGO website, we found over 150 sets, available from the first day of this year (01.01.2026).
Anniversary sets, such as the Ninjago (very special, by the way) and Harry Potter ones, sets with dedicated GWPs, sets that have become a benchmark for their theme, simply superb sets, or sets that represent the launch of new series.
From these over 150 sets, I’ve prepared a TOP 10, without numbering them, because it’s very, very hard to compare or choose! Especially since they belong to different themes, some are licensed, others aren’t, some are play sets, others are display sets.
I hope you’re ready to do some calculations and place orders quickly, because some GWPs are running out, and some sets are already temporarily out of stock and you’ll have to “hunt” for them, or they have a “pre-order” status and you’ll have to wait quite a while for them.
By the way, the 3 GWPs I’m talking about are:
1. LEGO Year of the Horse (40779);
2. LEGO Icons – Vintage Parade Car (40913);
3. LEGO Icons – Stranger Things: WSQK Radio Station (40891).
LEGO Icons – Shopping Street (11371)
Pieces: 3,456
Price: 1,329.99 lei
The tradition continues, and at the beginning of the year, LEGO is launching a new modular building that has somewhat divided the internet.
A set consisting of two beautiful buildings, one that borrows the style of the retired modular building Boutique Hotel (but which surpasses it, I’d say) and which offers an airy central area, which I, unlike many people, apparently appreciate, and where, in addition to a cute cat statue, we can place the dedicated GWP LEGO Icons – Vintage Parade Car (40913). A GWP that I don’t understand why this year it NO LONGER comes exclusively with the purchase of the modular building, but with any purchase of approximately 1,000 lei or more.
The set is very successful, it offers a nice story, a beautiful exterior, an interesting and detailed interior, 7 minifigures, a few animals, including some new pigeons, but what I appreciate very much is the preservation of an excellent price-per-piece ratio, specific to the modular collection (approximately 0.38 lei per piece vs approx. 0.37 lei per piece Tudor Corner). Unfortunately, the internet criticises the price… it seems people forget that from year to year raw material prices increase, taxes increase, LEGO invests in new locations, new projects, etc… I’d say the era of the 50 bani/10 cents per piece standard is almost over.
LEGO Art – Japanese Cherry Blossom Landscape (31218)
Pieces: 1,892
Price: 639.99 lei
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful sets (not just paintings) ever created by LEGO! Simply superb!
A set that transports you to the “perfect”, calm and harmonious landscapes of Japan. A frame that inspires simplicity, but also elegance, a set that contains all the beautiful things that come to mind when you think of Japan. The specific architecture of the buildings and bridges, the cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji. Superb!
Plus, it can be displayed both on a wall and on a table, thanks to the simple, yet smart, system integrated into the waterfall that cascades over the frame.
LEGO Harry Potter – Philosopher’s Stone – Collectors’ Edition (76466)
Pieces: 1,571
Price: 849.99 lei
This year, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” turns 25, and if for the 20th anniversary we had an owl: LEGO Harry Potter – Hogwarts` Icons – Collectors’ Edition (76391), we must have one now too!
A set full of references, iconic elements, with some interesting functions, 3 good minifigures, a relaxing building experience and a price almost half that of the last version of our favourite owl – a notable version, not less impressive attempts like Hedwig™ at 4 Privet Drive (76425).
But what I like most about this set is the “official” announcement LEGO gives us through it. The fact that we will (hopefully) have a Collectors’ Edition set for each film!
Its price, however… let’s say it’s a fair price. As always, we have higher prices than the recommended ones (159.99 euros is about 815 lei…), but let’s say they stopped where they should. Approximately 0.54 lei per piece is above the standard I mentioned earlier, but we’re talking about a licensed set (Harry Potter isn’t too far from Disney when it comes to greed), a successful one, with a good design, with some interesting prints, which is why I think it’s worth its recommended price.
LEGO Marvel – Iron Man Mark 3 – Collectors’ Edition (76344)
Pieces: 1,297
Price: 699.99 lei
This new series of large, detailed, truly successful buildable characters is, in my opinion, the best thing we could have received from MARVEL, after a successful modular building!
The set is very flexible, looks superb, also comes with a super minifigure, and a surprisingly good price for such a MARVEL-branded set. A gem for any MARVEL fan!
LEGO Architecture – Paris: City of Love (21064)
Pieces: 958
Price: 419.99 lei
The first set in a new Architecture series that combines a diorama with a painting to create a superb set, a perfect trinket to put on the wall or on your desk!
A simple set, featuring all the iconic elements of Paris (the positive ones, of course), a set that is, I honestly tell you, far superior to the immense Eiffel Tower (10307) and Notre-Dame de Paris (21061).
I can’t wait to see which city is next in this series!
LEGO The Spring Festival – Galloping Horses Canvas (80119)
Pieces: 1,650
Price: 529.99 lei
From France we go to China!
The LEGO The Spring Festival sets have always been extremely successful, interesting, and have always offered superb value for money!
By the way, I hope you got your hands on the two that retired at the end of last year.
This set is one of my favourites on this list, and I don’t think it’s hard to see why.
The main element of the set, the printed canvas, leaves you speechless, and the 4 horses in front not only look good, but they also move! And we also get two very cute minifigures!
LEGO Speed Champions – Time Machine from Back to the Future (77256)
Pieces: 357
Price: 139.99 lei
The set I knew nothing about when I agreed to review it, but which fascinated me and convinced me to watch the Back to the Future series for the first time in my life!
The set has become a benchmark for its theme and the entire LEGO community, led by us, the LEGO ambassadors, wondered: did LEGO make a mistake when launching this set? Many pieces, few stickers, many printed pieces, TWO minifigures, an excellent design. LEGO, are you okay?!
But it seems this was just a “warning” and we received 3 more very successful sets (Ferrari, McLaren and Bugatti)! Lightning McQueen is an exception…
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 – Retro Gaming Console (31380)
Pieces: 268
Price: 99.99 lei
Just like the Time Machine from Back to the Future (77256) set, this CREATOR 3 in 1, my favourite among the new sets in this theme, proves that good things come in small packages.
A set suitable for any gaming enthusiast, a set that will fit perfectly, regardless of the chosen build variant, alongside other sets dedicated to gamers, such as the excellent – even voted set of the year 2025 in many polls – LEGO GAME BOY!
I mean, seriously… a 100 lei set where you can change the displayed “games” (you can even build your own scenarios), which can be built in 3 variants – console, PC and ARCADE game. Superb!
And now, I’ve saved two very special sets for last.
One is my favourite from this “TOP 10”, and the other is the set that most deserves to be purchased in the first seconds of availability… because now you can barely even buy it, let alone take advantage of all the offers.
LEGO Icons – Stranger Things: The Creel House (11370)
Pieces: 2,593
Price: 1,499.99 lei
How could this superb set, beloved by LEGO and series fans, as well as scalpers, be missing from this top?
When it was available (now it’s either out of stock or on pre-order), the set, besides having a superb price for a licensed set, with so many functions and so many minifigures (cool, but not the most accurate), came with both its dedicated GWP LEGO Icons – Stranger Things: WSQK Radio Station (40891), as well as LEGO Year of the Horse (40779) and LEGO Icons – Vintage Parade Car (40913). Plus double points! What more could you want?
That’s probably what the whole community said, which is why it sold like hotcakes! And now… it’s selling for double the price. Although I don’t think anyone falls for that… I hope!
The set really is excellent, and even though I haven’t watched Stranger Things since season 3, I’d still want it in my collection!
LEGO Ninjago – The Old Town 15th Anniversary (71861)
Pieces: 4,851
Price: 1,599.99 lei
An anniversary set, with 23 minifigures, 3 of which are anniversary editions, with almost 5000 pieces, an extraordinary price, a lot of references, and many functions!
Need I say more?
It is, I’d say, the best Ninjago set ever created, and I’m glad I started collecting this theme for its 15th anniversary!
Well done, LEGO! 👏🏻
This is my TOP. It was hard to choose ONLY 10 sets!
Are there other extremely good ones? YES!
Are there better ones than these 10? I’d say NO!
But I can’t wait to hear your opinions, both about this TOP and about the other LEGO releases.
And, of course, I wish you happy building and collecting!