34 video game Lego sets to retire on 31 December

Thirty-four video game Lego sets are due to retire on 31 December, including builds from Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Horizon, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Lego Exclusive range.

The figure was reported by Video Games Chronicle on 29 September. Retirement is Lego's term for stopping production. Once shop stock sells out, no more copies are made.

That makes the next three months the last easy window to buy new. After that, buyers are left with the resale market, such as eBay, where prices are usually higher.

One of the sets on the way out is the Lego Arcade Machine. It is sold only through Lego stores. It opens up to reveal a hidden games room inside.

Sonic fans have several favourites on the list. Six Sonic the Hedgehog sets are due to retire in 2026, according to Brick Fanatics. They include 77001 Sonic's Campfire Clash.

Animal Crossing is also affected. The official range includes builds of Nook's Cranny, the shop run by Tom Nook, and the campsite. One small set, 77059 Timmy & Tommy's Fun Day Out, comes with two posable, brick-built figures of Nook's nephews.

Lego's own Horizon Adventures shop page, for sets tied to the Horizon games on PC, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, is now marked "Retiring soon".

The cull goes well beyond games. The wider retirement list covers Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lego Technic and Lego Ninjago. Named sets include the X-Mansion from X-Men, the Natural History Museum, the FIFA World Cup trophy and Disney's Beauty and the Beast castle.

This is familiar for collectors. A previous wave of retired game sets included the Great Deku Tree from The Legend of Zelda, the Pac-Man arcade machine and the Piranha Plant from Super Mario Bros.

For fans, this means check the shelf now. Lego keeps an official "Last Chance to Buy" page, titled LEGO Sets Retiring Soon, where shoppers can confirm what is still in stock before the 31 December cut-off.