Lego's Awesome New Mario Kart Display Set Is Available Now

Nintendo fans looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for Mario Kart World should check out Lego's latest building set geared toward adults and collectors. Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart launched today, May 15. Though surely not a coincidence, the timing of this wonderfully designed Mario Kart collectible really couldn't have been better. When the set was unveiled during Mario Day, Nintendo hadn't even officially announced Mario Kart World, let alone a release date, which we now know is June 5 alongside the Switch 2. With the franchise entering a bold new era of open-world racing, it's only fitting that the newest addition to Lego's small but mightily impressive lineup of Nintendo display model kits commemorates the iconic series in style. Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart (1,972 Pieces) $170 | Released on May 15 The 1,972-piece Mario & Standard Kart costs $170 and is exclusive to the Lego Store at launch. Most of Lego's "black box" kits licensed by Nintendo have started their lifecycles as Lego Store exclusives before hitting major retailers several months later. Mario & Standard Kart is the seventh Nintendo Lego set designed for display. Though the black box means it carries an 18-plus age recommendation, like with the others before it, Mario & Standard Kart's age designation more so distinguishes it as one of the few Nintendo Lego sets mainly intended to be admired rather than played with like a toy.The new set expands the lineup of Lego Mario Kart sets to seven. The series was introduced at the start of 2025 with six playsets featuring smaller-scale karts and character builds accompanied by interactive accessories. If you have 2,500 Lego Insiders points, you can cash those in for an exclusive 234-piece Spiny Shell, which released alongside the Mario Kart display set. See at Lego Store Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard KartYounger builders who have put together any of the other Lego Nintendo display models, likely won't have any issues with this one. The same goes for builders who have experience with larger car builds from Lego's other themes such as Technic or F1. The scope is naturally larger due to the piece count, but the kart build isn't that much more complicated than the smaller Mario Kart builds or the soon-to-be retired Bowser Muscle Car.Mario & Standard Kart joins the Piranha Plant as the only Super Mario Lego sets that do not interact with the Mario, Luigi, and Peach figures from the starter playsets. Other display models for adults--NES, Question Block, Mighty Bowser, and Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi--have Action Tags that create audio and visual reactions from the electronic figures. As someone who has built all of Lego's Nintendo display models, the interactivity with the figures has always felt like an Easter Egg to "find" once after building, not an essential part of the overall experience. Besides, a smaller version of Mario's Standard Kart with interactive elements was part of the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup, so it would feel redundant here.Continue Reading at GameSpot

May 15, 2025 - 18:30

Lego's Awesome New Mario Kart Display Set Is Available Now

Nintendo fans looking for a way to pass the time while waiting for Mario Kart World should check out Lego's latest building set geared toward adults and collectors. Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart launched today, May 15. Though surely not a coincidence, the timing of this wonderfully designed Mario Kart collectible really couldn't have been better. When the set was unveiled during Mario Day, Nintendo hadn't even officially announced Mario Kart World, let alone a release date, which we now know is June 5 alongside the Switch 2. With the franchise entering a bold new era of open-world racing, it's only fitting that the newest addition to Lego's small but mightily impressive lineup of Nintendo display model kits commemorates the iconic series in style.

Lego Mario Kart: Mario & Standard Kart (1,972 Pieces)

$170 | Released on May 15

The 1,972-piece Mario & Standard Kart costs $170 and is exclusive to the Lego Store at launch. Most of Lego's "black box" kits licensed by Nintendo have started their lifecycles as Lego Store exclusives before hitting major retailers several months later. Mario & Standard Kart is the seventh Nintendo Lego set designed for display. Though the black box means it carries an 18-plus age recommendation, like with the others before it, Mario & Standard Kart's age designation more so distinguishes it as one of the few Nintendo Lego sets mainly intended to be admired rather than played with like a toy.

The new set expands the lineup of Lego Mario Kart sets to seven. The series was introduced at the start of 2025 with six playsets featuring smaller-scale karts and character builds accompanied by interactive accessories. If you have 2,500 Lego Insiders points, you can cash those in for an exclusive 234-piece Spiny Shell, which released alongside the Mario Kart display set.

See at Lego Store

Younger builders who have put together any of the other Lego Nintendo display models, likely won't have any issues with this one. The same goes for builders who have experience with larger car builds from Lego's other themes such as Technic or F1. The scope is naturally larger due to the piece count, but the kart build isn't that much more complicated than the smaller Mario Kart builds or the soon-to-be retired Bowser Muscle Car.

Mario & Standard Kart joins the Piranha Plant as the only Super Mario Lego sets that do not interact with the Mario, Luigi, and Peach figures from the starter playsets. Other display models for adults--NES, Question Block, Mighty Bowser, and Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi--have Action Tags that create audio and visual reactions from the electronic figures. As someone who has built all of Lego's Nintendo display models, the interactivity with the figures has always felt like an Easter Egg to "find" once after building, not an essential part of the overall experience. Besides, a smaller version of Mario's Standard Kart with interactive elements was part of the Lego Mario Kart launch lineup, so it would feel redundant here.Continue Reading at GameSpot