Despite its self-aggrandizing name, Lego The Mighty Bowser isn’t overexaggerating; it really is an impressive monster of a kit. Actually, I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best Lego sets ever made.

Or at least, it was. This behemoth has now been retired, which means it’s becoming harder to get hold of now that Lego has stopped producing it. In fact, it’ll only be available so long as stock lasts at third-party retailers like Amazon. Because Lego The Mighty Bowser is one of my all-time favorite models, consider this a plea – if you love Super Mario, consider this set before it vanishes into the ether forever.

Lego The Mighty Bowser (#71411) features

This enormous figure is easily the most detailed and accurate Lego version of Bowser available… and that includes the new Lego Super Mario range. Although it’s not to-scale with the interactive Mario figures, it should sit nicely alongside the Mario Kart set as well as the Lego Luigi and Mach 8 kit. They seem roughly the same size.

In terms of what this model can do, it isn’t just a pretty face; its head, arms, hands, fingers, mouth, eyebrows, and eyes can all be moved for some quite distinct poses. Lego The Mighty Bowser also shoots a fire bolt from his mouth at the push of a button.

Build

Despite the size and apparent complexity of Lego The Mighty Bowser, I generally found it to be a straightforward project. It doesn’t have many small fiddly bits, and the build develops in a very logical way. I was able to make quick progress as a result; it only took me around five hours to finish across a few evenings. I suspect it could last up to 10 hours if you’re not as experienced with building Lego, but it’s not a mammoth project like Lego Rivendell.

However, I do have a bone to pick with designers here. The instructions don’t put the usual lines around pieces you’re supposed to be adding, which makes seeing what to do next a (very frustrating) game of spot the difference. I missed certain pieces as a result, and had to go back a step when things weren’t adding up.

Design

This is the most impressive figure in the Lego Super Mario range, no questions asked. Sure, the Mario Kart figures are great and the old question block is soaked in nostalgia. The Lego Piranha Plant is full of character, too. But none compare to The Mighty Bowser. It’s the sort of set that’ll elicit a “woah” when seen in person, and is a dead ringer for its on-screen inspiration.

The fact it’s so posable gives it a real sense of life, too; it’s easy to personalize how Bowser looks on the shelf, and those moving eyes (a rarity for Lego figures) really help with that expressive nature.

Because it’s so sturdy, you won’t have any trouble adjusting it on the fly either. Sure, it won’t stand up to rigorous play from younger fans and is most definitely a display-only kit. But it’s far more robust than other models of this kind, such as Lego Optimus Prime.

Finally, I adore that the themed base feels like a slice of Bowser’s castle. It melts into the background compared to the King Koopa himself, but brings back memories of those boss battles if you look closer. The stone ‘cracking’ under Bowser’s weight is a particularly nice touch.

Should you buy Lego The Mighty Bowser?

Because this kit is going to the Mushroom Kingdom in the sky and will become increasingly difficult to find, I’d recommend grabbing it sooner than later if you were at all interested. While it’s possible we’ll get a new and improved version down the line, that’s far from guaranteed.

So long as you can find it at a reasonable price, I think it’s pretty great value too. There’s nothing else like it in Lego’s repertoire, and even though issues with instruction clarity let it down, everything else shines.

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

For more collectible recommendations, don’t miss the best Super Mario merch or our guide to the best toys.