Summary
In a move that few likely saw coming but makes perfect sense in the context of both brands, Nintendo and LEGO recently announced a new crossover involving LEGO sets modeled afterAnimal Crossing.Following the massive success ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsand the hugely popularSuper Mario Bros.-themed LEGO sets, the second official Nintendo crossover is yet another step forward in a critical partnership. Hopefully, this is a sign of even more Nintendo franchises headed to the LEGO brand.
Nintendo has served as a pillar of the gaming industry for roughly 40 years. And, of course, thanks to this rich legacy and long history, Nintendo undoubtedly has a treasure trove of IP that it could pull from for even more successfulcrossovers with the LEGO brand. Out of those, there are some surefire candidates that would make ideal franchises for future LEGO sets.
RELATED:LEGO Animal Crossing Sets and Pieces Explained
The Legend of Zelda
With the sole exception ofPokemon(which already has its own licensed building toys via a partnership with Mega Bloks), perhaps no other Nintendo franchise is as tailor-made for a LEGO crossover asThe Legend of Zelda. A large part of the appeal ofusing theZeldalicensecomes from the series' many different eras and branching timelines, which have the potential to generate dozens of different sets using the iconic characters and settings from across the franchise. Whether it is interactive sets based on the series' Switch entries or an 18+ Icons LEGO set building the map of Hyrule from the originalLegend of Zelda, it’s hard to not see aZeldaand LEGO crossover being a home run.
Pikmin
The near undeniable charm ofPikminis practically a perfect fit for a LEGO crossover, especially when one considers the setting in which the games take place. Being able to build environmental settings with actual-size real-life items and Minifigure explorers and Pikmin would be a dream come true for enthusiasts wanting to build a franchise-accurate set constructed to scale. Further,Pikmin 4is arguably the bestentry yet in Nintendo’s somewhat overlooked franchise, meaning that a LEGO crossover could help endear the series to a whole new audience.
Fire Emblem
As any LEGO enthusiast can attest, there’s an entire subset of collectors that focus specifically on just the iconic Minifigures. In terms of Nintendo franchises that would be perfect for both full sets and collections of Minifigures based on the myriad characters, few fit the bill better thanFire Emblem. Collecting and maintaining the perfect party of heroes is acore component ofFire Emblem, and it translates perfectly to a real-life LEGO crossover with tons of potential for success.
Metroid
Along withSuper Mario Bros.andThe Legend of Zelda,Metroidis one of Nintendo’s longest-running franchisesand another one that is rife with potential for LEGO sets aimed at either collectors or aspiring builders. Being able to build scenes from any of the games with removable components to uncover some of Samus' suit upgrades seems like a no-brainer, and Samus' unmistakable helmet would equally be a perfect fit for the line of LEGO sets that model iconic helmets and masks from theStar Warsand Marvel franchises. Similar toPikmin, the success of aMetroid-themed LEGO line could also make a strong case for more 2DMetroidgames or remakes of older ones.
Super Smash Bros.
Another obvious candidate for another Nintendo and LEGO crossover is the series that practically mastered the art of crossovers,Super Smash Bros.The sheer amount of potential Minifigures fromSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate’s rosterand buildable arenas modeled after iconic video game locations could provide LEGO with years' worth of releases and even open up the opportunity for other game-makers to get in on the fun. And, with a successfulSmash Bros. LEGO crossover, aSuper Smash Bros. LEGOgame gets one step closer to being a reality.
MORE:What a Second Round of LEGO Animal Crossing Sets Could Look Like
