LEGO’s Score Big at the Annual Toy of the Year Awards 2023

The annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards celebrate innovation, creativity, and excellence in toymakers worldwide. The competition is always fierce, with companies striving to outdo one another in delivering exceptional play value and engaging consumer experiences. The 2023 TOTY Awards include 17 product categories, plus new expansion categories inclusive of two campaign-focused categories and four people-focused categories. One name stood out among the rest this year too. 

The beloved LEGO dominated the award nights by securing multiple awards, showcasing their commitment to providing children and enthusiasts with top-notch play experiences.

This year, the LEGO Group walked away with one less award than in 2022 and three less than earlier in 2022. They received the same number of awards in 2021 and 2019 and have beaten their 2017, 2018, and 2020 totals.  

The Danish toymaker won awards in the following four categories: 

1. Construction Toy of the Year: LEGO Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House (#43217)

Have you loved the Pixar film “Up”? Then this set is sure to win your heart. This premium LEGO construction set includes a colorful half-house with four rooms, an animel minifigure for Doug the dog, two minifigures of Carl Fredricksen and Russell, and little film-specific details like the wilderness explorer backpack and an adventure book to spark play.

Designed for play and display, this 598-piece set includes a partial house built with balloons, different rooms, and functions perfect for Disney fans aged 9 to be inspired to recreate.

The set also lends itself to an easy and intuitive building adventure with the LEGO Builder app, which lets them zoom in and rotate models in 3D, save, and track their progress.

2. Grown-Up Toy of the Year: LEGO The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell (#10316)

This epic set celebrates the famous cult film series like nothing else. Filled with 15-character minifigures and authentic details that reveal themselves as you build, this exhaustive set lets you recreate your favorite scenes and relive the magical movie. 

The impressive 6,167-piece project on the Middle Earth valley where the famous quest began is perfect for adults with attention to detail. 

Decorated with foliage to create the feeling of being deep inside the Rivendell Forest, it includes magical details that consist of an elven forge, Elrond’s cluttered study, the Shards of Narsil, plus paintings and statues from the history of Middle Earth. 

The building set features 15 minifigures, including legendary characters such as Frodo, Sam, Bilbo Baggins, Boromir, Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gandalf the Grey. It is split into 3 sections: the tower, the council ring, and the gazebo with river and bridge. 

3. Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year: LEGO DUPLO 3-in-1 Tree House (#10933)

Perfect for the little adventurers and their tiny hands to discover countless ways to have fun. 

This set includes a diverse range of toy characters, including a grandma figure, four kids, a bird, a cat, and a squirrel, enabling parents to play together with their toddlers. 

Preschoolers and parents get to build and rebuild three different scenes: a 3-story treetop play area with a slide, a cozy tree house, and a pretty garden scene, where kids can collect the fruit and haul it up to the tree house using the cute pulley.

The tree house has toy picnic elements, an umbrella, skateboard, helmet, and a toy wheelbarrow and pumpkin for toddlers to play out fun gardening stories. These educational toys keep preschoolers engaged and help develop their social, motor, and creative skills.

4. STEAM Toy of the Year: LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance (#42158)

Get set for a voyage to Mars with this LEGO Technic toy version of NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover. This building project is perfect for kids passionate about science and technology. It includes an augmented reality app experience that lets them learn more about the environment on Mars and the rover’s mission.

Packed with features that help kids learn more about the challenges facing the NASA Perseverance Rover and its companion helicopter, Ingenuity, the rover boasts 360° steering, a flexible arm, and a fully articulated suspension, ensuring optimal traction on all six wheels across uneven terrains. Additionally, the kit includes constructible elements such as a power unit, antennae, cameras, and scientific instruments.

The buildable model sets feature realistic movement and mechanisms that introduce young LEGO builders to the complex universe of Engineering.

LEGO’s triumphant success at the 2023 Toy of the Year Awards reinforces its position as a leader in the toy industry. The recognition of their innovative products across multiple categories showcases the brand’s versatility and commitment to providing diverse and enriching play experiences. It’s about fostering creativity, imagination, and a lifelong love for learning through play.