LEGO Reviews Ideas21358

Minifigure Vending Machine

Name: LEGO Minifigure Vending Machine 21358
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 21358
Rating: 4.79 (686 reviews)

79 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: A20251,343 pcsHigh agreement · 92%

Expert reviews

4analyzed

Owner ratings

686

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"With a BrickScore of 79.4 and 686 owner ratings averaging 4.79, the Minifigure Vending Machine is one of the most unanimously loved Ideas sets in recent memory, delivering a genuinely functional dispensing mechanism and 16 collectible minifigs, with the only real debate being whether the $179.99 price tag is justified."

The Minifigure Vending Machine drew emphatic praise from nearly every reviewer for its fully functional gumball-machine mechanism: insert a coin, turn the knob, and a capsule containing a minifigure drops out. Owner sentiment is remarkably strong, with an average of 4.79 out of 5 across 686 ratings at Walmart, Target, Amazon, and LEGO.com, and 91 percent of LEGO.com buyers saying they would recommend it. The one consistent criticism is the price, with multiple reviewers and some owners flagging $179.99 as steep for 1,343 pieces at $0.134 per piece. The Brickset structural scores lean toward the 60-80 range on value, but the sheer joy of the working mechanism and the 16 included minifigures (plus a designer minifig) win most people over.

Where to Buy

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LOVED (7)

01Fully functional dispensing mechanism that actually requires a coin to turn and reliably delivers capsules
0216 minifigures in collectible capsules, spanning classic themes including space and castle variants
03Designer self-portrait minifigure included as a bonus
04Highly customizable: owners report filling capsules with candy, raffle tickets, or money
05Engaging build experience that reveals how the mechanism works step by step
06Strong display appeal as a conversation piece for desks, offices, and classrooms
07Smooth mechanical operation praised consistently, with reviewers cycling all 16 balls without jams

CRITICIZED (4)

01Price of $179.99 is considered high for the piece count; at $0.134 per piece it is above typical Ideas set value
02Some owners wished the minifigure selection were different or that a blind-bag randomization option existed
03No way to purchase additional capsules separately for refilling with custom contents
04A few reviewers wished the castle were bigger given the price point

What reviewers are saying

"my absolute winner for 2025 is… the Minifigure Vending Machine"

RacingBrick

"21358 Minifigure Vending Machine provides an ideal opportunity for an outstanding minifigure selection, including two new Castle factions and unique Classic Space astronauts, plus homages to other celebrated LEGO themes …"

Brickset Reviews

"The LEGO version has 1343 pieces. It's shorter in height but has a much larger base and it has a very solid build."

JANGBRiCKS

"In no world am I going to tell you that feels like a good price."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Ecosystem

Retro Radio — The vending machine build itself is around 100 EUR, about the same range as another mechanical marvel, the Retro Radio.

6255 Pirates Comic — Bo'sun Will and Camilla are perfect choices to represent LEGO Pirates, both including unique torsos and capturing aspects of their comic appearances, though the reviewer thinks Will should look younger

3601 Elton Elephant — The Fabuland Elton Elephant figure reintroduces the head from Elephant Girl Collectable Minifigure and includes a yellow mug matching the original, though the hoodie should have been red to match, not blue (a missed opportunity)

77092 Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 — The realistic Hylian Shield accessory originally designed for this set is repurposed here for Griffin Knights and looks excellent with the silver and white griffin symbol

IdeasTier 1Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 4

Avg score

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

RacingBrick

Expert Video Source

"my absolute winner for 2025 is… the Minifigure Vending Machine"

Key Pros

✓Ingenious fully mechanical pay-to-play system using brick-built parts
✓Brilliant ratchet mechanism with rubber-piece locking that works without electronics
✓Satisfying ball-dispensing and rotation mechanism

Key Cons

✕Price point of 170 EUR / 180 USD is steep for the physical set size if minifigures are your main focus

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Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

WAIT FOR SALE

Key Pros

✓Outstanding minifigure selection spanning multiple beloved themes
✓Brilliant and innovative dispensing functionality
✓Impressive large trans-clear curved wall panels (new parts with MOC potential)

Key Cons

✕Price feels expensive (£149.99/$179.99/€169.99)
✕Exposed studs on exterior (though reviewer accepts this as necessary)

READ FULL REVIEW

JANGBRiCKS

Expert Video Source

BUY

"The LEGO version has 1343 pieces. It's shorter in height but has a much larger base and it has a very solid build."

Key Pros

✓Very solid, well-sorted build
✓Excellent, reliable coin mechanism with locking—requires coin to be fully inserted to operate
✓Durable, large capsules designed for multiple components

Key Cons

✕Front end is super plain aesthetically compared to competitor
✕Doesn't look amazing around the back

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JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"In no world am I going to tell you that feels like a good price."

Key Pros

✓Fully functional, reliable coin-operated mechanism works 90%+ of the time
✓Excellent build quality and assembly experience
✓16 diverse minifigures spanning classic LEGO themes (Classic Space, Castle, Pirates, Fabuland, Paradisa)

Key Cons

✕Retail price ($180 USD) is significantly overvalued
✕Machine fails occasionally (~1 in 10–15 times), though this mimics real vending machines

JUMP TO REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (4)

Value drivers

RacingBrick: The 16 unique minifigures, particularly the teal and gold astronauts and new Castle factions, drive much of the set's value and appeal

Brickset Reviews: Teal and Pearl Gold Classic Space Astronauts; Griffin Knights; Kraken Warriors; Pirates characters (Bo'sun Will and Camilla); Fabuland homages. These exclusive color variants and themed minifigures are the primary value drivers, not the machine itself.

Exclusivity

RacingBrick: LEGO Ideas exclusive with unique minifigures not available elsewhere in the set combination; ball elements are exclusive to this set

Brickset Reviews: LEGO-exclusive (Ideas platform winner). Wide retail release, currently widely available. Not a limited run or retailer-exclusive.

Resale

RacingBrick: Strong aftermarket potential, especially for the exclusive minifigure collection. Individual figures and the complete set with figures likely to appreciate.

Brickset Reviews: Moderate. The set will likely retain value on the secondary market due to minifigure demand, but the announcement of PAB availability will eventually reduce prices. Early sales may see strength, but long-term appreciation is uncertain. Community comments suggest resellers are parting out the set to sell individual figures, indicating strong minifigure value but less interest in the machine itself once figures are removed.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (14)

Classic Space - Dark Turquoise with Air Tanks and Updated Helmet

$18

Classic Space - Pearl Gold with Air Tanks and Updated Helmet

$17

Kraken Warrior - Male, Reddish Brown Helmet, Eye Patch

$15

Griffin Knight - Male, Dark Orange Beard

$15

Kraken Warrior - Female, Reddish Brown Helmet

$15

Griffin Knight - Female

$15

Camilla - Admiral's Daughter, Tan Coat, White Legs, Pearl Gold Epaulettes

Bernard Bear Costume Guy

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Blue Technic toilet paper roll part
essential component of the locking mechanism; sits perfectly between rubber and white pieces of drum to lock/unlock the system
Exclusive transparent ballsValue
exclusive to this set, same size as Technic Space sets but without central axle hole
New curved transparent elements
provide clear viewing window at top to observe vending mechanism
Technic rubber piecesValue
act as ratchet component to prevent counter-rotation and enable locking mechanism
Yellow Technic connectors and knob gears
drive central shaft through two-clip-connected ramp pieces
Technic panel fairing
guides ball path inside machine

What Owners Say

Owners are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the Minifigure Vending Machine, praising its fully functional coin-operated mechanism and clever engineering, with price and minifigure selection drawing the most consistent criticism.

COMMON PRAISE

+Fully working coin-operated dispensing mechanism impresses nearly every owner, with many calling it ingenious or flawlessly engineered
+Build experience is described as fascinating and deeply satisfying, especially watching how each mechanical part comes together
+16 included minifigures are well-regarded, with the designer's own minifig a notable highlight
+Highly customizable: owners swap in different minifigs, candies, or personal items and use it as a functional display piece

COMMON COMPLAINTS

−Price is considered too high by a meaningful number of buyers, particularly given the set's physical size
−Some minifigures are repeated within the 16 capsules, frustrating buyers who expected all unique figures
−A few owners received glass panels with scratches or rub marks from packaging, which they found unacceptable at this price point
−Missing pieces in multiple bags soured one buyer's build experience

functional mechanismdisplay pieceminifig collectionpremium price debatehigh customizability

Buyer Ratings

Target4.7

186 reviews

88%