LEGO Reviews Creator31088

Deep Sea Creatures

Name: LEGO Deep Sea Creatures 31088
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 31088
Rating: 4.8 (26205 reviews)

87 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: AA2019230 pcsHigh agreement · 96%

Expert reviews

3analyzed

Owner ratings

26.2K+

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"Deep Sea Creatures is one of the standout value sets in the Creator 3-in-1 catalog: a BrickScore of 87.2 and a 99% owner recommendation rate from over 26,000 buyers confirm that the combination of four distinct builds, clever articulation, and an original $14.99 price point makes this one of the line's most rewarding releases."

The 31088 Deep Sea Creatures is one of the most celebrated value propositions in the Creator 3-in-1 line, earning a BrickScore of 87.2 and near-perfect owner ratings: 4.80 out of 5 from 26,205 buyers with 99% recommending it. Reviewers are consistent in praising the clever use of ball-and-socket joints to create articulated sea creatures, the variety delivered by three boxed builds plus a downloadable fourth whale, and the extraordinarily strong piece-count-to-price ratio at the original $14.99 MSRP. The set is now retired.

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LOVED (7)

01Exceptional value at approximately $0.065 per piece for a $14.99 original retail price
02Three complete builds included (shark, squid/octopus, anglerfish) plus a downloadable fourth whale build
03Articulated shark jaw and side-to-side body movement
04Wide-opening anglerfish jaws and bioluminescent-look pieces that fluoresce under UV light
05Ball-and-socket joint system enables extensive posability and creative alternate builds
06Crab with posable pincers and leg attachment techniques
07Works as a strong MOC parts pack for undersea dioramas

CRITICIZED (4)

01Whale build feels undersized relative to the other creatures
02Squid has the least articulation of the four builds due to piece type constraints
03The crab design received mixed reactions, with some finding its appearance odd
04Cannot build all creatures simultaneously from a single box; buying multiple sets is required for all four at once

What reviewers are saying

Brickset Reviews

"I don't think I've seen LEGO use that technique before, personally."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"This is a really nice set: good colors, creative building, and 13 different builds if you add the free Alternate Build MOCs that Rebrickable currently offers. You can't go wrong with this set."

Rebrickable Reviews

Ecosystem

4506 Deep Sea Predators — 31088 bears close resemblance to the 2004 set, displaying shark, anglerfish, and squid on packaging; improvements noted in squid articulation (previous version had 'notoriously flimsy limbs') and anglerfish lure design (previous version had lure sitting above head rather than dangling forward). LegoSonicBoy notes the squid's printed eye is more fitting for octopus than squid, unlike the brick-built eyes of the old set.

underwater robot set — It pairs very well with the underwater robot set because, you know, same kind of theme and the the ray that you build for the the main one there also has the same color scheme.

CreatorTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 3

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"Overall 31088 Deep Sea Creatures is an exemplary LEGO product. The shark looks absolutely wonderful and employs numerous interesting building techniques, the most impressive of which are probably its eyes. There are numerous points of articulation, providing tremendous play value and a broad range of options for display."

Key Pros

✓Shark looks absolutely wonderful and employs numerous interesting building techniques
✓Numerous points of articulation providing tremendous play value and broad range of display options
✓Alternative sea creatures are quite appealing

Key Cons

✕Mouth on squid is hidden behind smaller tentacles rather than being absolutely central
✕Additional ball joint on each dark blue squid limb would have been useful for display

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JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

BUY

"I don't think I've seen LEGO use that technique before, personally."

Key Pros

✓Excellent value for money at $15
✓Three distinct and well-designed official builds
✓Phenomenal parts-per-piece ratio

Key Cons

✕The angler fish lure looks unfinished
✕Wish the great white shark mouth could close all the way

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Rebrickable Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"This is a really nice set: good colors, creative building, and 13 different builds if you add the free Alternate Build MOCs that Rebrickable currently offers. You can't go wrong with this set."

Key Pros

✓Good colors and creative building
✓Multiple build experiences (13 different models possible)
✓Modular shark design with detailed features

Key Cons

✕Set should have included transparent round plates to give animals illusion of swimming
✕No stand provided; animals sit flat on their bellies rather than appearing dynamic

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (2)Wait for sale (0)

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: Wide retail availability at standard price points (£12.99 UK, $14.99 US); fourth whale build only available via online-only instructions

Rebrickable Reviews: Wide retail release in the Creator 3-in-1 line; not exclusive.

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Expected to hold value well given exceptional build quality and price point. Comments from users indicate day-one purchases and plans to buy multiple copies for different display configurations. No explicit retirement warning in review.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Brick-built shark eyes using Technic pins and 4L bar
Ingeniously constructed to create the appearance of a printed eye; uses 2L friction pin with a bar passing through the center and small gap representing nostrils
Trans-neon green eyes and jewels
Used on multiple creatures (squid, shark, anglerfish lure); provides glow under UV light as alternative to glow-in-the-dark elements
1x2x1 2/3 bricks with studs on the side
Used for whale head construction to create realistic shape with brackets for curved slopes
1x2 jumper plate
Represents blowhole on whale's head
Dark bluish grey 1L Technic connectors
Placed below squid's eyes to represent funnel through which squid expels water
Tan barbs
Detail on squid's white feeding tentacles

What Owners Say · summarized from 56 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners consistently praise the three-in-one design, realistic creature details, and excellent value; shark and anglerfish builds are standout favorites with impressive moving mechanics.

COMMON PRAISE