LEGO Reviews Hidden Side70431

The Lighthouse of Darkness

Name: LEGO The Lighthouse of Darkness 70431
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 70431
Rating: 4.8 (993 reviews)

73 · RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: BBB2020540 pcsHigh agreement · 98%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

993

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

Where to Buy

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LOVED (8)

01Good value at $50 USD for the amount of detail, sophistication, number of pieces and figures.
02Attractive display piece independent of Hidden Side theme—hidden side elements are easy to hide or leave off completely.
03Nice 90° viewing range from multiple angles (corner design rather than single facade).
04Well-designed dock/dockside area.
05Good terrain/rock work on cliff side that is both functional and believable.
06Excellent spare parts selection including new 2020 blast/splat pieces with multiple attachment methods.
07Great minifigure variety and accessories, particularly the new dark orange air tank piece.
08Build is engaging and not repetitive; uses sub-assemblies for faster assembly.

CRITICIZED (8)

01Jet ski color scheme is extremely 80s and over-the-top; JANG personally dislikes it intensely, calling it reminiscent of 'Southern California beaches and Florida stuff in the 80s' that he hates.
02AR app integration doesn't add much to the play experience in JANG's opinion; he finds the tap-to-shoot gameplay repetitive and unchanged from previous year.
03Device-specific issues with AR app (taps not registering reliably for attacks during testing).
04No glass/faux glass included for lighthouse windows—would have been a nice addition.
05Interior lighthouse space is very limited and cramped (ground level has only seat, table, chessboard; second level has single seat, mixing panel, microphone; top level must accommodate rotating lens mechanism).
06Back structure with awkward red protrusion is very awkward and creates unusable space.
07Balcony space is tight; figures cannot have many accessories without difficulty fitting.
08Not all discoverable/hidden spaces have items (only some have pieces like spike/bat/crab; JANG wishes more had hidden details).

What reviewers are saying

"I think this is a pretty good deal. Pretty decent deal considering the fact that Lego is expensive."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"There is more to this LEGO lighthouse than meets the eye, as Jack and Parker will discover in Hidden Side 70431 The Lighthouse of Darkness"

Brick Fanatics

Ecosystem

Creator lighthouse sets — Hidden Side 70431 offers a haunted interpretation compared to other lighthouses in Creator, CITY and Friends themes, each reflecting their respective theme's aesthetic and focus

LEGO Hidden Side theme sets — While not the best of the bunch, it is another worthy entry into the LEGO Hidden Side theme

Hidden SideTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

BUY

"I think this is a pretty good deal. Pretty decent deal considering the fact that Lego is expensive."

Key Pros

✓Good value at $50 USD for the amount of detail, sophistication, number of pieces and figures.
✓Attractive display piece independent of Hidden Side theme—hidden side elements are easy to hide or leave off completely.
✓Nice 90° viewing range from multiple angles (corner design rather than single facade).

Key Cons

✕Jet ski color scheme is extremely 80s and over-the-top; JANG personally dislikes it intensely, calling it reminiscent of 'Southern California beaches and Florida stuff in the 80s' that he hates.
✕AR app integration doesn't add much to the play experience in JANG's opinion; he finds the tap-to-shoot gameplay repetitive and unchanged from previous year.

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brick Fanatics

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"There is more to this LEGO lighthouse than meets the eye, as Jack and Parker will discover in Hidden Side 70431 The Lighthouse of Darkness"

Key Pros

✓Advanced building techniques including SNOT construction and hinged elements for authentic angled positioning
✓Well-designed minifigures with excellent detailing, particularly the ghost lighthouse keeper
✓Good colour scheme capturing the haunted feel with dark green, white, and brown

Key Cons

✕Transformation mechanics have limited visual impact; feels like there should be more monster revealed
✕Chess board lacks a few squares

JUMP TO REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (0)Wait for sale (0)

Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (5)

Claus Stormward

Jennie Napo

Jack Davids - Red Jacket with Backwards Cap (Large Smile with Teeth / Angry)

Parker L. Jackson - Denim Jacket with Headphones (Crooked Smile / Angry)

Skeleton - Standard Skull, Bent Arms Vertical Grip

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Dark orange air tank piece
Updated version of the classic space air tank piece in a new color. JANG notes this is different and useful for custom builds, imagining potential future classic spaceman/woman variants in dark orange.
2x2 painted silver/chrome metallic dish
Spare part included; noted as interesting.
Golden gun piece
Spare part included; noted as interesting.
Golden unicorn horn piece
Used in cave space to represent a golden spike/treasure element; JANG likes this detail.
Candle flame piece
Spare part included; noted as interesting.
Beard piece (spring green, flowy, not glow-in-the-dark)
Extra alternate part for possessed figures; JANG describes as 'very flowy' and bright spring green colored, for wet/blowing-in-wind aesthetic.