Trotting Lantern

"Expert reviewers gave the Trotting Lantern a BrickScore of 53.5 and a Skip It rating, citing a low minifigure count and poor per-piece value compared to other Chinese Traditional Festival sets, though its 4.79 owner average across 228 ratings suggests the lantern aesthetic and exclusive Year of the Snake figure resonate with buyers who prioritize those elements."

The Trotting Lantern (80116) is a 2025 Spring Festival set that both Brickset and Jay's Brick Blog found disappointing relative to its $129.99 price point. Critics cited a low minifigure count, repetitive build sections, bare interiors, and poor value for money compared to other Chinese Traditional Festival sets of similar size. The split between critics and owners is stark and worth noting: expert reviewers scored it 60 and 40 respectively, driving a BrickScore of 53.5 and a Skip It verdict, while owner ratings average 4.79 out of 5 across 228 ratings, a meaningful divergence.

Where they split: The gap between the expert BrickScore of 49.5 and the 4.79 owner average is the most notable divergence in this batch. Critics focused on value-for-money and minifigure count against CTF benchmarks, while the many buyers who rated it appear to have responded positively to the lantern aesthetic, the zodiac minifigure, or the novelty of the projector. Buyers who prioritize the display design or zodiac collection may find more satisfaction here than the Skip It verdict implies.