A return to formula for LEGO Minifigures offers up an eclectic group of characters, but 71052 Series 29 risks giving fans a little too much of what they want.
LEGO Collectible Minifigures Series 29 has some solid ideas that feel thoughtfully considered and well-executed. None of these designs feel like quick and easy copies of existing minifigures, and there are plenty of references to LEGO sets and themes both past and present. Unfortunately, such a heavy emphasis on fan service does mean this series lacks a stand-out new minifigure idea, but what we do have is solid, dependable fun.
71052 Series 29
Release: May 1, 2026
Retiring: Jul 31, 2026
Price: £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99
Pieces: Varies
Minifigures: 1 per box
Buy now at LEGO.com
It’s been a while since the LEGO Group has offered up a traditional series of Collectible Minifigures. The last year has seen a dedicated series of animal characters, a licensed set of Spider-Verse characters and a deviation from minifigures entirely for a series of miniature Formula 1 race cars.
Now, finally, comes 71052 Series 29 – a return to formula, certainly, but are there enough interesting ideas in here to make this latest crop of minifigures stand out after such a lengthy period of experimentation from the theme?
It feels like the time away from this kind of series has done the LEGO designers some good. While there is the usual mix of different ideas and archetypes, Series 29 feels like a bold swing for this long-running theme.
Established LEGO fans will no doubt be drawn to the nostalgic throwbacks and fan service characters – minifigures that are very obvious recreations of iconic characters. These, though, are interesting and engaging enough from a design stance to also appeal to LEGO fans who don’t instantly recognise the source material – it turns out that BIONICLE was a hit for a reason, and you can never go wrong with a detailed ninja minifigure.
On the other hand, this series doesn’t have any minifigures that feel overtly like sequels. Some LEGO Minifigures are very obviously intended to pair with previous popular designs – think female versions of male-coded minifigures, or astronauts in different colours.
There’s none of that here – at least, not in an overtly noticeable form. All monster minifigures work as an unofficial family in their own right, and fantasy or magic characters will always sit well in a castle setting, but there’s no very obvious recolour or redesign of existing minifigures. Even where familiar subject matter is tackled again or custom elements are reused, there’s enough of a different spin on the idea to make these minifigures feel like something interesting and unique.
All of this said, while 71052 Series 29 is filled with fresh ideas, there are no stand-out hits. The minifigures that will no doubt draw the most attention are the ones that reference existing LEGO themes, but Series 29 doesn’t feel like it has a new LEGO mascot character in the making. There are no real lows here – no undesirable or less interesting minifigures – but outside of references to the LEGO Group's history, there are no outstanding must-have minifigures that create fun new avenues for future exploration.
Nevertheless, this is a fresh new series, with some fun ideas and a healthy dose of fan service, and while plenty of these minifigures will likely prove to be forgettable, there’s nothing wrong with a solid series of mid-weight hitters – even if none of these (BIONICLE and NINJAGO references aside) are absolute must-have characters.
Trash Monster
All the way back in the heady days of VIDIYO, the LEGO Group gave us Slime Singer, a minifigure with a trans-bright green melting head. This element – or a variation thereof – returns for Trash Monster.
This time around, while still green, the head element is opaque. While this conjures up the same oozing monster look, this change allows for a sneaky hidden feature. This element isn’t actually a head at all; it’s a mask, and removing it reveals a rotting pumpkin head.
This wasn’t a necessary inclusion, but it is very much appreciated – as is the included round tile element which is printed with the image of a fly. The dirty pizza box is fine, but the standout accessory is a fish skeleton; a fabulous element that will no doubt have myriad uses moving forward.
Monster Hunter
It almost feels like Monster Hunter should be a sequel character. The archetype here is clear – this minifigure is riffing on Val Helsing, right down to the flowing locks cascading from her wide-brimmed hat and her long trenchcoat.
This is a fun avenue for exploration in LEGO form, but the designers have made the genius decision not to simply copy the gruff male character of Val Helsing verbatim, but rather to invent a female character with a similar aesthetic. Add in a stylish cyberpunk monocle, and an excellent custom weapon (a flamethrower, a gun and a sword all in one?!), and this does more than just copy an existing monster hunting archetype; it elevates it.
As if this weren’t enough, the minifigure also comes with a printed tile displaying a wanted poster for a suspiciously familiar vampire. This is a reference to 31167 Haunted Mansion, a set which is itself a retro throwback that owes its design style to the older Monster Fighters set, 10228 Haunted House, which also features a similarly-designed vampire minifigure.
Thus, while this new Monster Hunter minifigure is one of the more innovative designs in this collection, this character also manages to call back to decades of LEGO history, and will fit right in alongside several existing sets.
Chocolatier
While far more understated than the previous two minifigures on this list, the Chocolatier has a delightful, subtle design with a couple of appealing touches. The simple apron printing is likely to serve a lot of uses in any LEGO collection, making this a potentially versatile collection of parts for any LEGO fan’s needs. The dual-moulded arms are a nice touch, as is a slightly less common shade of blonde hair underneath the character’s baker’s hat.
The set comes with a smartly-designed chocolate piping bag, but there’s no getting around the fact that the star of this particular build is the beautiful brown chocolate dragon. The Chocolatier didn’t need to be making a dragon; any kind of chocolate creation would do – but it’s hard not to look at this and imagine it as a decoration on the roof of many a castle build in years to come.
Robot T. rex
Robot T. rex highlights the ingenuity that’s gone into 71052 Series 29. This is probably the most overt use of existing popular elements – we’ve seen this T. rex mask piece before back in Series 24.
That said, this approach to the element is striking and inventive. Rather than using this as a costume, as it was previously, this time around it’s used to create a robot dinosaur. The aperture printed on the minifigure’s head is an inspired touch, and the colour scheme and printing design is cool, sleek and efficient.
The included battery is probably the weakest accessory in the series, but when the minifigure itself is a robot dinosaur, it’s hard to get too upset about this.
Unicorn Elf
LEGO Minifigures Series 29 doesn’t come with a traditional Castle faction revival, which will no doubt disappoint fans of previous offerings such as Wolfpack Beastmaster and Vampire Knight. The closest we get to a Castle-adjacent character is Unicorn Elf, who, in fairness, is going to flesh out many a Castle scene with a different but very welcome kind of character.
These kinds of medieval or fantasy maidens show up every now and then in Collectible Minifigures. Series 17, for example, had an Elf Maiden who was a little more of a warrior than this new character. This time around, though, a relatively straightforward (if nicely detailed) minifigure comes with something special: a new colourway for the unicorn that debuted in 2025's 31175 Unicorn Castle.
The best thing about this element is the fact that the unicorn horn is a separate pearlescent element. Not only does this make the horn beautiful in its own right, but it can also be removed for anyone who just wants a foal.
Cute Witch
One of the strongest minifigures in this collection, Cute Witch feels like a deliberate attempt to capture an anime take on a familiar LEGO witch trope.
There’s a lot to love about this minifigure, from the custom hat element to the printed skirt piece, to the new cat element which will fit in well with other existing cats, but offers a more slender design and a new sitting pose.
This minifigure’s best feature, though, is the legs. Not only are they dual-moulded, but they are printed with adorable smiling cat tights – this is such a fantastic little detail that helps to elevate what is already an incredibly charming minifigure.
Tuba Player
The big draw with Tuba Player is, naturally, the tuba. This new element fills a niche that has long been left empty – it’s almost a shame that this element wasn’t available for 11371 Shopping Street, with its modular music shop that attempts something similar with a brick-built solution that doesn’t entirely land.
Look beyond this and the rest of the minifigure is also solid, a reuse of existing elements with smart printing and a colour scheme that makes Tuba Player distinct from the band members found in 11371 Shopping Street. The only downside to this minifigure is that anyone who wants to populate a scene with a full marching band will need to buy a lot of them!
Boba Cup Fan
No Collectible Minifigures series would feel complete without some wild and wacky costumes, and 71052 Series 29 is no exception.
It’s very clear where the budget went with the Boba Cup Fan. The torso and legs are plain and unprinted, and while there are two separate face prints, the included cherry accessory feels a bit bare-bones.
Who needs a lot of fancy printing, though, when the minifigure comes with a large pearlescent pink boba tea costume? This is a gorgeous element and absolutely makes this one of the more visually striking characters in the collection.
There is one notable drawback to this piece, though – the fact that it is transparent means that the minifigure’s second face print on the back of her head can be seen through the back of the costume. It’s a small detail, but it may irk some collectors.
Marine Biologist
Pearlescent pink makes another appearance in this Collectible Minifigures series as a small slice of aquatic life. It’s used to create a small piece of coral for a clownfish to swim happily through, all while being studied by a scuba-diving scientist.
The Marine Biologist is a new take on a familiar subject matter for LEGO. Minifigures have been diving for decades now, and it’s interesting to see how the presentation of this kind of character has changed over the years. This minifigure uses the same flippers that have been around for a long time, but her scuba mask is moulded directly on to her hair.
Whether this is better or worse than the diving masks of old is up to personal interpretation, but there’s no denying that the included clownfish element is absolutely beautiful.
Mysterious Ronin
Nice try, LEGO. There’s nothing particularly mysterious about this Mysterious Ronin – it’s hard to be all that mysterious when you’re one of the very few LEGO minifigures to be the lead character in a theatrically-released animated film. This is Lloyd, arguably the most recognisable character from NINJAGO, especially thanks to those bright green eyes.
While this is one of the more generous pieces of fan service in this series, there’s enough here to like even without the connection to the popular ninja LEGO theme. The graphic design is solid and nicely detailed, there are dual-moulded legs, and the minifigure comes with a unique hood element as well as a back sheath for his sword, complete with shoulder pad.
Add in the included weapons, and this is probably the most impressive Lloyd minifigure to date. Given the character’s multiple previous appearances in Collectible Minifigures series past, that’s saying something.
BIONICLE Cosplayer
How do you top a minifigure based on one of the most popular LEGO characters of the past decade? Simple: a minifigure based on a cult favourite theme from the decade before.
BIONICLE Cosplayer is not actually Tahu, the original Toa of fire and the most recognisable of the BIONICLE designs from 2001. This is made clear, not from the impressively accurate mask design, but rather from the head underneath. This is printed on one side to look like a minifigure’s face, complete with a pink headband that takes the LEGO Batman approach to Tahu’s eyes shining through the mask. The other side of the head shows the pink band tied at the back.
Costume or not, this is likely going to be a popular minifigure among the many fans of BIONICLE who are clamouring for a revival. The inclusion of a representation of the BIONICLE cylinder packaging is a nice touch, even if those unfamiliar with this older LEGO theme will have no idea what they’re looking at.
The good news is that this minifigure does feel like more than simple nostalgia. The BIONICLE designs have proven enduringly popular for a reason, and younger LEGO fans or those who simply didn’t notice BIONICLE at the time are not going to be at a disadvantage for not knowing the rich lore of Mata Nui. It’s simply fun to play with a minifigure wearing a cool costume!
Football Goalkeeper
Finally, we have Football Goalkeeper, a minifigure that feels like a timely inclusion given the LEGO Group's newfound excitement for the beautiful game. While this minifigure isn’t meant to represent a specific person (incidental likenesses notwithstanding) it will fit in well with some of the football-themed Editions sets on store shelves.
This minifigure isn’t the most elaborate or detailed in this series, but he does have a pleasing colour scheme that is reflected not only in his football kit, but also in the printing on his included football accessory. The curly hair is fun, as is his facial expression. With the men’s World Cup taking place during Series 29’s lifespan, this offers a small and relatively affordable package for anyone who wants something that connects football and LEGO, without that problematic FIFA branding.
Our honest opinion: LEGO Minifigures Series 29 is a solid and impressively varied offering. The biggest draws come from references to other LEGO themes past and present, although there are no stand-out innovations that elevate this above any other series – such is the downside of a selection that’s so steeped in nostalgia.
These minifigures were provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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Which LEGO minifigures are included in Series 29?
LEGO Minifigures Series 29 includes a Tuba Player, Football Goalkeeper, Mysterious Ronin, BIONICLE Cosplayer, Boba Cup Fan, Marine Biologist, Cute Witch, Unicorn Elf, Robot T. rex, Chocolatier, Monster Hunter and Trash Monster.
How much does LEGO Minifigures Series 29 cost?
Each blind-boxed LEGO Minifigures Series 29 character costs £3.49 in the UK, $4.99 in the US and €3.99 in Europe, matching the recommended retail price of previous series.
When does LEGO Minifigures Series 29 come out?
LEGO Minifigures Series 29 debuts on May 1, 2026, although may start showing up in stores in the days and weeks leading up to that date, as is often the case for the Collectible Minifigures range.
How do I scan LEGO Minifigures Series 29 boxes?
Brick Search's minifigure scanner will allow you to scan LEGO Minifigures Series 29 boxes and reveal the character inside, bypassing the blind-boxed element of these characters. Brick Search Plus members can enjoy full use of the minifigure scanner alongside a host of other benefits.
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