We have had another few sets in the August LEGO Super Mario wave revealed. Focusing on life in the jungle with Donkey Kong, his family and his friends. The sets will be available on August 1, 2023. The range continues to mix-up the way in which children can engage with the interactive Mario, Luigi or Peach characters, including sharing food, playing the bongos, flying a plane or just having a chat. Read on for further details.

The LEGO Group has today announced that the LEGO® Super Mario™ franchise is expanding to introduce the Nintendo® gaming icon, Donkey Kong, along with Cranky Kong, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong and Dixie Kong, for the first time ever in LEGO brick form.

The four new products include Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set, Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride Expansion Set, Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set and Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set.

The LEGO® Super Mario™ Donkey Kong™ Expansion Sets offer fans a new Donkey Kong inspired world to explore and new adventures to take on. It allows children and adults alike to use their imagination to fully immerse themselves in Donkey Kong’s jungle by providing exciting ways to play. The new Donkey Kong Expansion Sets and characters can also interact with LEGO® Mario™, LEGO® Luigi™ and LEGO® Peach™.

Simon Kent, Design Director at the LEGO Group, said: “The excitement continues to grow for the LEGO Super Mario franchise with yet another playful update. We’re welcoming the iconic Donkey Kong into the LEGO Super Mario product line! We can’t wait to see how the four Expansion Sets inspire kids to discover the new wild and colourful jungle from the Donkey Kong universe, whether that’s hanging out in the tree house, riding a mine cart, jamming out with Dixie Kong or exploring with Rambi.”

71424 Donkey Kong’s Tree House Expansion Set
Children aged 8+ can use LEGO® Mario™, LEGO® Luigi™ or LEGO® Peach™ figures to jump onto Donkey Kong’s back and explore this colourful tree house. You’ll find a buildable TV and radio, option to play the conga drums, or even visit Cranky Kong to earn some digital coins. Look closely and you may discover a secret compartment! If you get tired after all the exploration, there’s a comfy hammock for Donkey Kong to have a nap in.

Age: 8+
Price: USD 59.99 / EUR 64.99 / GBP 57.99/AUD94.99
Pieces: 555
Product No.: 71424
Dimensions: 19cm high, 46cm wide and 17cm deep

71425 Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride Expansion Set
This incredible 1,157 piece set features one of Donkey Kong’s most iconic locations and challenges. Place a LEGO Super Mario figure in the mine cart to ride around the track. Flip the Snaggles out of the way, fix the broken section of track, defeat the Mole Miner and ‘explode’ the rock to reveal a bunch of bananas. Will you “eat” them or gift them to Diddy Kong or Funky Kong? The fun doesn’t stop there, you can buy balloons from Funky Kong’s airplane shop and fly the plane too!

Age: 8+
Price: USD 109.99 / EUR 104.99 / GBP 94.99/AUD 169.99
Pieces: 1,157
Dimensions: 12cm high, 51cm wide and 50cm deep

71421 Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set
Get ready for some musical fun with the Dixie Kong’s Jungle Jam Expansion Set. LEGO® Mario™, LEGO® Luigi™ or LEGO® Peach™ can take centre stage and perform with Dixie Kong and Squawks, the parrot, all set in vibrant and fun jungle surroundings.

Age: 7+
Price: USD 26.99 / EUR 26.99 / GBP 20.99/AUD 42.99
Pieces: 174
Dimensions: 12cm high, 24cm wide and 10cm deep

71420 Rambi the Rhino Expansion Set
LEGO Super Mario figures can jump on Rambi’s back and ride into action. Listen out for fun sound effects when Rambi walks, charges into the included stackable rock elements or makes other movements.

Age: 7+
Price: USD 10.99 / EUR 9.99 / GBP 8.99/AUD 18.99
Pieces: 106
Dimensions: 6cm high, 11cm long and 5cm wide

The new LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Expansion Sets will be available from August 1st 2023 via LEGO stores, lego.com and from select leading retailers around the world.

These expansion packs are a bit of a change from most previous waves: we have previously seen. It almost feels like a shift towards a more open-world type game, rather than the standard platform challenge/trap/obstacle expansions. As such, Mario can just take time to explore, hang out and play, rather than deal with the pressure of a time limited run. What do you think of this shift? leave your comments below, and until next time…

Play Well!