With our kids tearing through our craft kits, puzzle boxes, activity books and more while they shelter indoors, the brand new, 231-piece, interactive LEGO Super Mario Starter course could not have come at a better time.
I can’t think of anything more delightful to say these days than, “can we give the game controllers a little rest and play some Mario together?”
Your goal is to collect virtual coins (what else would you expect of Mario!) as he runs and jumps from the Start Pipe through the course to reach the the Goal Post, while engaging in super battles to defeat Goomba and Bowser Jr. along the way. But it’s in no way a “one-and-done” kind of a game, since some clever tech features make it easy for kids to rebuild the course and add expansion brick sets and new characters, all of which make play opportunities pretty infinite.
Related: 50 screen-free activities for kids to do over summer break, indoors and out
First off, the techy stuff:
LEGO Super Mario himself is designed to be interactive, built with a speaker plus LED screens in the eyes and belly. This means means thanks to the wonders of AAA batteries, he can react to your kids in 100 different ways with sound and music as they play. He even gives “rewards” for their creativity which is pretty fun.
Open up the free companion app (he seems to connect via Bluetooth) and find suggestions for other creative ways kids can build their courses. When they’re ready, they can create more challenging levels and games to play, and even play with friends — or these days, siblings. .
The LEGO Super Mario app also makes building a little easier for kids who need a 3-D visual guide and like to “do it myself.” More of that, please!
Related: New LEGO Replay lets you donate your used bricks to kids in need. And it’s so easy!
How awesome is this expansion pack?
As for the non-techy stuff:
Well it is LEGO. Which means there’s always just, you know, playing. With the blocks. And your imagination. We’re all in on that, too.
Preorder the LEGO Super Mario Starter Kit Bundle direct from LEGO and it should arrive in by August 1. Hey, kind of like your last toilet paper order! Plus, you’ll get the Monty Mole & Super Mushroom Expansion set free.
