LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures review

If LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures is what the Forbidden Forest was really like, we can see why Hagrid spent so much time there.

Coming on March 1, the LEGO Group is making a foray into the dark environment of the Forbidden Forest in LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures, but it doesn't seem all that bad. We've got purple leaves, glowing spiders, some colourful beasts – what's not to love?

As Dumbledore said, the Forbidden Forest is to be feared and respected – but where will we fall on LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures? Read on for our detailed review.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures set details —

Theme: LEGO Harry Potter Set name: 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures Release: March 1, 2024

Price: £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99 Pieces: 172

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures —

LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures is available from March 1, 2024 for £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99. You'll find it at LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores, as well as through third-party retailers.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures build —

At this price point and piece count, 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures is understandably small but the unusual colour scheme means that it still manages to make an impression. Dark blue, purple, and light blue leaves combine with glow-in-the-dark white and blue elements on the ground to create an ideal backdrop for the titular magical creatures.

There's also a certain amount of customisation possible, with the option to arrange each section of the brick-built forest as you please. Each one is situated on a black plate base, meaning it can stand on its own or be easily moved around as part of a play session.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures characters —

As the name would suggest, the main appeal of 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures is the creatures themselves. Buckbeak has studs on his back that enable him to be ridden – although the LEGO minifigures of Ron and Hermione included can't bow, so we're not sure how well that will go for them. Notably, these are the only two minifigures included, making this a rare LEGO Harry Potter set that doesn't include the titular boy wizard.

However, you will get a baby Thestral as a happy replacement, complete with a hidden chicken leg around the back of the build for it to snack on. Once again, it's not clear how well Ron and Hermione can engage with the Thestral, with neither of them being able to see it, having not seen death.

Buckbeak's wings deserve a special mention. The silver feathers stand out nicely against his white coat, matching the grey detailing around his head and can be moved up and down to mimic flying.

What Ron certainly can see is the brand new glow-in-the-dark spider perched on a bright light blue web, while Hermione presumably has to deal with a bright blue Cornish Pixie (which features new printing in this set). Whether great or small, all creatures in the set are well-designed and flesh out the set impressively.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures price —

There's admittedly not much to 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures but that's reflected in its price point. You'll be able to pick it up at a reasonable £24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99, an amount that goes far enough when you tot up the number of magical creatures included, plus a brick-built environment for them to live in.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures pictures —

--- 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures pros and cons —

All in all, 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures brings a lot to the table that you don't often get in LEGO Harry Potter playsets, with a unique colour scheme, glow-in-the-dark elements, and some detailed magical creatures. While it might not be of too much interest to older LEGO Harry Potter collectors, it's a well-put-together playset. It knows what it's here to do – and does it well.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO sets using our affiliate links, and read more about the wider issues surrounding LEGO Harry Potter.

— Alternatives to LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures —

For a LEGO Harry Potter set featuring a magical creature that's a little more suited for display, you might also want to consider 76421 Dobby the House-Elf, which is built on a sturdy base and with enough accessories to be able to pose as you want. It's the exact same price as 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures, so if you only have a certain amount to spend, it's really a choice between display or play.

However, if it's play you're in the market for, then another option that's also on the way from March 1 is 76426 Hogwarts Castle Boathouse. It's minifigure-driven, rather than focused on animals like 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures, but is of a similar size and price point. Once again, both are solid sets but it depends on what you want to get out of your LEGO Harry Potter experience.

— LEGO Harry Potter 76432 Forbidden Forest: Magical Creatures FAQs —