LEGO City 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park review

LEGO City 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park stands out from the crowd thanks to a heavy dose of nostalgia and a whimsically fun build.

LEGO City plays a unique role in the LEGO portfolio, mixing the standard array of emergency service and vehicle sets with more experimental models. This formula has brought us some standout builds, which now include the thoroughly enjoyable 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park.

Those nostalgic for themes from the 2000s and anyone who appreciates a great LEGO roller coaster will find something to love in this model. That's not to mention the brand-new Exo-Force mech that serves as the focal point for the build. Look beyond this Easter egg though and you'll find a uniquely referential set in the 2024 portfolio.

Release: June 1, 2024 Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 Pieces: 986 Minifigures: 8 LEGO: Order now

A trip down memory lane

Easter eggs in LEGO sets are common, but none have been quite as forward with their references as 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park. Whoever has set up this entertainment venue in LEGO City is a fan of Exo-Force, as you can tell by the new version of 7700 Stealth Hunter standing prominently on display. This build successfully and efficiently adapts the design of the 2006 set for the modern LEGO portfolio.

Still, it's undeniable that this is the Exo-Force mech and enthusiasts will be pleased to know that a new Exo-Force minifigure is featured in the set too thanks to a single useful piece. It's the most obvious of the Easter eggs in 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park but far from the only nostalgic touch in the model.

The arcade is home to most of the other references, paying tribute to themes from the 2010s. Many LEGO Easter eggs in other sets are designed as homages to much older product lines, including Classic Space and Castle. For those that weren't around for that era of LEGO history, it's great to see a set pack in so many homages to more recent releases. 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park's star is its new Exo-Force model, but don't forget to tour the rest of this park as there's a lot to appreciate, especially in the minifigures.

Come for the coaster, stay for the minifigures

LEGO City sets aren't known for their stellar and exclusive minifigures, though this has improved over recent years. It's for this reason that 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park would almost certainly take the prize for the best minifigures in a City set. As well as the usual citizens with various fashionable outfits, the other four minifigures stand out for important reasons.

Two of these characters are taken directly from LEGO City No Limits, including the villainous No Face acting as the local DJ. With their digital expression and design extending over the hood, this is already a unique minifigure that may prove surprisingly versatile. Joining him is Bytz, part of the main crew for the online animated series. LEGO City No Limits characters and those of LEGO City Adventures have been scattered across sets for a few years now, but a physical villain still represents something new and intriguing for the theme.

It's a great time to be a LEGO City enthusiast and it's not often that you can be recommended to pick up a set in the theme for its minifigures. There's one minifigure that will stand out from the crowd though, and that's the staff member equipped with a uniform torso that features the same insignia as 7700 Stealth Hunter. It serves as the perfect pilot for the mech and delivers a torso that will further remind you of the glory days of Exo-Force.

Safety not guaranteed

LEGO roller coasters have been going strong since the latest track system was introduced in The LEGO Batman Movie's biggest set, but they've come a long way since those early simplistic circuits, and you'll find yourself having plenty of fun pushing the cars around this looping track as they weave in and out of the structure. Surprisingly, the complexity of this coaster doesn't affect the structural integrity of the set and you can comfortably lift the model with one hand without anything falling apart.

The colour scheme for the model is suitably futuristic too and there's a variety of smaller builds that you'll find yourself appreciating, including the controller at the top. That's as well as some larger stickers that – while somewhat frustrating to align correctly – hide some great Easter eggs. Don't be afraid to take a moment to get up close with this set, and you'll find plenty of space for posing minifigures all around the build too.

Unfortunately, this park isn't overly safe for minifigure guests, so you'd probably do well to place it relatively close to a hospital in your own LEGO city. There's nothing stopping characters from tripping on to the load platform for the coaster and the final turn for the ride swooshes millimetres away from a dance arcade game. (Try not to bust too many moves.) This is of course a fictional city but you will need to consider this when posing minifigures in certain areas. It doesn't stop it from being a fun building and play experience though.

After building more complicated models or display-worthy builds, 60421 Robot World Roller-Coaster Park provides an involved yet playable break in the LEGO portfolio. It has a standalone design that caters to nostalgia-seekers, LEGO roller coaster enthusiasts and minifigure collectors alike. The base price of £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 is reasonable too and the model is a good size relative to the cost, despite the larger track elements that may usually drive up the price of a set.

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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Honest opinion: One of the best LEGO nostalgia trips to date, paired with an excellent roller coaster that will provide plenty of fun.