Mega Brands buyer’s guide: All you need to know about Mega Bloks, Mega Construx, and more

Mattel-owned toy company Mega Brands features a catalog of highly satisfying brick-building sets and timeless pop culture themes under its best-selling sub-categories, Mega Bloks and Mega Construx.

Much like Lego, Mega Brands’ brick-building creations cater to all ages, making imaginative, high-quality sets for toddlers, teens, and long-time builders alike.

And while Lego’s worthiest competitor, it’s no surprise Mega Bloks and Mega Construx continue to be a favorite for many: the brand offers unparalleled value for money.

Read on to discover more about the brand, best sets, and other helpful info in our (very) in-depth buyer’s guide!

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About Mega Brands

Formerly known as Mega Bloks, Mega Brands is a Canadian toy company based in Montreal, Quebec, boasting 30-plus years of success in the toy-making industry.

Originally called Ritvik Holdings (named after founders Rita and Victor), the family-owned business was born in the 60s and began developing its first building blocks in the mid-1980s. It quickly became the lead distributor in the Canadian toy market.

In the late 80s, the company started to create more buzz around its building kits for preschoolers, and in 1988, it launched its still famous Big Building Bag. Soon after, Mega preschool toys were being distributed worldwide.

In 1991, there was a growing demand for more cost-effective Lego-like bricks for older hobbyists. This led to the launch of the brand’s first micro bricks for teens and adults.

In 2002, Ritvik Holdings officially changed its name to Mega Bloks and, four years later, to Mega Brands — its current name. In 2009, the renowned brand partnered with Microsoft and released one of its most iconic collections: the still sought-after Halo brick-building sets.

This opened the door to more partnerships with popular franchises, including Barbie and Hot Wheels, in 2012. Two years later, the brick-building company took the leap and officially became part of Mattel: one of the top toy companies in the world.

In 2017, Mattel created Mega Construx, a sub-category destined for brick builders ages five and up — including adult collectors. The first collaboration with a franchise under this line was Pokémon, which remains one of its most coveted themes.

Currently, Mega Brands sets can be found according to age and theme, targeting a broader audience: Mega Bloks for toddlers and Mega Construx sets for ages five and up.

Mega Bloks

Today, Mega Brands uses its former name, Mega Bloks, to label its most successful line of brick-building sets.

Mega Bloks is an incredibly popular category of block-building products designed for children as young as 6 months to four years of age.

While commonly compared to Lego’s Duplo blocks, the truth is that Mega Bloks came first in tackling the block-building space for young children — and is still very much the preferred option for many between the two brands.

Mega Bloks construction toys are easy to grip and stack, visually stimulating, and imagination-sparking, developed with the primary goal of enhancing child development through entertainment.

Under this category, you can find sets for children ages 6-12 months, 12-24 months, and 2-4 years. However, lots of these sets will understandably be less appealing the older kids get.

Unlike Mega Construx, Mega Bloks’ themes are slightly more restricted. For example, while you’ll find franchise collaborations such as Paw Patrol, you’ll come across more generic themes such as Green Town.

Vehicle-related projects, such as this CAT Cement Mixer Truck or John Deere dump truck, will often be authentic replicas for children. Mind you, these are pretty big, look incredible, and make for fantastic gifts!

In addition, they’re surprisingly affordable — one of the huge advantages Mega Bloks has over Duplo Blocks. Besides block building sets, this line also sells a variety of toddler-friendly accessories like this classic Mega Bloks wagon and activity tables.

Lastly, if you grew up with Fisher-Price and love this brand for its reliability, you’ll be happy to know that the Mattel subsidiary is an official endorser of Mega Bloks toys and sets.

Mega Construx

Mega Construx is a Mega Brands line targeted at older hobbyists, with more complex sets for ages five and up.

The name Mega Construx originates from the once-popular Fisher-Price and Mattel-owned toy brand, Construx (early 80s). While not exactly a brick-building brand, it developed beam-like pieces that snapped together to create large structures.

However, in the late 90s, the toy line was discontinued. Today, the company lends its name to Mega’s sought-after category for older builders: Mega Construx.

While including sets for younger children, Mega Contrux is closer to what you’ll find in some of Lego’s sets for adults or franchise editions, such as Lego Harry Potter and Lego Minecraft.

Again, like the Danish brand’s sets for older hobbyists, Mega Construx departs from Mega Bloks’ chunky, oversized pieces and creates projects containing smaller, more detailed bricks.

Under this category, you’ll find a range of pop culture themes, such as Pokémon, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and Halo — the line’s first major success.

Mega Construx sets also features more pieces as well as more complex designs — including modular models. They may also include additional items like micro figures or engineering-type features.

In fact, many consider Mega Construx figures the best in the brick-building world due to their detail and excellent design. This category also features special figures in its Black Series — but more on this further below.

In 2022, the brand began to revamp packaging and substituted its orange Mega Construx label with a purple Mega logo (much like what Lego did with its Creator/Icons sets). However, you can still find both versions depending on where you purchase.

This sub-category is perfect if there are themes you love that you can’t find in Lego or Lego alternatives, offering the same level of entertaining, high-quality brick building.

Mega Construx Black Series

Mega Construx’s Black Series is a special edition-like series that specifically tackles franchises, such as TV shows, movies, and video games.

Unlike standard sets, the Black Series focuses on creating highly detailed, intricate figures representing some of the most iconic characters in pop culture.

While not easy to find everywhere, here are a few editions we highly advise checking out; they’re all pretty neat — most of these are still up for grabs on Amazon!

• Battle Royale AirDrop (Call of Duty)
• Jon Snow (Game of Thrones)
• Daenerys and Drogon (Game of Thrones)
• Dutch (Alien vs. Predator)
• Predator (The Predator)
• Fox Mulder (X-files) — my favorite!
• Fry (Futurama)
• Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
• Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell)

Overview: Mega Bloks vs. Mega Construx

Learn more about Mega Brand’s sub-categories in this side-by-side Mega Bloks vs. Mega Construx comparison chart!

Mega Bloks vs. Lego

While unquestionably reputed in the brick-building space, some still view Mega Bloks and Mega Construx as Lego’s forever runner-up.

So, what makes these Mega Brands sets so appealing for some and not for others, and how are they different from the most famous brick-building company in the world?

Here are a few things to know:

Best Mega Bloks and Mega Construx sets

Dive into our top picks for the best Mega Bloks and Mega Construx sets you can buy; we’ve sprinkled in a little bit of everything to satisfy everyone, from first-time builders and teens to collection-loving adults.

Mega Bloks sets

Mega Bloks first builder sets are Mega Brand’s top-selling products, designed for toddlers and young kids.

These building kits are imaginative, colorful, and won’t burn a hole in your pocket. They make for perfect gifts and inspire children to express their creativity!

Pokémon Mega sets

Pokémon Mega Bloks is one of the brand’s most sought-after themes, best suited for children ages 5+, young teens, and older.

Whether you’ve already explored other Pokémon building sets, such as Nanoblock Pokemon, Mega Construx Pokémon editions boast unique designs and dynamic features hard to find in other building toys.

Halo Mega Construx sets

Halo Mega Bloks were the brand’s first greatest hit under the Construx category — and have been going strong since they were first launched in 2009.

Based on the popular video game series, Halo sets range in complexity, from more basic builds to challenging display-worthy projects, often incorporating accessories and intricate figures.

Barbie Mega sets

Know a child who’s absolutely in love with everything Barbie? Mega’s Barbie building sets are filled with pops of color, adorable characters and pet figures, and fun modular structures.

Better yet, you can find very affordable options, including a 500+ piece set for under $40!

Hot Wheels Mega Construx sets

Hot Wheels Construx Mega sets are a classic and worthy of all the attention they can get.

Incorporating dynamic, engineering-like features and slightly more complex structures, brick builders aged five and up will have a blast with all the original features and figures found in these sets.

Masters of the Universe Mega Construx sets

Perfect for nostalgia-driven hobbyists and fans of old-school TV references, Mega Construx’s Masters of the Universe sets pack in a world of settings and timeless characters.

Collectors and die-hard He-Man fans will especially get a kick out of the Castle Greyskull set: the biggest ever created by the brand.

FAQs

What is Mega Construx?

Mega Construx is a category of Mega’s building sets. This line is designed for older builders, collectors, and fans of specific themes. Building kits are more detailed and may incorporate engineering features.

The most popular themes include Halo, Pokémon, and Masters of the Universe.

What age range are Mega Bloks and Mega Construx recommended for?

Mega Bloks are primarily targeted at builders ages 1-4, and Mega Construx at hobbyists 5+ years. Mega Construx creates more challenging structures, although not as complex as those found in Lego sets for adults or Lego’s biggest sets.

Are Mega Bloks and Construx compatible with Lego?

Mega Construx bricks are compatible with smaller, traditional Lego bricks found in sets for older/experienced brick builders. On the other hand, while Mega Bloks are compatible, you’ll run into a few limitations. For example, Mega Bloks can be stacked upon Duplo Blocks, but not vice versa.

Also, most Duplo Lego tables are compatible with Mega Bloks for young children.

How many pieces are typically included in a Mega Bloks or Construx set?

Sets tend to contain fewer pieces compared to the brand’s main competitor, Lego. The largest Mega Construx set to date is the Masters Of The Universe Castle Grayskull Building Set featuring 3508 bricks.

Who owns Mega Bloks?

The brand is owned by globally acclaimed toy company Mattel.

Where can I buy Mega Bloks and Mega Construx sets?

While Legos are easier to come across, Mega Bloks and Mega Construx sets are also pretty accessible. Besides the official Mattel website and Amazon, US residents can find these products in large retailers such as Walmart and Target.

Toys R Us is another alternative where you can find sets in the US and Europe — depending on your location.

Are Mega brick building sets cheaper than Lego?

One of the advantages of Mega Bloks and Mega Construx is price. These products are highly cost-effective compared to Legos and Lego alternatives, all while guaranteeing high-quality materials and entertainment value.

Where is Mega Brands based?

Mega Brands’ headquarters is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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That’s it for this comprehensive buyer’s guide for Mega Bloks and Mega Construx! If you have any other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below, and we’ll address them as soon as possible.