The Play Journal

Gift guides and collector notes from Lucas Play.

Ideas for giving LEGO, figures, cards and games to the fans in your life, plus tips for collecting, displaying and caring for the pieces you love.

LEGO Minecraft sets arranged on white display blocksFeatured · Gift guidesThe best LEGO Minecraft sets to give a kid who loves MinecraftA parent-friendly guide to choosing a LEGO Minecraft set for the kid who talks about Creepers at dinner, with picks matched to how they actually play the game.6 min readRead the guide

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15 guides
Funko POP Star Wars Babu Frik beside a LEGO Minecraft setGift guidesGifts for Star Wars fans of every ageFrom a first Funko POP for a young Padawan to vintage Kenner figures and a signed photograph for the fan who saw it all the first time around, here is how to match a Star Wars gift to the person.5 min readRead the guide Vintage 1980 Kenner Star Wars Dengar action figureGift guidesNostalgic gifts for adults who grew up in the 1980sKenner Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Ninja Turtles, He-Man, Garbage Pail Kids and the NES: a guide to finding the 1980s toy that sends a grown-up straight back to Saturday morning.5 min readRead the guide Funko POP Teddiursa with Pikachu Pokemon cards on display blocksCollector tipsHow to give Pokemon cards as a gift (and get it right)Single cards or packs, how to choose the right Pokemon, how to keep cards safe and how to wrap them so they feel special: a practical guide for anyone buying for a Pokemon fan.5 min readRead the guide The Legend of Zelda NES and SNES games on display blocksGift guidesGift ideas for retro gamers: NES, SNES and N64 classicsA guide to giving classic Nintendo cartridges, with picks by the kind of player you are shopping for and simple checks that help an older game arrive ready to play.5 min readRead the guide Funko POP Teddiursa and Babu Frik figures on display blocksGift guidesFunko POP gift guide: how to pick one they will actually loveA Funko POP looks like an easy gift until you are standing in front of hundreds of them. Here is how to match the fandom, judge the box and choose one that earns a spot on the shelf.6 min readRead the guide Funko POP Marvel Spider-Woman vinyl figure number 1228 from Across the Spider-Verse Gift guidesCollector stocking stuffers: small gifts under $30 that feel specialSmall gifts do not have to feel small. These collector-friendly stocking stuffers, all listed under $30 when this was written, make a stocking feel picked rather than filled.5 min readRead the guide Funko POP Pokemon Teddiursa in its box on a soft cream backgroundCollector tipsHow to buy a gift for a collector without getting it wrongBuying for a collector can feel like a test you did not study for. A few smart questions, a peek at their want list and a basic grasp of condition will get you most of the way there.5 min readRead the guide Leonardo Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Series 1 action figure by Playmates, 2015 Gift guidesGifts for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans, from 1988 to todayFrom the original Playmates figures of 1988 to Rise of the TMNT, the Turtles have reached several generations of fans. Here is how to find the right gift for the one you are shopping for.5 min readRead the guide Sealed Hasbro G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary Cobra Crimson HISS Tank with figure from 2011 Gift guidesGift ideas for dad: G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe and the toys he remembersIf dad grew up in the 1980s, there is a good chance a G.I. Joe or He-Man figure still lives in his memory. Here is how to find a nostalgic gift that brings it back.5 min readRead the guide Framed autographed Star Wars photograph signed by Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones and David Prowse, photo 3 Gift guidesGiving signed memorabilia as a gift: what to look forA signed photo or poster can be the most personal gift a fan ever receives. Here is how to judge the paperwork, the framing and the spot on the wall before you buy.6 min readRead the guide Three LEGO Minecraft sets stacked on a cream studio tableGift guidesHarry Potter gifts for LEGO fans: Wizarding World sets and minifiguresFor the young witch or wizard who builds, LEGO Harry Potter sets and minifigures make a gift they can play with and display. Here is how to choose well.5 min readRead the guide LEGO Minecraft The Horse Stable on a yellow plinthCollector tipsHow to wrap, present and display a collectible giftCollectibles need a gentler kind of gift wrap. Here is how to protect boxes and cards on the way to the party, and how to help the recipient display them afterward.5 min readRead the guide Matt Ratt Garbage Pail Kids sticker card Gift guidesGarbage Pail Kids cards: a nostalgic gift for the 80s kid in your lifeIf someone you know traded Garbage Pail Kids at recess, a card with the right name on it can make them laugh out loud. Here is how to pick one and give it well.5 min readRead the guide LEGO Harry Potter Quidditch set and a LEGO Minecraft set on display blocksGift guidesBirthday gift ideas for a kid who loves LEGOShopping for a LEGO-loving kid's birthday? Start with what they are into, from Minecraft to Batman to Harry Potter, and use this guide to pick a set or minifigure they will build right away.5 min readRead the guide

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