Classic

Creative Transparent Bricks

A jewel box of translucent LEGO that lights up the moment sun hits it.

Brick Rated Score

3.8/5

Set 11013 · 2021

Pieces500

Minifigsn/a

Year2021

Set number11013

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The verdict

I have a weakness for translucent bricks, and tipping this box out on a sunny table is the whole reason I love it.

You get 500 pieces in a rainbow of see-through colors plus a handful of solid classics, with eight little brick-built builds (a lion, a turtle, a unicorn, a wizard and a few more) to get you going. It is honestly aimed at younger builders and free play rather than a showpiece, so set your expectations there. If you want a bright, low-pressure pot of parts that makes windows, gems, ice and stained-glass anything, it earns its keep.

Best for: Parents and part-hunters who want a cheerful pot of translucent elements for free building

The full review

What it is

This is one of those LEGO Classic boxes that looks unremarkable on the shelf and then completely wins you over the second the light hits it. Creative Transparent Bricks is 500 pieces built around a rainbow of translucent elements: reds, blues, greens, oranges, clear, all in the usual mix of bricks, plates and slopes. The see-through parts are what got me. Pour them onto a table near a window and the whole pile glows, and suddenly a plain little brick-built bird feels like it is made of stained glass. LEGO packs in eight starter builds here, including a lion, a turtle, a unicorn, a robot, a wizard with a tiny potions desk, and a fish in a coral scene, with the printed eyes and a few wheels tossed in to give them character.

The catch

Now for the honest part, because there is a real catch worth knowing before you buy. The name promises transparent bricks, but the box is not all transparent. A meaningful share of what is inside is standard solid-color LEGO, and more than a few builders have grumbled that they bought a translucent set expecting a translucent pile. The other thing to flag is the part selection itself. The mix leans heavily on plain bricks, plates and slopes, with very little in the way of SNOT bricks, brackets, jumper plates, clips or hinges. For a young child following the guided builds that does not matter at all. For an adult who wanted a clever techniques toolkit of clear parts, it will feel a bit limited. And since the set retired at the end of 2024, the friendly 30 dollar price has drifted up on the secondary market, so it is no longer the obvious impulse buy it once was.

Who it's for

So here is where I land. If you are buying for a young builder, or you simply want a bright, forgiving tub of parts for open-ended play, this is a lovely little box and I would happily recommend it. It is also a smart pick-up if you specifically collect translucent elements and want a cheap way to stock up on clear slopes, colored plates and gem-like pieces for your own MOCs. The people I would steer away are technique-focused adult builders chasing an all-transparent stash or lots of connection variety, because this leans classic and simple by design. Know that going in and it is genuinely charming. Expect a pro-level parts pack and you will be a little let down.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

Building this is relaxed and quick rather than involved, which is exactly the point. The pieces are split across bags, each holding enough for a couple of the guided models, so you pick a build, open a bag and go without hunting through the whole pile. The instructions are simple and the models are small, so most sit in the twenty-to-forty-piece range. Younger hands can finish nearly all of them solo, and the included brick separator is a thoughtful touch for little fingers pulling plates apart.

The real draw is the parts themselves. The value on translucent elements is the headline, roughly 6-7 cents a piece for a color range you normally have to buy singly from part shops: trans-red, trans-blue, trans-green, trans-orange and clear across bricks, plates and slopes, plus printed eye pieces and a few small wheels. For anyone building their own creations, that clear and colored slope-and-plate mix is the treasure, ideal for windows, water, ice, gemstones and glowing details. Just go in knowing the assortment favors basic shapes over specialty connectors, so it is a color-and-clarity haul more than a techniques haul.

Fun facts

01The set was designed by Henrik Rubin Saaby and released on January 2, 2021 for 29.99 dollars.
02It retired at the end of 2024 after a four-year run, and sealed boxes now trade a bit above the original price.
03There are no minifigures at all. Every character, from the lion to the wizard, is built entirely from bricks.