Jurassic World

Dinosaur Missions: Stegosaurus Discovery

The Stegosaurus we waited a decade for, plated in nostalgia and a few missed opportunities.

Brick Rated Score

3.7/5

Set 76965 · 2024

Pieces420

Minifigs2

Year2024

Set number76965

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The verdict

I got genuinely excited unboxing this one, because LEGO had not given us a real Stegosaurus mold in the modern dinosaur era, and here it finally was.

The plates and tail spikes look fantastic on the shelf, but once I started posing it I felt the same letdown a lot of builders mentioned online: the neck barely moves and the head is nearly frozen in place, so photographing it feels stiffer than it should. Ben and Sammy coming back as grown-up Camp Cretaceous characters with new torsos was a lovely surprise for anyone who watched that show. If you want the dinosaur itself and don't mind limited posability, or you're finishing a Camp Cretaceous minifig lineup, this earns its spot. If poseability is what you care about most, temper your expectations before you buy.

Best for: Camp Cretaceous fans and anyone who has been waiting specifically for a Stegosaurus in their dino lineup

The full review

What it is

I've wanted a real LEGO Stegosaurus for years, and when 76965 finally delivered one, it was worth the wait just to see those plates lined up down its back. The set pairs the dinosaur with an off-road truck that has a removable roof and a working truck bed, plus a small trailer carrying a satellite dish and a microscope for the researchers to use. There's also a lookout tree with two sections that pull apart, which gives kids an actual scene to build a mission around instead of just a dinosaur sitting on a base.

The catch

Here's the honest part. The Stegosaurus is a single specialized element rather than a fully posable stud-built creature, and that means the head and neck barely move. If you love photographing your dinosaurs in dynamic poses, this one will frustrate you fast, it mostly just stands there looking good rather than doing anything. I also noticed the piece count sits in the middle of the road for the price, so this isn't the set I'd point to for sheer value per dollar. It's priced for what it is: one great dinosaur mold plus a decent vehicle, not a mountain of parts.

Who it's for

Get this one if you've been specifically waiting for a Stegosaurus, or if you or your kids grew up with Camp Cretaceous and want Ben and Sammy's updated grown-up versions on the shelf. Skip it if posability is your top priority, or if you'd rather put your budget toward a set with a bigger, more interactive dinosaur build.

The parts story

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

Building this one is a quick, satisfying session rather than a marathon, most reviewers clocked it around 40 minutes. The truck goes together first with a simple but sturdy cab and bed, then the trailer with its little scientific instruments, and finally the Stegosaurus itself comes together around its molded body shell in a handful of steps.

The obvious star is the new Stegosaurus mold itself, the first specialized modern element for this species and a genuine first for the theme. Ben's new sand green jacket and satchel torso and Sammy's medium azure jacket update are nice, detailed reworks that Camp Cretaceous collectors will want. The infant raptor figure tucked into the set is a fun small addition too, and the returning Velociraptor from earlier sets rounds out a decent little dinosaur roster for the money.

Fun facts

01This is the first specialized Stegosaurus element LEGO has produced since the Adventurers Dino Island sets back in 2000.
02Ben and Sammy are both updated as their older, grown-up Camp Cretaceous selves, with brand new torso prints reflecting their changed style.
03The set is part of the Jurassic World Chaos Theory wave, tying into the Camp Cretaceous animated series continuity.
04The completed Stegosaurus measures about 22cm long, making it one of the larger single dinosaur figures in this particular wave.