LEGO 1988 Sets

With the release of 73 sets for 1988, the LEGO Group was able to produce a number of highly collectable ones even though many did fall short of being strategic long term investments.

Based on the 73 sets released for that year, the retail value was $1,042.00 with a current value of $31,251.48 for the combined new/factory sealed sets. As of present, the best performing theme for 1988 is currently Dacta which has seen an average annual growth of upwards of 11% to date. All together 1988 saw the release of sets covering 8 themes and 25 subthemes with Town having the highest release count of 21 sets.

In 1988, LEGO continued to expand and solidify its position as a leading toy manufacturer. The year witnessed the continuation of popular themes and the introduction of new ones. One of the notable introductions was the LEGO Pirates theme, which brought a fresh adventure concept to the LEGO world, complete with pirates, soldiers, island settings, and unique elements like the iconic LEGO pirate ship. This theme was groundbreaking as it included new minifigure facial expressions, departing from the classic smiley face to showcase more character-specific emotions. Meanwhile, the company maintained its commitment to educational products, with the DUPLO line catering to younger children and Technic sets offering more intricate building challenges for older fans.