The LEGO Indians subtheme became a major part of the Western theme during the second year of release. Most the eight Indian sets included teepee's and native American minifigures. None of the sets features interactions from the Indians to other Western characters such as the cowboys.
1997 LEGO Sets
1997 saw LEGO’s first major sales decline, prompting experimentation and digital expansion. LEGO Island introduced the brand’s first open-world video game, setting the stage for future digital storytelling. New subthemes included Divers for underwater exploration, Fright Knights for gothic medieval fantasy, and Time Twisters as a sequel to Time Cruisers. LEGO Space added Roboforce and UFO, shifting toward alien-focused designs, while Aquazone expanded with Aquaraiders. Despite challenges, LEGO’s creativity remained strong across both physical and emerging digital platforms.