2005 LEGO Sets

In 2005 LEGO proved once again to be a supurb year for collectors with the release of 351 sets, many highly sought after. This included 36 promotional and special released sets in addition to the 315 retail sets released through LEGO.com, the LEGO store and various other retail channels.

Based on the 351 sets released for that year, the retail value was $8,396.91 with a current value of $74,741.80 for the combined new/factory sealed sets. As of present, the best performing theme for 2005 is currently Exclusive which has seen an average annual growth of upwards of 13% to date.

In 2005, LEGO saw major developments in set design, theme evolution, and digital expansion, marking a turning point for collectors and the company's resurgence. One of the most notable milestones was the 50th anniversary of the LEGO System, celebrating five decades of the iconic brick's interlocking design.

This year also saw a major shift in LEGO’s minifigure design, as licensed Star Wars characters transitioned from classic yellow to light nougat skin tones, aligning with other licensed themes such as Harry Potter and Spider-Man. While a subtle change, it significantly impacted the value of earlier Star Wars sets, as collectors sought out original yellow-faced figures.

On the theme front, LEGO City was officially introduced, replacing LEGO Town as the company's modern city-building theme. Featuring updated vehicles, police stations, fire brigades, and public transportation, City quickly became a flagship LEGO theme, continuing to expand in the years ahead. Other new themes included LEGO Dino Attack (also known as Dino 2010 in Europe), which featured large, mutant dinosaurs and heavy artillery-based rescue vehicles, and LEGO Vikings, which brought Norse warriors, longships, and mythical creatures into LEGO’s historical lineup.

Beyond physical sets, LEGO expanded into the gaming industry with the launch of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, developed by Traveller’s Tales (TT Games). This title introduced the lighthearted, comedic gameplay style that would become a staple of future LEGO video games, paving the way for a successful franchise that spanned multiple licensed properties.