We’re living in the golden age of building blocks for adults, with plenty of options to choose from. LEGO® is still the undisputed benchmark, but it’s also a great moment for alternative brands, which bring fresh themes and licenses at prices that make you think twice.
Today I want to talk to you about Pantasy, a brand that has gained a lot of strength in recent years, and compare it to LEGO® to see how they differ and what each one offers. I’ve built sets from both brands and I’d like to share my perspective with you.
Pantasy: A young brand with a lot to say
Pantasy was born in China in 2020 and already has a catalog of over 150 sets. It’s one of the most well-known brands today in the world of compatible bricks. For a company that’s only been on the market for 5 years, it’s experienced remarkable growth and is positioned as one of the best.
Themes
LEGO® has it all: lines for kids, for adults, and heavyweight licenses like Star Wars, Marvel, or Harry Potter.
Pantasy, however, targets a more adult audience. It focuses on retro and pop culture themes, with a nostalgic nod for those of us who grew up watching these series, anime, or playing these video games. It taps into different licenses, which may not be as massive as LEGO®’s but are certainly beloved, like Snoopy, The Little Prince, Astro Boy, Dragon Ball, Popeye, Mazinger Z, Sherlock Holmes, or Saint Seiya.
Minifigs: Each brand with its own style
Pantasy's new minifigs.
Pantasy’s figures are different, out of necessity (LEGO®’s classic minifigs are protected by trademark rights). So they’ve developed their own style: characters like Snoopy or Moomin are specially molded, while others are more generic figures with articulated bodies and large heads. Are they better or worse? It depends on your taste. They’re different, for sure, and they’re not trying to imitate LEGO®.
Brick quality
Can you tell the difference? Pantasy's (Gobricks) on the left; LEGO's on the right.
Unlike LEGO®, Pantasy doesn’t manufacture its own bricks but uses pieces from Gobricks, the largest and most reputable brick manufacturer in China. And honestly, the quality is excellent.
When comparing Pantasy’s (Gobricks) bricks with LEGO®’s, I personally don’t notice any significant differences except for the color shades. Pantasy’s pieces aren’t harder, they don’t fit worse, or anything like that. If you think that only LEGO® has quality, Pantasy might surprise you.
Price
Pantasy sets are generally priced lower per piece (around 7 cents per piece) compared to LEGO’s 9+ cents. This makes a big difference, especially for larger sets or if you want to stretch your budget. On the other hand, for smaller sets, it’s often the opposite, as Pantasy uses specific molds while LEGO® relies on generic pieces, which can raise Pantasy’s prices. Plus, Pantasy uses far fewer stickers than LEGO®.
General opinion
Those who’ve tried Pantasy usually say the same thing: they’re surprised by the quality and design, especially if they’re used to LEGO®. It’s not that one brand is better than the other—it’s just that each has its own style, themes, and price points.
My conclusion as a brick fan
After building sets from both brands, I can say that LEGO® has a broader catalog and more mainstream licenses. But Pantasy offers fresh, nostalgic ideas at competitive prices.
-
Quality? Very similar.
-
Price? Pantasy wins, especially in larger sets.
-
Minifigs? LEGO® has the classics, but Pantasy brings originality.
I think it’s about adding more options. In the end, what matters is having choices to keep building.
If you’ve tried both brands, share your thoughts in the comments!