If you’ve been building for a while, chances are you’ve come across Funwhole, recently rebranded as Lumibricks. And if you haven’t, let me tell you: this is one of the most exciting brands out there right now.
As someone who’s built with all kinds of bricks, I want to walk you through how it compares to LEGO©, and why I think it’s worth your attention, especially if you love story-driven, immersive builds… with light.
What if sets could light up?
Funwhole's Factory House of Music with lights on!
That’s how the Funwhole story began.
They didn’t start by making sets, but by creating lighting kits for other brands. And then came the question that changed everything:
“What if lighting wasn’t just an add-on, but part of the design?”
In 2022, Funwhole launched its own original building sets, with integrated lighting built into the experience from day one. And they’ve been growing steadily since.
Now rebranded as Lumibricks, they continue to expand, but the older sets still carry the Funwhole name. So yes, I’ll be referring to both for a while.
Adult-focused themes, made for immersion
Here’s where things start to really diverge from LEGO©.
LEGO©, as we know, offers a mix of everything: licensed themes like Star Wars and Marvel, plus in-house ranges like Icons and Ideas. It covers a lot of ground, but sometimes that means adult builders are left wanting something more focused.
Funwhole / Lumibricks is different. These sets are made for us, the grown-up fans:
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Urban, futuristic and sci-fi buildings
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Themes like steampunk, medieval villages, American farms, or the Wild West
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Dense, detailed scenes packed with storytelling elements only experienced builders might catch
They don’t try to appeal to everyone, they lean fully into niche, atmospheric world-building.
The minifigs: Not LEGO©-style, but full of life
Funwhole's minifigs for the Factory House of Music set.
Let’s talk about the minifigs because I know it’s a big one for many of us.
Non-LEGO© figs can feel… off. But Funwhole handles it very cleverly.
Rather than imitating LEGO’s classic look, they’ve developed original characters with:
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Names and defined roles in each scene
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Unique accessories that help tell the story
Are they different? Absolutely.
But in context, they work better than expected. They have personality and charm, and once the set is built, they feel like they truly belong there.
Brick quality: Up there with the best
We all know about the premium quality of the LEGO© pieces. Here’s something that genuinely surprised me: The brick quality is excellent.
Funwhole uses Gobricks pieces, and you can feel it:
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Pieces fit snugly and cleanly
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Colors are rich and consistent
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The build experience is smooth, sturdy, and satisfying
This is not entry-level plastic. You’re in premium territory here.
Price: More bricks, less money
Let’s talk cost—because here’s another big win.
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LEGO© averages around €0.10 per piece
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Funwhole sits closer to €0.07 per piece
That difference adds up quickly on larger sets.
So if you love long, engaging builds (like I do), you’ll appreciate getting big, beautifully designed, light-up models at a more accessible price point.
My AFOL veredict
After years of trying sets from all sorts of brands, here’s my honest take:
Funwhole (now Lumibricks) has earned the respect of an increasingly selective AFOL community.
And while LEGO© will always be LEGO©, with all its legacy and power, Lumibricks doesn’t try to mimic it.
They’re doing their own thing. Their own ideas, their own worlds, their own style of storytelling through bricks.
And I think that’s seriously valuable.
I’ve been wanting to bring Funwhole to Latericius for a while now. And finally, the first models have arrived. Check them out here. You can get them with a 10% discount if you join our community!
If you have built Funwhole sets, I'd love to read about your experience. Drop a comment below.