LEGO Icons 10332 Medieval Town Square: first impressions

Check out the Brick Fanatics team’s first impressions of the newly-revealed LEGO Icons 10332 Medieval Town Square.

Unveiled by the LEGO Group earlier today, the latest LEGO Icons set is also the newest slice of nostalgia to emerge from Billund, tapping into the same well of inspiration as 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle and 40567 Forest Hideout. It specifically calls back to 2009’s 10193 Medieval Market Village and 1986’s 6067 Guarded Inn among other retro Castle sets, including the brief wave of Wolfpack models in 1992.  

That’s the premise on paper – but how does 10332 Medieval Town Square actually shake out in official images? We’ve pored over the pics to bring you our instant reactions…

Chris – 'It's at the top of my wishlist'

I was born just a little bit too late for the golden age of LEGO Castle, but I dove deep into what I’m calling its silver age in the 2009 Fantasy Era sets. 10193 Medieval Market Village was the only set from that theme that I never got my hands on, so 10332 Medieval Town Square has instantly rocketed to the top of my wishlist for its links to that set (however tenuous) alone.

But is it a better set, 15 years on? I’m undecided. The building techniques, details and storytelling are all superior at a glance. But I think I prefer the colours of the original – and the minifigures here are a mixed bag, with eight really being too few (another Wolfpack member would have topped it off) and a noticeable lack of leg printing all round. I’ll still grab it day one, obvs.

Rachael – 'A welcome approach to medieval life'

10332 Medieval Town Square breaks the mould for LEGO sets based on that era in not focusing on fighting and war, with more artists than warriors in its minifigure line-up. The buildings themselves house tapestry and woodworking workshops, with colourful creators to populate them, bringing genuine village life to the fore. While other medieval LEGO sets have been based on castles, fortresses, and so on, the quaint picture painted by 10332 Medieval Town Square is one focused on storytelling.

From the cat following a pot of cream around the square to the blank shield waiting for a colourful logo, there are plenty of stories waiting to be told within the set, as well as a tonne of accessories and characters to map out your own as well. The peaceful village of life is not without drama (peep the Wolfpack member apparently looting coins from around the town), but it’s a more well-rounded approach to medieval life than we’ve had in a long while – and a very welcome one.

Jack – 'It's exciting as a D&D fan'

10332 Medieval Town Square excites me, not just as a LEGO fan, but as a Dungeons & Dragons fan. I’m hyped for the upcoming LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons set and admittedly every Castle set is being viewed with it in mind. It’s different with 10332 Medieval Town Square though. The 3,304-piece set offers something intrinsically linked to the upcoming LEGO Ideas set that the contest-winning entry may fall a bit short on.

The tavern proposed in the Dungeons & Dragons set is on the small side, and likely to not interfere too much with the piece count. While I'd love it to be bigger in the final design, 10332 Medieval Town Square offers a more substantial inn just in case. Such a building is as important to Dungeons & Dragons as dice and paper and I’m eager to combine the LEGO Icons and Ideas sets in one display no matter what.

Matt – 'More could have been added'

At first glance, 10332 Medieval Town Square appears to be just what fans of classic LEGO Castle sets have been waiting for. The LEGO Icons model should pair perfectly with 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle, but with only eight minifigures and fewer animals than might otherwise have been included, it does feel like more could have been added to the finished build.

Likewise, the set isn’t quite as busy and bustling as its inspiration, 2009’s 10193 Medieval Market Village, a model that seemed to deliver a lot more, although somehow with fewer pieces. That said, I’m impressed at this stage with 10332 Medieval Town Square’s multiple display options, Easter eggs and roof construction, even if this build won’t personally be a day one purchase for me.

10332 Medieval Town Square launches March 1 for LEGO Insiders (and March 4 for everyone else) for £199.99 / $229.99 / €229.99.

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