Playmobil vs Lego – Are They Compatible?

  • By: The DIG for Kids
  • Time to read: 5 min.
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Playmobil products are very different from Legos. Instead, you don’t stack or build with Playmobil but piece them together with pieces provided in the box. A child can play with both Playmobil and Legos simultaneously, but you can’t get the pieces to stick together. Given that Playmobil and Lego are competitors in a way, it makes sense that they wouldn’t be compatible with each other.

These structures between Playmobil and Lego toys are very different in how the pieces fit together. Legos are a relatively widely known toy that mix up blocks with small indentations that allow the pieces to fit together in many different designs and structures. Any Lego set is compatible with another as the blocks are for one specific design in mind. 

Playmobil is a set of pieces made explicitly for the set they go with and will only fit together with those other pieces. It is more like hitting a toy that requires some assembly instead of a set of building blocks. Playmobil and Legos are not compatible with each other since they function very differently in how they fit together.

Difference Between Playmobil vs Lego

Playmobil and Lego have developed a strong rivals over the years as they both create plastic figures and buildings that have similarities and differences between them. They also have a loyal fan base has who will swear by one company or the other. However, there are pros and cons to using either toy, depending on what you’re trying to get out of them.

Let’s go through exactly what each toy is and some of the pros and cons of using either. Keep in mind that both are excellent educational toys that encourage imagination and building. They both also have sets for a variety of ages.

Lego

Lego uses individual blocks that you can easily fit together regardless of what kind of sets you buy them in. Because of this, you can buy any Lego set and interchange different pieces. They’re even sets where you buy a random assortment of locks and try to build whatever you can from them instead of having a set of instructions to create something specific.

Lego is probably one of the most popular toys globally as it has sold over 600 billion Lego Parts worldwide as of 2016. Legos offer the chance for children to build whatever their imagination can come up with as long as they have the different pieces to make it happen. Even entire amusement parks like Legoland have the signature Lego block style. 

Legos tend to encourage more creativity since they don’t rely on having a single set to build one thing. They also tend to buy licenses of famous books and movies such as Disney movies and the Lord of the Rings. This means that not only can children build specific things from their favorite films, but also they can create their own original things alongside them.

Playmobil

Playmobil is a timeless-looking brand from Germany that uses flexible plastic toys that allow children to create simplistic designs. The pieces in these sets only fit with each other, which, while it is a limitation of the toys, can also be a positive side as it makes it easier for kids to build whatever the specific set is. They’ve sold more than 100 million figures worldwide.

Playmobil is very different from Lego in that it only allows specific pieces within the building set to fit together. There’s freedom in this, but at the same time, it can be easier for younger children to be able to create the things that come within each box. Playmobil also relies on its unique designs to draw in customers instead of buying licenses to existing franchises. 

Playmobil also has amusement parks called fun parks, two animated films, and an animated television series. There are multiple video games based on popular toys end the company continues to grow in popularity. This popularity is probably from the more simplistic designs as they are more towards younger children who continue to buy the sets as they grow older.

Which is Better: Playmobil or Lego?

Whether Playmobil or Lego is better depends on what you’re trying to get out of the toy. If you want something more simplistic for a young child, then Playmobil will be a better choice. Whereas if you want something more complex that allows for various interchanging parts to make lots of different things, then Lego is the way to go.

Both sets of toys encourage creativity and spatial intelligence as they require kids to build with their pieces. There are various themes, from farming to Firefighters to nights to spaceships. They’re both made from high-quality and durable components that allow children to play with them for many years. They’re both relatively quiet toys which could be a plus. 

Keep in mind that both sets have small pieces and accessories that are easily lost or could be harmful to younger children. You must supervise them while using the toys and choose sets with the least amount of small pieces. Both companies have specific box sets for younger children instead of the regular sets.

The real differences come from the diversity difference between Lego and Playmobil. Playmobil has many different sets that you can choose from, but they aren’t as interchangeable. In contrast, Lego has entirely interchangeable sets that allow children to decide whether or not they want to follow the instructions on how to build a specific thing or do their own building project.

If you’re looking for something that is more simplistic end could be fun for a much younger child, then Playmobil is probably the best choice for you. Lego will be the better choice if you’re looking for something more complex with more creative freedom. 

Conclusion

Playmobil and Lego are not compatible because they use very different ways of putting the different pieces together. Lego uses simple blocks that can all attach and interchange with each other, whereas Playmobil uses specific pieces to fit together within the box set. Both have pros and cons and can be wonderful toys for a child looking to build something.

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