The Off-Brand Pirate Set That Changed My Mind

The Off-Brand Pirate Set That Changed My Mind

Hi Everyone.

I’ve never been into off brand building block sets.
And I grew out of Pirate themes when I was 10.

So when Pantasy reached out and asked me to review one of their sets—a pirate-themed one, no less—I wasn’t exactly jumping at the opportunity.

But I said yes. Why?

First, I wanted to challenge my own bias.

My only real experience with off brand building block was with Mega Bloks, way back. I still find random pieces from those sets mixed into my LEGO collection—and honestly, they were awful. Weak clutch power, weird colors, and just poor quality all around.

And I’m not alone in that experience. For a long time, the general rule in the LEGO community has been: off-brand = bad. I’ve believed it, and I’ve repeated it.

But that was years ago. Maybe things have changed. Maybe it’s worth another look.

Second, there’s the price of LEGO.

We all know LEGO is expensive—and it’s only getting pricier. Yes, the quality is high, and licensing branded sets adds to the cost. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s becoming harder and harder for people to afford.

So I figured: if there’s an alternative out there that can offer a decent build experience at a more accessible price point, maybe it’s worth checking out.

So I decided to give it a shot, and Pantasy sent me The Pirates Pub, set number 85022. It’s a pretty substantial build—about 2,800 pieces. The finished model stands roughly 44 by 44 by 58 centimeters, so it's not small by any means. It comes in a collectible box that’s 42 by 18 by 34 centimeters, and inside you’ll find all the bricks and a full instruction manual. It’s made from ABS plastic, just like LEGO, and it’s recommended for ages six and up—so it’s designed with both kids and adults in mind. The estimated build time is around five to six hours, depending on your pace.

It looks pretty good, right? But let’s be honest—anyone can make box art look impressive. I still wasn’t convinced.

But then I built it.

And honestly? It blew me away. I don’t know how else to put it. I’ll be doing a full, in-depth review over on my YouTube channel soon, but for now, let me just hit a few of the highlights:

1. Build Quality

The quality was spot on. The only noticeable differences from LEGO were the lack of the LEGO logo on the studs, and maybe a slightly different sound when a piece hit the table. That’s it.  The colors were rich and consistent, the clutch power was excellent, and the bricks felt solid and premium in-hand. From the very first few steps of the build, I could tell—this was different from the off-brand stuff I remembered. This felt like a genuine, high-quality building experience.

2. Stickers (or the lack of them!)

Now, if you know me, you know I’m not a fan of LEGO’s sticker-heavy approach—especially in sets at premium price points.
This set? One sticker. Just one. It went on a rum bottle—and that’s it.  Everything else was printed. And not just printed, but well printed. Sharp detail, vibrant color, clean alignment. It was such a relief, and honestly a huge win.

3. Design

I don’t even know where to begin—the design is gorgeous. Seriously, just look at it.
It’s packed with detail and charm: secret rooms, clever play features, functional doors, cozy corners, and of course, an epic pirate bar setup. Everything flows beautifully. The layout, the build techniques, the final look—this isn’t just “good for an off-brand set.” It’s good, period.

4. Build Experience

I’ll be honest—I went into this thinking it would be like one of those old 30-piece Mega Blocks sets. That was my mistake. This felt more like building a LEGO UCS set. It took hours—not because it was especially difficult, but because I chose to build it piece by piece, carefully and methodically. And I’m glad I did. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Every part was accounted for. The build was broken down into 14 stages, with around four bags per stage, which made the whole process really manageable and well-paced. And here’s the thing—I genuinely enjoyed it. I couldn’t believe how satisfying it was to see everything come together. Step after step, it just kept exceeding my expectations.

Now, onto the one real disappointment: the minifigures.

The figures included in this set are similar in style to LEGO Friends characters—and I’ll be blunt, I can’t stand them. They look and feel cheap. The quality isn’t there, and in my opinion, they completely undermine the overall look and feel of the model.

I’ve watched several other reviews of Pantasy sets, and nearly everyone says the same thing: the minifigures just don’t hold up. I’d go even further—they reinforce all the old stereotypes people have about off-brand sets.

If I were Pantasy, I’d seriously consider leaving them out entirely. They add nothing to the experience. In fact, removing them would allow builders to seamlessly integrate standard LEGO minifigures, especially since the set is fully compatible with LEGO parts.

Bottom line: the build is excellent. The minifigures? Not so much.

Overall. 

I hate to compare Pantasy to LEGO—I really do. I think that’s part of the problem with how we view alternative brands. But honestly, when you look at The Pirates Pub as a display piece—without the minifigures—the only thing missing is the LEGO logo on top of the studs. That’s it.

And this is coming from someone who’s openly disliked off-brand LEGO and pirate-themed sets. So for me to say this means something:

Pantasy’s Pirates Pub, set number 85022, gets a solid 8 out of 10.
Actually—scratch that. I just looked at it again.
It’s a 9 out of 10.