Category: WAFFLE BLOCKS – Plus-Plus (Denmark), Gakken New Block (Japan), Igrushkin, Malysh

Waffle Blocks offer plenty of benefits for fostering imagination, enhancing design skills, promoting problem-solving abilities, developing manipulative skills, and facilitating fundamental concepts such as color recognition and discussions on 2D and 3D shapes. The bricks are connecting to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, allowing endless combinations to be created in any preferred order.

Gakken’s origins can be traced back to Tokyo in 1946 when it emerged as a crucial component of Japan’s post-war efforts to rebuild the nation. The vision was to prioritize the education of young individuals, recognizing that they would play a vital role in the future development of the country.

The founder and educator, Hideto Furuoka, embarked on this journey driven by a profound sense of appreciation and gratitude towards society. His inspiration stemmed from his mother’s selfless love and unwavering dedication in raising him amidst extreme poverty.

What distinguishes Gakken Blocks Playability from other block toys is its unique capacity to encourage creative exploration. Children can unleash their imagination by stacking, laying, plugging, or tucking blocks in various orientations, including horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. This dynamic play experience not only nurtures their spatial awareness and three-dimensional thinking but also fosters hand-eye coordination and unleashes their creativity.

Building kit Plus-Plus was specifically designed as an educational toy, making it a common sight in Danish schools where its educational value is recognized and appreciated.

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Think Fast Toys – Aircraft and Automobile Engineering Set

Think Fast Toys blocks are very similar to Gakken New Blocks and its clones. They have pieces of similar shapes. However, it is not a “Gakken clone”, because some pieces are unique, and you can’t find them in the actual Gakken sets. Even if this set was, in fact, inspired by Gakken, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Many countries released their own waffle blocks over the years, often with their own unique tweaks, and this only added variety to the market.

This set focuses on building of cars and planes, but you can create any shape from these pieces. The set also comes in a thick plastic storage box.

Gakken is probably one of the most popular “waffle” blocks. The Gakken Blocks sets have many different forms and shapes of the blocks. There are arched blocks, blocks with different numbers of pegs on different sides, and figurines. There are also some pieces that can work like the rails for the Gakken trains. Those same pieces are just as thick as any other Gakken block, and you can use them in many ways, not just for building rails.
Gakken are Japanese sets, and Japanese Amazon has a bigger choice of them. But the shipping may be long and expensive. In countries that are far from Japan, finding these sets can be more tricky, but there are plenty of sets that have pieces of the same shapes.
Original Gakken Blocks sets were invented in Japan in the 1960s. Their original purpose was education and helping children develop imagination and fine motor skills. Gakken quickly became popular in Japan, and they are one of the oldest “waffle” blocks that are still around. There are many sets that try to repeat the Gakken concept, but not all of them have this high quality. Another similar set brand is Danish Plus Plus, but in Plus Plus all the pieces have the same shape.

Think Fast Toys - Aircraft and Automobile Engineering Set
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Excellerations Miniature Waffle Blocks

Waffle blocks like this Excellerations miniature waffle blocks set are popular building toys. They are flat and have matching pegs on their sides. You can assemble these pieces in 2D and 3D shapes, and in different positions.
Pieces of this set have an unusually big number of pegs on them – far more than pieces of Gakken and Plus Plus. The pieces have openings in them, so you can connect the pegs to the edges or the centres of the pieces.

All the pieces in this set are exactly the same in shape in form, with the color being the only difference. You can build many things from these pieces, given all the opportunities this set has. On the other hand, this set doesn’t have arches and other similar pieces, which somewhat limits the building possibilities. The houses are the things waffle blocks make best, and, sadly, there are no options for, say, cars with moving wheels.
This particular set has pieces that are 1.5 inches wide, so they are safe for small children to play with. These pieces are easy to hold and too big to swallow, so the manufacturer recommends them for kids who are 3 years or older.

Excellerations Miniature Waffle Blocks
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Vintage Gakken-Like Set

An old, USSR-era Malysh set with some interesting pieces. Gakken sets have similar pieces nowadays. Photo from toy museum in Kyev, Ukraine.

Waffle blocks are very popular type of plastic building blocks. In these sets, each piece have pegs and square holes, and you can connect pieces in multiple ways to build both 2D and 3D crafts. The bricks connect to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, so you can make endless combinations in any order you want. There are many brands of waffle building blocks, Gakken and Plus Plus are the most popular and well-known ones. This, however, is rarer Malysh set.

Blocks by different manufacturers may look different. In Plus Plus sets, for example, all blocks are exactly the same, the only difference is color. This old ex-USSR set, however, has pieces of differnet shapes, and some extras, like figurines or wheels. There are also a number of long, bar-like pieces that help connect waffle blocks together. You can stack many waffles on one bar, which helps to create thick and solid crafts.

The waffle blocks themselves are small, each side of a block has only one or two pegs. Some blocks has H-shape and no pegs at all on some sides. This is a downside, because you can’t connect anything on these sides. Sometimes, however, these pieces are very handy, because you can stuck them in small openings to support the craft around it. It all other regards, it is a typical waffle block building kit with small pieces.

Vintage Gakken-Like Set
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PLUS PLUS Butterfly Puzzle

Plus Plus has not just usual building kits, but also sets that offer to build a 2D picture, following a scheme. This is very similar to a jigsaw puzzle, except you can pick any piece of a certain color. The pieces in these sets are still the same Plus Plus pieces. So you can build from them the same 3D shape as from any other set. There are many sets with different pictures and numbers of pieces. This, for example, is the 800-piece butterfly puzzle.


Danish Plus Plus sets are among the most popular and well-known “waffle” building sets. Almost all pieces in these sets are exactly the same – except for the wheels and the baseplates. However, even with only the basic pieces, you can build almost anything.


All basic pieces have exactly the same shape and size – they look like two pluses joined together, hence the brand name. Each piece has two pegs on the long sides one peg on the short sides, and the matching empty spaces. The pieces are thick, so the pegs are as thick as they are long. Because of this, you can connect the pieces in any direction, they will hold well all the same. So you can build both 2D mosaics and all kinds of 3D shapes, connecting the pieces vertically, horizontally, or even with an angle. The Danish schools use Plus Plus kits as an educational tool. They help teach kids basic STEAM skills and help them develop fine motorics and creativity.


To add some difference and more variety to the crafts, the Plus Plus brand offers countless sets with different numbers and colors of the pieces. There are pieces of different colors and hues, glowing pieces, pieces with glitter, and so on. The sets also may include any number of the Plus Plus pieces. There are also both small traveling kits and big gift sets.

PLUS PLUS Butterfly Puzzle
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Igrushkin Building Set Pieces

The pieces of the Igrushkin building set. Big square pieces (top row) are 4.6 inch wide and 0.6 inch thick.

Waffle blocks are very popular type of plastic building blocks. In these sets, each piece have pegs and square holes, and you can connect pieces in multiple ways to build both 2D and 3D crafts. The bricks connect to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, so you can make endless combinations in any order you want. There are many brands of waffle building blocks, Gakken and Plus Plus are the most popular and well-known ones. This, however, is rarer Igrushkin building set.

Blocks by different manufacturers may look different. In Plus Plus sets, for example, all blocks are exactly the same, the only difference is color. This old ex-USSR set, however, has pieces of differnet shapes, and some extras, like figurines or wheels. There are also a number of long, bar-like pieces that help connect waffle blocks together. You can stack many waffles on one bar, which helps to create thick and solid crafts.

The waffle blocks themselves are small, each side of a block has only one or two pegs. Some blocks has H-shape and no pegs at all on some sides. This is a downside, because you can’t connect anything on these sides. Sometimes, however, these pieces are very handy, because you can stuck them in small openings to support the craft around it. It all other regards, it is a typical waffle block building kit with small pieces.

Igrushkin Building Set Pieces
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Igrushkin Building Set

The window sill support (on the left) is from the another constructor. We wanted to do with something new, but it didn’t work out. 🙁 Maybe it’s because there are very few parts (58), maybe it’s because we’re already used to Gakken and automatically assume to use details that Igrushkin doesn’t have. For example, arcs or straight sticks. Or maybe it’s just that this set is “not ours” and is waiting for its master :)) In addition, the wheels in Igrushkin set do not hold on at all, and this making a whole bunch of crafts impossible. But the fact that the details are large is a clear advantage.

Waffle blocks are very popular type of plastic building blocks. In these sets, each piece have pegs and square holes, and you can connect pieces in multiple ways to build both 2D and 3D crafts. The bricks connect to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, so you can make endless combinations in any order you want. There are many brands of waffle building blocks, Gakken and Plus Plus are the most popular and well-known ones. This, however, is rarer Igrushkin set.

Blocks by different manufacturers may look different. In Plus Plus sets, for example, all blocks are exactly the same, the only difference is color. This old ex-USSR set, however, has pieces of differnet shapes, and some extras, like figurines or wheels. There are also a number of long, bar-like pieces that help connect waffle blocks together. You can stack many waffles on one bar, which helps to create thick and solid crafts.

The waffle blocks themselves are small, each side of a block has only one or two pegs. Some blocks has H-shape and no pegs at all on some sides. This is a downside, because you can’t connect anything on these sides. Sometimes, however, these pieces are very handy, because you can stuck them in small openings to support the craft around it. It all other regards, it is a typical waffle block building kit with small pieces.

Igrushkin Building Set
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More Gakken-Like Sets

These two Gakken-like waffle sets are closer in size, but you still can’t use them together. Malysh pieces (light blue ladder, the whit and the lighter yellow piece) are 0.5 inch wide, while Igrushkin pieces are 0.6 inch wide.

Waffle blocks are very popular type of plastic building blocks. In these sets, each piece have pegs and square holes, and you can connect pieces in multiple ways to build both 2D and 3D crafts. The bricks connect to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, so you can make endless combinations in any order you want. There are many brands of waffle building blocks, Gakken and Plus Plus are the most popular and well-known ones. This, however, is rarer Gakken-like waffle sets.

Blocks by different manufacturers may look different. In Plus Plus sets, for example, all blocks are exactly the same, the only difference is color. These old ex-USSR sets, however, has pieces of differnet shapes, and some extras, like figurines or wheels. There are also a number of long, bar-like pieces that help connect waffle blocks together. You can stack many waffles on one bar, which helps to create thick and solid crafts.

The waffle blocks themselves are small, each side of a block has only one or two pegs. Some blocks has H-shape and no pegs at all on some sides. This is a downside, because you can’t connect anything on these sides. Sometimes, however, these pieces are very handy, because you can stuck them in small openings to support the craft around it. It all other regards, it is a typical waffle block building kit with small pieces.

More Gakken-Like Sets
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Gakken-Like Sets

Some more ex-USSR Gakken-like building sets. The top row is Igrushkin brand, the pieces 4.5 inch wide and 0.6 inch thick. The lower row is Belorussian Samodelkin set. These pieces are about 2.5 inch wide and 0.35 inch thick. Both sets are very similar to the Gakken sets, but the size differs drastically.

Waffle blocks are very popular type of plastic building blocks. In these sets, each piece have pegs and square holes, and you can connect pieces in multiple ways to build both 2D and 3D crafts. The bricks connect to each other seamlessly, almost like in a jigsaw puzzle, so you can make endless combinations in any order you want. There are many brands of waffle building blocks, Gakken and Plus Plus are the most popular and well-known ones. This, however, are rarer Gakken-like building sets.

Blocks by different manufacturers may look different. In Plus Plus sets, for example, all blocks are exactly the same, the only difference is color. This old ex-USSR set, however, has pieces of differnet shapes, and some extras, like figurines or wheels. There are also a number of long, bar-like pieces that help connect waffle blocks together. You can stack many waffles on one bar, which helps to create thick and solid crafts.

The waffle blocks themselves are small, each side of a block has only one or two pegs. Some blocks has H-shape and no pegs at all on some sides. This is a downside, because you can’t connect anything on these sides. Sometimes, however, these pieces are very handy, because you can stuck them in small openings to support the craft around it. It all other regards, it is a typical waffle block building kit with small pieces.

Gakken-Like Sets
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Gakken Party Owls

A spring with forest celebration and happy owls among the flowers. Made from Gakken New Block set.

Unlike Plus Plus waffle blocks, Gakken blocks have pieces of many different shapes. They have round and curved pieces, long beams and H-like pieces. The empty spaces inside the blocks also can have different sizes and shapes, so you can stack inside different pieces in different positions. All this allows even more building possibilities than the waffle blocks sets with similar pieces. However, some pieces have less connection opgtions, because they don’t have pegs on the sides, or have only one hole.

Gakken brand appeared in Tokyo back in 1946 when it became an important component of Japan’s post-war efforts to rebuild the nation. Back then, it became incredible important to properly raise a new generation that will be able to create a better future.

The founder and educator, Hideto Furuoka, created first Gakken New Block set. He later told that his inspiration was traditional Japanese wooden houses. There he saw an idea of flat blocks people can took apart and rebuild again when they need to. So he decided to create a toy which repeats this principle. Children can connect these Japanese waffle building blocks, stack them, lay them, plug, or tuck blocks in different orientations, for example, horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

Gakken Party Owls
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Mario-Inex Waffle Blocks

Waffle blocks like this Mario-Inex mini waffle blocks set are popular building toys. They are flat and have matching pegs on their sides. You can assemble these pieces in 2D and 3D shapes, and in different positions.
Pieces of this set have an unusually big number of pegs on them – far more than pieces of Gakken and Plus Plus. The pieces have openings in them, so you can connect the pegs to the edges or the centres of the pieces.

All the pieces in this set are exactly the same in shape in form, with the color being the only difference. The plastic is durable but flexible, so you can fold a piece in two and use it in construction without breaking it. On the other hand, this set doesn’t have arches and other similar pieces, which somewhat limits the building possibilities. The houses are the things waffle blocks make best, and, sadly, there are no options for, say, cars with moving wheels.
This particular set has pieces that are 1.5 inches wide, so they are safe for small children to play with. These pieces are easy to hold and too big to swallow, so the manufacturer recommends them for kids who are 3 years or older.

Mario-Inex Waffle Blocks
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