Build a city, race the rails, and sparkle up a unicorn world
3 Exciting Magnetic Building Toys Kids Will Love: City Center, Rail Racers & Glitter Unicorns
Magnetic tiles are some of the most versatile building toys around, and this roundup covers three very different ways to play with them. The MAGNA-TILES City Center 110-Piece Set hands kids the pieces to design an entire magnetic metropolis, the MAGNA-TILES Rail Racers 110-Piece Set is built for open-ended, imagination-led construction, and the CONNETIX Glitter Unicorn Pack (56 Pieces) adds sparkle and fantasy-themed shapes to the mix. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Best For | Product | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for Creative City Building |
 MAGNA-TILES City Center Magnetic Building Set |
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| Best for Open-Ended Building Play |
 MAGNA-TILES Rail Racers Magnetic Building Set |
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| Best for Sparkly Fantasy Play |
 ONNETIX Glitter Unicorn Pack (56 Pieces) |
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In-Depth Product Reviews
Best for Creative City Building
MAGNA-TILES City Center Magnetic Building Set
| Format | 110-piece magnetic building set |
| Includes | Roads, stairs, balconies, fences, microMAGS & wheeled chassis |
| Key Feature | Full magnetic city-building system |
| Recommended Age | 3+ |
This set is built around open-ended construction on a city-wide scale. The 110 pieces include road pieces, spiral and classic stairs, balconies, fences, microMAGS, and a wheeled chassis with axles for building custom cars and trucks — giving kids the tools to design an entire magnetic city rather than follow one script.
Beyond the play value, MAGNA-TILES is designed with learning in mind, encouraging creative thinking, engineering and math concepts, shape and color recognition, and fine motor skill development. The set uses secure riveted construction and is fully compatible with other MAGNA-TILES collections.
Advantages
- 110 pieces for open-ended, endless building
- Includes roads, stairs, balconies & vehicle pieces
- Encourages engineering & fine motor skills
- Compatible with other MAGNA-TILES sets
Considerations
- Higher price point than the other two picks
- Contains small parts — a choking hazard for young children
MAGNA-TILES Rail Racers Magnetic Building Set
| Format | 110-piece magnetic building set |
| Includes | Assorted magnetic shapes |
| Key Feature | Fully open-ended, no fixed build |
| Recommended Age | 3+ |
Where the City Center set is built around a theme, this set hands kids 110 pieces with no single "right way" to build. Kids can experiment freely with shapes and structures, taking a design apart and rebuilding it completely differently the next time they play.
The set supports early learning through hands-on play, helping kids explore shapes, colors, math, and engineering concepts while strengthening fine motor skills and creative thinking — all without needing batteries.
Advantages
- 110 pieces for genuinely open-ended play
- Encourages creative thinking and experimentation
- Supports early math and engineering concepts
- No batteries required
Considerations
- No themed pieces like roads or vehicles included
- Contains small parts — a choking hazard for young children
CONNETIX Glitter Unicorn Pack (56 Pieces)
| Format | 56-piece magnetic tile set |
| Includes | Hexagons, squares, triangles, rectangles, trapezoids & inspiration booklet |
| Key Feature | Iridescent glitter tiles with clear light refractions |
| Recommended Age | 3+ |
This pack brings a dose of sparkle to magnetic tile building. Every tile is filled with ultra-fine iridescent glitter in clear, pink, yellow, teal, and purple, using Connetix's signature bevelled design to create dazzling light refractions as kids build.
The 56-piece mix of hexagons, squares, triangles, rectangles, and trapezoids is designed for fantasy-themed creations — think sparkly unicorns, castles, and snow globes — while still supporting the same STEAM skills as any magnetic tile set: spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor development.
Advantages
- Iridescent glitter tiles with eye-catching refractions
- Wide variety of shapes for fantasy builds
- Includes an inspiration booklet for ideas
- Compatible with other Connetix tile packs
Considerations
- Smaller piece count than the two MAGNA-TILES sets
- Best suited to fans of sparkly, fantasy-style play
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Product | Best For | Type | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Center Magnetic Building Set | Creative City Building | 110-piece magnetic building set | Roads, stairs & vehicle pieces |
| Rail Racers Magnetic Building Set | Open-Ended Building Play | 110-piece magnetic building set | Fully open-ended, no fixed build |
| Glitter Unicorn Pack | Sparkly Fantasy Play | 56-piece magnetic tile set | Iridescent glitter tiles |
How Kids Can Enjoy Each Toy
Design a Magnetic City
Connect road pieces, stairs, balconies, and fences to build a city layout, then use the wheeled chassis and axles to construct custom vehicles that can drive right through it.
Build Without Limits
Take the Rail Racers pieces and build a structure, then knock it down and build something completely new — there's no fixed layout to follow, so every session can look different.
Create a Sparkling Fantasy World
Use the glitter hexagons, triangles, and trapezoids to piece together unicorns, castles, or snow globes, holding finished builds up to the light to see the glitter refractions shine through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pieces are in the City Center Magnetic Building Set?
The set includes 110 magnetic pieces, including road pieces, stairs, balconies, fences, microMAGS, and a wheeled chassis with axles.
Is the Rail Racers set themed like the City Center set?
No — it's a fully open-ended 110-piece set with no themed roads or vehicle pieces, designed for free-form building rather than one specific layout.
What comes in the Glitter Unicorn Pack?
The 56-piece pack includes hexagons, standard squares, several types of triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, and an inspiration booklet, all made with iridescent glitter tiles.
What ages are these toys recommended for?
All three sets — the City Center, Rail Racers, and Glitter Unicorn Pack — are recommended for ages 3 and up.
Can these sets be combined with other magnetic tile collections?
Yes — the City Center and Rail Racers sets are compatible with other MAGNA-TILES collections, and the Glitter Unicorn Pack is compatible with the full Connetix tile range.
Find the Perfect Magnetic Building Toy
From designing a bustling city to open-ended free building to sparkly unicorn creations, these three magnetic tile sets bring very different kinds of creative play home for every kind of builder.
