Ryan's World Mystery Art Egg vs Crayola Imagination Art Set: Which Kids Art Kit Is Worth It?

Introduction

Kids art kits are one of those gift categories where the packaging often promises more than the contents deliver. Two options stood out on a recent shopping trip: the Ryan’s World Mystery Art Egg Series 2, a surprise-unboxing style kit priced at $20, and the Crayola Imagination Art Set, a straightforward art case at $22.99. Both target a similar age range, but they take very different approaches to what an art kit should be.

This comparison looks at what each set actually contains, how the supplies perform, and which one makes more sense for the money.

What’s Inside the Ryan’s World Mystery Art Egg Series 2

The Ryan’s World Mystery Art Egg Series 2 is aimed at ages five and up, and it leans heavily into the mystery-unboxing appeal. The egg itself is a large plastic container with a hinge and a handle, and it opens like an advent calendar with compartments of surprises inside.

The contents include a set of markers in bright, playful colors, a long roll-style coloring sheet, stickers, stencils, crayons, and a handful of character erasers, including a little frog, an angry panda, and one shaped like Ryan’s face. The markers are the standout here; they all have different designs on them and feel like the standard markers you would have had in your pencil case at school.

The stickers are undeniably adorable, and the erasers are a cute touch, though there is an odd design flaw: the set includes erasers but no pencils to erase with.

Where the Egg Falls Short

The biggest problem with the egg is that much of what is inside has nothing to be used on. The stencils have no dedicated paper, the stickers only really work on the small coloring sheet, and the coloring itself comes as one very long loose strip of paper rather than a book or pad, which is awkward for kids and likely to get scrunched up.

There are also quality inconsistencies. Several markers arrived noticeably dried out, and the crayons feel harder and drier than a waxy, soft crayon should be. They require more pressure to lay down color, closer to budget-brand quality than premium-brand quality. The stencils repeat the same design across each one, which limits their usefulness.

At $20, the value is hard to justify. Most of the price goes toward the branding and the mystery element rather than the supplies. Around $15 feels like a fairer price for what you actually get. For comparison, a rough basket of similar supplies bought separately came to about $11.37: a 24-count box of name-brand crayons, markers, and a coloring book with stickers, leaving only the stencils and the plastic egg unaccounted for.

The Crayola Imagination Art Set Alternative

The Crayola Imagination Art Set costs $22.99, about three dollars more than the egg, and delivers substantially more. It comes in a well-designed case that folds out to hold a full collection: standard markers, Pipsqueak markers (a smaller, chunkier version for younger hands), small colored pencils, a large crayon count, and, crucially, paper.

That paper inclusion matters more than it sounds. It solves the exact problem the egg has, giving kids something to actually draw on, stencil onto, and sticker up right out of the box. The case format also keeps everything organized instead of loose in a plastic shell.

How They Compare on Quality

Testing both sets side by side showed a clear difference in feel. Visually, crayon swatches from both sets look similar on paper, but the Crayola crayons glide noticeably better, while the Ryan’s World crayons feel harder and drier under the hand.

The marker comparison told a similar story. The Ryan’s World markers performed acceptably overall, though a few tested colors were noticeably dried out. The Crayola markers laid down color more consistently across the tested shades. For a child, the difference may not be obvious, but anyone who has been frustrated by dried-out felt tips as a kid will notice it immediately.

Which One Should You Buy?

If the mystery-unboxing experience and the Ryan’s World branding are the main draw, the egg delivers on that fun factor, and younger fans of the character will likely enjoy opening it. Just go in knowing you are paying a premium for the name, and that you may need to supply your own paper.

If you want the better overall value and a kit that actually works as a complete art set, the Crayola Imagination Art Set is the stronger choice. For roughly the same money, you get more supplies, included paper, better-performing tools, and a case that keeps everything tidy. It is the kit a child will still be using a month later.

Conclusion

The Ryan’s World Mystery Art Egg Series 2 wins on surprise appeal and cute character extras, but loses on value, paper inclusion, and supply quality at its $20 price. The Crayola Imagination Art Set, at $22.99, is simply the more complete and better-made kit. For most families, the Crayola set is the safer and more satisfying purchase, while the egg makes sense mainly as a themed gift for a devoted fan.