LEGO Nintendo Game Boy Set Reviewed Alongside The Real Thing

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October 2025 will see a lot of new LEGO sets released, with the $1000 LEGO Star Wars UCS Death Star (#75419) being a major highlight. However, the Nintendo Game Boy (#72046) replica is predicted to be the most popular item. The set taps into fond memories of gaming and is available for a very affordable $60, making it incredibly appealing. It’s already sold out during pre-order several times before its October 1st launch, but is currently available on Amazon and at Walmart, and is expected to be restocked on LEGO’s website on the release date. But is it really worth the money? And how does the LEGO version stack up against a real Game Boy? Let’s take a closer look.

LEGO Nintendo Game Boy: The Build









Okay, so I just built the LEGO Game Boy set, and honestly, it was a really chill build! With only 421 pieces, I finished it in under 3 hours, no problem. You start by building the Super Mario Land cartridge and the cool stand it comes with – it even stores the cartridge! Then you move onto the back of the console, the PCB, the front with all the buttons, the screen itself, and a stand for the whole thing. Finally, you finish it off with the The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening cartridge, which even has a little detail representing the battery inside. It’s a super fun set!

We haven’t shown the entire build to avoid giving away all the surprises, but it’s definitely a fun project that will take a few hours to complete. The LEGO Game Boy is brilliantly designed throughout, particularly when it comes to the buttons, which you can press and move. For instance, the directional pad isn’t fixed – it actually floats, supported by a rubber cushion underneath, providing a great feel when you use it. Although the A and B buttons on the LEGO version are a little lighter and don’t have the same sharp click as the real Game Boy’s buttons, it’s still a remarkable example of LEGO building skills.

LEGO Game Boy vs a Real Game Boy












As a fan, I have to say the LEGO Game Boy is incredibly close in size to a real Nintendo console! It’s not exactly 1:1 – it’s a little smaller here and a little bigger there – but it’s seriously impressive. Of course, it’s much lighter, which is expected. I also noticed the colors are a bit different. The LEGO set is a light gray, while my original console is a warmer, more yellowish gray after being stored away for the last 35 years. It’s still amazing to see though!

These cartridges closely resemble the original versions, even including stickers that perfectly match the labels. Overall, we appreciate Nintendo / LEGO’s decision to feature Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening in this collection. I’ve added a look at the original Tetris cartridge to the gallery above. We suspect many fans would have wanted it included, but licensing complications were likely the cause of its exclusion.

The lenticular screens show the classic Nintendo start screen, a part of level 1-1 from Super Mario Land, and a scene from The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. You can easily change these screens by taking off the back plate and lowering the arm that holds the image. After you’ve positioned the new screen, you can insert the game cartridges. These lenticular screens are really impressive. Considering this set doesn’t have lights or sounds, including these detailed, moving screens is a great feature and makes the price worthwhile.

Honestly, I think the LEGO Nintendo Game Boy (#72046) set is totally worth the money. It’s as close to the real thing as you can get with LEGO, and even though it’s not a huge build with only 421 pieces, they really packed in a lot of unique and custom-made parts. And as a fan, I was loving all the little hidden details and Easter eggs! It’s cool to know the Game Boy originally came out in Japan on 4/21 1989, which is why the set has 421 pieces – that’s a nice touch. Bravo LEGO, you nailed it!

The LEGO Game Boy (#72046) will be available for $59.99 at the LEGO shop beginning September 30th / October 1st at 9pm PT / 12am ET. As we mentioned before, you can also pre-order it on Amazon and at Walmart. For a complete list of new LEGO releases in October 2025, including details on gifts with purchase, check out our guide.

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2025-09-29 19:10