We Love Retro: LEGO Brings the Game Boy to Brick Form
Published: 1 year ago
Last Updated: 7 months ago
October’s Must-Have LEGO Release: Classic Game Boy Model
Few things spark nostalgia like a classic handheld console and LEGO knows it. Over the past few years, sets like the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System (71374) and the LEGO Super Mario 64™ Question Mark Block (71395), along with the LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog™ – Green Hill Zone (21331), have flown off shelves, proving there’s a huge appetite for brick-built gaming history. Now, following the runaway success of its LEGO® Mario™ line, the next retro-gaming icon is headed to your display: the original Nintendo Game Boy in LEGO form. This near 1:1 replica packs authentic controls, interchangeable gamepaks and vintage charm into 421 pieces—giving both adult builders and collectors a fresh centrepiece for their setups.
Pricing & Specs for the New LEGO Game Boy Replica
Due 1st October 2025 (pre-orders open 24th July), the 72046 LEGO® Game Boy™ set comprises 421 pieces and measures over 5.5 in. (14 cm) high, 3.5 in. (9 cm) wide and 1 in. (3 cm) deep. Designed for ages 18+, it forgoes electronics in favour of brick ingenuity—but preserves every hallmark of the original:
- A +Control Pad, A/B buttons and SELECT/START keys
- Functional contrast adjustment and volume dials
- A brick-built Game Pak slot with two interchangeable cartridges: Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening—complete with “insert-and-play” action just like the real console
- Three lenticular display screens: choose the classic Nintendo start screen, or one themed to each included Game Pak, for an authentic on-screen motion effect
Priced at €59.99 / $59.99 / £ 54.99, it joins LEGO’s growing portfolio of adult-focused builds.
Why This Matters for LEGO Fans
This release taps into two powerful trends: the enduring appeal of retro gaming and the ongoing popularity of LEGO Mario-themed sets. Fans who cherished building Mario’s pixel-perfect levels can now recreate the very device they once held in their hands—brick by brick. The ability to swap cartridges and screens adds a layer of interactivity few non-electronic sets offer, while the thoughtful design puts it on par with larger, more expensive builds like the NES and SNES models. It’s one of the coolest LEGO releases for retro-video-game enthusiasts yet.
Investment Potential: More Than Just a Build
As with many adult-targeted LEGO sets, limited production runs and nostalgic demand can drive secondary-market value. If you choose to keep your Game Boy™ in its unopened box, this set could appreciate over time—particularly among video-game memorabilia collectors. Given the strong resale history of other adult-oriented, licensed LEGO sets, holding onto yours for a year or two could turn a weekend build into a modest investment.
Author: Lizzie Dinning Fowler
With a background in Education and Operations Management, Lizzie brings exceptional organisation and structure to Investabrick. She became an AFOL after rediscovering LEGO while teaching, using it as a creative learning tool in the classroom and falling back in love with the brick as an adult. That spark soon grew into a passion for building and investing. Lizzie gravitates toward complex, display-worthy sets, with the Modular Buildings series and Creator Expert icons among her favourites. For her, the harder the build, the better.
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