(Credit: Nintendo )
Retro arcade gaming has become much more accessible in recent years, whether it's buying a modern reconstruction of one of the original machines, updated for the modern era, or simply downloading home console versions of classics off modern game stores. Collectors don't need to hunt down expensive used machines on sites like eBay or Craigslist anymore.
But if you're a fan of Lego and Nintendo, and you're up for something quite a bit more time-consuming, you can now literally build your own classic Donkey Kong arcade cabinet out of Lego. The new set isn't just a piece of quirky decoration for your living room. It will be fully playable, though not quite identical to the original game.
Donkey Kong, first published in 1981, was Nintendo's first major hit outside of Japan and is considered one of the key titles of arcade gaming's golden era. It also pioneered the platformer genre by introducing the jumping mechanic, which Nintendo would revisit time and time again.
Once built, owners will be able to navigate the game's web of scaffolds, ladders, and hammers, dodge barrels, and interact with characters like Donkey Kong, Jumpman (Mario's original name), and Lady.
Donkey Kong Arcade will cost $200 and will ship on August 1, 2026. But it's not just the money—actually completing the set, which numbers 1,367 pieces and is 15.5 in. (39 cm) high, 10.5 in. (27 cm) wide, and 5.5 in. (15 cm) deep, will be quite a commitment. Though it's still considerably smaller than the original arcade cabinet.
This isn't the first time Lego has given fans the chance to build classic Nintendo hardware. In July 2025, Lego revived Nintendo's bestselling original Game Boy as another buildable model, retailing at $59.99 for the set.
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I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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