LEGO Game Boy replica becomes playable with original cartridges

An Australian modder has turned Lego's recently released brickbuilt Game Boy replica into a functioning handheld that can run original Game Boy cartridges, demonstrating a hardware conversion that preserves the look of the toy while restoring the console's primary function. The Lego set, a 421-piece replica priced at about $59.99 and officially released on October 1, 2025, was designed with Nintendo and intended as a display model; the modder completed the playable unit within days of the set reaching stores.

Natalie the Nerd, a creator known in the retro handheld modding community, designed and built a custom printed circuit board small enough to fit inside the Lego shell. Rather than using an emulator or a field-programmable gate array, she integrated authentic Game Boy hardware, choosing the MGB Pocket CPU found in the 1996 Game Boy Pocket because it includes internal video RAM and simplified power and component requirements. The working Lego Game Boy accepts original cartridges, boots titles including Tetris and Pokémon Red, uses a backlit display, supports USB-C charging with a rechargeable battery, and features functioning buttons adapted with 3D-printed components.