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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →LEGO’s official Game Boy set 72046 is a $59.99, 421-piece display model, not a working console. Australian modder Natalie the Nerd transformed that shell into a cartridge-based handheld with a custom PCB and authentic Game Boy-family chips. The project later became Build A Boy, a planned DIY upgrade that Crowd Supply still listed as “launching soon” on August 18, 2026.
The official LEGO Game Boy is display-only
Set 72046 recreates the original handheld at nearly 1:1 scale. LEGO’s U.S. product page lists 421 pieces, a $59.99 price, a brick-built D-pad, A and B buttons, SELECT and START buttons, modeled contrast and volume controls, a cartridge slot, a stand, and display cartridges for Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Lenticular screen inserts provide the visual changes, including a Nintendo start screen.
It has no light, sound, or digital-play functions. Buying the LEGO set alone therefore produces a collectible replica, not a playable Game Boy. See the official LEGO product page for the listed specifications and current U.S. availability.
What Natalie the Nerd changed
In her October 2, 2025 build report, Natalie described designing electronics around the extremely shallow space inside the LEGO shell. The centerpiece is a custom printed circuit board carrying genuine vintage Game Boy-family silicon rather than a Raspberry Pi, microcontroller emulator, or other general-purpose computer.
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#1 Best Overall
- BUILD AN ICON – Build the ultimate retro gaming display with the LEGO Game Boy (72046) model kit for adults ages 18 and up
- RELIVE THE EXCITEMENT – Remember powering up your Game Boy for the first time? Experience the thrill again with this authentic of the handheld gaming sensation
- DISCOVER AUTHENTIC DETAILS – The instantly-recognizable Game Boy features classic button layout, contrast dial, and interchangeable Game Pak and lenticular screens
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A Game Boy Pocket CPU saves space
Natalie chose an MGB/Game Boy Pocket CPU instead of the original DMG Game Boy CPU because the MGB chip has internal video RAM. That reduces the number of separate memory components and helps fit the electronics behind the model’s faux display. The board still needs the CPU, RAM, decoupling capacitors, and power regulation, all arranged for the LEGO enclosure rather than for an unmodified Nintendo motherboard.
A replacement screen occupies the display opening
The brick-built screen insert has to be replaced by a small electronic display. Natalie’s first prototype required adjusting or removing LEGO elements to create clearance. The later Build A Boy specification calls for a backlit 2.73-inch TFT with 320×320 resolution, two-times integer scaling, and selectable color palettes. Those are planned-kit specifications and should not be treated as proof that every part was finalized in the first prototype.
Mechanical parts connect LEGO controls to switches
Brick-built buttons do not automatically press electrical contacts. The prototype used custom 3D-printed “toy brick” parts to transfer movement from the LEGO D-pad and buttons to the control interface. Natalie reported that the controls were still being refined in the initial public build, so the early demonstration should not be described as a finished, consumer-tested control system. Build A Boy’s later specification lists Panasonic tactile switches with 0.8 mm travel and a stated 100,000-cycle rating.
Rank #2
- 3 IN 1 TOY FOR KIDS – LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Retro Gaming Console (31380) building toy lets boys and girls ages 8 years old and up construct 3 gaming toys from 1 set of LEGO bricks
- BUILD & REBUILD – Kids can dream up endless stories as they create 1 of 3 brick-built gaming toys: a handheld gaming console, a desktop mini computer or an arcade game machine (models cannot be built simultaneously)
- FUN TOY GAMING FEATURES – Gaming console has 2 moving buttons and 2 moving joysticks plus a choice of 3 game cartridges to insert, computer includes a keyboard and monitor with a disk to place inside and a mouse, and the arcade game machine has iconic retro details
- GAMER ROOM DECOR – When playtime is over, the completed build doubles as fun bedroom or play room decor for display on a shelf or desk
- GIFT FOR BOYS & GIRLS – Makes a fun birthday gift or anytime treat for little builders who love gaming toys and imaginative pretend play
Cartridge alignment is part of the redesign
A genuine cartridge slot must hold a Game Boy cartridge at the correct depth and align its contacts with the custom board. The LEGO shell has to provide clearance and structural support without forcing the cartridge against the brick-built enclosure. This is why the project is more than fitting a screen into a toy: the board, slot, controls, display and power system all have to coexist in a space designed originally for static decoration.
Is this really Nintendo hardware?
Yes, with an important qualification. Build A Boy is described as using authentic DMG, SGB or MGB Game Boy-family CPUs on a new custom PCB. It is not an untouched original Game Boy motherboard transplanted into LEGO bricks. “Genuine Nintendo hardware” accurately describes the salvaged console chips; the display, charging circuitry, board layout and mechanical interfaces are modern replacement parts.
That architecture is different from emulation. A modern emulator reproduces Game Boy behavior in software on unrelated hardware. The stated Build A Boy design instead runs the original console family’s CPU and memory architecture, preserving the constraints and behavior of the vintage platform while adding a new screen and power system. It also means sourcing donor chips and reproducing the original electrical requirements is harder than installing a small single-board computer.
Rank #3
- HIT THE GROUND RUNNING – Kids speed into action with the LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic: Speedster Lightning (77117) building toy for boys and girls ages 7 years old and up
- GAMING-INSPIRED CAR TOY – Builders can construct Sonic's sleek race car from the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds console video game, featuring a blue-and-white color scheme, wide red-rimmed tires and an opening hood that reveals a hidden Chaos Emerald gem
- SONIC MINIFIGURE & ACCESSORIES – Includes a Sonic minifigure with mischievous face decoration and 3 Gold Ring accessories so kids can race around and collect rings
- INTERACTIVE FEATURES – Kids can open the hood to reveal the hidden Chaos Emerald gem, then place Sonic behind the wheel for fast-action pretend play
- GIFT FOR BOYS & GIRLS – Makes a fun birthday gift or anytime present for kids who love Sonic toys, racing cars and video game characters
Can it play real cartridges?
The design target is genuine cartridge play, not a preloaded ROM or a looping video. Natalie’s prototype was shown booting a Game Boy title, and the later Build A Boy page specifies original Game Boy cartridge support. Tom’s Hardware noted that the earliest video showed a game booting but did not establish complete gameplay with every external control; the controls were still under development at that stage. Read the distinction as follows:
- The prototype demonstrated a real Game Boy boot or game screen.
- The hardware was designed around an actual cartridge slot.
- The first public version had unfinished control integration.
- The later Build A Boy project describes a more complete planned kit, not a shipped retail unit.
Build A Boy is also described as supporting the backward-compatible subset of Game Boy Color software that runs on compatible original Game Boy hardware. It is not a full Game Boy Color console, and it does not support Game Boy Advance cartridges.
What Build A Boy is planned to include
The following features come from the Build A Boy prelaunch specification, not from an independently verified production shipment:
Rank #4
- DEFEND THE CHICKEN FARM – LEGO Minecraft Chicken Farm (21585) building toy for boys and girls ages 7 years old and up features a chicken-shaped coop with movable wings, opening gate and fun gaming-inspired details
- 4 MINECRAFT TOY FIGURES – Includes a Chicken Fan minifigure, plus a baby zombie (who likes to ride the chicken), fox, cold chicken and a baby chicken
- GAMING-INSPIRED FUNCTIONS – The giant chicken-shaped coop lays eggs at the rear and dispenses seed from its mouth into a container, which tilts forward when the chickens need food
- CREATIVE STORYTELLING POSSIBILITIES – Young players can help the Chicken Fan care for the chickens while fending off a fox trying to eat the cold chicken and a baby zombie trying to hitch a ride
- ACCESSORIES FOR PRETEND PLAY – Features torches, hay, a smoker stove, 2 eggs, 2 lots of seeds, a chicken leg, feather and an axe
| Feature | Planned specification |
|---|---|
| Base model | LEGO Game Boy set 72046; LEGO set not included |
| CPU options | DMG, SGB or MGB Game Boy-family CPUs |
| Cartridges | Original Game Boy cartridges and compatible Game Boy Color software; no Game Boy Advance cartridges |
| Display | 2.73-inch, 320×320 backlit TFT with integer scaling and color palettes |
| Battery | 800 mAh Li-Po cell |
| Charging | USB Type-C charging |
| PCB size | 52×42 mm (about 2.04×1.65 inches) |
| Expansion | Optional link port and video-out functionality |
| Open materials | Schematics, screen-driver software and bill of materials intended for CC BY-SA 4.0 release after production begins |
The project page does not, as of August 18, 2026, show a final price, shipping date, assembly service, warranty or completed safety-certification details. “Launching soon” means it is a prelaunch project, not an orderable finished console.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the power system changed
Natalie’s early prototype was wired for USB-C power. The planned kit adds an 800 mAh rechargeable Li-Po battery and USB-C charging circuitry. Those are different claims: a USB-C-powered prototype is not necessarily a battery-powered handheld, and a custom USB-C implementation should not be assumed to work with every charger without the appropriate protection and resistor or power-negotiation design.
Anyone building a battery version should use the specified protected charging design, avoid puncturing or bending the cell, verify polarity, and never leave a homemade Li-Po device charging unattended. The official page does not yet establish whether the eventual kit will include the battery or require the builder to source one.
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- Buildable display model of a Super Mario Piranha Plant (71426) – Enjoy a building adventure as you capture the finer details of an iconic character from the Super Mario universe in LEGO style
- Create iconic poses – Pose the head, mouth, stalk and leaves of the Super Mario Piranha Plant figure
- Buildable pipe – Place the Piranha Plant in the brick-built pipe. The set also includes 2 coins
- Build and display – This LEGO Super Mario character will look great on display and makes a great addition to anyone's Super Mario brothers toy collection
- Gift for gamers – This 540-piece LEGO building set makes a fun birthday present, holiday gift or special treat for Super Mario fans and anyone with a passion for gaming
Project timeline
- July 24, 2025: Natalie posted the idea after LEGO revealed its Game Boy set.
- October 1, 2025: LEGO’s set officially launched.
- October 2, 2025: Her first build post detailed the MGB CPU, custom PCB, replacement display, USB-C power and unfinished controls.
- November 28, 2025: She published a Build A Boy development update.
- December 18, 2025: She reported receiving PCBs and assembling an early beta with her screen driver.
- March 21, 2026: She announced video-out development and a Crowd Supply prelaunch page.
- August 18, 2026: Crowd Supply still listed Build A Boy as “launching soon.”
The continuing updates matter because the viral October prototype and the later named kit represent different development stages. Natalie’s build reports are collected on her blog; the original technical post is I turned the Lego Game Boy into a working Game Boy.
Can you buy one now?
The LEGO base set
The official 72046 set is the immediately available component. LEGO listed it at $59.99 in the United States on August 18, 2026. It is still a nonfunctional display model and is the required shell for Build A Boy.
Build A Boy
The Crowd Supply project page lists Build A Boy as “launching soon.” No final price or shipping date is shown there, so readers cannot yet buy a confirmed, turnkey kit through that page. Expect a project aimed at people comfortable with soldering, donor hardware, PCB assembly and 3D-printed mechanical parts rather than an ordinary LEGO afternoon build.
BrickBoy is a separate solution
BrickBoy is marketed separately as a plug-and-play add-on that adds light, sound and digital play to the LEGO Game Boy. Its available description does not establish that it uses authentic Nintendo chips or supports original cartridges. It should therefore not be presented as equivalent to Build A Boy; choose it only if its manufacturer’s final documentation confirms the features you require.
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- Good fit: experienced solderers, Game Boy repair enthusiasts, LEGO builders willing to alter a collectible, and makers who can inspect PCBs and print or fabricate mechanical parts.
- Poor fit: buyers expecting plug-and-play functionality, anyone needing full Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance support, collectors unwilling to remove or relocate LEGO pieces, and beginners without electronics or Li-Po experience.
Modifying the shell may prevent an easy return to display-only condition. Before cutting or removing bricks, decide whether preserving the original collectible matters more than having a functional handheld.
What “playable” means here
The strongest accurate claim is that Natalie built a prototype around genuine Game Boy-family hardware and real-cartridge support, then developed that work into a planned Build A Boy kit. The first public unit showed the system running a Game Boy screen, but its button integration was still being refined. The later specification describes the components needed for a more complete handheld; it does not turn a $59.99 LEGO set into a console by itself.
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