We may have our next entry in the Lego x Nintendo retro collaboration on the horizon. A single leaked photo of a boxed set has surfaced on Reddit, and Donkey Kong looks to be the subject—allegedly as an LCD-free, brick-built arcade cabinet that would join the ranks of past Lego arcade efforts. Take this with a pinch of salt, but if true this would be another premium, nostalgia-forward set aimed at collectors.
What Was Reported
According to Kotaku, a Reddit post shared an image of a box for a new Lego build based on the classic Donkey Kong arcade cabinet. The Reddit post claims two headline items: availability in August and a price of $200. Kotaku reports the image suggests the set will offer a simplified, Lego-ified recreation of the original arcade machine rather than a fully mechanical, playable game.
The leaked box image appears to show:
- Buildable, movable joystick and functional buttons.
- A “screen” mostly rendered in plastic bricks, featuring ladders, barrel hazards, and hammer power-ups.
- A design that looks neater and simpler than the previously released Pac-Man Lego arcade cabinet.
Kotaku notes the Donkey Kong set is reported to have 1,367 pieces, considerably fewer than the earlier Pac-Man cabinet, which was reported at 2,651 pieces. The Pac-Man set was priced at $270 and, once assembled, included mechanical features such as a crank to move characters and rotating larger figure elements that changed color to represent power-ups—details that the Donkey Kong leak does not appear to match.
The Source & Credibility
We’re sourcing this entirely from Kotaku’s coverage of the Reddit leak. Kotaku reports the image and the August/price claims came from that Reddit post. This is a single-image leak, so the information is thin by nature: there’s no official confirmation from Lego or Nintendo presented in the leak itself.
Because the claim rests on one posted photo and the poster’s assertions about availability and price, we should remain skeptical. Kotaku frames the information as a leak rather than a confirmed product listing, and I’ll echo that caution: treat the August timing and the $200 price as reported claims rather than confirmed facts until either company confirms them.
What It Could Mean
If the leak is genuine, this would be another clear example of Lego leaning into retro gaming nostalgia with a collaboration tied to Nintendo. Kotaku highlights a few likely implications if the set matches the leaked box:
- Affordability For Collectors: Kotaku points out that, at the reported $200, the set would still be far cheaper than trying to source an original Donkey Kong arcade cabinet—something retro collectors often consider when weighing replica builds versus originals.
- Aesthetic Over Mechanism: With roughly 1,367 pieces, the Donkey Kong set appears more compact and visually focused than the larger Pac-Man cabinet. Kotaku suggests the Donkey Kong build reads more like a display piece than a mechanically faithful playable recreation; the joystick and buttons may move a Lego Mario across the screen, but the box doesn’t seem big enough for the complex mechanical systems used in the Pac-Man build.
- Design Choices: Rendering ladders, barrels, and hammer power-ups in brick form would keep the set faithful to the look of the 1981 arcade game while staying within Lego’s design language—again, per Kotaku’s description of the leaked image.
Why This Matters
Whether you’re a Lego fan, a Nintendo collector, or someone who likes neat nostalgia pieces, this leak is notable for a few reasons. First, it would expand the visible roster of Lego’s retro-arcade offerings and show a continued partnership-style focus between Lego and Nintendo. Second, the reported $200 price point—if accurate—frames a continuing trend of premium pricing for nostalgia-driven sets, though Kotaku reminds readers that such a price can still represent value compared to the real hardware.
Finally, this leak highlights the different directions Lego can take with similar concepts: the Pac-Man cabinet was mechanically ambitious and larger, while the leaked Donkey Kong box looks to favor a smaller, more display-friendly build. That design decision, if accurate, will shape whether collectors treat this as a toy to play with or a shelf showpiece.
We’ll be watching for confirmation from Lego or Nintendo, and will update when more verifiable information appears. For now, enjoy speculating—and remember to take a single leaked photo and claimed availability with a healthy dose of skepticism.
