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We Got a Closer Look at the LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Set at SDCC | Comic Con 2026
LEGO has unveiled its Donkey Kong Arcade Machine set ahead of its 1 August release, with IGN examining it hands-on at San Diego Comic-Con. The set recreates the original arcade game’s action through moving mechanisms, making it both a display piece and a playable brick-built tribute to Nintendo’s early classic.
The $199.99, 1,371-piece model stands more than 15 inches tall, over 10 inches wide and about 5.5 inches deep. It includes 21 barrels in a reloadable loop, a lever to release them, a joystick to move Jumpman towards a hammer, and a button that makes him jump; it also depicts Donkey Kong, Jumpman and Lady, later known as Pauline.
In short
- LEGO’s interactive Donkey Kong arcade set launches on 1 August.
- It has 1,371 pieces and costs $199.99.
- Moving controls recreate key elements of the original game.
Explained simply
Donkey Kong is an arcade game from 1981 created by Nintendo. The game features a character named Jumpman navigating platforms whilst dodging barrels thrown by an ape to rescue a woman called Lady, and it became hugely influential in the early development of video gaming as a form of entertainment.
LEGO has created a buildable replica of the original Donkey Kong arcade cabinet. Rather than being purely decorative, the set includes interactive elements such as a lever to release barrels, a joystick to control the character, and a button to trigger jumps, which enable recreation of the game's basic gameplay in physical form.
Donkey Kong has an established fanbase among gaming enthusiasts and historians, whilst LEGO sets appeal to collectors and builders. The combination appeals to fans of both, offering an interactive take on a game that was important to arcade gaming's early history.