It’s finally official: LEGO has announced a set based on the classic Donkey Kong arcade cabinet. After a leak or two, LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade is officially scheduled for release on August 1, with a price tag of $199.99. You can see it at the LEGO Store here.
LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade
- Release Date: August 1, 2026
- MSRP: $199.99
- Pieces: 1,367
- Ages: 18+
- Set #: 72051
LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade is comprised of 1,367 pieces and contains many moving parts. Because of the retro subject matter and the complexity of the build, LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade is aimed at the 18+ age bracket, making it one of the many LEGO sets for adults.
Once assembled, it becomes an interactive game that looks remarkably like the original arcade cabinet. It has the big Donkey Kong logo at the top and character images on all four corners of the “display.” There’s a barrel-release lever below, along with a joystick and Jump button. The screen depicts a remarkable (if slightly simplified) re-creation of the game’s first level, complete with Donkey Kong, Lady, and Jumpman on a construction site. It even has a flaming oil drum and hammer power-ups.
It’s also interactive. You can pull the lever to release a barrel (there are 21 in the set), sending it rolling down through the level. Just like in the real game, you can use the joystick to move Jumpman, and press the button to make him jump. There’s even a behind-the-set mechanism you build that moves the barrels at the bottom back to the top. It’s pretty ingenious.
The Donkey Kong arcade game originally came out in 1981. It was a huge hit, and a precursor to the Mario series we know now. The hero is an early version of Mario, known as Jumpman, and the damsel in distress is an early version of Pauline, known as Lady. To my delicate sensibility, the whole thing gives otherworldly “early Simpsons” vibes, as the characters would evolve in later Nintendo games. But it’s great to see this piece of history get such a cool LEGO set of its own.
This is the latest in a long line of LEGO Nintendo sets. I hope to see many more in the future.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.