We Got a Closer Look at the LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Set at SDCC | Comic Con 2026

Earlier this week (after a mates of leaks), the LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Machine acceptable was officially revealed. Releasing August 1, it's yet different impressively elaborate and amazingly interactive licensed build. With San Diego Comic-Con successful afloat swing, I had the accidental to halt by LEGO's booth to get an up adjacent and hands-on look with the upcoming set.

On archetypal approach, I was instantly drawn successful by however large it is successful person. It's made up of 1,371 pieces, and from the apical of the "Donkey Kong" motion to the bottommost of the basal is implicit 15 inches tall. It's besides implicit 10 inches wide and astir 5.5 inches deep, which whitethorn marque it pugnacious to show connected a shelf, but you'll apt privation to support it useful aft playing with its interactive components.

The NES and CRTV acceptable had 1 of the astir robust and clever uses of LEGO bricks I've ever seen. You crook a crank connected the broadside of the physique to determination the surface and marque Mario leap astir World 1-1. LEGO adept Kevin Wong built this acceptable erstwhile it archetypal released if you privation to instrumentality a highest nether the hood astatine the mechanics down it. The LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade physique has akin features, and I was capable to get a consciousness for however it each works.

There are 3 antithetic interactive functions. First, you tin propulsion a lever connected the near of the arcade furniture to person DK deploy barrels down the scaffolding. Then you tin usage the mediate joystick to determination Jumpman person towards the hammer power-up. Finally, connected the close broadside of the instrumentality is the leap button, which makes Jumpman execute his namesake, sending the tube down to the bottom. When utilizing the acceptable with some hands (which I wasn't capable to since I was filming), you'll beryllium capable to prosecute successful a comparatively adjacent – if constricted – one-to-one recreation of the classical arcade game.

The acceptable comes with 21 barrels, but it's cleverly designed to reload them from the bottommost erstwhile you propulsion the lever, creating an infinite loop. I profoundly admit the information that the acceptable doesn't fell its mechanics connected the back, and alternatively opts for wide bricks to amusement the tube reload function. I emotion being capable to spot conscionable however each the pieces travel unneurotic to execute specified an awesome effect.

In presumption of the plan of the acceptable arsenic a whole, you'll get an highly elaborate instauration of a accepted Donkey Kong level, implicit with bricks representing DK, Jumpman, and Lady (as Pauline was known arsenic astatine the time). There aren't immoderate accepted minifigures, but I ever admit bespoke ceramic designs and caller colors connected classical pieces. I wasn't capable to archer if the quality portraits connected the 4 corners of the surface were stickers oregon printed bricks, but they're inactive a amusive item nonetheless. The brick-built "Donkey Kong" motion is different amusive addition, but I tin spot that becoming a spot of a nuisance erstwhile trying to show connected a shelf. Luckily, each letter's attachment points are casual to entree and speedy to remove, truthful that's an enactment if you're debased connected space.

Overall, I'm highly impressed by however good this acceptable functions. The interactive mechanics are creaseless and responsive, and from a plan standpoint is simply a beauteous recreation of the classical arcade instrumentality with a painterly colour strategy that volition surely basal retired connected display. It makes for a large physique for some big LEGO fans and gamers alike, and you tin beryllium definite I'm going to beryllium archetypal successful enactment to prime 1 of these up erstwhile it comes out.

The LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade acceptable comes retired August 1 and volition outgo $199.99. You tin preorder it present straight done Amazon oregon LEGO.

Myles Obenza is simply a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him connected Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.