There’s something magical happening at the intersection of childhood nostalgia and modern maker culture, where plastic bricks are being transformed into functional gaming consoles. The recent emergence of not one, but two competing upgrade kits for Lego’s decorative Game Boy set reveals a fascinating philosophical divide in the retro gaming community. On one side stands Natalie the Nerd with her authentic Nintendo chip approach, while on the other, the BrickBoy team champions emulation-based convenience. This isn’t just about playing games—it’s about what authenticity means in an increasingly digital world.
Natalie’s Build A Boy kit represents the purist’s dream, a remarkable feat of engineering that somehow squeezes genuine Nintendo hardware into a plastic brick shell. The idea of harvesting chips from Game Boy Pocket systems and creating a custom circuit board smaller than a standard cartridge feels like technological alchemy. There’s a certain romance to using the actual components that powered our childhood gaming sessions, even if it means sacrificing some Game Boy Pockets to the cause. The $99 price tag seems almost reasonable when you consider the technical achievement involved—this isn’t just playing games, it’s preserving history through physical components.
Meanwhile, the BrickBoy kit takes a more pragmatic approach, embracing emulation to deliver functionality without the ethical dilemma of cannibalizing vintage hardware. Their three-tiered offering—from basic grayscale gameplay to full Game Boy Advance compatibility—shows an understanding of different user needs and budgets. The inclusion of Bluetooth connectivity and rechargeable batteries in their higher-end models acknowledges that modern gamers expect modern conveniences, even when playing retro titles. Their Kickstarter launch strategy suggests they’re aiming for broader appeal rather than niche collector interest.
The timing of these competing launches creates an interesting dynamic in the maker community. Natalie’s partnership with Crowd Supply, typically home to more technical projects, positions her kit as a serious modding endeavor. Meanwhile, BrickBoy’s Kickstarter approach feels more consumer-friendly and accessible. Both solutions require no soldering, making them approachable for Lego enthusiasts who might not consider themselves electronics experts, yet they cater to fundamentally different philosophies about what makes retro gaming special.
What fascinates me most about this development is what it says about our relationship with physical objects in a digital age. The Lego Game Boy was always meant to be a display piece—a tribute to gaming history rendered in plastic bricks. These mods transform it from static artifact to living technology, bridging the gap between collectible and functional device. They answer a question many of us didn’t know we had: what if the toys we build could actually do the things they represent? It’s the difference between having a model car and one that actually drives.
As we look toward 2026, when Natalie’s kit is scheduled to launch, and October 28th for BrickBoy’s Kickstarter, we’re witnessing more than just a product race. We’re seeing two different visions for the future of retro gaming preservation collide. One champions authenticity through original hardware, the other accessibility through modern emulation. Both approaches have merit, and both speak to different aspects of why we cherish these old systems. Perhaps the real winner here isn’t either company, but the community that now has multiple ways to bring their plastic brick Game Boys to life, proving that sometimes the most interesting innovations happen when we refuse to accept that something is just for display.
About the Author
