Nerds of a certain age (like me) will remember the interest and excitement of the original Nintendo Game Boy launch. I actually owned one of those big grey bricks and loved it (at least until my Dad discovered Tetris and I never saw it again.) The strength of the retro market points to the enduring power of the Game Boy branding. Unsurprising, then, that the launch of the Lego Game Boy should result in an outpouring of nostalgic delight.
However, one person looked beyond the joy of clipping little blocks together and saw untapped potential. A hobbyist called Natalie thought they could improve the Lego Game Boy could by turning it into an actual working handheld console, so she set out to do just that with great success.
Natalie began the project before the Lego Game Boy was even available for purchase. Working from press release images, she carefully examined pre-release images and planned out the best way to proceed.
Fortunately, she had a great deal of experience in designing, routing, and modding Game Boy PCBs. As a result, Natalie had all the knowledge of exactly how much space she would need, and how much flexibility she would have in terms of component placement.
— natalie (@natalie_thenerd) October 1, 2025
The Lego Game Boy has a slot at the back designed to accept a fake cartridge, which proved to be an excellent starting point for Natalie. Once the Lego Game Boy arrived, she removed the cartridge slot and screen inserts. This provided enough space for a modern LCD screen along with the PCB.
Face buttons and D-pad are pressable on the Lego Game Boy, meaning Natalie didn’t have to swap them out. Instead, she was able to connect them to the PCB, for truly playable Lego components.
Though the Lego Game Boy is now in a working state, Natalie has other ideas on how to improve it further. Upon the project’s completion, she plans to release all files relating to the build so that others can follow in her wake.
I look forward to seeing this Lego Game Boy take its final form as well as other bundles of bricks undergo similar transformations. Had I the time I’d follow in Natalie’s footsteps, but I think I’ll stick with my Steam Deck for the moment.
