It is a truly wonderful time to be someone who loves both video games and Lego. It might not seem surprising that the worlds of digital gaming and Danish brick-building toys are merging so completely. In fact, the group of people who enjoy one usually loves the other. It is actually a bit surprising that this partnership took so long to fully develop. Lego first started using licensed brands back in 1999 with Star Wars. Following that timeline, it took about twenty-five years for video game-inspired sets to really become popular in the Lego world.
The growth has been steady. The first time video games crossed over into Lego bricks is a bit unclear, depending on how you define it. A figure from the classic computer game Lego Island was created very early, even before the Star Wars partnership. Then, within the Star Wars theme, there was a set in 2007 based on the video game The Force Unleashed. However, the first major breakthrough did not happen until 2012. That year, a Minecraft set was released through the Lego Ideas theme. The blocky style of Minecraft matched Lego perfectly, proving that video game sets could be a huge success.
Lego has not slowed down since that moment. In the last few years, there has been an explosion of new themes. We have seen more Minecraft sets, along with Mario, Sonic, Overwatch, Horizon, Fortnite, Animal Crossing, Pac-Man, and Zelda. There are even hardware sets, both official and generic. The newest addition is, of course, Pokémon. In February, several sets targeting adults were launched. These are massive, mega-priced sets aimed at thirty-something fans feeling nostalgic, hitting them as hard as a Hyper Beam attack.
Basically, all of this shows that Lego’s commitment to gaming is now absolute. It feels like a match made in heaven. The relationship used to be one-way, with successful Lego video games, but now it is matched by equally successful video game Lego sets. However, there are some challenges Lego must solve as it moves further into the gaming space.
The main issue discussed recently is the pricing. This conversation was sparked by a Pokémon set that will sell for a staggering £580. This price puts it comfortably among the top ten most expensive and largest Lego builds ever made. It is, to be fair, incredibly expensive. However, I am hopeful about how the rest of the Pokémon theme will turn out. We know from retailer leaks that there is more coming in the Pokémon theme. I expect the sets that have not been revealed yet will likely be much more sensible and, inevitably, more kid-friendly.
If you look at Star Wars, which has similar cross-generational appeal to Pokémon, the sets always vary in price. Historically, you could get a simple X-Wing playset for as little as £25, while others have cost hundreds of pounds. The same is true for sets like the Millennium Falcon. Over time, Pokémon will likely follow this pattern. The eye-poppingly expensive sets are for the most hardcore collectors. For a franchise like Pokémon, where rare trading cards sell for five figures or more, everyone knows that audience exists.
Some of Lego’s best work in gaming exists in the lower price brackets, though. Two recent sets really show this off. The £55 Game Boy replica, which comes with a couple of game cartridges, looks alarmingly accurate. It is a delightfully entertaining build and hits nostalgia in all the right ways. There are even upcoming unofficial kits that let you turn the brick-built Game Boy into a working console.
In a similar vein, there is the Arcade Machine. This set is generically branded but crafted with love. It is an interesting example for showing the cost of licensing. This cute little machine does not evoke a specific arcade classic but rather the general look and feel of eighties cabinets. With no licensing costs attached, it contains more pieces than the Game Boy but retails for £20 less.
I also think Lego Sonic has been delightful in its rollout. These are simple playsets at kid-friendly price brackets, ranging from as cheap as £9 up to £60. There are no techy gimmicks in sight. This is not to disparage Lego Mario entirely. I see the value in its tech-driven play, especially for modern kids who might struggle to keep interest in toys that do not give something interactive back. However, there is a delightful purity to the Sonic sets. I enjoy how they are not tied to any particular Sonic era or continuity. Each set is simply a broad celebration of the series and its characters, as they should be.
Anyway, all of this is to say that, aside from the chatter about high prices or the necessity of gimmicks, it is clear that video games have become a firm part of Lego’s portfolio. It is just like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Like gaming’s resurgence in Hollywood, this is a sign of the times. It shows that we eighties and nineties kids are getting older, we have disposable income, and we have kids of our own. Gaming has become a properly embedded part of the culture, rather than a fringe hobby that gets side-eyed by ‘proper’ entertainment. You love to see it.
As someone who truly loves Lego and video games, I am excited. Even if that big Pokémon set is far too rich for my blood, what I see is that we are just a few short weeks into 2026. We have already had the Pokémon announcement and a new Lego Zelda leak. The year surely holds more promise of even more reveals. As that happens, I expect we will be doing a lot more about Lego here. I honestly could not be more thrilled.
