5 Must-Have LEGO Sets for Gamers This Holiday Season
Five gaming-inspired LEGO gifts for Pokémon trainers, arcade fans and Nintendo collectors, plus a more affordable Game Boy bonus.
By TechCravers · 12 November 2026
Buying a Christmas present for a gamer can be surprisingly tricky. They may already own the games they want, and choosing accessories can mean navigating a minefield of personal preferences. A LEGO set inspired by a favorite game or console offers something different: a project for the holidays and a display they can enjoy afterward.
These are six sets I would put on my gaming Christmas wishlist.
The picks
6 recommendations
For the Pokémon storytellerLEGO
LEGO Pokémon Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball
The Poké Ball is instantly recognizable, but the appeal here goes well beyond its red-and-white shell. Open it and you reveal a battle scene below and Professor Oak’s laboratory above, with Red, Picnicker, Professor Oak, Eevee and Pikachu bringing the miniature world to life. The 2,386-piece model can be displayed open or closed. I like this as a Christmas pick for someone whose Pokémon attachment is as much about the journey as the creatures. It gives a gaming shelf a little scene to explore, rather than another isolated character. At $299.99, though, it is a substantial present, so make sure Pokémon is their thing.
USD 299.99
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For hands-on arcade nostalgiaLEGO
LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade
Some gaming gifts look great and then spend the rest of their lives untouched. Donkey Kong Arcade has a stronger invitation to fiddle. Its brick-built level includes Jumpman, Donkey Kong and Lady, while a lever releases barrels, a joystick moves Jumpman and a button makes him jump. The barrel mechanism circulates them in a continuous loop. That makes this an appealing choice for the gamer who wants moving parts as well as a display. The 1,367-piece set costs $199.99. I would lean toward this one for someone who gets as excited about a clever physical mechanism as a familiar character.
USD 199.99
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The big Christmas splurgeLEGO
LEGO Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard & Blastoise
If the brief is a Christmas present with serious presence, this is the extravagant option. Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise brings three Kanto favorites together in a 6,838-piece display. Each creature has posable elements and its own environment, with jungle, volcano and beach bases that connect into a shared battleground. The figures can also stand separately. I would reserve this for a committed Pokémon collector rather than someone who simply likes Pikachu. At $649.99, it demands a generous budget, and the recipient should actually want a project of this scale. The separate display options are especially appealing if their collection changes position regularly.
USD 649.99
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For the arcade roomLEGO
LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade
PAC-MAN Arcade is the pick I would put on a shortlist for someone building a retro gaming corner. Its yellow cabinet, joystick and illuminated coin slot capture the arcade aesthetic, while turning a handle animates the mechanical maze. The set also includes a miniature arcade scene and rotating PAC-MAN, BLINKY and CLYDE figures. This is a 2,651-piece display model, not a functioning video game. LEGO’s US page lists $269.99 but currently shows it as sold out. That makes it a gift to investigate early rather than leave until December, especially if you want to avoid paying more simply because Christmas is approaching.
USD 269.99
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For the Nintendo collectorLEGO
LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System
The LEGO NES recreates an entire little gaming setup: console, wired controller, cartridge and an old-fashioned television. The cartridge fits into an opening slot, and turning the TV’s handle scrolls a Super Mario Bros. scene. Those physical details make it an especially tempting present for a Nintendo collector. There is an important shopping catch: LEGO lists this 2,646-piece set as retired. The $269.99 shown on its US page is a reference, not a verified offer you can buy today. I would keep it on the wishlist, but compare any remaining-stock or resale listing carefully before paying a collector’s premium.
USD 269.99
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Bonus: the more affordable pickLEGO
LEGO Game Boy — Bonus Budget Pick
Here is the bonus for anyone whose Christmas budget does not stretch to a giant display. At $59.99, the 421-piece Game Boy is comfortably below the other sets’ official reference prices. The near-life-size replica includes pressable controls, a display stand, interchangeable Link’s Awakening and Super Mario Land cartridges, and lenticular screens. For me, that is a lovely balance of recognizable hardware and a manageable gift budget. It also makes sense for someone who loves handhelds but has limited display space. Just keep expectations clear: this is a model with no light, sound or digital gameplay, rather than another handheld to add to the charging pile.
USD 59.99
View detailsFor the Pokémon storyteller
LEGO Pokémon Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball
LEGO · 72154
USD 299.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
Choose this for a Pokémon fan who enjoys scene building and discovering small details. The opening design is the reason I would pick it over a straightforward Poké Ball ornament.
What we like
- Opens to reveal two Pokémon scenes
- Open or closed display options
Worth considering
- Premium price
- Set number
- 72154
- Pieces
- 2,386
- Recommended age
- 18+
LEGO US listed $299.99 and available now on November 12, 2026.
Back to the picksFor hands-on arcade nostalgia
LEGO Super Mario Donkey Kong Arcade
LEGO · 72051
USD 199.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
Pick it for an arcade fan who likes to interact with their collectibles. Check the planned display space: the finished model is over 39 cm tall.
What we like
- Working barrel circulation mechanism
- Joystick and jump-button interaction
Worth considering
- Tall display needs suitable shelf clearance
- Set number
- 72051
- Pieces
- 1,367
- Recommended age
- 18+
LEGO US listed $199.99 and available now on November 12, 2026.
Back to the picksThe big Christmas splurge
LEGO Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard & Blastoise
LEGO · 72153
USD 649.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
For the adult Pokémon fan who wants a centerpiece and a substantial build. Ask about space before making this the big surprise under the tree.
What we like
- Three posable Pokémon
- Connected or separate display options
Worth considering
- Very expensive
- Large building commitment
- Set number
- 72153
- Pieces
- 6,838
- Recommended age
- 18+
LEGO US listed $649.99 and available now on November 12, 2026.
Back to the picksFor the arcade room
LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade
LEGO · 10323
USD 269.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
Choose it for a PAC-MAN enthusiast who loves the cabinet aesthetic. Confirm an actual seller and total price before committing; the official listing does not guarantee availability.
What we like
- Mechanical maze animation
- Illuminated coin slot
Worth considering
- Sold out at LEGO US when checked
- Does not play the video game
- Set number
- 10323
- Pieces
- 2,651
- Recommended age
- 18+
LEGO US listed $269.99 but sold out on November 12, 2026.
Back to the picksFor the Nintendo collector
LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System
LEGO · 71374
USD 269.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
For the NES devotee, provided you can find a sensible offer. With a used set, confirm completeness and the scrolling mechanism’s condition before buying it as a gift.
What we like
- Console, controller, cartridge and TV display
- Handle-operated scrolling scene
Worth considering
- Retired product
- Current purchase price not verified
- Set number
- 71374
- Pieces
- 2,646
- Recommended age
- 18+
Retired at LEGO US. Page displays $269.99 as a historical reference; no current purchasable offer verified.
Back to the picksBonus: the more affordable pick
LEGO Game Boy — Bonus Budget Pick
LEGO · 72046
USD 59.99
Price checked 2026-11-12
My pick for a smaller Christmas present, particularly for a handheld collector or Nintendo fan. The Zelda cartridge gives it an extra hook for Link’s Awakening devotees.
What we like
- Lower reference price than the main five
- Interchangeable cartridges and screens
Worth considering
- No digital gameplay, light or sound
- Set number
- 72046
- Pieces
- 421
- Recommended age
- 18+
LEGO US listed $59.99 and available now on November 12, 2026.
Back to the picksChoose the memory that matters
The most useful clue is already on their gaming shelf. A Pokémon collection points toward the Poké Ball or the ambitious Kanto trio; an arcade obsession makes Donkey Kong and PAC-MAN tempting. For a Nintendo hardware fan, the NES has obvious appeal if you can find it at a sensible price.
My more affordable pick is the Game Boy. It taps into the same nostalgia without requiring the budget or building commitment of the bigger sets. Whatever you choose, match the gift to their favorite gaming memories and the space they actually have.