October’s a big month for Lego gaming tie-ins, which have really ramped up in 2026. Chief among the big drops are the Lego PlayStation (72306) and Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball (72154), but any self-respecting gamer should already have a handful of other sets on their shelves.

Ahead of next week’s launches, here are seven absolutely cracking Lego sets you should look at getting. Spoiler alert: you’ll have to go through third-party sellers to get the vast majority of these, because the curse of retirement has struck. As is tradition, I’m saving the best till last.

Lego SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis Console (40926)

Pieces: 479 RRP: $39.99 (£34.99; €39.99) Dimensions: Over 1.5in (4cm) tall, 6in (16cm) wide, 4.5in (12cm) deep Minifigures: None Release date: June 1, 2026 Availability: Available now

It’s not for everyone, but the Lego Sega Genesis/Mega Drive is only $40 , and is about as faithful to the mk1 console as its scale allows. Its controllers are a little limited, especially with their towering buttons and simple form factor, but the details are there — including a delightful, hidden Sonic under the hood.

Lego Arcade Machine (40805)

Pieces: 468 RRP: $39.99 (£34.99; €39.99) Dimensions: Over 6in (16cm) tall, 4in (11cm) wide, 3in (8cm) deep Minifigures: 1 (gamer) Release date: August 1, 2025 Availability: Available now

As the only non-branded addition to this list, the Lego Arcade Machine (40805) makes the list for two reasons. Firstly, it’s an incredibly detailed and rewarding build with plenty of gubbins inside, and it looks great on any shelf.

Secondly, you can get aftermarket stickers, as my friend proved with his Streets of Rage treatment to celebrate one of his favorite games of all time.

Lego The Legend of Zelda Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 (77092)

Pieces: 2,500 RRP: $299.99 (£259.99; €299.99) Dimensions: Breath of the Wild version measures 12.2in (31cm) tall and 13in (33cm) wide; Ocarina of Time version measures 13in (33cm) tall and 8.3in (21cm) wide Minifigures: 4 (two versions of Link, Young Link, and Princess Zelda) Release date: September 1, 2024 Availability: Retired July 2026

Personally, the Legend of Zelda Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 (77092) set never quite justified a place on my shelves, mainly because it came in at 12 cents a brick. Still, you can’t argue with its quality and two-way design — and it’s marginally better-looking as a display piece than The Final Battle (77093) , which is also pricey.

Lego Nintendo Entertainment System (71374)

Pieces: 2,646 RRP: $229.99 (£209.99; €229.99) Dimensions: TV measures 8.9in (22.5cm) tall, 9.3in (23.5cm) wide, 6.3in (16cm) deep; NES measures 4in (10cm) tall, 8in (20.5cm) wide, 10.2in (26cm) deep Minifigures: None; includes a brick-built 8-bit Mario figure Release date: August 1, 2020 Availability: Retired December 2024

This is the first Lego set I ever wrote about , and it would kick off a blockbuster partnership between the Danes and Nintendo — one so good that it underpins a lot of this list. The Lego NES (71374) is a genius feat of design, between its loading cartridges and scrolling TV.

This may have struggled to sell; its four-and-a-half-year availability window speaks volumes, especially when the Tallneck was benched after just 18 months. I bought this on release — there wasn’t much else to do during COVID-19 — but it’s still on my pile of shame six years later.

Lego Icons Atari 2600 (10306)

Pieces: 2,532 RRP: $239.99 (£209.99; €239.99) Dimensions: 3.1in (8cm) tall, 12in (33cm) wide, 8.6in (22cm) deep Minifigures: 1 (1980s gamer) Release date: August 1, 2022 Availability: Retired December 2024

I know the NES was way more popular than the Atari 2600, and this has much more niche appeal among gamers, but the Icons 10306 build is beautiful and a phenomenally faithful recreation of the console and joystick, throwing in a pop-up 80s gamer bedroom for good measure.

It also includes three brick-built game vignettes based on Asteroids , Adventure and Centipede , plus their cartridges, which can be stored in a little rack. Marvelous stuff.

Lego Pokémon Eevee (72151)

Pieces: 587 RRP: $59.99 (£54.99; €59.99) Dimensions: Over 7.5in (19cm) tall, 6in (15cm) wide, 8.5in (21cm) deep Minifigures: None; includes a posable brick-built Eevee with movable head, legs, feet, ears and tail Release date: February 27, 2026 Availability: Available now

The bigger builds in the initial Pokémon Lego drop may’ve stolen the show, but the $60 Eevee (72151) is by far the best , and arguably one of the cutest sets ever produced. It’s easily posable, surprisingly weighty, and has a lovely nod to its eight evolutions in its head.

Lego Icons Pac-Man Arcade (10323)

Pieces: 2,651 RRP: $269.99 (£229.99; €269.99) Dimensions: 12.6in (32cm) tall, 9.9in (25cm) wide, 6.7in (17cm) deep Minifigures: 1 (arcade player) Release date: June 1, 2023 Availability: Retired July 2026

Another entry in my unbuilt pile of shame (along with a clear plastic case) is the Lego Icons Pac-Man Arcade (10323) set, complete with brick-built Pac-Man, Blinky, and Clyde figures. It’s also “functional”, with a hand crank showing the movement of the game, and there’s even a light brick for the quarters slot.

Most recently, Lego released a follow-up for Donkey Kong (72501), and while it’s much more interactive than its predecessor, it lacks the same finish: while Pac-Man has an enclosed back, complete with a hidden minifigure, DK’s is completely exposed.

Lego Super Mario 64 Question Mark Block (71395)

Pieces: 2,064 RRP: $169.99 (£159.99; €169.99) Dimensions: Over 7in (18cm) tall, 7in (18cm) wide, 7in (18cm) deep Minifigures: 10 microfigures (Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, King Bob-omb, Chain Chomp, Big Bully, Mr I, Lakitu, penguin, baby penguin) Release date: October 1, 2021 Availability: Retired July 2024

Super Mario 64 ’s only Lego set to date is also one of the company’s most technically impressive, unfolding dioramas from his lid to showcase Princess Peach’s castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool, Cool Mountain, and Lethal Lava Land.

It has a real Polly Pocket/Mighty Max aesthetic, but it’s a testament to both the game and Lego’s designers that they were able to capture the essence of each area, and have them all fold perfectly back into the block.

Lego Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog: Green Hill Zone (21331)

Pieces: 1,125 RRP: $69.99 (£59.99; €69.99) Dimensions: 6.7in (17cm) tall, 14.2in (36cm) wide, 2.4in (6cm) deep Minifigures: 1 (Sonic the Hedgehog); also includes brick-built Dr. Eggman, Crabmeat, and Moto Bug Release date: January 1, 2022 Availability: Retired December 2024

As one of many superb examples of Lego fan creations, LEGO Ideas 21331 Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone was also incredibly good value when it launched in 2022 , when it retailed for just $69.99. Admittedly, a huge number of its 1,125 pieces were studs, which made it beautifully detailed but also destroyed your fingertips while you built it.

Viv Grannell, a young British “Sonic superfan,” made her original version based on Sonic Mania ’s version of GHZ. It’s one of those sets that looks spectacular in a case, especially with a print of the Green Hill background.

Lego Horizon Forbidden West: Tallneck (76989)

Pieces: 1,222 RRP: $79.99 (£69.99; €79.99) Dimensions: 13.4in (34cm) tall, 9in (23cm) wide, 6.7in (17cm) deep Minifigures: 1 (Aloy; also includes a brick-built Watcher) Release date: May 1, 2022 Availability: Retired December 2023

A set so good, I know at least four people who bought this without having even played the game at that point, me included. The Lego Tallneck was one of the quickest releases to retire; my theory is that Lego underestimated demand, it sold out, and there were no plans to reproduce it.

It’s also a tough build, with loads of small parts and a stupid amount of detail. Don’t do it after going out for afternoon pints with friends as I did, because I built two of the legs completely wrongly and had to start again from scratch.

Lego Super Mario Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart (72037)

Pieces: 1,972 RRP: $169.99 (£139.99; €169.99) Dimensions: Over 8.5in (22cm) tall, 12.5in (32cm) long, 7.5in (19cm) wide Minifigures: None Release date: May 15, 2025 Availability: Available now

“Mario or Luigi” is one of the oldest questions in gaming, and once again, Mario just wins in the world of Lego, thanks to the stunning Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart (72037) . It was followed earlier this year by the more technically brilliant LEGO Luigi & Mach 8 (72050) set, but in retrospect, the first is the more iconic of the two.

Admittedly, in my own review of the Luigi and Mach 8 Lego , I said it was better than Mario and his kart, but only because I had both — a shelf with Mario and not Luigi seems better for a gaming collector than the other way around — but in a perfect world, it’s good to have the pair. Fingers crossed that Yoshi is the next in the line-up, if another one’s announced in 2027.

Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (71438)

Pieces: 1,215 RRP: $129.99 (£114.99; €129.99) Dimensions: 15.7in (40cm) tall, 10.2in (26cm) wide, 4.3in (11cm) deep Minifigures: None Release date: October 1, 2024 Availability: Retired July 2026

Sometimes, Lego is at its best when it actually looks like Lego, and the eye-catching Lego Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (71438) was, without a doubt, one of the purest and most display-ready creations from the Danish powerhouse.

A crank, with cleverly hidden Technic tomfoolery, made the pair walk, while Yoshi’s mouth opened to reveal his massive tongue. This set also retired a little quicker than you’d hope. It was next on my list to buy, as I always thought it’d come down in price (the deal I hoped for never materialized), but if you want one, you shouldn’t wait much longer, as stock is low at many third-party sellers.

Pieces: 421 RRP: $59.99 (£54.99; €59.99) Dimensions: 5.5in (14cm) tall, 3.5in (9cm) wide, 1.2in (3cm) deep Minifigures: None Release date: October 1, 2025 Availability: Available now

It’s a real sigh of relief that the best Lego gaming set to date is also one of the cheapest — and one of the most faithful brick replicas of anything, never mind a console. The Lego Game Boy (72046) is a real feat of engineering, and one of the most satisfying building experiences of the last five years.

Every detail is accounted for. Its D-pad, A/B, Select, and Start buttons feel real due to rubber trickery under the hood. Its on-off switch and contrast/volume dials are so simple yet effective. Its dot matrix screen has swappable lenticular screens, which pair with interchangeable Mario and Zelda cartridges that satisfyingly click into place. Last but not least, the headphone port doubles as a base point for its simple stand, making it easy to display. If I was the designer of this, I’d retire after making it, because it’s hard to think of how any set can be as good as this one.

Then again, the Lego Sony PlayStation (72306) could be a real heir apparent to the Game Boy. Time will tell in the coming days; expect my review of that one soon.