Lego Donkey Kong leak shows a arcade-themed set that’s different than expected

The previously teased Lego Donkey Kong set has leaked, so we now know that it is based on the classic arcade game that put Nintendo on the map.

An image of the “Donkey Kong Arcade Set” emerged on Reddit on July 10, less than two months after Nintendo first teased it. The leak claims that it will come out in August, contain 1,367 pieces, and cost $200. The leaked image also indicates that the Donkey Kong Arcade Set is aimed more at adults and recreates the first level of the classic 1981 arcade game. That wasn’t completely clear after Nintendo’s announcement in May.

Nintendo and Lego have collaborated on many sets over the past several years, creating ones based on The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Pokémon, and more. There’s also an entire Lego Super Mario product line that looks and functions differently from your standard Lego. Because Donkey Kong expansion sets were released for Lego Super Mario in 2023, it’s likely that Nintendo and Lego wanted to take a very different approach for this new set.

I would have loved to see a Lego version of Donkey Kong Bananza’s destructible worlds or minifigures of DK, Diddy, Dixie, and Pauline. Still, I am also happy to see the arcade version of Donkey Kong get a Lego-formed tribute. If you know anything about Nintendo’s history, you’ll understand that the company wouldn’t be where it is today without the success of Donkey Kong in the arcades. Its first level is iconic, so it makes sense to create a Lego set based on it that can appeal to both adults and kids.

If the leaks are correct, the Donkey Kong Arcade Set is out in August. Hopefully, that means we won’t have to wait too much longer for an announcement and unveiling.