Build A Boy is a retro gaming handheld you build from scratch, brick by brick. The shell, the electronics…all of it! This DIY kit turns the Lego Nintendo Game Boy replica into a playable system using carts from your childhood, with a few modern twists.

What’s more is that this isn’t an emulator. Build A Boy uses genuine vintage chips, making it a fully authentic console. While other solutions use microcontrollers and single board computers, Build A Boy’s use of original hardware will bring you the true experience of playing original Game Boy cartridges.

From Bricks to Pixels

Build A Boy’s number one goal is to fulfill that thought in everyone’s mind when they saw the excellent Lego kit—what if it actually played games? It adds another dimension of building on top of the brick building by adding electronics. More than just converting a pile of bricks into a working system, users will reap the benefits of modern Game Boy upgrades. That includes a backlit display with customizable color palates, and a rechargeable battery that works with any standard USB Type-C charger.

By using original CPUs and memory salvaged from classic hardware, Build-A-Boy has guaranteed compatibility with original Game Boy cartridges. You’ll be assembling a custom handheld that’s all your own! On top of this it also functions as a playable device with original hardware, making it a great addition to any retro handheld collection.

Features & Specifications

• Compatible with Lego Super Mario Game Boy set (#72046), not included
• Authentic DM/SGB/MGB CPU
• Compatible with original Game Boy and backwards-compatible Game Boy Color games (not compatible with Game Boy Color or Advance cartridges)
• Optional link port for multiplayer gaming
• Optional display-out functionality
• 2.73-inch, 320 x 320 TFT backlit display, with 2x integer scaling and built-in color palates
• 800 mAh Li-Po battery
• USB Type-C port for charging, with battle-tested charging circuitry design
• Panasonic tactile buttons with 0.8 mm travel rated for 100,000 cycles
• PCB footprint: 52 x 42 mm (2.04 x 1.65 in)

Open Source

We hope to release the screen driver software, schematics, and bill of materials in order to let users modify and improve their devices. These files will be made available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license and will be uploaded to our GitHub after production has started.

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