The Lego Sega Genesis Console is a great retro build with just a few small frustrations

If you know anything about retro gaming, then the Lego Sega Genesis Console will be instantly recognizable as one of the most iconic 16-bit home video game consoles ever released, which is impressively recreated in this set along with two controllers and a cartridge. Unlike the full size Lego Game Boy (72046), the Genesis is reproduced at about 60% scale, making it much more manageable as a display piece and meaning the two can stand side by side as some of best Lego sets for retro gamers.

Lego Sega Genesis Console features

• Iconic console
• Budget-friendly price
• Plenty of detail

Straight off the bat it's clear that the designers have committed to the retro feel of this set, as the Lego Sega Genesis Console box has been printed to look worn around the edges from 30+ years of use. I mention this as I actually thought mine had been damaged in transit at first, and I only realized it was intentional as I purchased a second set for a gift and saw they were identical!

Price is a key factor to note here, as you can pick up the Sega Genesis for just $39.99 / £34.99, which compares favorably with the recently released Lego Game Boy that retails for $59.99 / £54.99 despite containing fewer pieces, and while there's no lenticular screen or pressable buttons here the console still has some tricks up its sleeve.

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Sega Genesis Console build

• A surprisingly colorful interior build
• Hidden Sonic the Hedgehog portrait is a nice touch
• Some unusual mistakes in the original instructions

Considering the visible exterior of the Lego Sega Genesis Console is predominantly black, there’s a pleasingly wide array of colored pieces included when you start opening bags. Naturally these end up being buried within the structure, but they definitely help with matching up bricks while making the base initially look like a Mondrian painting!

There are a couple of strange errors in the instructions, such as a black and a gray piece seeming to swap positions when the view reverses, and two steps are shown in the wrong order which caused brief confusion. However, at the time of writing this review the build instructions have been removed from the website/app, and the piece count has also been changed from 479 to 480, so it's not clear yet if the instructions are just being tidied up or if a minor change to the build is being introduced.

As mentioned before, a lot of the colorful bricks introduced will eventually disappear into the structure, but not all of them - the final group comes together to form a portrait of everyone's favorite spiny mammalian hero, Sonic the Hedgehog! This sits hidden beneath the rounded cartridge dock, but is easily revealed by lifting the top off the build and is a great Easter egg to reveal when showing the Sega Genesis Console to friends.

Sega Genesis Console design

• Accurate recreation
• Plenty of details to spot
• Can display as a Genesis or Mega Drive

There's a great attention to detail with this set, providing an impressively accurate scaled-down recreation of the console and controllers, as you can see here in the side by side comparison with my original Mega Drive! Everything from the side ridges, sliders, and buttons to the various sockets and ports is where it should be, the curved edges look great, and the little cartridge even matches the original Sonic The Hedgehog 2 cart accurately.

Naturally, these small controllers cannot match the level of detail seen with the Lego Sega Genesis Controller set, but that was only available as a 'gift with purchase' for a limited time and you're destined for the second-hand market if you want to pick it up now. Still, there is a charm to the controllers in this set, with their angled set of three buttons meaning they can be immediately identified, and there are 'working' sockets to plug them securely into the front of the console.

For those not in the know, this console was marketed as the Genesis in the United States and the Mega Drive in Europe, with some clear differences in their designs to stand them apart. Additional pieces are included so you can switch your set between the versions and get their accurate appearance, though the instructions for this could be clearer as they just show two images side by side – highlighting the pieces to change would have been easier than playing spot the difference.

Finally, I do need to touch on the one big issue I had with this set – the decals. While I understand the need for these rather than supplying printed bricks to keep the cost down, I found the process of applying the 14 included stickers incredibly stressful. Getting these decals lined up correctly can be difficult at the best of times, but applying predominantly black stickers to black curved pieces accurately is a bit of a nightmare for those who strive for perfection. While I did the best I could, I wasn't 100% happy with their final placement which was a little disappointing.

Should you buy Sega Genesis Console?

While there aren't many officially licensed Lego games console sets available, the Sega Genesis stands on its own merit as a great retro build with just a few small frustrations, though they shouldn't stop you from picking it up. The very reasonable price means it's an easy addition to any collection, or a great budget gift that will always be well received.

Ratings

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Lego Sega Genesis Console #40926

I built the Lego Sega Genesis Console (40926) set in a couple of short sessions, coming to around 2 and a half hours for my total build time. While you could easily do the whole thing in one go, the pieces are divided into four bags to provide some clear break points if needed.

For more, check out our guide to how we test products.

For more recommendations on cool collectibles, why not check out our guide to the best toys?