Natalie Cursio, also known as Natalie the Nerd, has launched a Crowd Supply page for Build A Boy, a DIY kit that transforms the LEGO Super Mario Game Boy set into a fully functional handheld that plays original Game Boy cartridges. Unlike emulation-based solutions, Build A Boy uses authentic hardware including a genuine Game Boy Pocket CPU, the Sharp LR35902 processor that powered Nintendo's handheld in the 1990s. The kit supports original Game Boy and backwards-compatible Game Boy Color games, though it will not work with Game Boy Color-exclusive or Game Boy Advance cartridges.
The Build A Boy features a 6.9 cm (2.73 inch) 320 x 320 TFT backlit display with 2x integer scaling and built-in color palettes, significantly improving on the original's 160 x 144 monochrome screen while maintaining proper aspect ratio. The kit includes an 800 mAh lithium polymer battery with USB Type-C charging, Panasonic tactile buttons rated for 100,000 cycles with 0.8 mm travel, and optional link port functionality for multiplayer gaming. The PCB measures 5.2 x 4.2 cm (2.04 x 1.65 inches) and fits within the LEGO shell without requiring soldering for basic installation.
Cursio plans to release screen driver software, schematics, and bill of materials on GitHub for users who want to modify and improve their devices. The Crowd Supply page indicates pricing targeting $99 (€91), with potential variants including a version for those with donor Game Boy Pocket hardware around $60 (€55) and a DIY version for advanced users comfortable with soldering. The campaign is expected to launch in early 2026, with interested buyers able to subscribe for notifications when the page goes live. The LEGO Game Boy set itself, a 421-piece replica released in October 2025, is sold separately.
