The Super Mario 64 Lego set is a “? block” with four levels from the game hidden inside.
Lego Group
The Super Mario 64 Lego set is a “? block” with four levels from the game hidden inside. Lego Group
The block also closes up.
Lego Group
The block also closes up. Lego Group
The “? block” has some clever hinges that open to reveal the worlds inside.
Lego Group
The “? block” has some clever hinges that open to reveal the worlds inside. Lego Group
The set’s “microfigures” are minimalist but effective. Mario is made out of just three blocks but is nevertheless instantly recognizable.
Lego Group
Peach’s Castle, complete with tiny Peach and Lakitu microfigures.
Lego Group
Cool, Cool Mountain, overrun with penguins.
Lego Group
Bob-omb Battlefield, with a miniature king, chain chomp, and cannons.
Lego Group
Lethal Lava Land, with its trademark volcano and sliding puzzle (and eyeball).
Lego Group
The attention to detail on these sets is excellent—you’ll even spot Yoshi hiding on top of Peach’s castle, waiting for you to get all 120 stars.
Lego Group
Interactive Mario figure not included.
Lego Group
Many of the set’s 2,064 pieces are used to put together the “? block” itself.
Lego Group
The Mario 64 Lego set comes out on October 1.
Lego Group

Nintendo and the Lego group have been on a collaborative tear for the last couple of years, with releases including the interactive “Adventures with Mario” series for kids and a $230 replica NES set aimed directly at nostalgic adults with disposable income. The team’s latest creation is another one for that latter group—today, the companies announced a $170 replica “? block” that opens up to reveal four miniature recreations of worlds from Super Mario 64.

The tiny size of each replica level means that some detail is lost, and the “microfigures” of characters like Mario, Peach, and Lakitu are all made out of just a handful of pieces. But despite that, everything in the set is instantly recognizable, from the chain chomp lying in wait on the Bob-omb Battlefield to the ski slopes of Cool, Cool Mountain to the Bowser sliding puzzle in Lethal Lava Land. Yoshi is even hiding on the top of Peach’s Castle, waiting for you to find all 120 stars. The “? block” uses a clever hinge mechanism that makes it simple to pop the worlds out and tuck them back inside.

The 2,064-piece Mario 64 set is recommended for ages 18 and up and will be exclusive to Lego stores and Lego.com when it launches on October 1, 2021. Other retailers will get it sometime in 2022.

Note: Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.