LEGO Arcade Machine 40805 Review – Hidden Room, Retro Vibes and That Junkbot Easter Egg
5 July 2025 by
Marc
The LEGO Arcade Machine 40805 is a nostalgic throwback wrapped in a 468-piece set that’s as clever on the inside as it is on display. Styled like a vintage arcade cabinet, it opens up to reveal a hidden gamer’s den complete with a TV, console setup and a nod to one of LEGO’s most beloved early web games, Junkbot. With a unique coin-slot play feature and pixel-style artwork, it blends charm, creativity and a quiet love letter to the golden age of online LEGO content.
Release Date: 1 August 2025 (regional pricing: £34.99 UK, $39.99 US, €39.99 EU)
MSRP / Price Range: £34.99 / $39.99
Edition Size / Production Run: Exclusive line, limited retail availability
Manufacturer / License: The LEGO Group, LEGO Exclusive Set
LEGO 40805 Arcade Machine availability and release details
This exclusive set is part of LEGO’s ‘Other’ line and will be available primarily through LEGO Stores and online, meaning your best bet to buy LEGO Arcade Machine 40805 online is via LEGO.com directly. Pre-orders are expected to appear shortly ahead of its 1 August 2025 launch, and with no major retail partners listed yet, it’s worth jumping early if you’re keen.
A geek’s paradise in miniature
From the outside, the LEGO 40805 Arcade Machine set looks great, the classic coin-op shape, faux CRT screen, and printed artwork channels pure 80s arcade energy. But open it up and you get something even more fun. Inside is a fully realised gaming den for your included minifigure, complete with a sofa, TV, micro-console and a cartridge setup. The walls are lined with tiny décor and references, including a mini Galaxy Explorer, which is a cheeky throwback for long-time LEGO fans.
Even better, that external coin slot is more than a display gimmick. Push a coin in and it rolls through the interior like a real arcade cabinet. It’s a neat little physical touch that brings a lot of interactivity to what’s otherwise a static model.
Figures and minifig appeal
The lone included figure, our relaxed hoodie-wearing gamer, won’t win any awards for uniqueness, but he does the job. With a remote control in hand and surrounded by game clutter, he fits the scene nicely. He’s not quite as dynamic as the figures found in lines like Ultra Street Fighter II M. Bison Deluxe Player 2, but in context, he works. Think of him as your average weekend gamer, ready to sink hours into Mega Man Wave 3 figures and pizza-fuelled marathons.
Junkbot: Easter egg or centerpiece?
Hidden within the mini-arcade build inside the set is a delightful surprise – Junkbot, rendered in tiny form. For those unfamiliar, Junkbot was a LEGO.com Flash game from 2001, where players guided a plucky robot through puzzles by rearranging objects. It was part of LEGO’s experimental digital phase and still has a passionate fanbase today.
Seeing Junkbot referenced here is more than a throwaway gag. It’s a deep-cut nod to LEGO’s online history, and longtime fans are loving it. It’s subtle, but for those who played it back in the day, it hits all the right buttons. This isn’t just a reference, it’s a celebration of a truly unique part of LEGO’s digital heritage.
Best LEGO Arcade-themed sets – 40805 Arcade Machine in context
Among all the arcade-themed LEGO releases, this one stands out for its size, affordability and clever design. It doesn’t have the moving parts of the larger Pac-Man machine, but it also doesn’t need them. The LEGO Arcade Machine 40805 is a compact, interactive set that holds its own thanks to the dual-layered experience – a great display on the outside and a mini playset on the inside.
If you’re curating a LEGO arcade lineup, this piece makes a great midpoint – not too flashy, but packed with personality. It’s a set that invites interaction, whether you’re pushing in coins or opening up the cabinet to admire the hidden room.
Build experience and display value
With 468 pieces, this is a build that takes a couple of hours at most, but it never feels dull. The use of hinges, printed tiles and layered elements gives it a premium feel without the complexity of a larger Icons set. It’s a strong desk piece – clean silhouette, detailed sides and the kind of thing people will definitely want to open and inspect.
For those who like displaying and interacting in equal measure, this is ideal. The transformation from cabinet to room gives it a bit of magic that more static models lack.
Final verdict
The LEGO Arcade Machine 40805 is more than just a cool cabinet facade. It’s a love letter to gaming culture, old-school LEGO storytelling and, with the Junkbot reference, to fans who’ve been around for the long haul. It hits the sweet spot of accessible price, fun features and clever nostalgia.
Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it charming, smartly built and full of personality? Absolutely.
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