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Choose the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 if you want the most theatrical, instantly recognizable gaming display. Its separate CRT-style television, crank-operated Mario scene, console, controller and cartridge recreate a complete 1980s setup. Choose the LEGO PlayStation 72036 if you need a lower, more compact shelf piece, prefer PlayStation game references, or want working console buttons and removable dioramas at a lower official launch price.
The biggest complication is availability: Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 is officially retired and marked hard to find, while PlayStation 72036 is the newer product with announced October 2026 release windows. That means the NES can be the better display yet still cost more than its original price on the secondary market.
Quick verdict: which set should you buy?
These sets aim at different kinds of nostalgia. The NES is a miniature room scene: a television sits beside the console, cartridge and controller, and a hand crank animates Mario crossing a scrolling Super Mario Bros. level. It reads as “retro Nintendo” from across a room and has the taller, more dramatic silhouette.
The PlayStation is a focused console display. Its near-1:1-scale original PlayStation replica is about 26 cm wide, includes a matching controller, has working Power and Open buttons, and hides two removable game-themed dioramas. It occupies less visual height and has a lower official US RRP, but it does not recreate a complete TV-and-console setup.
#1 Best Overall
- Build an interactive, 1980s-style TV set displaying the classic Super Mario Bros. game & activate it with LEGO Mario figure (not included)
- Authentic details of the NES console are recreated in LEGO style, including a controller and an opening slot for the buildable Game Pak
- The TV has a handle-operated scrolling screen, Mario figure reacts to the on-screen enemies, obstacles and power-ups when placed on the top
- Have to combine with the LEGO Mario in the LEGO Super Mario Adventures Starter Course (71360) to activate the set's interactive features
- Comes with a cable & plug connecting to the NES, turning channel knob and a realistic locking function to delight Super Mario Bros. fans
| Choose this set | Best fit | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 | Complete retro scene | Tall CRT-style TV, moving Mario display, console, controller and cartridge |
| LEGO PlayStation 72036 | Compact console display | Lower profile, working buttons, removable Ape Escape and Gran Turismo dioramas |
What each set includes
LEGO PlayStation 72036
PlayStation 72036 contains 1,911 pieces and is recommended for adults aged 18 and over. It recreates the original PlayStation console and controller at near 1:1 scale. The console is approximately 10.5 inches (26 cm) wide; official specifications list about 60 mm high, 260 mm wide and 190 mm deep, with a listed weight of 2.3 kg.
The console has working Power and Open buttons rather than purely printed details. The controller plugs into the console, so the finished model can be arranged as an authentic wired setup. Two sections of the model can be removed and displayed separately as small game scenes:
- Gran Turismo: a miniature track with cars.
- Ape Escape: a scene with a swappable blue or red monkey-helmet light.
Those dioramas give the PlayStation set more variety than a static console replica. You can keep them installed for a clean silhouette or remove them when you want the game references to be visible on a shelf.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe PlayStation product page also specifies a 276-piece LEGO Astro Bot set included at no extra cost while supplies last. That is a limited-availability inclusion, not a permanent change to the 1,911-piece PlayStation model’s piece count.
LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System 71374
NES 71374 is the larger 2,646-piece build and is also an 18+ model. It includes a brick-built Nintendo Entertainment System console, controller, Game Pak cartridge and a retro-styled 1980s television.
The television is the set’s signature feature. Turning its handle moves a flat 8-bit Mario figure across a Super Mario Bros. scene on the screen. The mechanism is manual, so there are no batteries to install. The Game Pak slot has a locking function, and the controller has a connecting cable and plug for a more convincing period-correct arrangement.
Rank #2
- Build an interactive, 1980s-style TV set displaying the classic Super Mario Bros. game & activate it with LEGO Mario figure (not included)
- Authentic details of the NES console are recreated in LEGO style, including a controller and an opening slot for the buildable Game Pak
- The TV has a handle-operated scrolling screen, Mario figure reacts to the on-screen enemies, obstacles and power-ups when placed on the top
- Have to combine with the LEGO Mario in the LEGO Super Mario Adventures Starter Course (71360) to activate the set's interactive features
- Comes with a cable & plug connecting to the NES, turning channel knob and a realistic locking function to delight Super Mario Bros. fans
LEGO describes the television as over 8 inches (22.5 cm) high, 9 inches (23.5 cm) wide and 6 inches (16 cm) deep; the dimensions section lists approximately 23 × 24 × 16 cm. The television is therefore the dominant element of the finished display, with the console and accessories completing the scene at its base.
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Optional interactive reactions require a separate LEGO Mario figure from set 71439. The scrolling screen itself works without that figure, and the NES model does not require batteries.
Display footprint and shelf impact
For a shelf, the critical difference is height. PlayStation 72036 is a low, horizontal console model: approximately 6 cm high, 26 cm wide and 19 cm deep. The NES television alone is approximately 23 cm high, 24 cm wide and 16 cm deep, before accounting for the console, controller and cartridge arranged beside it.
| Display consideration | PlayStation 72036 | NES 71374 |
|---|---|---|
| Published height | Approximately 6 cm for the console model | Approximately 23 cm for the television |
| Published width | Approximately 26 cm | Approximately 24 cm for the television |
| Published depth | Approximately 19 cm | Approximately 16 cm for the television |
| Overall visual profile | Low, wide console-focused display | Tall, two-part television-and-console tableau |
Choose the PlayStation when a cabinet shelf, desk riser or media console has limited vertical clearance. Its low profile also leaves room above it for posters, game cases or another model. Choose the NES when the display can use vertical space and you want visitors to identify it immediately without being close enough to see the branding.
The measurements do not establish a single combined footprint for every NES arrangement: the console, controller and cartridge can be placed in different positions around the television. Allow additional side and front clearance for the controller cable and for reaching the crank.
Interactivity: crank mechanism versus working controls
What moves on the NES
The NES provides the more visible mechanical action. Turning the television’s handle scrolls the Mario scene horizontally, creating an analog animation that demonstrates the set’s purpose even when the model is sitting idle. The Game Pak slot locks, and the controller cable and plug can be connected to the console.
Rank #3
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A separate LEGO Mario figure from set 71439 can add optional interactive reactions. That accessory is not included with 71374, and the display’s basic scrolling function does not depend on batteries or the figure.
What works on the PlayStation
PlayStation 72036 concentrates its interaction on the console itself. The Power and Open buttons are functional, the controller plugs into the front of the console, and the two game dioramas can be removed. The dioramas are display modules rather than an electronic game: Gran Turismo supplies a tiny track and cars, while Ape Escape lets you swap a blue or red monkey-helmet light.
In practical terms, the NES gives you a movement feature that is easy to demonstrate from across the room. The PlayStation gives you tactile controls and rearrangeable display components that reward close inspection.
Nostalgia and franchise identity
Why the NES reads faster
The NES combines several visual cues associated with early home consoles: a gray rectangular system, a wired rectangular controller, a removable Game Pak and a boxy television. The moving 8-bit Mario scene adds an unmistakable Nintendo reference. Even people who do not know the set number can understand the vignette as a classic console setup.
Why the PlayStation may feel more personal
The PlayStation model is aimed at a different generation of memories. Its shape, controller and disc-era console details identify the original PlayStation, while the Ape Escape and Gran Turismo scenes point to specific games rather than a generic 1990s console. If those franchises are central to your gaming history, the smaller display can have more personal meaning than the larger NES tableau.
Neither set is a universal winner on nostalgia. The NES favors broad, instantly legible 1980s and early-1990s recognition; the PlayStation favors a more focused connection to Sony’s first console and its game library.
Rank #4
- Amazing New Settings
Build scope and what the piece counts mean
At 2,646 pieces, NES 71374 has 735 more pieces than PlayStation 72036’s 1,911. That difference reflects the NES’s extra television, screen mechanism and complete accessory group, not simply a larger console shell.
| Build factor | PlayStation 72036 | NES 71374 |
|---|---|---|
| Piece count | 1,911 | 2,646 |
| Core model | Near-1:1 original PlayStation and controller | NES console, controller and Game Pak |
| Additional display element | Two removable game dioramas | 1980s CRT-style television with scrolling Mario scene |
| Age recommendation | 18+ | 18+ |
Piece count is a useful indicator of build scope, but it does not predict which model will look larger on your shelf. The PlayStation’s parts are concentrated in a low console replica; the NES’s parts are distributed across a tall television, mechanism and accessories.
Official price, release timing and availability
PlayStation 72036
Sony announced PlayStation 72036 on September 3, 2026. The official US recommended retail price is $179.99, and the UK product page lists £139.99. Sony announced direct-PlayStation availability and LEGO Insiders early access for October 1, 2026, followed by general availability through LEGO.com and LEGO Stores on October 4, 2026.
Those dates describe the announced launch schedule, not a guarantee that every region or retailer will have stock on the same day. Check the live product page for your country, delivery area and current seller before ordering.
NES 71374
LEGO’s US page displays $269.99, but the same page marks the set “Retired Product” and “Hard to find.” That displayed figure should not be treated as a current guaranteed purchase price. Retired sets may have no direct LEGO stock, and secondary-market prices can be higher or lower depending on condition, completeness, packaging and seller.
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Best Value
- Pay tribute to the classic Super Mario 64 video game and recapture the magic in LEGO style with this brick-built version of the famous game
- 25 years on from the launch of the Super Mario 64 video game, this collectible LEGO Super Mario set for adults comes with 10 microfigures
- Open ? Block to reveal instantly recognizable game levels: Peach’s Castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool, Cool Mountain and Lethal Lava Trouble
- This LEGO Super Mario 64 3D model includes the following microfigures: Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, King Bob-omb, as well as a Chain Chomp
- It also includes Big Bully, Mr I Lakitu, penguin and baby penguin microfigures - a full house of characters to revive the scene
Which set offers better value?
At official launch pricing, PlayStation 72036 costs $179.99 in the United States versus the $269.99 figure displayed for NES 71374. The difference is not a like-for-like current-market comparison because the NES is retired. If resale demand pushes the NES above its displayed historical price, its larger piece count and moving television may not translate into lower cost per piece or better value.
Value depends on what you will actually use:
- Pay for the NES when the moving screen and complete TV scene are the reason you want the set, and you have found a verified complete example at a price you accept.
- Pay for the PlayStation when you want an officially available new release, a lower launch RRP, working buttons and removable game scenes in a compact footprint.
- Factor in the Astro Bot inclusion when comparing new PlayStation listings, but remember that the 276-piece bonus is available only while supplies last.
Decision guide by room and display style
For a narrow or low shelf
Pick PlayStation 72036. Its approximately 6 cm height is easier to fit under a monitor, inside a shallow display cabinet or on a shelf with a low upper clearance. Leave enough front space to handle the buttons and enough side space to route the controller cable without sharply bending it.
For a tall feature shelf
Pick NES 71374. The television’s approximately 23 cm height creates a stronger vertical focal point, while the console and controller make the arrangement read as a complete setup rather than a single object.
For hands-on demonstrations
Pick the NES if you want guests to see an obvious mechanical feature: turn the crank and the Mario scene moves. Pick the PlayStation if you prefer small tactile details, such as pressing the Power or Open button, plugging in the controller and changing the diorama modules.
For game-specific memories
Pick PlayStation 72036 when Ape Escape or Gran Turismo carries more emotional weight than Mario. Pick NES 71374 when the visual language of Super Mario Bros., cartridges and CRT television is the nostalgia you are trying to preserve.
Setting up each model for a better display
PlayStation setup
- Place the console on a level surface with the front buttons accessible.
- Plug the controller into the console and let the cable form a natural curve rather than a tight loop.
- Install both dioramas for a single-piece presentation, or remove them and position the Ape Escape and Gran Turismo scenes beside the console.
- If you are using the included Astro Bot bonus set, keep it on a separate riser so it does not obscure the PlayStation silhouette.
- Use soft, indirect lighting: reflective plastic elements and small diorama details are easier to see without glare across the console top.
NES setup
- Place the television first, leaving clearance above and to the side for access to the crank.
- Position the NES console beside the television and insert the Game Pak so the locking feature is visible.
- Connect the controller plug and arrange the cable in front of, or alongside, the console without blocking the screen.
- Turn the crank slowly to confirm the Mario screen scrolls smoothly before moving the model to its final shelf position.
- If you own a LEGO Mario figure from set 71439, use it only for the optional reactions; the basic display does not need batteries or that figure.
Common buying and display mistakes
- Assuming the NES $269.99 figure is a guaranteed current price: retirement means stock and resale prices vary.
- Comparing only console dimensions: the NES television adds most of the display’s height, while the PlayStation dimensions describe a low console model.
- Expecting electronic gameplay: both sets are display models. The NES animation is a hand-cranked mechanical scene, and the PlayStation’s working controls do not operate a real console.
- Forgetting accessory requirements: optional LEGO Mario reactions require a separate figure from set 71439; the PlayStation Astro Bot model is a limited while-supplies-last inclusion.
- Buying an incomplete retired NES: missing Mario-screen parts, crank components, controller cable or cartridge can remove the features that distinguish it from a standard console replica.
- Underestimating clearance: the NES needs room to reach the crank, and the PlayStation needs room in front for its buttons and controller connection.
Bottom line
The LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 is the better gaming display when your priority is theatrical presentation. Its tall television, moving Mario scene and cluster of accessories tell a complete story at a glance. The trade-off is retirement: finding a complete set at a sensible price may be difficult.
The LEGO PlayStation 72036 is the better practical choice for a lower shelf, a smaller room or a buyer whose memories are tied to Ape Escape, Gran Turismo and the original PlayStation. It has a lower official US launch RRP, working console buttons, removable dioramas and a limited Astro Bot bonus, but it delivers a console-focused display rather than the NES’s full living-room tableau.
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