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Head-to-head

LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine vs LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade

Both built. Both reviewed. Here's how they actually compare on the things that matter.

By the numbers

The spec sheet.

Metric LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade
Rating 5/5 5/5
Pieces 1,872 2,651WINS
MSRP $199.99WINS $269.99
Price per piece $0.11 $0.10WINS
Verdict Must buy Must buy
Best for BTTF fans, 80s nostalgia builders, and anyone who wants a small-footprint Icons set with serious display energy. Retro arcade fans, kinetic-sculpture appreciators, and anyone who wants a LEGO set that does something.

Pros & cons

What I actually noticed.

LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine

Pros

  • Three movie-accurate configurations (BTTF1 road, BTTF2 hover, BTTF3 rail)
  • Marty and Doc minifigs are the best versions LEGO has ever made
  • Mr. Fusion, hover wheels, time-circuit display — every iconic detail is in there
  • Compact footprint — fits a small shelf, unlike most Icons cars
  • Easy 5–7 hour build, perfect for a weekend

Cons

  • Hover-mode wheel swap takes 60 seconds and isn't elegant
  • Side-vent stickers are unforgiving if you've never applied LEGO stickers before
  • The flux capacitor light kit isn't included (third-party only)

LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade

Pros

  • Hand-crank mechanism actually animates Pac-Man and the four ghosts through the maze
  • Mini-Pac-Man micro figure on top of the cabinet (the meta moment)
  • Iconic 1980 cabinet styling — yellow, black, marquee art, coin slot
  • Best kinetic LEGO mechanism since the Typewriter

Cons

  • Hand-crank is delicate — over-rotation can pop the chain mechanism
  • Won't work as a static display piece for non-arcade fans
  • Marquee printing is small and easy to misalign during the build

Made up your mind?

Pick a retailer.

LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine

$199.99

Full review →

LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade

$269.99

Full review →

Comparison generated from our individual reviews. Pros, cons, and ratings come from full hands-on builds — see each review for the complete take.