A building block set that doubles as a light-up eye-catcher: Lumibricks makes it possible
19.6.2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Debora Pape
Building a 2,580-piece interlocking brick set wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card. But all it took was one picture for me to get all giddy about it. And the result is a real gem.
Building block fever has broken out among my colleagues Kim and Stephan – and they’ve got me hooked, too. As a self-confessed lighting enthusiast, there was no going back when I saw a lit-up street scene made of Lumibricks in their article about Lego alternatives.
To be specific, it was the Lumibricks’ Cyberpunk Neoncity series, which is intended for people ages 16 and up. It currently includes six large building sets and three vehicles. Together, they form a large, illuminated ensemble. The building block series is inspired by sci-fi settings such as those in the game Cyberpunk 2077 or the movie Blade Runner.
I decided to build the 2,580-piece set Game Stack. It’s a lively entertainment district featuring a ground-level boxing ring, a bar counter and four modular gaming areas. They’re interchangeable and contain moving parts. An lift shaft with a movable car lends stability to the scene. 23 colourful and, in some cases, animated light sources illuminate the scene and four minifigures complete the set. According to the product description, I needed to set aside about twelve hours for assembly.
Unboxing and sorting
When I was holding the box in my hands, I was amazed. It’s much bigger and heavier than I’d imagined and looks absolutely stunning. The soft-touch surface suggested high-quality. And I already started to feel sad about throwing away the packaging once I’d finished the set.
The box contains 40 to 50 plastic bags. They’re labelled with the numbers of the 14 construction chapters. In addition, there are five more bags for special accessories and lighting elements. It also comes with a box of tools: a screwdriver, a pair of tweezers and a plastic lever for removing misaligned building blocks. Plus, there are no fewer than five instruction manuals for the set’s various modules. They, too, have super soft covers and look absolutely stunning.
By the way, Lumibricks doesn’t use stickers: 37 of the blocks are printed in colour.
The instructions guide me step by step
I was worried I was taking on too much with this set. But once I’d started on the project, my uncertainty quickly faded thanks to the detailed instructions. Each of the approximately 850 steps involves only a few blocks, and the instructions show exactly where everything goes. It also lists the dimensions of the required blocks, and for longer pieces without studs, a coloured bar is shown on a 1:1 scale.
Speaking of colours, I was often unsure at first and sometimes ended up using a brick in the wrong colour. The instructions depict silver differently than light grey. But the difference in the bricks is only visible if you look very closely. This is especially tricky when dealing with two nearly identical shades of yellow.
First, I assembled the base plate structure. Like the other buildings in the Cyberpunk Neoncity series, Game Stack has a surface area of 26 × 26 centimetres. After the base plate, we move right on to the first highlight: the bar. I was like a kid at Christmas when the pile of grey plastic bricks turned into a recognisable bar with a bottle cabinet and colourful bottles arranged on the shelves.
And things only got better: this bar lights up. This means I got to start working on the wiring early on.
The electricals aren’t a problem either
The 23 LEDs that make this set so impressive are integrated into the assembly process. The instructions show exactly where a cable runs and where a mounting block goes. Four separate cables contain the LEDs. I’d often install one LED and set the rest of the cable aside for a few steps until the instructions tell me where to place the next one.
Even with tweezers, the tiny plugs at the ends of the cables require a steady hand when plugging them into the hub that powers all the lights.
Power’s provided by the battery compartment for three AA batteries. Or, you could use a power bank or a power adapter via USB-C. It’s important that the power source doesn’t supply more than five volts. While assembling it, I would test the lighting using the battery pack, which has its own designated spot on the base plate.
I was surprised by the variety of lights: there are tiny LED strips, a module with a smooth RGB colour transition, flashing lights and fibre-optic lighting that fits perfectly into the setting. Time and again, after installing new LEDs, I turn on the lights just to enjoy the play of light.
The cable length is just right, though in some cases it’s a little too long. Still, you hardly notice protruding cables on the finished model because they’re black and almost as thin as a sewing thread.
An «immersive adventure»?
I spent several evenings sitting at the set and, after a short while, got into the flow of building. It was relaxing searching for bricks and putting them together and for me, a welcome change from playing games on the computer or slumping on the couch in the evening.
The product description refers to the building process as an «immersive adventure» because of the «storytelling» in the instructions. It also incorporates playful elements. After each completed chapter, there’s a short section in which the characters included in the set engage in humorous verbal exchanges in English and Chinese.
Once the basic structure is complete, the instructions – in the style of a quest – also let you choose which module you want to continue with. However, I wouldn’t describe the assembly as an «immersive adventure». Still, I really liked the short dialogues, and they include some great inside gaming jokes that make the set feel even more authentic.
Although it was really fun to build, I had to be patient, especially when some specific parts took forever to find. Fortunately, I found 2,577 bricks right where they were supposed to be. Two outliers were hidden among the remnants from earlier chapters.
I couldn’t find one brick at all. But I was able to replace it with a similar one in the bag of leftovers. I can’t say whether it’s really missing or just got lost in the chaos of the construction site. I would say I kept things organised, but I’m not entirely sure. If a part’s actually missing, Lumibricks will offer to ship the replacement parts. Fortunately, I didn’t have to bother them.
What I noticed in my assembly is that I would build up several courses of bricks without connecting the adjacent sections of the wall. It’s only the top layer that would be fixed. This resulted in less stability during construction, and I don’t understand why Lumibricks doesn’t occasionally include staggered bricks as a solution to this problem.
That would also improve the structural integrity on the upper levels. It was here I’d have a hard time pressing the bricks firmly into place because I could hardly apply any counterpressure without pushing the elements out. Nevertheless, the bricks interlock well so I don’t have any complaints about that.
A glowing smart home gadget
In the end, everything turned out for the best anyway. There are hardly any unsightly gaps, and the set stands sturdily on flat surfaces. Once it reached the final stage, I could hardly take my eyes off it. The colourful lights give my stairwell a cyberpunk vibe and really catch everyone’s eye.
I’ve since connected the building to the mains using a 5-volt power supply and a smart adapter. With Home Assistant, Game Stack is now integrated into a motion detector. What started as a bit of fun with building bricks has turned into a glowing gadget that turns on when someone walks by.
My first foray into the world of building bricks was a complete success. In the end, only one question remains: how do I dust this beast?
In a nutshell
A dazzling sight
My first building block set helped me slow down and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to the excellent instructions, I was able to put it together even though I have no experience with interlocking bricks. Still, some brick colours were difficult to tell apart. But, in general, I feel like I’ve got a lot for my money.
I didn’t keep track of the time, but the twelve hours mentioned sound about right to me. Once it’s complete, Game Stack is a real eye-catcher, but it’s the lighting that truly transforms it into an atmospheric cyberpunk marvel. I think it’s nice that there are several moving objects, such as the lift and game mechanisms. That’s not to say I’ve played around with the set, though.
Pro
- High-quality finish
- Excellent manuals
- Fun assembly
- Sophisticated lighting
- Lots of interactive elements
- Reasonable price for the scope
Contra
- Little variation in the colour shades
Header image: Debora Pape
Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.
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