What Are Nintendo Amiibo?

Have you ever wondered about those colorful Nintendo character figures you’ve seen in game stores?

They’re called Amiibo, and they’re more than just decorations for your shelf. In fact, over 77 million of these little figures have found homes with gamers since 2014.

So, what’s the big deal about Amiibo? Well, they’re Nintendo’s clever way of making your favorite characters come to life in your games.

Imagine Mario or Zelda not just on your screen but right there in your hand. And able to join you in different games!

You might be thinking, “That sounds cool, but how does it work?” Don’t worry, it’s simpler than you might think.

These figures have a special chip inside that can talk to your Nintendo games.

When you tap the figure on your game system, magic happens. New characters, outfits, or abilities can appear in your game.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Amiibo. We’ll cover what they are, how to use them, and which games they work with.

Whether you’re a Nintendo fan or just curious about these interactive toys, stick around. You might discover a fun new way to enjoy your favorite games!

How does Amiibo work?

Amiibo are more than just cool figurines of your favorite Nintendo characters. Each one has a hidden RFID chip inside that can talk to your Nintendo games.

When you tap an Amiibo on your game system, it’s like magic. The system recognizes which character you’re using.

Different games use Amiibo in different ways. For example, in Super Smash Bros., you can save your character’s special moves and fighting style to the Amiibo.

Then, you can take it to a friend’s house and use your customized character on their game too!

Most of the time, your game just reads information from the Amiibo without changing anything on the figure itself.

This means you can use your Amiibo to unlock special things in your games, like new characters, outfits, or levels, just by tapping it on your console.

Are Amiibo required to play Nintendo games?

Don’t worry. You don’t need Amiibo to enjoy Nintendo games. They’re just a fun extra that can make your games even more exciting.

Let’s take Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch as an example. If you tap a Mario Amiibo, you get 30 seconds where nothing can hurt you in the game.

Use a Princess Peach Amiibo, and you get an extra heart. These little boosts can make the game easier or more fun, but they’re not necessary to finish the game.

In most cases, you can unlock the same special outfits or items by playing the game, even if you don’t have the Amiibo.

There’s only one game, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, that actually requires Amiibo to play.

Which Nintendo systems work with Amiibo?

Good news. If you have Amiibo from way back when the Wii U was popular, you can still use them with newer systems like the Nintendo Switch.

Amiibo work with the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and New Nintendo 3DS.

Here’s something cool: Amiibo isn’t locked to any specific country.

So if you buy an Amiibo in Japan or Europe, it’ll work just fine on your American Nintendo system, and vice versa.

Different Nintendo systems have different ways to scan Amiibo:

• On the Wii U, you use the GamePad.
• For the Nintendo Switch, you can use the right Joy-Con or the Pro Controller.
• The New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL let you scan Amiibo right on the lower touchscreen.

If you have an older 3DS, 3DS XL, or 2DS, don’t worry. You can still use Amiibo by getting a special reader accessory.

Which games work with Amiibo?

Lots of popular Nintendo Switch games work with Amiibo. Here are some examples:

• In “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” Zelda Amiibo gives you special Zelda-themed gear.
• “Super Mario Odyssey” lets you unlock special outfits with Mario, Peach, and Bowser Amiibo.
• “Fire Emblem Warriors” gives you special weapons and items when you use Fire Emblem Amiibo.
• “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” offers unique items and bonuses for various Zelda-related Amiibo.
• “Kirby Star Allies” unlocks special artwork and helpful items with Kirby and friends’ Amiibo.
• In “Splatoon 2,” you can save your game data to Splatoon Amiibo and get exclusive outfits.

Remember, just because a character is in a game doesn’t always mean their Amiibo will work with it. If you want to know exactly which games work with which Amiibo, you can check Nintendo’s website for the most up-to-date information.

What are the different kinds of Amiibo?

Amiibo comes in several fun forms, all with the same special chip inside that makes them work with your games:

1. Figurines: These are the most common. Small, detailed statues of Nintendo characters.
2. Playing cards: These are great if you want something more portable than a figurine.
3. Breakfast cereal boxes: Believe it or not, some special cereal boxes have come with Amiibo technology built in!
4. Plush toys: For those who prefer something soft, some plush toys also work as Amiibo.

No matter what form they take, all these Amiibo types work the same way to unlock new things in your games.

How rare are Amiibo, and what happens if you miss out?

Some Amiibo are rarer than others. Nintendo sometimes makes limited editions, which can be hard to find after they’re sold out.

This makes some Amiibo valuable to collectors.

But don’t worry if you can’t get a rare Amiibo. Most of the time, you can still get the same in-game bonuses in other ways.

For example, even if you don’t have the special Mario Amiibo from Super Mario Odyssey, you can still unlock his tuxedo costume by playing the game.

Nintendo often makes things flexible, too. In many games, different versions of the same character’s Amiibo will give you the same bonus.

So whether you have a Super Smash Bros. Mario or a Super Mario Odyssey Mario, you’ll get the same benefit in your game.

Remember, Amiibo are meant to be a fun extra, not a requirement.

You can still fully enjoy your Nintendo games without them, but they can add a little extra magic if you choose to use them.

The takeaway

Amiibo are Nintendo’s special figurines that can interact with your games.

They’re a fun way to unlock new content and features, but you don’t need them to enjoy most Nintendo games.

These little figures come in different forms, from detailed statues to cards and even plush toys.

They work by tapping them on your Nintendo device, which reads the chip inside.

This can give you things like new outfits, characters, or special abilities in your games.

Some Amiibo are harder to find than others, but don’t worry if you miss out on a rare one.

Nintendo usually makes sure you can still get similar bonuses by playing the game.

Remember, Amiibo is meant to add extra fun, not to be a must-have for enjoying your games.

In the end, Amiibo is a cool way to connect your physical Nintendo collectibles with your digital gaming world.

Whether you decide to collect them or just use a few with your favorite games, they can add a bit of extra magic to your gaming experience.

What do you think about Amiibo? Share your thoughts in the comments!