# Amiibo
**Amiibo** (stylized amiibo) is a line of toys-to-life figurines and cards made by Nintendo that contain near-field communication (NFC) chips; tapping one to a compatible console's NFC reader unlocks characters, bonuses, or other perks in compatible games, and some games can save data back to the toy.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/) The line launched in 2014 alongside *Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS*, and unlike its main competitors it is not tied to a single game: one figure can function in many Nintendo titles across different franchises.[2](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-amiibo-isn-t-mimicking-skylanders-disney-infinity/1100-6420596/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Nintendo's toys-to-life line of NFC-enabled figurines and cards, launched in 2014[3](https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/98900/hybrid_playful_experiences_2016.pdf?sequence=1) |
| First wave | Twelve figures based on the *Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS* cast: Mario, Link, Samus Aran, Kirby, Fox, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Peach, Marth, Yoshi, Villager, and Wii Fit Trainer[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/amiibos-vs-skylanders-vs-disney-infinity/) |
| Key distinction | Compatible with multiple games from different franchises, and no separate "portal" peripheral is needed[2](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-amiibo-isn-t-mimicking-skylanders-disney-infinity/1100-6420596/) |
| Data model | An amiibo can hold save data for one game at a time; games are either Read-only or Read/Write compatible[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/) |
| How it is used | Tapped to the right Joy-Con's stick or the Pro Controller's NFC touchpoint, the Wii U GamePad reader, or built-in readers on New 3DS/New 2DS systems[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/) |
| Ongoing releases | New figures continue in the Switch 2 era, including Street Fighter 6 figures in June 2025 and a Kirby Air Riders series through 2026[5](https://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-switch-2-guide/) • [6](https://www.nintendo.com/sg/hardware/amiibo/lineup/index.html) |
## How amiibo work
Each amiibo contains an NFC chip that communicates with a reader built into the console or controller. On [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch), the toy is tapped to the right Joy-Con controller's stick or the NFC touchpoint on the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller; on [Wii U](https://www.edgepedia.org/wii-u), to the GamePad's NFC reader; and on New Nintendo 3DS XL and [New Nintendo 2DS XL](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-nintendo-2ds-xl) systems, to the reader on the lower screen. Original Nintendo 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS systems need the separately sold Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/)
What a tap does depends on the game. Some titles grant bonus content just for tapping, which Nintendo calls Read-only compatibility; for example, the Mario figure gives a special racing suit for the player's Mii in *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*. Read/Write compatible games also save data to the toy, such as a customized fighter in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*. An amiibo can hold save data for one game at a time, so data must be deleted before it can be used with another Read/Write game, though a figure with saved data still works in Read-only games.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/)
Nintendo states that amiibo are optional: every amiibo-compatible game can be fully enjoyed without one, and tapping simply adds new elements to the gameplay.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/)
## Place in the toys-to-life market
The toys-to-life genre, in which physical toys with embedded wireless chips interact with video games, began when [Activision](https://www.edgepedia.org/activision) introduced [Skylanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/skylanders) in 2011, broadened with Disney's Disney Infinity in 2013, and gained Warner Bros.' Lego Dimensions in the fall of 2015.[3](https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/98900/hybrid_playful_experiences_2016.pdf?sequence=1) • [7](https://gamesbeat.com/skylanders-vs-amiibo-vs-disney-infinity-vs-lego-dimensions-the-state-of-toys-to-life-games/) Nintendo entered in 2014 with a different model. Rather than bringing playable characters into one dedicated game, amiibo figures grant access to companion or competitor characters, and they are not attached to a particular game but function in varied ways with existing and upcoming Nintendo titles.[8](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/06/parent_trap_amiibo_charts_a_fresh_course_in_the_toys_to_life_sector) • [3](https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/98900/hybrid_playful_experiences_2016.pdf?sequence=1)
Nintendo's then-president [Satoru Iwata](https://www.edgepedia.org/satoru-iwata) credited Skylanders and [Disney Infinity](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-infinity) with preparing Western consumers for the concept, noting that before amiibo launched, awareness that toy figures on a store shelf could do something fun with a game differed greatly between Japan and the rest of the world.[9](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/skylanders-and-disney-infinity-helped-make-amiibo/1100-6425612/)
The lines also overlapped directly at least once.
## Forms and compatibility
Amiibo come in different shapes and sizes, from high-quality character figures to super-portable cards, such as the [Animal Crossing](https://www.edgepedia.org/animal-crossing) cards used to invite characters to an island in *Animal Crossing: New Horizons*.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/) Compatibility and functionality vary by game: some titles let you play as the amiibo character, as in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*, where you can battle, train, and level up the figure's character, while others only offer bonuses or special items.[1](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/)
## Later history
While Skylanders and Disney Infinity ended, amiibo releases have continued. New figures launched alongside the [Nintendo Switch 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch-2) era, including [Street Fighter 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/street-fighter-6) figures for fighters Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly on June 5, 2025, which unlock exclusive in-game content and the ability to save and load a character's outfit, control style, and button settings.[5](https://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-switch-2-guide/) Nintendo's lineup page lists figures scheduled years ahead, including a Meta Knight & Shadow Star figure for the [Kirby Air Riders](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirby-air-riders) series dated March 5, 2026, and notes that release dates may change without notice.[6](https://www.nintendo.com/sg/hardware/amiibo/lineup/index.html) In Nintendo's financial reporting, amiibo are counted within dedicated video game platform hardware sales as accessories.[11](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260203_2e.pdf)
## References
1. [amiibo – Nintendo Official Site](https://www.nintendo.com/us/amiibo/)
2. [Nintendo: amiibo Isn't Mimicking Skylanders, Disney Infinity – GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-amiibo-isn-t-mimicking-skylanders-disney-infinity/1100-6420596/)
3. [Hybrid Playful Experiences (2016), University of Tampere](https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/98900/hybrid_playful_experiences_2016.pdf?sequence=1)
4. [Amiibo vs. Skylanders vs. Disney Infinity – GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/amiibos-vs-skylanders-vs-disney-infinity/)
5. [Everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2 – GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/nintendo-switch-2-guide/)
6. [amiibo Line-Up – Nintendo](https://www.nintendo.com/sg/hardware/amiibo/lineup/index.html)
7. [Skylanders vs. Amiibo vs. Disney Infinity vs. Lego Dimensions – GamesBeat](https://gamesbeat.com/skylanders-vs-amiibo-vs-disney-infinity-vs-lego-dimensions-the-state-of-toys-to-life-games/)
8. [Parent Trap: Amiibo Charts A Fresh Course In The Toys To Life Sector – Nintendo Life](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/06/parent_trap_amiibo_charts_a_fresh_course_in_the_toys_to_life_sector)
9. [Skylanders And Disney Infinity Helped Make Amiibo Successful in The West – GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/skylanders-and-disney-infinity-helped-make-amiibo/1100-6425612/)
10. [Toys-to-life buyer's guide – WIRED](https://www.wired.com/story/toys-to-life-guide-2015/)
11. [Nintendo Financial Results Explanatory Material, FY ending March 2026 Q3](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260203_2e.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Franchises and series › Nintendo-owned franchises › Nintendogs, Wii Sports, Ring Fit, and hardware-tied series*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license