Hello, Mario! app brings interactive fun for kids

Nintendo is launching the free Hello, Mario! app on iOS, Android, and Switch this month in Japan. The app offers a simple yet charming twist: kids can poke, stretch, and fling Mario’s smiling face around, with the character reacting in lively ways. Inspired by Super Mario 64’s iconic title screen, it’s more of a digital toy than a game, made for quick laughs rather than deep play.

Hello, Mario! app arrives with My Mario collection

Alongside the app, Nintendo is rolling out its My Mario line for toddlers and young fans. The range includes plush dolls, teething toys, child-friendly tableware, and an interactive board book. Everything centers around Mario’s familiar face, creating a consistent and playful theme across the collection.

Mario Claymation Show Launches With Nintendo’s New My Mario Line

Hello, Mario! app may not hook adults

Older fans might not spend long with the app, but the merchandise has broader appeal. Many parents will be tempted by the standout items: wooden building block sets.

Here’s what’s in the two sets:

• Small set with Mario, a mushroom, and a question block (3 pieces, ¥2,980 / ~$20)
• Large set with Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, warp pipe, and more (30 pieces, ¥19,980 / ~$135)

The character blocks double as functional Amiibo figures for Switch, making them more than just display pieces.

My Mario collection hits stores on August 26

The My Mario products launch in Nintendo’s Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto stores on August 26. The Hello, Mario! app releases the same day. Nintendo hasn’t said if the app will get an English version, but some toys will expand to wider markets next year.

Hello, Mario! app shows Nintendo’s playful side

This is Nintendo in its purest form, less about competition, more about charm. Even in a screen-saturated era, they’ve found a way to make a digital face feel tactile. The fun here isn’t in the score, but in the smile.