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After launching during the peak of the toys-to-life fad in 2014,Nintendois still manufacturing newAmiibofigures long after titles like Skylanders and Disney Infinity oversaturated the market with their toy-based software. Instead of creating a singular game that requires you to purchase Amiibo to enjoy, Nintendo decided it would be better to include Amiibo support in most of its titles that typically unlock non-essential items or cosmetics.
Officially, there are over 200 Amiibo figures to collect as of January 1st, 2023. Whether you’ve been buying Amiibo from the beginning or are interested in starting a collection, you might ask yourself one thing; Are Amiibo worth it?
Review
While TheGamer has never reviewed an Amiibo product before, we’ve continued to write about the current state of the toy line, how Amiibo affects specific titles, and what it’s like to collect them for nearly a decade.
Former news editorAndrea Shearon wrote about her excitement for Amiibo when they first launched. However, after collecting nearly all of them over the years, she is still unsure what most of them actually do. “… I love collecting these worthless toys. They bring me a lot of joy, and my darkest secret is that I’ve waited in-line for these things outside of retail stores before. I just…don’t know what they do”. Despite this, Andrea continues to purchase them because “I just think the things are neat and they make me happy.”
And even if I did already own the actual game, I don’t know which freakin’ Amiibo works with what. Like, I have a Wii Fit Trainer Amiibo. What is she for? Is she there for Smash? What if I just go ram her into my Switch over and over for all of my games, what treasures will I find?
While most Amiibo simply unlock cosmetic items or restores your health, a handful of figures became controversial after they launched for providing new features to anyone who purchased them. Specifically, the Zelda & Loftwing Amiibo forThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDangered fans for having the ability to fast travel from anywhere in the game locked behind it.
TheGamer’s Editor-in-Cheif Stacey Henley, wrote about Nintendo’s inability to simply include these features in the gameinstead of selling them to you as an add-on. “The problem comes with how [Amiibo] are integrated. With Skyward Sword, it’s not that the Amiibo players are getting a bonus, it’s that the non-Amiibo players are having features taken away from them.”
The biggest dilemma with purchasing Amiibo is figuring out what you want to get out of them. Some people like to buy them because they love the characters, while others might buy them to resell them for a higher price someday.
The best part about Amiibo is thatmost of them are completely non-essential to your gaming experience, and the ones that unlock new features are usually minor inconveniences more than anything else.
Amiibo Functionality
Aside from looking good on a shelf, owningAmiibo can also earn you in-game benefits and content.As mentioned with the Zelda & Loftwing figure, some Amiibo will offer you more bang for your buck than others.
All Amiibo can be categorized by looking at the base of the figure. Most of them are from theSuper Smash Bros.line, but you can also find Amiibo designed for use in games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,Animal Crossing, and even third-party titles likeDark SoulsandMonster Hunter.
Super Smash Bros. was one of the first series to have Amiibo support, and it still has one of the most unique - but underutilized - functions for them. you may tap any Super Smash Bros. Amiibo into the game, and train it to fight on its own. They learn from fighting you, so if you jump around a lot, the Amiibo fighter will also bounce around during battles. After training your character, you can have them fight a friend’s Amiibo to see who comes out on top.
While Smash Bros. Amiibo started back in 2014 with the launch of the Wii U version of the game, the end is finally in sight nearly a decade later. Once the Sora figure comes out on February 16th, 2024,every character in the game will officially be available as an Amiibo.
Of all of Nintendo’s titles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may have the best Amiibo support.Aside from a new line of figures specifically made for the game that provides classic outfits and weapons, the best unlockable feature comes from using the coveted Wolf Link Amiibo that launched alongsideThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HDfor the Wii U. Using it in Breath of the Wild summons Wolf Link as a companion that travels with you, attacks enemies, and sniffs out hidden treasure.
Using Amiibo in games likeMario Kart 8 Deluxe,Splatoon, andFire Emblemunlocks new outfits to wear, while most other titles simply use them to restore a tiny amount of health. It’s recommended to check the back of the Amiibo box to see how they can benefit your experience.
Not all Amiibo look the same, as Nintendo also launched a line of Animal Crossing Amiibo cards. There is one for every villager, and owning one allows you to have them move onto your island inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsinstead of slowly waiting for them to show up. There are over 400 Animal Crossing Amiibo cards, and you can purchase them in booster packs that contain six cards each.
Cost
Most Amiibo figures are sold individually for$15.99 USDat launch. Certain Amiibo like Detective Pikachu and Mega Yarn Yoshi retailed for more due to their size, but the majority of Amiibo begin at that base price. Occasionally, Nintendo will release Amiibo in either a2-pack or 3-packthat can cost anywhere from$29.99 USDto$49.99 USD.Animal Crossing Amiibo Cardsretail for$5.99 USD.
Nintendo only manufactures a limited amount of figures at a time, which has caused theresale value of some Amiibo to spike upto over$200 USD. Thankfully, most used Amiibo should only cost you between$25and$70 USD, but collectors may have to pay hundreds of dollars to obtain certain characters and complete the set.
What Players Are Saying
As Collectibles, Not Playables - Helen Ashcroft
Amiibo has never really taken off in terms of the in-game features on offer. Being able to take a photo with a villager I don’t yet have on my Animal Crossing island is not as exciting as Nintendo thinks it is.
However, if you can lay your hands on the figures, rather than the cards, many of them are adorable. They are well crafted, durable, and a nice size. Amiibo figures get a thumbs-up, I just wish they actually felt useful in games.
They’re Worth It With The Right Mindset - Branden Lizardi
With the additional NFC functionality of Amiibo, it’s easy to become excited about their potential. And in that regard, they don’t really deliver; their uses are indifferent at best. But as a piece of branded memorabilia, they’re great! Finding figurines of that size, for that price, without being a third-party knockoff isn’t easy.
If you want merch and don’t care about how they might augment your games, then they’re worth it.
Hang Out With Your Amiibros - James Kennedy
Are Amiibos incorporated thoughtfully into enough games to make their existence feel necessary? Nope. But are they beautifully crafted? Absolutely. And hey, they typically aren’t super expensive. I have Mega Man and Richter chillin' with me. I don’t regret purchasing them for a second, even if I have literallyneverused them for anything.
If an Amiibo catches your eye, I say indulge. You could accuse Amiibos of being useless, but I would argue that looking awesome is a use of sorts.
Affordable Figures For Collectors, If They’re Available - Rebecca Phillips
If you’re looking to reap the rewards of Amiibo in your games, they’re probably not worth it, but if you’re into collecting figures, they’re definitely a more affordable option than others on the market.
The quality and detail of newer Amiibo figures are great for the retail price, but if you want the Amiibos of more popular characters or older releases, be prepared to spend more from second-hand sellers, or wait for the Nintendo store’s extremely rare restocks.
Find Your Favorites - Quinton O’Connor
I’ve been purchasing Amiibo off and on for years. But, from the outset, I convinced myself that it’s not worth attempting to become a full-blown collector. I have watched in secondhand despair as friends feel the sting of missing out on the too-short preorder phase. More often than not, they’ve chosen to pay outlandish prices through eBay and other sites in order to secure the latest prize.
Sure, most collectors encounter friction when approaching their preferred interests with a completionist mentality. But Amiibo collectors have it rough. Unless you have a great deal of disposable income, my recommendation is to seek out the stuff that matters to you the most. In my case, that’s The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, and Xenoblade Chronicles, and let me tell you, it’s hard enough as-is.
Primarily For The Looks, Functionality Comes Second - Hilton Webster
I am, unfortunately, an Amiibo collector. It only happened recently and it’s immediately become an affliction. I started with Wolf Link, so I could get the little companion in Breath of the Wild, but with only two hearts, I didn’t use him much. I now have six Amiibo for no reason other than they look pretty.
So if you see an Amiibo and try to convince yourself you’ll get great use out of them - stop, because you won’t. It’s not worth the absurd resale price. They are, however, surprisingly high-quality statues for their price if you may get them direct from Nintendo with the added benefit of maybe, sometimes, having an in-game use.
