Amiibos: What are they, what do they do and should you get one?

Nintendo’s Amiibo figures are hitting store shelves on November 21st. These little guys unlock content in current and future Nintendo titles. They are similar to Skylander and Disney Infinity but unlike the latter, they are not required to play the game; they just give you a little something extra. Currently, only the Wii U supports Amiibo as the technology was included in the console from the get-go. The current 3DS doesn’t but the upcoming revamped model will.

I’ve had the Kirby and Samus Aran figures for about a week now and here are my thoughts on the Amiibos.

Kirby and Samus Amiibo figurines and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U © Catherine Smith-Desbiens / Girls on Games

What do they do?

Right now, they are only compatible with 3 Wii U titles. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, they unlock a level-able NPC fighter that you can train and customize, eventually making it the ultimate sidekick for your multiplayer matches. Your fighter’s data is stored in the Amiibo’s chip. In Hyrule Warriors, Link will unlock a special weapon, tap Zelda once per day to get a high rated weapon, tap any other once per day to get a lower rated weapon and a crafting bonus. In Mario Kart 8, a one time tap will unlock a racing suit for your Mii based on the original characters’ look. Not all figures work with every game so check on compatibility before buying your Amiibo.

Should I get one?

It might be too early for you to rush to the store and get the whole set as only 3 games and 1 console support them. The offering may be slim for now but expect future Nintendo titles to include Amiibos in some way or another. These figures do have a huge advantage of the likes of Disney Infinity as they are used in more than one game. My suggestion is to get your favourite character(s) and hold on to them. Expect your $15 investment to pay off in the next year or so as those little microchipped plastic figures will unlock exclusive content in future Nintendo releases.