Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNintendo’s Hello apps are free, simple touch-play experiences for young children and caregivers. Poke, stretch or spin Mario and other characters, add familiar objects, and play peekaboo. You can use them on supported iPhone and Android devices or Nintendo Switch systems; internet is needed to download an app, but Nintendo says you can play offline afterward.
What do the Nintendo Hello apps do?
These are character-play apps, not conventional games built around levels, scores or challenges. In Hello, Mario!, touching Mario’s face makes his expressions change. You can poke, pull or spin it, add objects such as Super Mushrooms, Super Stars, pipes and enemies, and play peekaboo with Boo. Nintendo describes the experience as playing with Mario’s face and its expressions (Nintendo Support).
The wider My Mario app collection applies similar interactions to other characters: pull Yoshi’s tongue, take Mario’s cap, hatch Yoshi, make Luigi’s eyebrows droop or brush Peach’s hair. The exact interactions depend on the character and app.
After a while, characters get tired and go to sleep, temporarily pausing play. Nintendo says the sleep feature in Hello, Mario! can be turned off in the app’s startup settings. It is an in-app pause feature, not evidence of a health or developmental benefit.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Which Hello apps are available, and where?
Nintendo UK’s My Mario apps page, checked October 7, 2026, listed Hello, Mario! and Hello, Yoshi! for smart devices and Nintendo Switch. It also listed Switch downloads of Hello, Luigi! and Hello, Peach!, with smart-device versions marked “Coming later.” The page showed October 6, 2026 as the Switch release date for Luigi and Peach. These are UK listing details; availability and dates can differ by region, so check the Nintendo and mobile app stores for your location (Nintendo UK: My Mario apps).
Nintendo lists Switch 2 compatibility for the Switch downloads, and its Hello, Mario! product page says the app is playable on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Get the app through the relevant official storefront rather than assuming every title is available on every platform in your region.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
What do you need to use Hello, Mario!?
Choose a compatible device from the options below. Nintendo’s published requirements are minimums, not a guarantee that every device meeting them will run the app correctly (Nintendo Support: supported devices).
| Device | What Nintendo lists |
|---|---|
| iPhone or iPad | iOS 15 or later. |
| Android phone or tablet | Android 6.0 or later, at least 2 GB RAM, a 64-bit CPU and OpenGL ES 3.0 or later. Nintendo warns that meeting these requirements does not ensure proper operation on every device. |
| Nintendo system | Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 for the console version. |
Android compatibility caveats
Nintendo says Chromebooks and devices with x86 or x86-64 processors are unsupported; some PowerVR devices may also be unsupported. Installation may be possible with 1 GB RAM, but Nintendo says the app will not operate properly without 2 GB or more. Check the device’s specifications and the app-store listing before downloading.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Internet, price and accounts
Nintendo says internet is required to download Hello, Mario!, but not to play after download. Nintendo describes the app and Switch download as free (Nintendo: Hello, Mario!; Nintendo: My Mario collection). The Nintendo sources cited here do not establish that a Nintendo Account or Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to use the Hello apps; do not confuse them with the separate Nintendo Switch App or other online services.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you use a phone, tablet or Switch?
The practical choice is the screen and compatible device you already have. A phone is portable, a tablet offers a larger touch surface, and a Switch provides a larger shared screen. The basic play depends on touching the screen, so the smart-device versions suit direct touch interaction; the sources do not establish that one platform has better gameplay. A tablet is optional, not a requirement.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
My Mario extends beyond apps into physical products. Nintendo’s U.S. announcement describes wooden blocks, infant and toddler apparel, an interactive board book, plush toys and TOMY bath toys, and names Mattel Fisher-Price and TOMY as partners. Those products are separate from the free apps, and selection and stock vary by market (Nintendo: My Mario collection).
Quick Recap
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
