Hello, Mario! launches today on the Switch eShop and on smartphones in Western territories as part of Nintendo's new My Mario line, a product range aimed specifically at infants and very young children. The free app first arrived in Japan in August of last year and has now been released more broadly.

Nintendo Life's Jim published impressions of the cute, tactile experience after using the Japanese release. The app reduces Mario to an oversized, expressive face that responds to simple touch interactions. Pulling on the nose, nudging the eyes or stretching the cheeks prompts immediate, playful animations and sound cues designed to reward repeated interaction.

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The mechanics are deliberately elementary and designed for tiny hands: large touch targets, bright, colourful art and instant feedback. The low-friction design and exaggerated facial reactions turn small gestures into satisfying, often funny results, which helps explain the app's appeal to infants and caregivers seeking gentle, age-appropriate digital play.

Hello, Mario! forms part of Nintendo's wider My Mario initiative, a line that centres on early-childhood engagement with familiar Nintendo characters and imagery. The approach prioritises safety and simplicity over traditional game structure, offering short bursts of interaction rather than goals, scores or complex controls.

Nintendo Life's write-up characterises the app as unexpectedly charming: the act of tugging and reshaping Mario's face produces consistently delightful responses, and the overall package is pitched squarely at very young children rather than veteran gamers. The app remains free to download on supported platforms.

The release underscores Nintendo's broader interest in expanding its audience through non-traditional products and services that leverage iconic characters in new, family-focused contexts.