How to find the right Nintendo Switch Interactive Gaming Figures AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Nintendo Switch Interactive Gaming Figures
- Game support
- Check that the specific game you own lists amiibo support, and what the figure unlocks in it. Unlocks vary widely, from cosmetic items to whole modes, and many games ignore amiibo entirely.
- NFC reader
- Switch and Switch Lite read amiibo through the right Joy-Con stick or the Lite's built-in reader. Switch 2 uses the right Joy-Con 2 stick or a compatible Pro Controller. All current Switch hardware reads amiibo, but you need a controller that has the reader.
- Figure versus card
- amiibo cards hold the same NFC data as figures for that character. Cards are the cheaper, compact option when you want the unlock rather than the collectible.
- Character-specific unlocks
- Some games give unique content only for a specific character's amiibo, such as the matching series' characters. Buying the wrong character can mean you get only a generic bonus.
Brands that matter
- Nintendo amiibo: The only interactive figure line broadly supported across Switch games.
- Ubisoft Starlink: Battle for Atlas: Toys-to-life ships that worked only with that game and are now discontinued.
What to avoid
- Unlicensed NFC tags or cards that copy amiibo data, which can break Nintendo's terms
- Skylanders, Disney Infinity or LEGO Dimensions figures bought for Switch-native games, since those reader-based systems don't work with Switch amiibo games
- Paying collector premiums for a figure when an amiibo card unlocks the same content
Questions
Do I need amiibo to finish games?
Almost never. They usually add bonus items, costumes or shortcuts rather than required content.