Nintendo Labo Kits, Price, Release Date and Pre-Orders

Right timing, so if you were just wondering on what to buy for your kid as a present, hot on the heels of Switch, Nintendo has recently announced its latest innovation: Nintendo Labo. To cut a long story short, it’s a set of cardboard kits that turn your Switch into, well, anything.

The new Nintendo Labo kits will turn your Nintendo Switch video game console into an interactive toy. That’s why these new gaming add-ons are so exciting.

What Is Nintendo Labo?

Ok, so before you start naming your kids Nintendo Labo let me first of all explain to you all what that is. Nintendo Labo are Nintendo Switch accessories that inspire kids to make and create things. Set to launch this April, each kit comes with everything kids need to spark their imagination. One massive Nintendo Labo kit turns the Nintendo Switch into a working robot suit. Another kit lets kids make their own pianos with sound and motorbikes that have motion controls. Because each accessory is cardboard and comes with easy to follow instructions, kids can make them with or without adult supervision.

If you’ve ever worried that video game consoles don’t inspire creativity in your child the same way model kits and Lego creations do, Nintendo Labo is for your family. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

What is Nintendo Labo?

Nintendo LABO are accessory kits that encourage kids to create on their own. They fashion the robot suit, piano, fishing rod controller, house and other models out of the cardboard, string and rubber bands that come in one of two packs.

Cardboard creations are already popular, but it’s the way the Nintendo Switch and its controllers make these accessories interactive that is exciting. The models use the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllersas sensors and the Nintendo Switch itself as a touchscreen and processor. Kids can pretend they’re really fishing with the fishing rod Labo and the interactive game that comes with that kit, for example. The same goes for the piano, house and robot kits.

All told, Nintendo Labo seems inspired by the plastic toys that convinced millions to buy a Nintendo Wii. With plastic accessories, players turned the Wiimote into tennis rackets, steering wheels, fishing lines and other accessories designed to immerse them in gameplay. The main difference here is that kids get to build these extras themselves instead of being handed something pre-made. Also, these Nintendo Switch accessories don’t need to take up space in your home or end-up in a landfill. Because they’re cardboard, you can just throw them away.

Nintendo Labo Price & Release Date

That being said, once you see how much each Nintendo Labo kit costs, you may think twice about ever throwing a creation away. Nintendo has two Nintendo Labo Kits coming, each with their own theme, and neither of them are cheap.

The Nintendo Labo Robot Kit lets kids make a motion controlled robot suit that responds to their arm and feet movements. This kit is almost like buying a complete virtual reality game. It will cost $79.99 and also includes a companion Game Card to insert into the Switch.

Finally, there’s the Nintendo Labo Customization Set for $9.99. This isn’t a creation kit like the other two. Kids use it to customize their Labo creations. It comes with two tape rolls, two sticker sheets and two stencil sheets.