Nintendo releases a new Mario app that isn't a game, but packs lots of fun

Just as it promised, Nintendo has released the Hello, Mario! app. The app is part of the My Mario collection of products, games, and experiences Nintendo has designed for kids and their parents.

Available as a free download on the App Store for Apple devices, Play Store for Android phones and tablets, and the eShop for the Nintendo Switch 2, Switch (OLED), and Switch Lite, the app allows users to interact with Mario in a variety of ways.

Using their fingers, kids can pull, poke, drag, or spin Mario around to get different reactions. They can also remove his hat, pull his mustache, and have him interact with familiar characters and objects from the Mario universe. There's also the option to play a game of peekaboo with the Nintendo mascot.

The Hello, Mario! app has got built-in breaks as Mario will get tired after a while and eventually fall asleep. During this period, he won't respond to any interaction. Parents can use this as a chance to let their wards take a break from screen time, too.

In addition to the app, Nintendo has also begun selling some of the other products from the My Mario collection at its stores in New York and San Francisco. There are also some products available on Amazon such as a Mushroom sensory grab toy for infants that costs $7.99.