Amiibos are pretty special. A Nintendo creation, not only do they allow fans to own little figures modeled after some of their favorite characters, but those characters can get you stuff in their corresponding games. Tap an amiibo to your Nintendo Switch, and it will unlock items or help you out in some other way, providing you own the game that particular amiibo is compatible with.
Researching which amiibos do what is a good place to start if you're trying to figure out which ones to buy first or next. Arguably though, above all else, you want amiibos that are actually pulled from series you love that will look good when on display in your home. With Nintendo releasing new amiibos at a steady pace, it can be hard to keep up with which characters have been immortalized as part of the growing collection. That's why we've gathered together some of our favorites, compiling a diverse enough guide that there should be something for every amiibo-hunting Switch owner below.
Best Nintendo Amiibo Figures
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Link Amiibo
Hyrule's Only Hope
Tears of the Kingdom will more than likely be 2023's Game of the Year, so it only makes sense that we kick off this list here. Link using his new Ultrahand ability in amiibo form.
- Link's latest look as an amiibo
- Unlock's an in-game fabric for your glider
- Why are you buying amiibo when you should be rescuing Zelda?
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom isn't only the biggest game of 2023, it might well be the biggest game of all time. Anyone who has played even a little bit of it will know this is an incredibly special game. Remarkable for so many reasons, that it runs on the Switch and is built on the same map as Breath of the Wild being among them. Any collectible that reminds me how special a game we got via Tears Of The Kingdom is very welcome in my collection.
Metroid Dread E.M.M.I. Amiibo
Where's Samus When You Need Her?
EMMI are some of the most terrifying enemies a video game developer has ever dreamt up. Why wouldn't you want an amiibo of one to remind you of that?
- Terrific recreation of a phenomenal enemy
- Casual reminder that you should go back and play Dread again
- These ones won't relentlessly chase you
- Reminded of how scary they are every time you look at it
Metroid Dread quite literally changed the way I think about video games, so anything I can get my hands on that reminds me of my time with the game is quickly going to find a home in my collection. Even if that something is an EMMI, one of the most terrifying enemies I have ever faced in a game. The feeling you get when one spots Samus and chases her until Metroid's hero is either dead or somewhere the EMMI can't reach is one I get just by looking at its amiibo. That's a good thing, I think.
Pikmin Amiibo
Pikmin Is Finally Back, Baby!
After a ten-year wait, Pikmin is finally back. You can celebrate that by adding a Pikmin amiibo to your collection, although thanks to its limited run, it's probably going to cost you.
- Won't keep dying like they do in the game
- An assortment of different Pikmin for your literal desktop
- Very rare, hence the steep price
Pikmin fans, rejoice! After a ten-year wait, Pikmin 4 has finally launched and the series continues. Other than playing the game itself, which you may well have done by the time you read this, the best way to celebrate that is by adding a Pikmin amiibo to your collection. Featuring a smattering of different Pikmin - my personal favorite is the rock one - the only downside, and it's a significant one, is the price. Since Nintendo only sold this amiibo for a limited time, it is currently very expensive on the sites where you can find it. Do keep checking back though as if the amiibo gets another run, the price will drop and line up with how much other figures cost.
Minecraft Steve And Alex Amiibos
New Amiibos On The Block
Minecraft's Steve and Alex are now playable characters in Super Smash Bros. That means even though they're not Nintendo creations, they have their own amiibos, available separately or as a part of this handy two-pack.
- Non-Nintendo characters as amiibos, what a time to be alive
- Twice the amiibos for a little less than twice the price
- Not the most intricate amiibos, but hey, that's Minecraft
I know it says right there at the top that this a guide for the very best Nintendo amiibos, but technically, Minecraft's Steve and Alex are a part of the Nintendo family too now. Not just because they have been playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for a while now, but also because Minecraft on Switch is a very big deal. Not only does it make a lot of sense for you to own Nintendo's Minecraft amiibos if you play either of those games, but Steve and Alex are sold as a pair. You can buy them separately if you inexplicably hate one of them, though.
Banjo & Kazooie Amiibo
Show The World We Want More Banjo & Kazooie
A dormant series for so long, Banjo & Kazooie fans were given a little victory in 2019 when the characters were added to Smash Ultimate. That means they also have their own amiibo.
- Two characters in one amiibo
- The closest thing to a new game we're probably going to get
- A constant reminder that we're not getting more Banjo & Kazooie
Sticking with honorary Nintendo characters, let's move swiftly on to Banjo & Kazooie. Much like Minecraft's Alex and Steve, Banjo & Kazooie have become a part of Nintendo canon through the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster, hence the pair getting their very own amiibo. Their addition to the fighting game was a huge win for fans of their series as it has been dormant for years with zero sign of it ever getting a revival. 15 years have passed since the last installment in the main series, and unlike every other platformer from that era, Banjo & Kazooie doesn't even appear to be getting a remaster or two, let alone an entirely new game.
Detective Pikachu Amiibo
Is That You, Ryan Reynolds?
Detective Pikachu on the Nintendo 3DS is finally getting a sequel. Launching in October 2023, there has never been a better time to pick up the original game's accompanying amiibo.
- The perfect excuse to dust off your Nintendo 3DS
- Might well be useful again when the sequel launches
- Only currently compatible with the Nintendo 3DS
- Another expensive one due to its limited availability
That Detective Pikachu sequel we've been hearing about for years finally has a release date. No, not the movie, although I'd love to see it, but the game on which that movie is based. That's right, the video game adaptation that arguably kicked off a new era of gaming movies and shows that people actually like was spun from a bizarre Pokemon title that not many people have played or even heard of. Get to know it though as it's great and I have no doubt its sequel will be too. Plus, this amiibo might get a second run, and a new use, when Detective Pikachu Returns launches on Nintendo Switch in October.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Revali Amiibo
Damn, I Miss Revali's Gale
Breath of the Wild featured some special characters who granted Link terrific abilities. Is it even up for debate that Revali's Gale was the very best of those abilities? Of course it was.
- Revive Revali's Gale
- The best companion in Breath of the Wild (sorry, Yunobo)
- Another rare and expensive one, but not quite as steep as some others
I love Tears of the Kingdom, but there's no getting around how much I miss the abilities Link left behind in Breath of the Wild. Most notably Revali's Gale. Being able to send Link soaring up into the sky by summoning Revali was quite literally a game-changer. Yeah, Tulin's ability to summon wind in the sequel is cool, but since it doesn't blow me directly up into the sky, it can't get me out of a jam or aid me in my constant quest to avoid spending half of my 150 hours in the game climbing.
FAQ
What Do Amiibos Do?
Other than look good, amiibos actually have a function. There's no one specific thing they all do as each brings something unique to the game, or games, it is associated with. Super Smash Bros. amiibos, for example, will add the corresponding character to your roster when tapped on your Nintendo Switch. The Legend of Zelda amiibos, on the other hand, will unlock different fabrics for your glider in Tears of the Kingdom and usually give you a few items too.
What Is The Rarest Amiibo?
One of the most annoying things about amiibos is how limited most of them are. Nintendo will release a new figure and after they sell out, they can sometimes be out of stock forever. That leads to a lot of them becoming very rare pretty quickly. One amiibo is considered rarer than any other though, and that's the Qbby BoxBoy amiibo. Exclusively released in Japan, and only available to people who bought a physical copy of BoxBoy, it's no wonder this particular amiibo is so hard to come by.
How Do You Use Amiibos?
I've repeatedly said throughout this guide that all you need to do to make use of your amiibos is tap them on your Nintendo Switch. While it isn't quite as simple as that, it isn't very hard at all. All you need to do is hold the amiibo over your right joystick to scan it. If it's a figure that will reward you with in-game items, the rewards should appear wherever you are pointing with your left stick on-screen.