Suffice to say the Nintendo Switch[1] is a hit beyond what anyone could have expected. The versatile, modular console sold more than 10 million units in its first 10 months, and became the fastest-selling console in US history. That's all the more impressive given Switches were nearly impossible to find in the console's early months, as Nintendo (like everyone else) seriously underestimated its appeal.
For Nintendo, then, 2018 becomes a year of doubling down. The Switch is working, so the company's eagerly looking for ways to extend its reach. That could come from more games, certainly, or apps like Netflix that would help the device replicate a more traditional tablet. But first, Nintendo is releasing Labo, a new line of DIY toys that attach to either the Switch itself or a Joy-Con controller to let you play completely new kinds of games.
Nintendo
The Labo line is two things: a lot of new games, and a lot of cardboard toys. You build the toy, attach the controllers and console, and use it as a new accessory. Think of the steering wheel you bought for the Wii's Mario Kart game, or the gun you used to use to play Duck Hunt. This is that and then some, all made of cardboard.
Whatever you buy from Labo will come in a kit, which includes a cartridge and a series of flat, pre-cut cardboard sheets. Pop in the cartridge and follow the instructions to build your accessory (Nintendo calls them Toy-Cons), and you're off and running. The toys themselves vary wildly: you can build a fishing rod to play a fishing game, a piano for a music app, even a robot suit with a backpack and visor that'll make you feel...