Nintendo plans on getting real weird with it, bringing a new WarioWare-style collection of microgames to mobile platforms just as summer starts.

If you're a fan of Nintendo's IP, chances are you're aware of their propensity for what the publisher calls "microgames." Mario Party is one famous example, as are games in the WarioWare series.

Microgames are exactly what they sound like.

They're very, very short games; I'd argue that calling them "minigames" is fairly inaccurate. Each game is designed to be played in mere seconds and is often reaction-time based.

In late May, Nintendo is bringing a new microgame collection to iPhone, iPad, and Android. Dubbed Pictonico!, players use photos they've taken for a personalized spin on the genre.

According to Nintendo, you'll be able to do all the weird things you'd expect. Pluck nose hairs, walk the red carpet, feed your family and friends, strike body building poses, and more.

Nintendo says the game is "free to start," which means you'll be able to demo a handful of the games for free. Additional games, of which Nintendo says there are 80, are available as in-app purchases.

If you want to play Pictonico, you can preorder it now ahead of the May 28 launch date. According to the App Store page, your photos are not sent to Nintendo.

In memoriam

We're not entirely sure how long Pictonico! will last on the App Store. Nintendo has an interesting habit of killing off many of its mobile titles a few years into their lifespan.

Miitomo, Nintendo's social networking game, made its debut in 2015 and shuttered in very early 2018.

Dr. Mario World suffered a similar fate, launching in 2019 only to be unceremoniously discontinued in 2021.

Perhaps the title with the shortest lifespan of all was Pokemon Rumble Rush, which barely made it past its first birthday before Nintendo pulled the plug.

Of course, sometimes Nintendo doesn't fully kill off its titles, either.

Mario Kart Tour, for example, launched in 2019. While the game is still available, no major additions have been unveiled since 2023.

Nintendo released Animal Crossing Pocket Camp in 2017, a free-to-play social game for mobile platforms. Seven years after that, the company decided to end its run.

However, instead of simply letting the game go dark, Nintendo created an offline-only version, which is still available.