Nintendo Announces WarioWare-Like Pictonico! for Mobile

Nintendo has announced Pictonico!, a wacky collection of comically chaotic minigames that is highly reminiscent of WarioWare. The title comes from Intelligent Systems, the developer behind the WarioWare series. Such low-key announcements are how Nintendo sometimes surprises the world with new projects that most people won't even see at first.

Nintendo teases that players can lick lollipops, summon genies, defend against zombies, and more. All of these minigames feature the faces of family and friends. Pictonico! is a mobile game that makes clever use of the phone's built-in camera.

The trailer shows a player taking a photo of someone, and that picture is used by the game to make a face-stretching minigame similar to the iconic one in Super Mario 64. The trailer makes it look much more fun than a basic description might suggest, assuming players have friends or family willing to participate. Those who enjoy using Apple's Photo Booth with pals or the offbeat humor of games like Tomodachi Life might find Pictonico! appealing.

Nintendo says it won't use photos in any way. YouTube commenters have remarked that this feels like something that would be pre-installed on the 3DS, with one joking "Close enough, welcome back Face Raiders."

Pictonico! will be released on May 28. Users can pre-register for it now. Nintendo has not shared pricing yet, but the official website notes the game is free-to-start. A demo that includes a handful of minigames will also be available for those unsure about spending money on the experience.