Nintendo Niino Concept Shows What a Modern Gaming Smartwatch Might Look Like

Photo credit: Fabio Zuccoli via YankoDesign
If Nintendo made a gaming smartwatch, it might look like the Nintendo Niino concept by Fabio Zuccoli. In simple terms, it’s a small, wristwatch-like device with a touchscreen and three physical buttons, just enough for basic gaming controls.

It’s built to play microgames (short, easy games) and connect with bigger Nintendo games in a limited way, especially for titles like Pokémon GO. For instance, the Niino lets you catch Pokémon (like a Snorlax or Gyarados) in Pokémon GO without using your phone. You’d get a notification on your wrist, press a few buttons, and the Pokémon would go to your collection.

The device comes in one color but has themed wristbands (like for Kirby, Super Mario, Pokémon, or Sonic), letting you customize it like a Nintendo Switch. The Niino aims to fix problems like phone battery drain from games like Pokémon GO and is designed for casual gaming on the go, so you can play during daily activities like eating, shopping, or getting coffee.



As previously mentioned, designer Fabio Zuccoli pictures the Niino supporting games from series like Kirby, Super Mario, Pokémon, and Sonic, made to work with its simple controls and tiny screen. Complex games like Mario Kart wouldn’t work, but basic, retro-style games or side features for bigger titles would be a great fit.


Think of the Niino as a modern version of Nintendo’s Game & Watch devices from the ‘80s and ‘90s, which were portable, single-game LCD gadgets, often the size of a calculator or small pager, with simple buttons and sometimes a D-pad. Some, like the Wrist Watch series (e.g., Time-Out or Mario the Juggler), looked like digital watches with a strap and a small screen for gameplay. These were Nintendo’s first big handheld hit, before the Game Boy, and were designed by Gunpei Yokoi, who also created the Game Boy.
[Source]