Surprise! Nintendo has announced free-to-start Pictonico, a new mobile game that uses your phone’s photo library to generate mini-games.
Pictonico integrates your photos and turns them into 80 minigames. “Sure, it’s kind of silly… But there’s no telling what will happen next!” Nintendo said.
“Here come your school’s sports stars… strutting down the red carpet! Your boss is hungry and needs your help! Try to wash away those embarrassing high-school memories,” the company added, describing the types of mini-games available. “Son won’t quiet down? Zip his mouth! Two old friends reconnect while skydiving! Grandpa dressed like a ballerina. Can’t miss this photo op.”
Turn your photos into silly minigames! Your camera roll comes alive in Pictonico!, launching on smart devices May 28th.
Pre-registration begins today: https://t.co/LkknQnwPXl pic.twitter.com/0wKHPNh6qc
— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) May 19, 2026
If that all sounds a little familiar, that’s because it is. Nintendo’s WarioWare games similarly bundles together very short mini-games, and you’re given just seconds to complete them before moving on or losing a life. Like the WarioWare games, the experiences in Pictonico will seemingly range from “easy to pretty tricky,” and while some games are free-to-start and playable as demos, you’ll need to purchase additional “volumes” to play them all, which will cost between $5.99 and $7.99.
Pictonico will release on May 28, and can be pre-ordered now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
It’s the latest effort in Nintendo’s attempt to diversify its catalog across mobile and console. In a 2015 interview, late CEO and president Satoru Iwata remarked that his main goal with mobile games is not necessarily to make money, but to advertise Nintendo properties to a brand new market. “We want more people to become familiar with Nintendo IP through Nintendo’s smart device game apps,” the former president said.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
