Yesterday, Nintendo pulled back the curtain on the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. While the new console boasts a larger size and, presumably, better features, they kept mum on many of its capabilities. However, one particular line from their press release caught my attention—not in a worrying way, necessarily, but it did leave me a bit wistful. “Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2,” they announced. My first thought? I can’t help but suspect they’re hinting at Labo.
Labo might not have taken the world by storm, but in my book, it’s one of Nintendo’s most delightfully quirky and inventive endeavors—something I’m firmly willing to stand by. For those not fortunate enough to have pieced together a Labo kit, let’s take a stroll down memory lane.
Each kit came with an assortment of “Toy-Cons” for you to build using flat-packed cardboard. The assembly process, guided by an intuitive, interactive manual, was reminiscent of tackling an IKEA project. Once completed, all you had to do was slot the Switch Joy-Cons into these creations. Thanks to a mix of motion sensors, the crucial IR sensor on the right Joy-Con, and some clever software engineering, these bits of cardboard took on a whimsical life of their own. A piano, a steering wheel, a camera—these tangible Toy-Cons powered simple games and gave users the chance to design their own experiences, akin to what Nintendo later achieved with Game Builder Garage.
In essence, Labo was a marvel.
Reflecting back to our 2018 game of the year list, I described Labo as “one of the most ‘Nintendo’ projects ever made.” It’s a bittersweet feeling to consider how it faded away. The IR sensors absent in the new Switch 2 Joy-Cons are a stark reminder that Labo is very much a relic of the past. For now, though, allow me a moment to reminisce about its vibrant days and send a heartfelt nod to “Monster Cat,” my four-year-old’s nickname for the resident of the Variety Kit’s Toy-Con House. The cardboard house integrated the right Joy-Con in its chimney alongside the Switch display, and when you added various adapters to the other sides, it transformed the on-screen scenarios in charmingly simple, funny, and novel ways.
Constructing those paper to play things fostered countless fond memories, with Monster Cat at the center. My son kept his fictional feline friend close, its Toy-Con House a staple in our living room for years. This structure endured multiple repairs, while the battered adapters were patched with tape, glue, popsicle sticks, and stickers, standing as a testament to Labo’s innovative and enduring charm. Regrettably, our second child, born in 2018, didn’t get to enjoy the same Labo experiences.
When Labo’s liquidation came in 2021, I didn’t grasp the gravity at first. True to form, Nintendo was fairly reticent about its dismissal. They unofficially retired Labo, making its website disappear all while still claiming it was available. Retailers, as you can imagine, were thrilled to fill their backrooms with unsellable large boxes as the manufacturers abandoned basic marketing efforts.
Once the reality hit me, I found myself frantically chasing stock alerts and combing through big retail stores, only to find they’d promptly cleared out their stock. I did manage to pick up an extra VR Kit, but what I really needed was another Variety Kit. Our beloved Monster Cat was due for a new home. Although Nintendo released the design files to assist enthusiasts in recreating these kits—an admirable preservation effort—it’s proven challenging to find a viable plan. (If anyone out there can point me toward a solution, drop me an email!)
It’s understandable that some folks feel the Nintendo Switch 2 appears to play it safe, and the reveal didn’t really change that perception. The original Switch was a triumph after all, and we’re all rooting for the Switch 2 to follow suit. Still, I can’t help but hope the innovative spirit that birthed Labo doesn’t get tossed into the recycling. Perhaps that optical mouse sensor could spark some new creative chaos. Could a fresh generation of Monster Cat befriend a mouse?
(Monster Cat, you’ll forever have my heart.)
