Amiibo is a type of interactive toy and game controller developed by Nintendo. It's short for "Animal Crossing: amiibo," which was the first series released in 2014, featuring characters from the Animal Crossing video game franchise. The name comes from combining the words "amiable" and "figure."
Amiibo figures are NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled toys that can interact with various games on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch consoles. When placed on a compatible gaming device, an amiibo figure will store data from the game it is used in, allowing players to save their progress or unlock bonus content.
Amiibo figures are also collectible items for fans of various Nintendo franchises such as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon. Each series features different characters and designs, making them popular among gamers and collectors alike.