Amiibo

amiibo is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines and cards to the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch video game consoles. amiibo functionality can be used directly with these consoles by using their built-in NFC readers, though the original Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL require an official NFC adapter to also be used. amiibo are typically compatible with multiple different games and will unlock bonus content or affect gameplay once read.

amiibo was first introduced to the with a range of cards and figurines that can be used with,  to affect gameplay. Two additional series of cards were made available for the launch of, which introduces amiibo compatibility into and can also utilise previously released cards and figurines. Selected amiibo from other series can scanned to unlock special crossover villagers based on the The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Monster Hunter series. is compatible with all previously released Animal Crossing amiibo, but not those from other series.

The line of amiibo cards is a spiritual successor to the Animal Crossing-e series of cards for the Nintendo e-Reader.

In, the player must first locate an Empty Lamp in their town. Once placed in a house the lamp can be interacted with to summon Wisp, who provides access to all amiibo functionality in the game. Villagers can be invited to move into town by scanning their corresponding amiibo card. Special characters and villagers from the Welcome amiibo series will instead appear in their RV in the campground when scanned, from which furniture can be purchased in exchange for MEOW Coupons. The villagers can be spoken to and invited to move into town.

A total of eight unique crossover villagers from other series are available by scanning their amiibo and inviting them to move into town.

The Legend of Zelda series

 * W. Link, obtained through Link, Zelda, and Young Link from the Super Smash Bros. series, Wolf Link, Link (Archer), Link (Twilight Princess), Link (Skyward Sword) and Link (Link's Awakening) from The Legend of Zelda series.
 * Medli, obtained through Toon Link from the Super Smash Bros. series, Toon Link (The Wind Waker), Zelda (The Wind Waker) and Zelda (Breath of the Wild) from The Legend of Zelda series.
 * Epona, obtained through Sheik from the Super Smash Bros. series, Link (Ocarina of Time), Link (Rider) and Link (Majora's Mask) from The Legend of Zelda series.
 * Ganon, obtained through Ganondorf from the Super Smash Bros. series, 8-Bit Link (The Legend of Zelda), Guardian and Bokoblin from The Legend of Zelda series.

Splatoon series

 * Inkwell, obtained through the Inkling Boy, Girl, and Squid amiibo from the Splatoon series.
 * Cece, obtained through the Callie amiibo from the Splatoon series.
 * Viché, obtained through the Marie amiibo from the Splatoon series.

Monster Hunter series

 * Felyne, obtained through all six amiibo from the Monster Hunter Stories series.

Sanrio series
The following villagers are based on characters and series created by Sanrio and will never move into town unless their card from the limited edition Sanrio series of amiibo is scanned:
 * Rilla (Hello Kitty)
 * Marty (Pompompurin)
 * Étoile (Kiki and Lala)
 * Chai (Cinnamoroll)
 * Chelsea (My Melody)
 * Toby (Kerokerokeroppi)

is compatible with all amiibo, though unlike the previous game amiibo from other series cannot be used. amiibo can be read while in Photopia to bring the character there as a model and unlock a poster of them for purchase in the Nook Shopping Catalog. amiibo can also be read to invite villagers to put up a tent in the town's campsite, from where they can then be invited to move into the player's town (space permitting).

The following amiibo are not yet fully compatible with the game. These characters will not appear and the player will be told that the character can't visit now. However, scanning these amiibo will still unlock their corresponding poster: • Chai

• Chelsea

• Étoile

• Marty

• Rilla

• Toby

• Blanca

• Booker

• Brewster

• Chip

• Copper

• Cyrus

• Digby

• Don

• Franklin

• Gracie

• Grams

• Harriet

• Jack

• Jingle

• Joan

• Katie

• Katrina

• DJ KK

• Kapp'n

• Leif

• Leila

• Leilani

• Lottie

• Lyle

• Luna

• Nat

• Pascal

• Pavé

• Pelly

• Pete

• Phineas

• Phyllis

• Porter

• Redd

• Reese

• Resetti

• Rover

• Shrunk

• Tortimer

• Wendell

• Zipper

Other games compatible with amiibo
The following Nintendo games have effects when an amiibo from the is scanned:

Scanning a compatible amiibo in Taiko no Tatsujin will unlock the "New Leaf Medley" and extra content in Kisekae Shoot Mode.
 * Taiko no Tatsujin

The Villager amiibo can be used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as a customizable fighter, who can be trained up and given alternate moves.
 * Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

Scanning a compatible amiibo in Super Mario Maker will unlock them as a Mystery Mushroom costume. These costumes can also be unlocked through the 100 Mario Challenge. The and Mystery Mushroom and costumes are only available in the original game, and are not present in Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS or Super Mario Maker 2. • * Blathers
 * Super Mario Maker

• * Celeste

• * Cyrus

• * Digby

• * Isabelle (Summer outfit)

• * Isabelle (Winter outfit)

• * Kapp'n

• * Kicks

• * K.K. Slider

• * Lottie

• * Mabel

• * Resse

• * Resetti

• * Rover

• * Nooklings

• * Tom Nook

• * Villager Scanning a compatible amiibo in Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) will unlock an Animal Crossing-themed Mii racing suit.
 * Mario Kart 8

In Miitopia, scanning an Isabelle, Tom Nook, K.K. Slider or Mr. Resetti amiibo will unlock a corresponding costume that can be worn by the cast of Mii's in the game.
 * Miitopia

amiibo can be read in WarioWare Gold by using Wario's amiibo Sketch toy in the arcade. Once the amiibo has been read, Wario will paint the corresponding character in his signature style.
 * WarioWare Gold

Scanning an amiibo in Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World will unlock Animal Crossing-themed patterns for use in the game.
 * Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World=

Scanning a compatible amiibo in Hey! Pikmin will unlock bonus treasure stages in the game.
 * Hey! Pikmin

Scanning any Isabelle amiibo in Style Savvy: Fashion Forward will unlock clothing based on her summer outfit for use in the game.
 * Style Savvy: Fashion Forward

Scanning an amiibo in Style Savvy: Styling Star will unlock three Animal Crossing-themed shirts for use in the game.
 * Style Savvy: Styling Star

In Conga Master Party, a compatible amiibo can be read to unlock Animal Crossing-themed costumes for use in the game as well as unlock specific characters.
 * Conga Master Party

Scanning a compatible amiibo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will unlock that character's spirit. Scanning the Timmy and Tommy amiibo will also unlock a special in-game shop.
 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

amiibo figures
On November 21, 2014, the first wave of Super Smash Bros. amiibo were released. This wave featured a majority of the main series' cast, including Villager. On August 24, 2015, Nintendo had a press release which revealed information about Happy Home Designer and a new Animal Crossing amiibo series. The first wave was released on November 13, November 20, and November 21 in North America, Europe, and Japan and Oceania respectively. An additional wave was released on December 17, January 22, January 29 and January 30, in Japan, North America, Europe and Oceania respectively. On November 14, 2015, several stores updated their amiibo store displays to include the previously unannounced Kapp'n, Timmy and Tommy Nook, and Rover amiibo. .These three amiibo alongside a variation of Isabelle wearing her summer dress were released on March 18, 2016 in Europe and North America (minus Isabelle who was released in North America on June 10), March 19 in Oceania, and March 24 in Japan. Isabelle's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo was released on July 19, 2019 in Japan and Europe, and on July 26, 2019 in North America.

Trivia

 * On October 28, 2015, Nintendo revealed the Animal Crossing Series 1 Cards were the best selling amiibo product in Japan and the 6th best selling product in North America.
 * Prior to the November 8, 2015 restocks by ToysRUs, the Villager amiibo was one of the most sought after amiibo in North America.
 * The Lottie amiibo figure was originally a Target exclusive in North America, people later discovered that Lottie had broken free from Target exclusivity about a month later.