Nintendo Brings Talking Flower to Life as Real-World Accessory

Nintendo is bringing one of its most charming Super Mario Bros. Wonder characters into the real world with the release of a Talking Flower accessory launching on March 12, 2026. The device marks Nintendo's latest venture into physical merchandise that extends beyond traditional gaming, following the success of its Alarmo alarm clock released earlier.

The Talking Flower is a standalone device that requires no connection to Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 consoles. It operates independently, using two AA batteries to power its various features and voice functions. The device measures roughly the size of a small decorative object and sits on a flat base equipped with a talk button.

Background

Nintendo has increasingly explored merchandise that brings game characters and concepts into physical form. The Talking Flower represents an evolution of this strategy, moving beyond static collectibles to create an interactive device designed for daily use. The accessory draws directly from the Flower Kingdom setting featured in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the popular platformer for Nintendo Switch.

The device operates on a simple premise: it speaks to users throughout their day, offering encouragement, observations, and entertainment without requiring any active gaming. This approach differs from traditional Nintendo merchandise, which typically serves as decoration or collectible items.

Key Details

What the Device Does

The Talking Flower speaks roughly twice every hour on its own, offering random quotes and commentary. Users can press the button on its base to make it speak immediately, with the potential to unlock special phrases through repeated button presses. The device responds to its environment, detecting temperature changes and commenting on whether it feels warm or cold.

The Talking Flower announces the hour throughout the day, though Nintendo notes these announcements are "mostly accurate". It also comments on the time of day and can play select background music. Users can customize when the device remains quiet by setting a bedtime and wake-up time, ensuring it does not speak during sleeping hours.

When users want silence, they can hold down the talk button to enter mute mode. However, one detail has raised questions among observers: Nintendo's overview trailer suggests this quiet period is only temporary, stating the mute function works "for a while, at least".

Language Support and Battery Life

The Talking Flower supports 11 languages: English, German, French, Spanish (both Spain and Latin America versions), Italian, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Interestingly, the device sometimes speaks in languages other than the one users select.

The device will notify users when battery levels run low. Nintendo specifies that a Phillips-head screwdriver is required to change the batteries, though the screwdriver is not included in the package.

What It Cannot Do

Nintendo has been clear about the device's limitations. The Talking Flower does not connect to Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 consoles and offers no amiibo functionality. It contains no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or artificial intelligence capabilities. The device does not respond to voice commands and cannot interact with Super Mario Bros. Wonder games.

"Talking Flower does not respond to or interact with voice commands" – Nintendo

Despite being marketed alongside Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, the Talking Flower remains a standalone accessory with no integration into the game itself.

What This Means

The Talking Flower release reflects Nintendo's strategy of creating companion products that appeal to fans beyond gaming. The device targets consumers who enjoy Mario franchise characters and want physical reminders of the games they play. With an expected price point of around $35, the Talking Flower sits in an affordable range for casual collectors and dedicated fans.

The device's launch on March 12 precedes the Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 edition by two weeks, allowing Nintendo to generate interest in both products simultaneously. Pre-orders began in late January 2026, with the device available through Nintendo's official store and select retailers nationwide.

Observers have noted the device's peculiar charm, describing it as both appealing and potentially irritating in equal measure. The random nature of its speech patterns and its persistent tendency to speak throughout the day means some users may find it entertaining while others view it as an unwanted distraction.

The Talking Flower represents a calculated bet by Nintendo that consumers want more than games and controllers. By creating a device that inhabits shared living spaces and speaks without prompting, Nintendo is testing whether players will welcome constant reminders of their favorite franchises into their daily routines.