Super Mario minifigures are on the way in 2027, but what does it mean for the rest of the range?

Super Mario minifigures are officially leaping from warp pipes and into our lives next year, which begs the question: what now?

Teased as part of the MAR10 Day celebrations (alongside Lego Luigi and his iconic death stare), this marks the first time the series has received true, actual minifigures of the kind seen in the best Lego sets. Since the range began in 2020, these Lego staples have been swapped out for larger, digital figures that interact with the courses around them. So now minifigs are joining the (Mario) party, what happens next? Are we phasing out those digital figures? Or are these newcomers reserved for something else?

While it's certainly possible that a new line of kid-friendly playsets are on the way (and this lines up with the approach taken by all other gaming ranges), the fact that everything other than the for-adults kits have revolved around those digital figures gives me pause. I'd assume these are popular, because there's been so many of them made over the past six years. Plus, that interactivity is one hell of a USP – to the point every set is built around it. I don't see Lego ditching all that in favor of classic minifigs, as cool as it'd be.

However, that might just be the thing – "interactivity."

If you've paid attention to Lego in recent months, you'll know about a certain initiative called "Smart Play." The idea here is that when you play with Lego, your Lego plays back. It does this via "Smart Bricks" fitted with all sorts of clever tech to simulate noises based on the model it's on, the speed you're moving it at, and more. As an example, you could swing a Star Wars X-Wing through the air to produce the roar of engines… but if you loop-the-loop or dive, the sound changes accordingly. In much the same way, putting Yoda onto a cantina stage will have him singing in his croaky little voice. They aren't words, true, but it's endearing in the same way the Sims' gibberish is. Because these Smart Minifigures are identical to normal ones albeit for a printed pattern on the back (which isn't visible in the Mario tease), there's a chance these Mario figures are designed to work with Smart Play.

It'd certainly make sense. This range has always pushed the envelope, and if your Smart Minifigures can interact with courses and environments without the need for screens that look a bit cursed when switched off (go on, tell me blank-eyed Mario is anything less than terrifying), that blends the two approaches together nicely. Particularly because the Super Mario range already uses a lot of Smart Play hallmarks, namely something that looks suspiciously like early Smart Tags.

Will these definitely be Smart Minifigures? We obviously can't say for sure, but Lego's betting big on the technology. In other words, it isn't outside the realm of plausibility.

The other possibility (and it's the one I'm hoping for, personally) is that these bog-standard minifigures will be used in for-adults display pieces. This doesn't tread on the toes of the existing playsets, and gives older fans the kind of dioramas they've been craving. A miniature version of a Super Mario 64 level like Princess Peach's castle? Uh, yes please. A recreation of the Odyssey, Mario's flying hat ship? Sounds good to me. A version of the Super Mario Galaxy Comet Observatory? Sign me up.

Because these minifigs are due in 2027, it's gonna be a while until we know more. But until then, a guy can dream…

For more collectibles, why not check out the best Super Mario merch or the best toys?