Nintendo is bringing Zelda and Mario to VR via the new Labo VR kit

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Nintendo’s upcoming Labo VR kit was cool enough already, with multiple fun games and the opportunity for families to try out VR without emptying their savings accounts. Now, it’s getting even cooler, with Nintendo announcing today that Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are both getting VR experiences to use with the Labo VR.

That’s freaking cool. Breath of the Wild (BotW) will let players switch between VR and the normal experience at any time, with the only exception being cutscenes. While I can’t see many wanting to play the whole game in VR, there’s definitely potential here for considering the VR experience as an extended photo mode. After all, BotW is beautiful and deserves exploration from every possible angle.

Check out the announcement trailer here

Super Mario Odyssey will get three “byte-sized bonus experiences,” one of each in the Cap, Seaside and Luncheon Kingdoms. It’ll be fun to see how these mini-levels are put together. With how tightly-wound some of the platforming sections are in the base game, playing similar sections in VR would be a trip.

The free software updates enabling the new VR functionality will hit on April 25

With the Labo VR kit arriving on April 12, that gives you two weeks after that to play with the Labo accessories that come with the kit before you disappear into Hyrule. Just remember, it’s dangerous to go alone!

Nintendo Labo VR will be $79.99 for the full kit when available on April 12. You can also get just the starter kit, with the VR goggles and blaster, for $39.99.

What do you think? Excited to experience these games in VR? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Metro Exodus – Welcome to the surface
• My Friend Pedro is basically a deadly ragdoll ballet with guns, old people, and a banana
• Streets of Rage 4 is everything you loved and hated about the original series in the best way possible
• Nintendo Switch Online gets a couple of great retro games in April
• Katana Zero may be Devolver’s spiritual follow up to Hotline Miami

Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.