Nintendo’s Many Video Game References to Hanafuda (and Karuta)
I really doubt this list is complete, though I did my best to include as much as I could. If I find more stuff I’ll add it, and feel free to leave a comment if you can think of anything yourself!
Update 4 September 2022 – added Pikmin Bloom
Update 22 October 2022 – added more pictures of the hanafuda boxes because they have neat art!
Update 21 December 2022 – added Super Mario Maker (thanks Dweight!)
Update 22 December 2022 – added Club Nintendo Picross (thanks u/SuperNinjiGalaxy!)
Update 21 February 2023 – added Club Nintendo Picross Plus’ Hyakunin Isshu
Update 24 July 2023 – added the Pikmin 4 Talisman of Life series of items (thanks siderinc!)
Update 14 August 2023 – added a Nintendo instagram post (thanks siderinc!)
Update 8 September 2023 – Added Pikmin Finder
Update 7 January 2024 – Added The Super Mario Bros. Movie and SimCity DS
Update 15 January 2024 – Added Tomodachi Collection
Update 26 January 2024 – Added the Anoyoroshi design from Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook: Doubutsu no Mori+ 任天堂公式ガイドブック どうぶつの森+.
Update 28 January 2024 – Added the Korean and Japanese DSi menu icons for Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack and the DS menu icon for Touch de Tanoshimu Hyakunin-Isshu: DS Shigureden
Update 17 March 2024 – Added the Pikmin Bloom Flower Card 2024 Decor Pikmin. Also added some more notes to Clubhouse Games
Update 12 April 2024 – Added the Pikmin Garden Coloring Pages
Update 4 May 2024 – Added Nintendo Company Guide 2006 (Thanks Naveed Mohebbi!)
Appearances in Nintendo Games
Game Boy Camera Japanese version has this picture in the B Album
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GBCamera-B06-JP.png)
Pikmin 2 had you collecting real-life items, including a hanafuda deck https://www.pikminwiki.com/Talisman_of_Life
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/800px-Talisman_of_Life_2.jpg)
Hanafuda is available to play in both Clubhouse Games …games (as well as Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack and the Japan only like, reduced version of clubhouse games called Daredemo Asobi Taizen). In the DS versions, it is called Koi-Koi, as that is the actual name of the game, and hanafuda is the name of the cards.
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot_20220804-072159.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/78437-65..jp_.jpg)
On the main menu for Daredemo Asobi Taizen there is a hanafuda card, but in Clubhouse Games and the Japanese re-release, there are not:
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image-5.png)
The Japanese and Korean versions of Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack both include hanafuda cards in their DSi menu icons (The North American and European versions have different games in them):
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/chotto_asobi.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/simsim.png)
This card shows up in Quite Puzzled microgame from the Japanese version of WarioWare: Touched! (It was replaced by a western playing card in the international versions)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot_20220804-071319.png)
SimCity DS – The Bowser Castle landmark can be unlocked by entering the word “Hanafuda” on the password screen – https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ds/935403-simcity-ds/faqs/49560
Tomodachi Collection – Is a treasure your Mii can give to you
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tomodachicollection.png)
Club Nintendo Picross Extra Puzzle 14 is some Hanafuda cards! Huge thanks to u/SuperNinjiGalaxy for pointing this out!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-02-21_18-51-37.348_top.jpg)
Super Mario Maker has a placeable bird chirping sound effect, complete with hanafuda imagery! Huge thanks to my friend Deadweight for pointing this out!
There were a bunch of Hanafuda items added to Animal Crossing Pocket Camp
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2eed98fa293238535872a9b427f5f717618c345dr1-878-876v2_hq.jpg)
In Super Mario Odyssey, Bowser’s Kingdom Sticker features some Mario themed hanafuda cards. Also its industry is hanafuda cards according to the in-game map – https://www.mariowiki.com/Bowser%27s_Kingdom
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SMO_Sticker_-_Bowsers_Castle.png)
The Nintendo Labo Variety Kit house has this picture of Napoleon from one of Nintendo’s hanafuda deck boxes
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/XUeWNClGcCXG4iEih1qiKHgilN5yUkr7_qBe_OFfAY8.png)
One of 9-Volt’s microgames in WarioWare Gold is based on hanafuda https://www.mariowiki.com/Hanafuda
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WWG_Hanafuda.png)
These hanggliders in Mario Kart Tour are based on a real deck Nintendo produced, see below
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/hqdefault.jpg)
Pikmin Bloom
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/unnamed.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screenshot-2023-01-02-173418.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pikmin1.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pikmin2.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pikmin3.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/pikmin4.jpg)
In March 2024 they added more types!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-17-165818.png)
Plus some Mii outfits
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed.webp)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image-4.png)
Some of the Pikmin Bloom real-life events they held (https://www.pikminwiki.com/Event#Live_events), had hanafuda on the event decorations (in this photo it’s to the left of the Switch Logo):
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/020.webp)
Pikmin 4’s Talisman of Life series
Left to right: Talisman of Life (Crane), Talisman of Life (Cherry Blossom), Talisman of Life (Moon), Talisman of Life (Rain), Talisman of Life (Phoenix)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Pikmin_4_card_and_dice_series-edited.png)
Pikmin Finder – Talisman of Life (Crane) just like in Pikmin 4
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pikminfinder.jpg)
Digital Appearances in Other Nintendo Stuff
Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook Dōbutsu no Mori+ 任天堂公式ガイドブック どうぶつの森+ has this design called Anoyoroshi, the name of the card
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/anoyoroshi.png)
Streetpass Mii Plaza got a hanafuda themed speech bubble
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot_20220701-092745.jpg)
Swapnote got hanafuda themed stationery
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/140667.png)
There were also four hanafuda 3DS themes (plus a Nintendo history one)
Hanafuda – https://youtu.be/luOe_bTo-z8
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/theme_preview_15791-1.png)
Mario Hanafuda – https://youtu.be/q3t2o_a0xyo (I love the Mario theme remix here : )
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/theme_preview_15764.png)
Club Nintendo Hanafuda – https://youtu.be/i8SAOq9qGWk
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/theme_preview_16509.png)
Pokémon Hanafuda – https://youtu.be/aO7lTu_0t8c?t=33
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/theme_preview_15700.png)
Tokaigi 2015 “Nintendojo” Original Theme – 闘会議2015「任天道場」オリジナルテーマ – There was a special event called Tokaigi 2015 Nintendojo where if you beat one Dojo Master you won this exclusive theme! For more info (in Japanese) about this event check out https://tokaigi.jp/2015/booth/nintendojo.html.
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/theme_preview_14659.png)
Nintendo’s Line Account made this calendar for January 2016, and used the other image for their background that month
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NL_Calendar_1_2016.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NL_Background_1.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image.png)
Nintendo Japan wallpapers
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2015wallpaper.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2016wallpaper.jpg)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has a small reference to hanafuda by naming a street “Hanfuda Ave” on the map used in the in-movie promotional video
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot_20231231-194610.png)
And then to get a little meta the guidebook to The Super Mario Bros. Movie that Nintendo put out also references hanafuda… by talking about this easter egg, which is how I found out about it
On the Pikmin Garden Let’s Try web page, they added a hanafuda-themed colouring page in April 2024.
Real-life Hanafuda Merchandise
The Game Boy Micro got a hanafuda faceplate
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/wk_0518E3-0402.jpg)
And so did our other faceplate wearing system, the new 3DS!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/original-5f00ec6bb31ac.jpeg)
Hanafuda themed keychains that you got from pre-ordering Giftpia in Japan
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/m26465650396_1.jpg)
Nintendo Company Guide 2006 – Thanks Naveed!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image.png)
Nintendo Company Guides 2014, 2015, 2019 Huge thanks to http://blog.beforemario.com/ for documenting these!!
The entire 2014 book is based around hanafuda with many of Nintendo’s old toys drawn in hanafuda art, I highly recommend checking out the post at http://blog.beforemario.com/2014/05/a-closer-look-at-nintendos-2014-company.html to see all the photos! Here’s a sample
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/nintendo_company_guide_2014_01.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/nintendo_company_guide_2014_05.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/nintendo_company_guide_2014_09.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/nintendo_company_guide_2014_12.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/nintendo_company_guide_2014_28.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/nintendo_company_guide_2015_20.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/nintendo_company_guide_2019_31.jpg)
My Nintendo Europe offered postcards based on the Napoleon Mario deck (they also sold the deck itself at the same time) https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/70604724dabc9845
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/9d0b65bdac9b6986.jpeg)
Nintendo themed Hanafuda Decks
You can find a list of hanafuda decks that Nintendo has produced here:
https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Japanese_playing_cards
Of course, the best ones are the video game themed ones
We have the Mario Napoleon set
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/A1LseMze2ML._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Better images at https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Hanafuda that link also pointed out these two promo images that have teeny little hanafuda cards, what a treat
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NL_CR_Promotional_Artwork.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1600px-Nintendo_recruitment_book_Peach_Toad.jpg)
The box
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/s-l1600-7.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/img_03.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/img_04-1.jpg)
Pokémon hanafuda deck – this set also got heavily merchandised with keychains, pins, and coasters
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/hanafuda_whatis.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-2.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/s-l500-8.jpg)
![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S~YAAOSwYali4jfX/s-l500.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/s-l1600-6.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-1.png)
This set of Pokémon x Mario cards
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-6.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-3.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-4.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-5.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-7.png)
Kirby also got a Hanafuda set ^^
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/kirby_4970381459864__02.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-8.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-9.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-10.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-11.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-12.png)
Finally, Club Nintendo offered another set of Mario themed hanafuda cards – This set is unlockable to use in Clubhouse Games 51 Worldwide Classics!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/oi780alrn6d81-scaled.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/hanafuda_cards.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-13.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/image-14.png)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/s-l1600-5.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-22-125944.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-22-125959.jpg)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-10-22-130008.jpg)
Karuta
In Kirby Super Star Ultra there is a sub-game based on karuta card games, a different kind of Japanese playing card
https://kirby.fandom.com/wiki/Kirby_Card_Swipe
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-2022-08-03-223221.jpg)
There was a first party DS game based on the karuta card game uta-garuta called Touch de Tanoshimu Hyakunin-Isshu: DS Shigureden
https://niwanetwork.org/wiki/Touch_de_Tanoshimu_Hyakunin-Isshu:_DS_Shigureden
(thanks Torchickens 💚)
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screenshot_20221027-115011.png)
Its DS menu icon also features the cards! Very cute 🙂
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/hyakuninisshu.png)
Club Nintendo Japan made an Animal crossing Karuta deck
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Cndobutmorikarutaback.jpg)
In Club Nintendo Picross Plus, puzzle 94 is Hyakunin Isshu, a type of karuta
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/hyakuin.jpg)
On 13 August 2023 Nintendo of Europe posted this photo to their social media accounts which has a sneaky hanafuda card on the shelf in the background! Thank you siderinc for showing me! How fun 🙂
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/366428531_195808343488623_2138788827669496155_n.jpg)
More resources for the exceptionally interested
For more general information about hanafuda and where it’s showed up in video games over the years (and where I got a lot of info from) https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Hanafuda
Both NoA and NoE have PDFs of how to play Koi-koi currently up on their websites:
https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/hanafuda_en.pdf – NoA
https://cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/other_1/my_nintendo_store_3/MyNintendoStore_Manual_Hanafuda_MarioCards_UKV.pdf – NoE
Play Nintendo Japan got a short webcomic about hanafuda
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/kids/sp/160525/hanafuda01/index.html
It has this cute art of Mario and Toad playing!
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sec03_txt01.png)
If you’re interested in Nintendo’s history with card games in general I recommend this post!
http://blog.beforemario.com/2013/11/nintendo-iroha-karuta-part-1.html?m=1
If you enjoy this stuff, I personally loved reading the Wikipedia article about karuta, which explains the many kinds of Japanese card games and where they came from : D https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karuta
There’s a bunch of not Nintendo hanafuda video games floating around too, I’m not that concerned with them, but you can find lists here https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Hanafuda or here https://www.giantbomb.com/hanafuda-card-games/3015-7399/games/ if you’re interested though. I support that decision.
Bonus non-Nintendo hanafuda sighting (this is my list I make the exceptions): The Hatsune Miku Project Diva games that have Close, Open, Demons and the Dead – In the music video, there are hanafuda cards scattered on the ground
![](https://gameluv.com/luv/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/projectdiva.png)
If you would like to use my lists for any reason (make a video, add it to a wiki, build on it and make your own list, anything at all), you are free to do so! No need to credit if you don’t want. I would be so happy if you want to be a link to sharing silly gaming knowledge to even more people. All I ask is that if you make anything, please share it with me because I would love to see 🙂 Please note I don’t own the images anyhow, they’re all from eBay or Mercari unless otherwise cited
Thanks for witnessing!