Waking up to the familiar sounds of beloved Nintendo franchises like Super Mario, Pikmin, and Zelda can be a delightful experience. Nintendo Alarmo uses these iconic tunes to rouse users from their slumber, urging them to start their day. However, beyond the nostalgic music, the device’s gaming elements are limited to its interactive alarm system that reacts to user movement.

With a simple handwave, users can temporarily silence the alarm using Alarmo’s motion sensor. But as time passes, the alarms become more insistent, eventually escalating to louder and more frantic tones to ensure you get out of bed. While this feature may have a playful appeal, the steep price tag of around £90 raises questions about the gadget’s overall value.

Despite its advanced motion sensor capabilities, detecting subtle movements and distinguishing between getting out of bed and simply shifting position, Alarmo has limitations. It can be triggered by any movement in the room, leading users to manually disable the alarm once they are up. This workaround diminishes the device’s unique selling point, reducing it to a conventional alarm clock with additional features.

While Alarmo offers a variety of Nintendo audio tracks and customizable settings, its lack of substantial gameplay elements is evident. In a market filled with sleep-tracking devices and apps, Alarmo’s features appear underwhelming. The device could benefit from additional gaming incentives, rewards, and customization options to enhance user engagement and justify its premium price.

Considering the success of Nintendo’s gamified products like Wii Fit and Ring Fit Adventure, Alarmo’s potential for deeper gamification and long-term user involvement seems untapped. The device’s current state leaves much to be desired, especially for consumers seeking a more immersive gaming experience from a Nintendo-branded product.

A Nintendo Alarmo was provided to Eurogamer by Nintendo.