From sleep trackers to horse simulators: the strangest Nintendo patents

Nintendo is one of the most innovative and experimental companies in the video game industry. Founded in 1889 as a playing card manufacturer, the company eventually evolved into a global gaming giant responsible for iconic consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Wii, and Nintendo Switch. Alongside its products, Nintendo has filed hundreds of patents over the years. Some of these patents represent practical technological advances, while others are far more unusual and reveal the company’s willingness to explore unconventional ideas. Many of these inventions never become real products, but they provide a fascinating look at Nintendo’s creative thinking. One of the strangest concepts Nintendo patented was a sleep-tracking device equipped with a ceiling projector. The device was designed to monitor a user’s sleep patterns using sensors that could measure factors such as pulse and body movement. After collecting and analyzing the data, the system would display the results by projecting information onto the ceiling when the user woke up. The projection could show details about sleep quality, environmental conditions, and suggestions for improving sleep habits. Nintendo even envisioned turning healthy sleep routines into a form of entertainment by gamifying the process, awarding points or achievements when users met certain sleep goals. The system could also track sleep data for multiple people in the same household. Despite its interesting mix of health technology and gaming concepts, the device never made it to the consumer market.

Another unusual patent involved a redesigned version of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers. Instead of the standard straight design used on the console today, this patent described a hinged controller that could pivot or fold. The hinge would allow the controller to bend slightly, potentially making it more comfortable to hold or allowing for new ways to play. The concept suggested that Nintendo was exploring ways to improve ergonomics or create more adaptable controller designs. Although the idea demonstrated Nintendo’s ongoing experimentation with hardware design, the hinged Joy-Con controller was never released as an official product. Nintendo has also experimented with merging traditional collectibles with digital gaming. One patent described electronic trading cards equipped with small electronic components capable of storing and transmitting data wirelessly. These cards could interact with gaming systems such as the Nintendo 3DS. When scanned by the system, the cards might unlock characters, special abilities, or additional game content. The concept resembles the technology later used in Nintendo’s Amiibo figures, which also connect physical collectibles with digital gameplay features. In this case, however, the collectible would take the form of a flat card instead of a figurine.

Another particularly strange patent explored the idea of a horseback riding simulator designed for the Wii. The system involved an inflatable cushion that players would sit on while holding a Wii Remote. By shifting their body weight or moving the controller, players could simulate riding a horse within a game. Leaning left or right would steer the horse, pulling back could slow or stop it, and forward motion would simulate riding movement. The Wii Remote could also be used to perform actions such as swinging a lasso or using a whip. The concept highlights how Nintendo often experimented with motion-based gameplay during the Wii era, pushing the boundaries of how physical movement could be integrated into video games. Another curious idea imagined turning a smartphone into a Game Boy-style gaming device using a specially designed case. The patent described a case that would cover the front of a smartphone and include physical buttons such as a directional pad and classic A and B buttons. When pressed, the buttons would activate corresponding areas on the phone’s touchscreen, effectively transforming the phone into a handheld gaming system with traditional controls. While the idea could have appealed to fans of retro gaming, it also had practical drawbacks, such as the need to open or remove the case whenever the user wanted to access normal smartphone functions. These unusual patents demonstrate that Nintendo is constantly exploring new possibilities, even if many ideas never become actual products. Filing patents allows companies to experiment with concepts, protect potential innovations, and test the boundaries of technology and gameplay. Although some of these inventions may seem strange or impractical, they reflect Nintendo’s long-standing philosophy of creativity and experimentation. Throughout its history, the company has often transformed unconventional ideas into groundbreaking products, proving that even the strangest concepts can sometimes lead to the next big innovation in gaming.

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