Lego is no stranger to video game collaborations. The legendary brick maker has already developed sets based on Mojang's Minecraft phenomenon and Blizzard's popular Overwatch shooter, for instance. The company's upcoming Mario range is a little different, though. The sets replicate not only the visual splendor of the Mushroom Kingdom, but what it's like to play through levels with a controller or handheld console. The most important part of Lego's new product line is, unsurprisingly, Mario himself.

Lego and Nintendo have announced a joint product named Lego Super Mario, which combines the toy maker's playsets with the gameplay of the Mario platformers. Full details have not yet been released but as teased on social media this week, the central element of the new Lego sets is a smart Mario figure with small screens on his chest and face, able to detect which bricks he is near. It will involve a range of building and collecting play schemes. Although Lego has collaborated with other video game franchises in the past, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, this is the first time Mario has appeared in Lego form. Lego Super Mario is being described as a product line rather than one-off.