MarioWiki:Proposals/Archive/83

What is a Game? IV: A New Scope

As Eminem once said:

(Guess who's back... back again...)

Anyway, let's begin.

We've made a split page for physical games and given that variety of merchandise a location to be covered. However, there are still select varieties of merchandise that could qualify as physical games that currently aren't on the list. This proposal aims to add said games to the list, as most of them are divorced enough from the variety of games currently on the list that there could potentially be discourse on whether to add them or not. These game varieties will be listed below, followed by options on whether to add them or not.

LEGOs / BYGGIS / K'NEX / Dot-S

If this were to be added to the list, each set would be listed under a new section for three-dimensional puzzles (akin to the currently-listed Kumukumu Puzzle) under the section for jigsaw puzzles. These brands are technically puzzles, as the user has to put them together the same way they'd put together a jigsaw puzzle, just in a three-dimensional space. Each set article would presumably be akin to a jigsaw puzzle article (with slightly more content due to LEGO Super Mario's timer / scannable objects, K'NEX's motorized sets, and BYGGIS's cutouts). [On a separate note, I may make a proposal determining what content can be added to pre-existing jigsaw articles to improve their depth, such as - as another editor suggested - making graphics showing what kind of pieces appear in a given puzzle.) In short, I believe these three brands should be added, as they are each at least akin to a jigsaw puzzle, while LEGO Super Mario also features various scannable elements and a timer, and K'NEX features the aforementioned motorized sets.

As for Dot-S, I could honestly go either way on this one. The puzzles don't really have much in the way of names, unlike most of the other sets listed. I would still like these to be added to the list, though I'd understand if they can't warrant their own articles (and thus would be okay with the brand itself being added instead).

Playsets

If these were to be added to the list, they would most likely be put in the miscellaneous section (or a new section, depending on how many varieties of these there are). I believe these should be added to the list, as a playset is intended to bring the world of any given game to life in a physical sense, as each playset depicts either a real in-game location or a unique location fitting with in-game settings (such as underwater playsets, etcetera). A playset is meant to give the user the feeling that they are playing the game, and, while many playsets don't have a goal in that of themselves, this is due to playsets being intended for players to make their own rules. I believe these could comfortably warrant their own articles between the setting, the pieces, the setup, and other miscellaneous information.

Activity books

This one wouldn't change what is currently covered or result in additional articles (as activity books already all receive their own articles), though if these were to be added to the list, they would most likely be placed either in a new section that also includes the Twinkl activities, or in the miscellaneous section. Activity books usually feature various mazes and games, with some (such as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Activity Kit) featuring full-blown games that the user has to physically print out and cut out to play. Because of this, I think activity books should be added to the list.

Art tools

If these were to be added to the list (depending on how many of them I can find), they would either be categorized under a new section or in the miscellaneous section. These tools include stuff like the Ravensburger-produced Mario-themed "Xoomy" (I believe that's how the toy's name is spelled) drawing toy, which is intended to aid users in learning to draw. I believe these should be added to the list, as - though most of these would comfortably warrant their own articles as merchandise as well - they could be categorized as the physical game answer to Mario Paint and the Mario Artist series.

Magic 8 Balls

These would probably go in the miscellaneous section, as there's most likely not that many of them. These could comfortably warrant their own article(s) once all of their individual answers have been found, as they're sort of like the physical game answer to the online browser games in the vein of Ask Wario or the Ask Dan-style message board-mail bag-things from the early 2000s. In short, I believe these should be considered physical games, as there is a level of interactivity to them, they have unique names, they can fill out their own articles, and they have video game parallels.

To note, some of these could be considered more on the "utility" side as opposed to the "game" side. However, as with the list of games, I believe that it'd be better to group the physical utilities with the physical games, as I don't think there's enough [known] distinct physical utilities to warrant a separate list.

Note: this proposal is sheerly intended to add these things to the list, and ensure that they will eventually get articles. I am not making writing the articles part of the proposal itself, as... well... then it probably wouldn't be implemented for a very long time due to the amount of these things.

Now let's-a vote!

Proposer: Nelsonic (talk)

(How) do we add LEGOs, BYGGIS, K'NEX, and Dot-S?

LEGO, BYGGIS, K'NEX, and Dot-S are not games 2-1-1-5
Deadline: April 25, 2026, 23:59 (UTC) Extended to May 2, 2026, 23:59 (UTC)

Add individually

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.
2. Rykitu (talk) I agree with adding the LEGO Super Mario sets, but only LEGO Mario as they made those sets act like a game. The other sets are just toys.

Add individually, but add Dot-S as a brand

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.

Add to the list, but only as brands

1. Camwoodstock (talk) We'd prefer each of them get listed with the brand in lieu of individual sets; there are many expansions to LEGO Super Mario that just, don't function as they're intended to unless you have the main LEGO Super Mario.

Don't add

1. Nintendo101 (talk) Per my comment below.
2. LadySophie17 (talk) Per Nintendo101.
3. Mario4Ever (talk) Per Nintendo101.
4. Jdtendo (talk) They're more like toys than games. I wouldn't consider them "three-dimensional puzzles" since the user has to follow instructions to assemble them, whereas the core gameplay of jigsaw puzzles is having to guess which piece goes where.
5. Okapii (talk) Per Jdtendo, these are toys; toys are merchandise.

Do we add playsets?

Playsets are not games 1-7
Deadline: April 25, 2026, 23:59 (UTC)

Yes

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.

No

1. Rykitu (talk) Playsets may be interactive, but they don't have any rules to classify them as games.
2. Power Flotzo (talk) Per Rykitu.
3. Camwoodstock (talk) Unless it's got a specific rules for play, like a board game, a playset is probably better categorized alongside toys than as a "game".
4. Nintendo101 (talk) Per my comment below.
5. LadySophie17 (talk) Per Nintendo101.
6. Mario4Ever (talk) Per Nintendo101.
7. EvieMaybe (talk) per Nintendo101.

Do we add activity books?

failed to reach consensus 6-8
Deadline: April 25, 2026, 23:59 (UTC) Extended to May 2, 2026, 23:59 (UTC) Extended to May 9, 2026, 23:59 (UTC) Extended to May 16, 2026, 23:59 (UTC)

Yes

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.
2. Rykitu (talk) Per proposal. I was actually considering making a proposal to split all the physical games found in activity books. While this isn't exactly what I had in mind, sure. If the My Very First Nintendo Game Boy books have a spot in the physical games list because of their water games, so can these activity books for their games.
3. Camwoodstock (talk) A game book is literally a game in a book! It's in the title. It makes sense to denote these in the physical games list, as an overlap between publications and physical games.
4. EvieMaybe (talk) per Camwoodstock.
5. Okapii (talk) Ehhhh.. yeah, per Camwoodstock.
6. Yoshi18 (talk) I mean, this maybe shouldn't count for all activity books, but some of those books are called game books for a reason.

No

1. Nintendo101 (talk) Per my comment below.
2. LadySophie17 (talk) Per Nintendo101.
3. Mario4Ever (talk) Per Nintendo101.
4. Jdtendo (talk) They're better categorized as books rather than games, and I don't see the value in having an overlap between the two categories.
5. WACCA Lily R (talk) Per Nintendo101. I believe we are too liberal with coverage of non-video game "games", and would prefer to reduce coverage then add even more.
6. Power Flotzo (talk) Per N101.
7. TheCatLover738 (talk) Per Jdtendo.
8. Kong (talk) Per Jdtendo.

Do we add art tools?

Art tools are not games 1-7
Deadline: April 25, 2026, 23:59 (UTC)

Yes

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.

No

1. Rykitu (talk) Adding physical versions of games that are just tools is a bit too far in my opinion.
2. Power Flotzo (talk) Per Rykitu.
3. Camwoodstock (talk) In our opinion, these make more sense to categorize alongside merchandise. It definitely falls under our coverage, but it'd be a little silly to call a stationary set a game on the grounds of "It has Mario, and you interact with it, and can draw like Mario Paint". Just say who made it, explain it, give it an image, and explain any extra bits-and-baubles on the publisher's page; we don't need to try to force the game page format onto a paintbrush with Mario on it, that's a little silly.
4. Nintendo101 (talk) Per my comment below.
5. LadySophie17 (talk) Per Nintendo101.
6. Mario4Ever (talk) Per Nintendo101.
7. EvieMaybe (talk) per Nintendo101.

Do we add Magic 8 Balls?

Magic 8 Balls are not games 1-7
Deadline: April 25, 2026, 23:59 (UTC)

Yes

1. Nelsonic (talk) Per proposal.

No

1. Rykitu (talk) *shakes Magic 8 Ball* "DON'T COUNT ON IT" (that joke I just made, in all seriousness, is the amount of "gameplay" this thing has.)
2. Power Flotzo (talk) Per Rykitu.
3. Camwoodstock (talk) ...Are there even any Super Mario-branded Magic 8 Balls? We feel like categorizing these amongst merchandise makes more sense, at any rate.
4. Nintendo101 (talk) Per my comment below.
5. LadySophie17 (talk) Per Nintendo101.
6. Mario4Ever (talk) Per Nintendo101.
7. EvieMaybe (talk) per Nintendo101.

The Comment Games III: Mockingjay

I think if we broaden the concept of "game" to include interactive toys, "game" becomes so broad of a concept on a site ostensibly about a video game franchise that it loses meaning and utility. An instruction manual is not served well being classified as a book. - Nintendo101 (talk) 22:57, April 15, 2026 (UTC)

To those who oppose on the activity books, some activity books feature actual board games (such as "Super Mario Bros." from Super Mario Bros.: A Big Color/Activity Book and "Board Game" from Super Mario: Mario Time!). The proposal implies that all activity books will be placed regardless if there isn't any multiplayer games in them, which I disagree with. I suggest that we only add the board and card games found in these books by themselves rather than linking the entire book. Rykitu 7:31 PM (UTC) April 26, 2026

@WACCA Lily R I hear your point, though I feel I should note that the alternative for physical game coverage isn't really all that preferable either; currently, the two options I can see are either splitting games off as they are (setting the stuff I'm mentioning in this proposal aside) or merging them all back into merchandise galleries, which... isn't really the best course of action in my opinion, as merchandise galleries don't provide any context as to what X game is and what it does. Certain things that can be done to improve physical game coverage (such as making graphics to indicate certain types of jigsaw puzzle pieces, as mentioned in a previous proposal) simply have not yet been put into place, and these may help improve the coverage of these games. I don't wish to spark any controversy as to what is notable and what isn't, as this was recently the subject of a Mario Boards thread that appears to have (albeit internally) come to a conclusion, though, in short, there's not really anywhere to merge these to in the aim of reducing coverage that doesn't reduce coverage too much, in my opinion. It is my personal opinion that covering these doesn't hurt anything, as they are all (for the most part, barring a couple of distinguish templates) rather self-contained in their own pocket of the wiki. Most of them have been migrated out of mainstream game categories into their own sub-categories (sans a couple of pinball games and a handful of others), so there's not much of the overlap that was a concern initially when these were on the main list of games. Nelsonic (talk edits) 03:22, May 6, 2026 (UTC)

I feel like we need a separate poll proposal for game books. Yoshi18 (talk/contribs) 16:45, May 14, 2026 (UTC)

@Yoshi18 I can do that (after the 30-day proposal-on-a-similar-subject-timer-thing is up). I didn't expect activity books to be super divisive, but a second proposal for them makes sense. Nelsonic (talk edits) 17:25, May 14, 2026 (UTC)