The LEGO Group and Nintendo are partnering up to bring the world Mario themed LEGO experience sets. Later this year, the world of Super Mario will be available in the physical world as part of the LEGO experience.

While LEGO Super Mario will comprise of physical bricks, the sets will not be a traditional brick set, but a new product line that features an interactive LEGO Mario figure who can collect coins in real-life game levels created with LEGO bricks.

Kids will be able to vary the difficulty level and styles of play with different level designs and brick sets. The LEGO Super Mario experience will be something like a cross between the classic Super Mario gameplay, a traditional LEGO set, and a board game.

“We are very excited to bring Mario into the physical world through interactive and social LEGO play”, said Julia Goldin, Chief Marketing Officer, EVP of the LEGO Group. “With this experience we will help millions of kids with love for Mario to engage and play in a completely new way, where they are in control of creating and playing games with their favourite character. By seamlessly incorporating the latest digital technology, LEGO Super Mario is a highly social, interactive and collaborative experience for kids."

“I have always liked LEGO products and how they help children use their imagination to play”, said Takashi Tezuka, Executive Officer and Game Producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd. “The new product we created together with the LEGO Group seeks to combine two different styles of play – one where you freely build the world of Mario and the other where you play with Mario in the very world that you have created.”

While the LEGO Mario sets are certainly an interesting take on the usual Super Mario gameplay and traditional LEGO bricks, they're kind of the perfect physical counterpoint to Super Mario Maker. Which really makes this collaboration even more ideal.

LEGO Super Mario will launch later this year, and more information will be available in the coming months.