Review: Mario, Link and other classics come to life as Pixel Pals

If you’ve seen any of our desks here at 9to5, whether it be from videos or reviews, you know that we often have bobbleheads or other trinkets laying around. Well, this week I added a few more to my workspace and gaming setup. PDP’s Pixel Pals lineup takes classic characters, such as Mario or Zelda, and puts it in a miniature 8-bit light-up form.

At around $15 each, this is a must-have for any gamer. Head below for a quick hands-on.

PDP has been cranking out some really cool gaming accessories in recent years. From controllers to Rock Band guitars and more, you can find just about anything to complete your setup. And while a lot of its inventory is closer to $100, the Pixel Pals lineup is far less at $15-$20.

A few weeks ago, the white and red Link recreations, along with Cammy from Street Fighter showed up in my mailbox. I’m not going to hold back here, I love’em. The bright and cheery design is perfect for my gaming station. Each model is about six-inches tall, which lines up perfectly with my Nintendo Switch.

There’s well over 20 different characters in the Pixel Pal lineup. I think that I’ll be buying the Tanooki Mario for sure, but Sonic is also in the running as a must-purchase.

My one complaint is that all of the Pixel Pals out now are powered by AAA batteries. There is an optional USB kit, but that’s not ideal either. I was hoping for an internal rechargeable battery because as-is you’ll likely want to turn the light off in-between uses. It’s hardly a deal breaker, but it would’ve really put these over the top.

You can see all of PDP’s Pixel Pal offerings here at Amazon. Most sell for $15, with a few exceptions jumping up to $20. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t go wrong with any of these characters.