Nintendo is no stranger to making quirky accessories to accompany its consoles, or even standalone gadgets. The Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo springs to my mind when I think of "tech I didn't know I needed and still don't need but it's cute enough that I kinda want it." There's also functional tech that's quirky, fun and can act as a conversation starter, built by third-party brands exclusively for a console like the Nintendo Switch 2, like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera.
Chances are you've seen this little camera pop up on your social media for one of two reasons: a) it's ridiculously cute and people can't stop talking about just how cute it is, or b) its image quality is so poor and old school that you look like you're in a 90s VHS tape. Both of those statements, in my opinion, are correct.
The Piranha Plant Cam is adorable, and it would be a 10/10 product for me if it wasn't a camera. See, the thing that it's designed to do, it does not do well. This is a camera — and not a very good one. If you've been thinking of buying the Piranha Plant Cam because it's cheap and (very) cheerful, you may want to reconsider based on the actual purpose you need it for.
Chomp, chomp, omnomnom
The Piranha Plant Cam is an adorable companion. It is, of course, based on the Piranha Plant enemies from the Mario universe, so it sports a colorful white, green and red design. The camera comprises of three parts: the stem (which is permanently attached to the head) slots into the base (a green Warp Pipe) and there's a pair of leaves that you can clip around the stem.
The Piranha Plant Cam's "mouth" can then be opened to reveal the camera, so it essentially acts as a lens cover. Neat. I love a cute trinket. I have a Knuckles figurine perched atop my monitor at the office, and my home office features a few Funko Pop bobbleheads, so you can see why I like the Piranha Plant Cam's design so much.
Its green base, or the Warp Pipe, features an L-shaped mount so you can put the camera on your TV or monitor if you're using the Nintendo Switch 2 while it's docked. Or if you want to use it in handheld mode, you can directly plug in the camera without the base into the top USB-C port. And it is delightful. I love my Piranha Plant Cam... which is why I really wish they didn't put a camera in its mouth.
480p? In 2025?!
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the Piranha Plant Cam's image and video quality. It has a video resolution of 480p/30fps. Yes, 480p. In 2025. Maybe this is me just being used to using cameras and webcams that are, more often than not, shooting at 1080p or just me being oblivious — but since when did it become acceptable to have 480p video in 2025?
Thanks to the advent of technology, we have become very used to FHD and 4K screens. The Nintendo Switch 2 itself features a 1080p screen so when I saw myself on screen being recorded through the Piranha Plant Cam, the limitations of 480p became even more apparent. Colors appeared washed out and the image appeared grainy and static.
Granted, your friends will see you in a small bubble on the screen when you're ahead of them in Mario Kart World, so the image won't be as bad but it won't be great either. It'll get you some laughs from your friends though — whether they'll be laughing at you or with you is unclear.
The Piranha Plant Camera isn't great, no, but the Piranha Plant Trinket is fantastic. 10/10. No notes. It's appealing, its adds a touch of charm to a desk setup, and it's currently sitting proudly next to Knuckles — and that's where it will stay forever. A statement piece, not a camera.
More from Tom's Guide
- The Piranha Plant Cam for Nintendo Switch 2 is a great statement piece… and that’s about it
- Best Nintendo Switch accessories in 2025
- The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is cute and functional, but you might not need it yet
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