Guide
Amiibo compatibility, explained
This URL hosted a Wii U / 3DS compatibility chart back in 2015, when the answer fit in one table. Nine consoles-worth of games later it doesn't, so instead of a stale chart: the four rules that cover almost every case, and where to look up the rest.
Almost every amiibo does something in almost every supporting game
Most games with amiibo support have a generic tier: any figure scanned gives you the daily item drop, the bonus resource, the cosmetic roll. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are the classic examples — all ~900 amiibo do at least something.
The money is in figure-specific unlocks
A handful of pairings unlock content only that figure can: Wolf Link's cave and companion in the Zelda games, the Smash line's fighter unlocks, Splatoon gear tied to the Splatoon figures. When a figure gates desirable content, its aftermarket price usually shows it — which is exactly why people end up hunting specific figures rather than any figure.
Cards count
Amiibo cards are functionally identical to figures — same chip, same unlocks, usually a fraction of the price. If you want the unlock rather than the shelf piece, check whether a card version exists before paying figure prices.
Compatibility is forward-carrying, not versioned
Figures don't expire. A wave-1 2014 Mario still works in a 2026 release if the game supports the Super Mario line. The Switch 2 reads the same figures the Wii U did.
Looking up a specific figure or game
For per-figure, per-game detail, two resources are kept current and deserve the link: amiibo.life has the full figure-by-game matrix, and Nintendo's official amiibo pages cover current in-print figures and first-party game support.
And if the lookup ends with “discontinued, aftermarket only” — that's the moment the market radar this site is building is for.