Nintendo gaming pop-up coming to Tysons Corner Center

Rainbow Road will pass through Tysons Corner Center this winter holiday season.

The D.C. area’s biggest mall is one of 15 locations across the country that will host a “Wishlist Wonderland” pop-up from Nintendo, the video game company behind the Mario and Animal Crossing franchises announced last week.

Focused on giving customers a chance to play with and learn about Nintendo’s Switch console, the pop-up will arrive at Macy’s Court in Tysons Corner Center on Friday (Nov. 18) and remain through Dec. 27, a mall spokesperson confirmed.

From Nintendo’s event page:

Wishlist Wonderland with Nintendo Switch is a pop-up experience coming to select markets this holiday season. It’s a hands-on opportunity to learn about the Nintendo Switch family of systems and the extensive library of Nintendo Switch games! With demos of some of the latest Nintendo Switch games, interactive displays, My Nintendo Rewards check in, and more, this event will help you and your family find the perfect Nintendo products for your holiday wish list.

The games available for demonstrations will include “Nintendo Switch Sports,” “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Booster Course Pass,” and the 2023 edition of “Just Dance,” which is set to be released on Tuesday (Nov. 22).

However, the games won’t be available for purchase at the pop-up, according to Nintendo, which says they can be bought through retailers and its online store.

No registration is required for the pop-up, but the company says patrons must wear “secure footwear,” such as sneakers or closed-heel, flat sandals, to play “Nintendo Switch Sports.”

“Secure footwear reduces the risk of tripping, falling, or footwear dislodging when playing,” the event page says.

The pop-up’s arrival will come on the same day as Tysons Corner Center’s annual holiday tree lighting, which will take place on The Plaza from 6 to 8 p.m. The mall kicked off its holiday festivities last week with the start of Santa photo sessions.