I built and played Nintendo's next big thing, Nintendo Labo - and it was a surprisingly brilliant learning tool

Nintendo's next big thing isn't a video game or a video game console.

It's foldable cardboard.

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This is one of several "Toy-Con" creations that can be built with the starter set of Nintendo Labo.

Nintendo "Labo" - pronounced "lab-oh," like "laboratory" - is an entirely new concept from the quirky Japanese gaming powerhouse. Starting at $70, you get a kit full of buildable cardboard toys to complement the wildly popular Nintendo Switch console. There are games, of course, which are included in the package. 

More importantly, there are step-by-step instructions for building each of the toys in the set. Think: Lego meets model airplanes, but more fun.

I got to try Nintendo Labo this week ahead of its launch on April 20. What I found was a surprisingly brilliant learning tool aimed at kids growing up in a digital world.