Nintendo takes aim at YouTube with new Nintendo Music app
Nintendo takes aim at YouTube with new Nintendo Music app
Nintendo's new Music app lets you listen to all your favorite video game tunes
🎶 Nintendo Music lets you enjoy all of Nintendo’s iconic tunes
🆓 It’s free to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers
👍 The app features recommendations based on your Switch play history
👏 You’ll also find curated playlists, background play and offline play
Nintendo’s iconic soundtracks are now available on a dedicated smartphone app called Nintendo Music. It’s available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers at no extra cost and takes aim at YouTube Music, where the company’s tunes are often uploaded, much to the anger of Nintendo.
Nintendo Music functions like your typical music streaming app, though there are some unique features. The app provides recommendations based on your Nintendo Switch play history and includes curated playlists, and each track features an in-game screenshot. If you’re worried about spoilers for games you haven’t played, there’s also an option to hide certain game art.
Those who want to keep the party going can extend tracks up to 60 minutes or loop them, which means I can spend an entire day working with ‘Aquatic Ambiance’ from Donkey Kong Country playing in the background.
You can also download tracks, play tracks in the background, and create your own playlists.
While the move to create a proprietary, music streaming app may anger those who dislike Nintendo’s protective practices over its IP, it makes sense. Nintendo has an enviable library of tracks that people enjoy, and having an app that collates all past, present and future titles is something that fans have been hoping to see for years.
It also continues to add more value to its already excellent Nintendo Switch Online service, which includes thousands of classic games to play, and free DLC and perks if you subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier. Nintendo just added two new N64 Mature games to Switch Online in time for Halloween.
At just $19.99 for a 12-month membership ($49.99 for the Expansion Pack), I think Nintendo Switch Online has become the best subscription service for gamers.
Nintendo Music: all games included
Nintendo has said it’ll continue to add new tracks and famous franchises to the app over time, but you can find all the games and platforms included on Nintendo Music below.
Nintendo Switch
Pikmin 4
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Splatoon 3
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Kirby Star Allies
Super Mario Odyssey
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Wii
Super Mario Galaxy
Wii Channels
Nintendo DS
Tomodachi Collection
nintendogs
Nintendo GameCube
Metroid Prime
Game Boy
Kirby’s Dream Land
Dr. Mario
Game Boy Advance
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
Nintendo 64
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Star Fox 64 (Lylat Wars)
Super NES
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Donkey Kong Country
NES
Metroid
Metroid (Famicom Disc System)
Super Mario Bros.
Hopefully Nintendo brings its music app to the web and other devices, but remember you’ll need to be a Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber to access it.
The announcement of Nintendo Music follows a flurry of reveals from Nintendo, though we’re still waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2 to be unveiled. In the meantime, Nintendo has released an interactive alarm clock called Alarmo, announced Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete, and that the beloved Wii U game Xenoblade Chronicles X is coming to Nintendo Switch next year.
Up next: N64 Mature games list: every title you can play right now and expect to see
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.