Nintendo’s Music App: Brilliant Concepts, Baffling Restrictions

Finding official Nintendo music on mainstream streaming platforms is notoriously difficult. Typically, my quest for tracks from beloved titles likeAnimal CrossingorMetroidleads me to YouTube. This is why the unexpected launch ofNintendo Musiclast week filled me with hope, envisioning it as the ultimate destination for all Nintendo soundtracks. While the app introduces some truly clever features, a series of peculiar decisions and frustrating limitations from Nintendo mean it hasn't quite lived up to that initial promise.

Available on both iOS and Android forSwitch Online subscribers, the app's interface echoes popular music services such as Apple Music and Spotify. Users can browse individual game soundtracks or explore thoughtfully curated playlists centered around themes like characters,Pokémon battle songs, or tracks designed for extended listening loops. The organization by game is particularly well-executed; for instance, the fictional bands fromSplatoon 3each have dedicated artist pages complete with bios. TheAnimal Crossing: New Horizonssection offers distinct playlists for K.K. Slider performances and instrumentals, and even a full collection of Kapp’n’s charming sea shanties is readily available.

My personal highlight is theextended loop feature, which allows certain songs to play for 15, 30, or even 60 minutes. I’ve already found myself frequently using this for background music during work, with the serene piano melodies of“The Great Plateau”fromThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildproving as exquisite now as they were seven years ago. Another appreciated touch is the“spoiler prevention”list, which lets you hide game-related information, helping to avoid unwanted reveals about titles you plan to play, such as a final boss.

A Scarcity of Soundtracks

Despite its potential,Nintendo Musicsuffers from a significant lack of content. From over four decades of rich musical history, the app currently features a mere 25 games. For example, there are only twoZeldatitles:Breath of the WildandOcarina of Time.Fire Emblemis the sole Game Boy Advance entry, and of the three NES games included, two areMetroid. Curiously, one of the listed "games" is the music from Wii Channels (which, admittedly, does contain some memorable tunes).

In essence,Nintendo Musicis far from a comprehensive archive of the company's vast musical legacy. Given its current selection, it leans more towards a collection of Nintendo'srecentmusical history, heavily favoring Nintendo Switch titles. It feels like a missed opportunity that iconic soundtracks, such as anything fromSuper Mario World, are entirely absent.

While changes are expected, they appear to be unfolding at a slow pace, reminiscent of the gradual rollout of retro games onSwitch Online. Shortly after launch, the soundtrack forSuper Mario Bros. Wonderwas added, followed byDonkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest. Nintendo’s reveal trailer for the app indicated thatWii Sports, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Splatoon 2,andF-Zero Xare slated for future inclusion, but only under a vague "over time" schedule.

Other App Oddities and Omissions

Another peculiar omission is the lack of credits for the real human composers behind the music. Strangely, this means the fictional bands inSplatoon 3are given more recognition within the app than legendary figures like Koji Kondo. This aligns with Nintendo's somewhat unusual stance regarding credits in general.

The app also presents other functional quirks. Some songs cannot be extended, and there's no explanation provided, which is quite vexing. For instance, I was eager to loop the calming“Phendrana Drifts”music fromMetroid Prime—a track prominently looped in the actual game—but the feature is unavailable. While you can manually set a song to repeat, it's not the same seamless experience as a dedicated hour-long extension. Furthermore, adjusting a song's loop duration causes it to restart from the beginning; a minor detail, but a smoother transition without the jarring interruption would be preferable.

Finally, the app's platform availability is a disappointment. Currently,Nintendo Musicis exclusive to iOS and Android, with no desktop or web application. The absence of compatibility withCarPlayorAndroid Autofurther limits its utility for many users who would appreciate listening from a Mac or through a browser.

Conclusion

For the limited selection of songs it currently offers,Nintendo Musicdelivers a quality listening experience. However, the sheer volume of missing content makes me question if Nintendo rushed this service out, perhaps in anticipation of aSwitch successor, with plans to build it out later. This mirrors frustrations encountered with other recent non-Switch Nintendo products, such as theAlarmo clockand the rather superficialNintendo Museum; all demonstrate promising concepts but are hampered by perplexing limitations.

Ultimately,Nintendo Musiclacks the depth I'd hoped for. This means my search for much of Nintendo's iconic music will, for the foreseeable future, continue to lead me back to YouTube.