Nintendo Music

Nintendo Music allows users to add tracks to both curated and custom playlists. Each game soundtrack is organized into two albums: "Top tracks", which lists significant tracks from their respective software, and "all tracks", containing every song in the album. Each song on the service has a corresponding screenshot or image to represent when it plays in its respective software.^[1] The service also allows for extending the playback of some tracks to 15, 30, or 60 minutes.^[2] The service provides three types of audio quality: data saving, balanced, and high quality.^[3] It also includes a feature that allows users to hide tracks and albums to avoid spoilers.^[4] Playlists for Nintendo characters, franchises, and game-specific playlists are included on the app, along with other curated playlists such as ones for different moods.^[5] Additionally, under the search menu, Nintendo Music displays the user's played game history from their Nintendo systems if the games are included on the app.^[6]

On May 30, 2025, an update was issued adding support for a sleep timer and extending tracks for only 5 or 10 minutes.^[7] On August 4, 2025, some features were made available to members with expired Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions, and app stability when playing tracks from large playlists was improved.^[8] On October 31, 2025, an update added the ability for playlists containing hourly songs from the Animal Crossing series to be played at the current time of day.^[9][10] On December 11, 2025, the "Year in Review" feature was added, allowing users to view their most frequently played tracks and statistics from the year.^[11]

Prior to development on Nintendo Music, Nintendo primarily released its soundtracks as CDs in Japan due to the Japanese market favoring physical media.^[12] Outside of Japan, video game soundtracks were either distributed through Club Nintendo, a loyalty rewards program that closed operation in 2015, or through special edition releases of games such as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011) and Kirby's Dream Collection (2012).^[13][14] Other games allow players to listen to their soundtracks in a dedicated menu, with some games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate advertising the Nintendo Switch system as a music player.^[15] Nintendo soundtracks have rarely been listed on music streaming services before the launch of Nintendo Music, with some exceptions being tracks from Kirby and Pokémon, two series co-owned by Nintendo, and a selection from Super Mario Odyssey (2017).^[16][17][13] In addition, channels on YouTube that hosted Nintendo music have received copyright strike takedown requests from Nintendo, with there being little to no official ways to listen to Nintendo's music on other platforms.^{[18][19][20][21]} This led to continued issues with the accessibility of Nintendo's music outside of Japan,^[22] causing increased online piracy.^[23]

Nintendo Music was announced and launched on October 31, 2024.^[24][25] The service was released for Android and iOS devices, initially covering 45 markets;^[26] it became available in Taiwan on September 9, 2025,^[27] and in Singapore,^[28] Malaysia,^[29] and Thailand on November 18, 2025.^[30] The service is available for all Nintendo Switch Online users, a subscription service for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 video game consoles.^[31][32] It launched shortly after the release of Alarmo in October 2024, an alarm clock that similarly plays music from select Nintendo video games.^[5] A representative from Nintendo claimed the decision to create the app stemmed from expanding access to Nintendo IP, allowing users to receive video game music and enjoy them in a manner unique to Nintendo. Additionally, they wanted the ability to inspire people to play their games by having an increased access to their music library.^[33] It is the third non-gaming Nintendo mobile application to release worldwide after the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app and Nintendo Switch Online app.^[34]

Twenty-three soundtracks from various games and consoles were made available at launch, with new soundtracks usually added weekly.^[35] Occasionally, after the release of large soundtracks, no new tracks will be added the following week.^[36][37] "Special release" tracks have also been added, containing a select few songs from Nintendo Switch 2 games.^[38][39] While many game soundtracks released are added in no particular order, some soundtracks are released to coincide with anniversaries or upcoming game announcements, as was the case with the Famicom's 42nd anniversary or Splatoon's 10th anniversary.^[40][41] Other soundtracks have launched simultaneously on Nintendo Music and Nintendo Classics, another Nintendo Switch Online service that offers classic Nintendo video games.^[42][43] There are 117 soundtracks available as of March 10, 2026^[update].^[44]

After its launch, fans highlighted the convenience of the mobile app as opposed to listening to music on the Nintendo Switch system, as demonstrated during a Nintendo Direct on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.^[15] Kyle Barr of Gizmodo called the application "surprisingly good", but criticized the small selection of music available at launch, and claimed it to be a worthwhile addition to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.^[1] Jay Peters of The Verge similarly noted the lack of depth at launch while claiming some tracks being non-extendable was a letdown, along with too much of a focus on their "recent musical history" as opposed to their overall history.^[114] Fans, journalists, and developers criticized the app for not crediting the soundtrack composers.^{[115][116][117]} Initially, critics questioned why music from Nintendo games could not be uploaded to other platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, which have dedicated sections for video game music,^[6][118] but noted that Nintendo could more easily control its IP under their own dedicated service.^[119][22] Kirsten Carey writing for The Mary Sue called the app "incredibly exciting", claiming the decision to create a separate music streaming service to be a genius move by Nintendo.^[22] Abner Li from 9to5Google noted many similarities to YouTube Music, specifically in the application's user interface.^[120] At launch, over 500,000 users downloaded Nintendo Music, topping the download charts on iOS.^[119] Two weeks after launch, Nintendo Music had been downloaded more than one million times.^[121][122] Nintendo considered the app to be a success, with its president, Shuntaro Furuwaka, considering live orchestral concert tours of Nintendo music to be performed in the future.^[123]

After using the app more often, many critics have praised the additional soundtracks added after its initial launch period.^{[124][125][126]} Members of Nintendo World Report claimed Nintendo were handling the random music releases very well. They also complimented Nintendo's curated playlists, with one of them claiming the app was "a lot better than [they] expected it to be".^[124] Oli Welsh writing for Polygon complimented the app for its extendable tracks, the unique official playlists, and all of their official playlists being automatically shuffled every day, a feature they describe as "randomization and customization the Nintendo way".^[118] Weeks with multiple albums released simultaneously have usually garnered more positive reception, such as the 26 soundtracks added for the Famicom's 42nd anniversary.^[127][128] Zack Zwiezen, writing for Kotaku, enjoyed the addition of multiple NES games, but also claimed it included some of the app's worst songs, particularly those from Golf (1984).^[129] Other large soundtracks have similarly been praised more often, with Robert Marrujo of Nintendojo praising the inclusion of games such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012) and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) for their quality and extensive track selections.^[130][131]

Game soundtracks launched as a "special release" garnered some criticism, as only a select few songs were made available instead of the full soundtrack, leading to some fans comparing the limited official offerings to offerings by third parties on websites such as YouTube.^[132][133] Robert Marrujo writing for Nintendojo expressed disappointment in the seven tracks added during a special release for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, having to wait for the remaining tracks to be added at a later date.^[81] In general, Alana Hagues of Nintendo Life felt disappointed by the lack of Nintendo Switch 2 software representation, considering the positive reception towards the soundtracks for Mario Kart World (2025) and Donkey Kong Bananza (2025).^[134] Fans reacted similarly, expressing their frustration over Nintendo prioritizing adding Mario Kart 64 (1996) to the app over Mario Kart World.^[135] In response, Bill Trinen of Nintendo of America clarified in an interview that adding soundtracks as expansive and highly requested as Mario Kart World take time due to being handled by a small team.^[12]