Summary:
Nintendo keeps the good vibes rolling for gamers on the go. Since debuting Nintendo Music in October 2024, the company has treated Switch Online members to a steady stream of iconic tunes spanning nearly four decades of gaming history. The latest drop is a whopper: every single track from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—344 in total—now lives in the app, adding almost twelve hours of adventurous melodies and pulse-pounding battle anthems. Alongside the music comes a refreshed set of curated playlists so you can hop straight into your desired mood, whether that’s a chilled stroll across Hyrule Field or a boss-fight adrenaline rush. Better still, everything remains free for anyone with an active Switch Online subscription, and setup on iOS or Android takes just a minute. Ready to press play? Let’s explore what’s new, how to get started, and why this mobile jukebox might become your favorite sidekick.
The Growing World of Nintendo Music
Nintendo Music landed quietly last autumn yet instantly scratched an itch fans had felt for years: an official, legal way to stream Koji Kondo’s classics and modern masterpieces alike. Rolling out on both iOS and Android, the app came bundled as a perk for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, meaning millions could dive in without spending an extra coin. At launch the library covered highlight reels from about twenty games, including evergreen crowd-pleasers like “Jump Up, Super Star!” and the Wii Shop Channel jingle. Regular Wednesday updates soon followed, each one expanding the selection and proving Nintendo was serious about turning its back catalogue into a living, breathing jukebox.
From 8-Bit Memories to Modern Masterpieces
Open the app today and you’ll notice how seamlessly chiptune riffs from the NES era blend with the orchestral sweep of modern epics. Want to time-travel? Queue up the original “Overworld Theme” from 1986 and then jump straight into “Main Theme (Reprise)” from Tears of the Kingdom for a sonic comparison that spans almost four decades. It’s like standing in front of a musical time-machine console—flip a switch and you’re instantly transported from 8-bit Hyrule to shimmering, fully orchestrated skies. Nintendo’s weekly cadence of updates means that feeling never gets old; just when you think you’ve heard everything, a fresh batch of nostalgia drops.
Tears of the Kingdom Joins the Playlist
Nintendo dialed the excitement up to eleven on June 3 2025 by adding the complete Tears of the Kingdom soundtrack. All 344 tracks—yes, every subtle flourish and thunderous boss theme—clock in at nearly twelve hours of music. That’s longer than the average trans-Pacific flight, giving fans more than enough audio fuel for study sessions, workouts, or simple daydreaming. The timing of the drop felt like a sly nod to the game’s first anniversary and cemented the app as the definitive home for official Zelda music.
Track Count and Runtime
To put the scale in perspective, Breath of the Wild’s soundtrack contained 211 tracks on CD, while Ocarina of Time’s came in at just over 80. Tears of the Kingdom nearly doubles its predecessor and quadruples Ocarina in sheer volume. With almost twelve hours of runtime, you could start the album at breakfast and still be humming along past bedtime. Forget playlists—this is practically an audio odyssey through every region, shrine, and sky island Hyrule offers.
Signature Themes You Don’t Want to Miss
If time is short, jump to “Main Theme (Reprise)” for a heroic rush or “Gloom’s Grasp” when you crave a darker undertone. Each piece carries a distinct narrative flavor, and listening outside the game reveals clever leitmotifs Nintendo weaves between tracks. It’s musical foreshadowing in the purest form—like spotting Easter eggs with your ears.
Crafted Playlists for Every Mood
Sifting through hundreds of tracks might feel daunting, so Nintendo curates themed playlists that act as handy shortcuts. In this update you’ll find Top Tracks, Hyrule Life, Overworld, Dungeons, Memories, Battles, and an Extended-Playback Collection. Each list groups songs by vibe rather than strict chronology, letting you slide seamlessly from a gentle field melody into a tense dungeon crawl without shuffling settings.
Top Tracks and Fan Favorites
Think of this playlist as the greatest-hits vinyl hanging on your living-room wall—instantly familiar, forever replayable. Whether you’re revisiting “Zelda’s Lullaby” or discovering “Sidon’s Theme” for the first time, the Top Tracks list threads a golden needle through decades of fan-loved tunes. It’s perfect for newcomers who want the highlights without diving into granular playlists.
Hyrule Life & Overworld Atmospheres
Planning a relaxed evening? Tap “Hyrule Life” for pastoral woodwinds and gentle strings that conjure images of rustling grass and distant cuccos. Need a bit more motion? Switch to the Overworld collection, which pairs marching percussion with sweeping brass—ideal for a walk, commute, or any moment requiring a subtle power-up.
Powering Up Your Workout with Battle Themes
Let’s face it: sometimes the treadmill feels like a Lynel encounter. Nintendo’s Battle playlist packs the punch you need to conquer that final set. Sync your stride to “Ganondorf Phase Two” or push through reps with “Frenzied Construct.” The dynamic rhythms keep your heart rate high and motivation higher—no Guardian beams required.
Reliving the Story with Memory Tracks
Missing a key cutscene? The Memories playlist stitches together narrative cues in chronological order, offering an audio recap of Link and Zelda’s journey. It’s like flipping through a musical photo album where every picture sings, perfect for sparking nostalgia without firing up the game itself.
Sometimes you just want a set-and-forget loop while you code, cook, or cram. The Extended-Playback list strings together tracks engineered for seamless loops up to one hour. Hit play, and the soundtrack fades into the background like the hum of Kokiri Forest—soothing yet quietly energizing.
Getting Started: Download and Set Up
Setup is easier than crafting a wooden shield. Search “Nintendo Music” on the App Store or Google Play, download, sign in with your Nintendo account, and you’re in. The app detects your active Switch Online membership automatically and unlocks the full library. Toggle the spoiler filter if you’d rather avoid tracks tied to late-game moments. Adjust audio quality in Settings, then tap a heart icon to save favorites for offline listening—a lifesaver during flights or patchy commutes.
Pro Tips for Discovering Hidden Gems
Feeling adventurous? Use the character filter to surface deep-cut themes like Midna’s Lament or obscure battle ditties from ARMS. Alternatively, shuffle by platform to jump from NES chimes to Switch symphonies in a single sitting. For late-night focus sessions, lower the playback speed to 0.8×; it adds gravity without distorting pitch, creating an almost lo-fi ambience.
Why Nintendo Switch Online Members Benefit Most
Because the app is bundled with your subscription, there’s zero extra cost—unlike individual soundtrack CDs that can run upwards of €50 each. Cloud saves, retro game libraries, and now an ever-growing music vault combine to make Switch Online feel like a Swiss Army knife of perks rather than a single-function service.
How Nintendo Music Stacks Up Against Competitors
Other platforms occasionally host unofficial rips, but they come and go faster than a Korok chased by Bokoblins. Nintendo Music delivers lossless-quality tracks, legal peace of mind, and spoiler filters—features sorely missing from YouTube playlists. Even Spotify, with its colossal catalogue, can’t match the completeness of Nintendo’s own curation when it comes to first-party soundtracks.
Looking Ahead: Future Updates and Possibilities
Nintendo’s cadence suggests more weekly drops, and dataminers already speculate about forthcoming additions from titles like Metroid Dread and Splatoon 3. The company hasn’t announced plans for desktop or Switch playback, but the codebase hints at cross-device syncing. If so, you may soon pause a track on your phone and resume seamlessly on your console—music to every gamer’s ears.
Conclusion
Nintendo’s latest update transforms its mobile jukebox into a full-fledged celebration of Hyrule’s newest adventure. Whether you’re sprinting through a workout, chilling on the couch, or chasing deadlines, the Tears of the Kingdom soundtrack adds a heroic underscore to everyday life—at no extra charge. The final takeaway? Keep those earbuds handy; Wednesday just became the best day of the week.
FAQs
- Is Nintendo Music free?
- Yes, it’s included with any active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
- Can I download tracks for offline listening?
- Absolutely. Tap the heart icon to save individual songs or entire playlists.
- Does the app work on tablets?
- Nintendo officially supports smartphones, but most tablets running iOS or Android install it without issues.
- How often does Nintendo add new music?
- Updates typically arrive every Wednesday, though holiday weeks can shift the schedule.
- Will other Zelda games receive full soundtracks?
- Nintendo hasn’t confirmed specifics, but its recent cadence suggests more classic titles could join the library soon.
Sources
- Nintendo launches new music app for Nintendo Switch Online members, Polygon, October 12 2024
- Nintendo Music Update Adds Over 340 Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Tracks, Nintendo Life, June 3 2025
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Added to Nintendo Music, My Nintendo News, June 3 2025
- Tears of the Kingdom’s Official Soundtrack Is Now Added to the Nintendo Music App, Zelda Universe, June 2 2025
- Nintendo Music Official Page, Nintendo, May 2025
- Nintendo Delights Fans with a New Free Perk for Switch Online Members, The Sun, October 2024
- Nintendo Music – Mobile Overview, Nintendo Australia, May 2025













