Nintendo Music Version 1.5.0: Year In Review, Features And How To Get More From Classic Game Soundtracks

15 December 2025
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11 min.
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Nintendo Music Version 1.5.0: Year In Review, Features And How To Get More From Classic Game Soundtracks

Summary:

Nintendo Music has quickly become a cozy home for classic video game soundtracks, and Version 1.5.0 is a small update on paper that could make a huge difference in how you look back on a whole year of listening. With this new version on iOS and Android, Nintendo is introducing a Year in Review feature that sits alongside its growing library of playlists, looping tools and offline listening options. While the recap is not viewable inside the app just yet, the description points toward a Spotify Wrapped style summary that highlights which series, games and tracks kept you company the most. That means your late night Zelda sessions, your Mario Kart workout mixes and your relaxing Animal Crossing playlists may all show up in one tidy snapshot.

At the same time, Version 1.5.0 keeps doing the quiet work of polishing the experience in the background. Nintendo continues to add new soundtracks from across its history, from 8 bit roots to modern orchestral scores, and the app remains tied to Nintendo Switch Online so subscribers get an extra perk without paying more. Together, those elements turn Nintendo Music into more than a simple jukebox. It becomes a kind of musical diary that remembers what you loved, when you listened and how you shaped your own soundtracks for work, study and play. With a bit of planning, you can already set yourself up for a fun Year in Review by exploring more series, experimenting with playlists and letting the app follow you through the seasons.

What Nintendo Music is and why it matters for game music fans

Nintendo Music is a smartphone app for iOS and Android that focuses entirely on official Nintendo soundtracks, rather than mixing them in with regular pop songs or podcast feeds. If you have ever searched through random uploads on other platforms to find a clean loop of a favorite stage theme, you know how messy that can feel. Here, the tracks are organized by game, series and playlist, with artwork, clear titles and proper ordering that make sense at a glance. Because the app is linked to Nintendo Switch Online, it feels like an extension of the wider Nintendo ecosystem rather than a separate service bolted on later.

For game music fans, that matters more than you might think. Instead of juggling local rips, playlists on general music apps and YouTube tabs, you can treat Nintendo Music as a central hub for everything from nostalgic NES bleeps to modern orchestral scores. It makes it easier to discover soundtracks you skipped, revisit tunes from games you finished years ago and finally listen to whole scores in order rather than in scattered clips. It also respects how players actually listen in real life, whether that is looping one relaxing track while studying or blasting battle themes during a workout.

What Version 1.5.0 changes for everyday listeners

On the surface, Version 1.5.0 looks like a fairly modest update, especially if you just skim the usual “we fixed some issues” style patch note. Under that short description, though, lies a feature that has the potential to become a yearly ritual. The new Year in Review functionality arrives with this version, preparing the app to crunch your listening history into a summary that captures the highlights of your Nintendo Music habits. Even though the recap is not yet visible, the groundwork is in place, and that changes how every session in the app can feel from now on.

From a day to day perspective, you still open Nintendo Music the same way, browse soundtracks, pick playlists and choose whether to stream or download tracks for offline listening. What Version 1.5.0 really adds is context over time. Every time you loop a favorite Zelda dungeon track or let a Kirby playlist run during chores, that activity can feed into a bigger picture. Knowing that your listens will eventually feed a Year in Review summary nudges you to explore more soundtracks, try out new series and think a little more about what you queue up next.

The new Year in Review feature and how it is supposed to work

The Year in Review feature is the star of Version 1.5.0, even if it is hiding behind the curtain for now. The description points toward a recap that highlights which video game soundtracks you listened to the most across the year, in a style that will feel familiar to anyone who has seen Spotify Wrapped or other listening summaries. That means the app is likely tracking which games you return to, how often you revisit certain tracks and which playlists keep showing up in your daily routine. When the feature goes live, you can expect a snapshot that turns all of those small habits into a shareable story.

Right now, the recap is not yet open inside the app, so there is still a little mystery around exactly how it will look. Even so, the basic idea is clear enough that you can start preparing. If you want your Year in Review to show more variety, this is a great time to dip into unfamiliar series, try soundtracks from older systems or mix relaxing and energetic playlists. If you prefer a recap that proves your loyalty to one favorite game, you can lean into that too and let a single soundtrack dominate your listening. The charm of a feature like this is that it reflects you back at yourself, using music instead of raw playtime stats.

How Year in Review compares to Spotify Wrapped and similar recaps

It is impossible to hear “Year in Review” without immediately thinking of Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay and similar features on other platforms. Nintendo is clearly tapping into that same appetite for personal stats, but with a twist that only a dedicated game music app can offer. Instead of mixing in every genre under the sun, your recap is shaped entirely by Nintendo soundtracks, which gives it a more focused and playful personality. Imagine seeing that your most played track is a cosy café tune from Animal Crossing, followed by a high energy boss battle from Fire Emblem and a nostalgic overworld theme from Super Mario World.

Where wrapped style features on traditional music apps highlight artists and genres, Nintendo Music can highlight individual games, series and even specific consoles. It can also lean into the emotional side of game music more strongly. A song in this app is not just a track, it is a reminder of the first time you beat a boss, a comfy evening exploring a new region or a late night grind before a big day at school or work. In that sense, Nintendo’s Year in Review has the chance to feel more like flipping through a photo album of your year with games, but in audio form.

Where Nintendo Music is available and who can use it

Nintendo Music is currently offered on both iOS and Android, giving most smartphone users a way in as long as their devices meet the minimum system requirements. You can download it through the usual app stores, sign in with your Nintendo Account and start listening almost immediately. The app is tied to Nintendo Switch Online, so you need an active membership rather than a separate standalone subscription. That setup turns the service into an extra perk bolted onto a membership that many Nintendo fans already keep for online play, cloud saves and retro game libraries.

Availability still depends on region, as with many Nintendo services, so it is always worth checking your local store listing if you are not sure. Once you are in, the experience is broadly the same across platforms. You browse soundtracks by game, search for favorites, follow curated playlists and choose whether to stream or download tracks for offline use. Because the app is built to be light and focused, it tends to fit neatly into a daily routine alongside other music apps rather than fighting them directly. You can still use your usual service for everything else and lean on Nintendo Music when you are in the mood for game soundtracks.

Classic Nintendo soundtracks you can explore in the app

One of the biggest draws of Nintendo Music is the sheer spread of series it covers. The app reaches back to early titles like Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda, moves through 16 bit and 64 bit eras with fan favorites like Super Mario World, F-Zero and Super Mario 64, and keeps going into modern entries such as Splatoon, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. New soundtracks continue to arrive on a regular basis, with recent updates adding everything from Kirby adventures and Golden Sun to Wii Sports and beyond.

That ongoing stream of additions keeps the app feeling alive. Each time a new soundtrack drops, it gives you an excuse to revisit a game you loved or sample music from a title you missed completely. It can also change what your eventual Year in Review looks like. Maybe you spend the first half of the year listening mainly to Mario and Zelda scores, then suddenly a new Yoshi soundtrack lands and becomes your go to background noise for months. By the time the recap arrives, that late addition might climb high on your personal charts, telling a story you did not quite notice while it was happening.

Playlists, looping and offline listening for daily use

Nintendo Music would not be nearly as useful without flexible playback tools, and the app offers several that fit neatly around everyday life. You can save tracks as favorites, build playlists around specific moods or tasks and let official themed playlists do the work when you are not sure what to pick. Background and offline listening mean you can keep the music going while using other apps or when you are away from a stable connection, which is perfect for commuting, traveling or long study sessions away from home.

Looping options are another highlight. Many tracks can be extended to run for 15, 30 or 60 minutes, so you do not have to keep restarting your favorite tune every few minutes. That is especially handy for relaxed areas, menu themes and atmospheric pieces that you want to live in for a while. The spoiler filter is a thoughtful touch too, letting you block out boss tracks or late game themes so you can explore newer soundtracks without ruining surprises. All of these tricks combine to make Nintendo Music feel like a practical everyday tool rather than a novelty you only open once in a while.

How Year in Review can change the way you listen through the year

Knowing that a Year in Review is waiting at the end of the calendar year can quietly reshape your listening choices. You might find yourself thinking, “Do I really want my recap to show that I listened to one menu theme for 200 hours?” and decide to mix things up a little more. That gentle push can nudge you toward exploring deeper cuts, full albums and soundtracks from genres you usually ignore. If you are the kind of player who loves setting goals, you could even plan mini challenges, like spending each month focused on a different series or console era.

On the flip side, Year in Review can be a fun way to embrace your quirks. If you truly adore one track from a cozy RPG and you are happy for the recap to broadcast that obsession, you can lean into it and let the app record your dedication. Either way, the feature turns passive listening into a kind of playful collaboration between you and Nintendo Music. Every decision to loop a song or start a new playlist becomes a small brushstroke in the picture that will eventually show up as your yearly summary.

Privacy, Nintendo Accounts and listening data

Any feature that tracks listening over time naturally raises questions about privacy, especially when it is tied to an existing account. Nintendo Music connects to your Nintendo Account and, in many regions, to your Nintendo Switch Online membership, which already handles play data, purchases and online activity. The app’s listening history sits alongside that ecosystem, helping to power features like personalized recommendations, playlist suggestions and now Year in Review style recaps. As with any app, it is worth glancing through the privacy policy to understand what is stored, how long it is kept and how it is used.

If you are cautious about data, you can manage some of that risk by being picky about which devices you sign in on and by reviewing app permissions on your phone. Because Nintendo Music is focused on audio rather than social features, there is less pressure to share your listening history publicly unless you choose to show off your recap yourself. In practice, that means you get the fun of stats and summaries without automatic posting to public feeds. You stay in control of how visible your listening habits become outside your own phone.

Simple tips to get the most from Nintendo Music now

If you are already using Nintendo Music or planning to jump in after Version 1.5.0, a few simple habits can make the experience feel richer. Start by following a handful of playlists that match different moods: calm study, upbeat exercise, nostalgic evenings and so on. That way, you are never more than a tap away from a fitting soundtrack. Mix older and newer series so your Year in Review eventually reflects more than one era of Nintendo history. If you usually camp in one franchise, pick a day each week to try something unfamiliar, like diving into a soundtrack from a strategy game or puzzle series you rarely play.

Take advantage of offline listening and looping, especially if your daily routine involves travel or background noise while working. Download a few dependable playlists to your phone so you are never caught in silence when the connection drops. Use longer loops for focus sessions and shorter bursts for quick breaks. Finally, keep an eye on news about fresh soundtrack additions and app updates. Each new album is a chance to tweak the shape of your eventual Year in Review, turning a simple recap into a personal story about what kind of Nintendo sounds carried you through the year.

Conclusion

Nintendo Music Version 1.5.0 quietly sets the stage for a more personal relationship with the app. By adding a Year in Review feature on top of an already strong library of classic soundtracks, playlists, looping tools and offline listening, Nintendo is turning casual listening into a year long story that belongs to you. Even before the recap becomes visible, every session with the app can feed into that future highlight reel, whether you are grinding to battle themes, unwinding with peaceful town music or exploring soundtracks from games you have never played. With a little intention and curiosity, Nintendo Music stops being just a background player on your phone and starts feeling like a musical diary that remembers your favorite game worlds long after you put the controller down.

FAQs
  • What is Nintendo Music and how do you access it?
    • Nintendo Music is a smartphone app that focuses on official Nintendo game soundtracks, from classic titles to modern releases. You download it on iOS or Android, sign in with your Nintendo Account and, in supported regions, use it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online membership without paying an extra standalone subscription fee.
  • What does the Nintendo Music Version 1.5.0 update add?
    • Version 1.5.0 introduces a Year in Review feature that prepares the app to summarize your listening habits over the year. While the recap is not yet viewable inside the app, this version lays the groundwork for wrapped style statistics that highlight your most played games, tracks and playlists, alongside the usual stability and quality improvements.
  • How will the Year in Review feature work in Nintendo Music?
    • The Year in Review feature is designed to analyze your listening over the year and turn it into a highlight reel similar to Spotify Wrapped. It tracks which game soundtracks and playlists you return to most often, then compiles that data into a summary you can browse and share. The exact layout is not live yet, but the goal is to celebrate your personal taste in Nintendo music.
  • Do you need Nintendo Switch Online to use Nintendo Music?
    • In most regions, Nintendo Music is offered as a benefit for Nintendo Switch Online members rather than as a separate subscription. You sign in with your Nintendo Account that holds an active membership, then you can stream or download soundtracks without extra fees. Always check the app store listing and local Nintendo support pages for the latest regional requirements.
  • How can you prepare for a fun Nintendo Music Year in Review?
    • If you want an interesting Year in Review, start by exploring a wide mix of soundtracks instead of looping one playlist all year. Rotate through different series, try both older and newer games and build playlists for specific moods or tasks. Take advantage of looping and offline listening so the app can follow you through work, travel and downtime, turning everyday sessions into a memorable yearly summary.
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