The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Joins Nintendo Music

11 July 2025
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6 min.
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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Joins Nintendo Music

Summary:

Nintendo Music just expanded again, adding the entire The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D soundtrack—51 tracks clocking in at just over an hour. With fresh playlists like “Ocarina Songs” and “Dungeons,” fans can jump straight to their favorite tunes or set extended loops for deep focus. We walk through what’s new, why this update is special, and how to get the most from Nintendo’s growing music service on iOS and Android. You’ll learn how Switch Online membership unlocks the app, how the 3DS score differs from the N64 original, and what the community hopes to hear next.

Nintendo Music’s Rapid Growth

Back in October 2024, Nintendo quietly released a mobile streaming service devoted to its storied game catalog. Eight months later the library has ballooned, with weekly drops that keep the app feeling fresh. Each new addition shows Nintendo’s commitment to letting players relive iconic melodies without hunting through YouTube uploads or dusty CDs. The steady cadence also encourages daily check-ins, turning background listening into a tiny ritual—open the app, scan “New This Week,” and discover another slice of nostalgia. By focusing on curated quality rather than sheer volume, Nintendo keeps each update an event, rewarding subscribers who stick around.

Ocarina of Time 3D Arrives: Why It Matters

The original Ocarina of Time score is legendary, yet the 3DS remake introduced subtle tweaks—cleaner instrumentation, tighter mixes, and a hint of reverb that modernizes classic tracks without losing their soul. Adding this version means listeners can compare the two recordings side by side, spotting fresh flourishes in “Gerudo Valley” or noticing how “Lost Woods” gains extra warmth. It also fills a chronological gap: Nintendo Music already had the N64 score; now the handheld reinterpretation completes the timeline, making the app a living museum of Hyrule’s sonic evolution.

Curated Playlists That Fit Any Mood

Scrolling the new playlists feels like flipping through mixtapes crafted by an old friend. “Ocarina Songs” strings together every tune Link learns on his fairy-blessed instrument, perfect for a short commute. “Dungeons” mixes atmospheric background pieces with boss themes for a suspenseful vibe. Need energy while grinding through work? “Battles” layers rapid percussion and brass stabs to keep you moving. The standout is the “Extended-Playback Collection,” a smart set of pre-looped tracks already stretched to an hour; no more fiddling with repeat buttons while writing or studying.

Downloading Nintendo Music on iOS & Android

Getting started is easy: head to the App Store or Google Play, search “Nintendo Music,” and tap install. After signing in with your Nintendo Account, the app verifies your Switch Online subscription and opens the full catalog. A clean tile layout showcases franchises, while a bottom-bar menu splits browsing, playlists, and your personal library. Offline downloads are one press away—tap a soundtrack, hit the cloud icon, and songs cache to your device for the next flight or subway ride.

Switch Online: Your All-Access Pass

Nintendo Music is free with any Switch Online tier, meaning the same membership that lets you tackle Mario Kart 8 Deluxe multiplayer now doubles as your ticket to hundreds of tunes. Family Plan owners get a bonus: every linked account can install the app, so up to eight relatives can enjoy Zelda tracks without fighting over a single login. The approach mirrors Nintendo’s retro game libraries—add value to the core service through perks that feel distinct from gaming itself.

Extended Playback & Spoiler Controls

Few streaming services think about spoilers, but Nintendo does. Toggle the “Hide Spoilers” switch, and tracks tied to pivotal story beats vanish until you finish the game on your Switch, keeping late-game boss themes from ruining surprises. Meanwhile the new extended playback slider loops any song for up to sixty minutes, blending loop points so seamlessly you might forget when one pass ends and another begins. It’s terrific for sleep playlists or ambient study sessions.

Comparing the 3DS and N64 Scores

Listening back-to-back reveals fascinating contrasts. The 3DS “Kakariko Village” trades the N64’s airy pan flutes for a slightly richer oboe, lending warmth without altering melody. In “Goron City,” percussion sits higher in the mix, giving the track a marching-band snap that the original’s softer drums lacked. Even subtle reverb changes—notice the longer tail on “Forest Temple”—show how Grezzo’s sound team respected Koji Kondo’s blueprint while polishing it for modern earbuds.

Tap the heart icon on any song to build a personal favorites list, then long-press tracks to queue them up. Swipe left on a soundtrack tile to jump straight into shuffle mode—a handy shortcut when you just want surprise Zelda vibes. The search bar recognizes game abbreviations (“OOT3D”), composer names, and even mood tags like “relax.” For the data-minded, pressing the info button surfaces bitrate, runtime, and original release year, letting audiophiles verify quality.

Community Buzz & Future Wishes

Social feeds lit up the moment the update dropped. Fans praised the loopable “Gerudo Valley” for workouts and debated whether Majora’s Mask should be next. One recurring request: see the app on Switch hardware itself, allowing living-room speakers to pump game music without phone mirroring. Nintendo hasn’t confirmed plans, but the company’s track record of merging mobile services into console ecosystems leaves hope.

Crafting the Ultimate Zelda Playlist

Start with “Title Theme” to set the heroic tone, glide into “Hyrule Field Main Theme” for open-world wanderlust, then cool down with “Zelda’s Lullaby.” Drop “Shadow Temple” at the midpoint for dramatic tension before picking the energy back up with “Gerudo Valley.” Cap the journey with “End Credits 2,” whose triumphant brass feels like fireworks over the castle. Sprinkle in cues from other Zelda games—“Great Fairy’s Fountain,” “Ballad of the Goddess”—to weave a tapestry of Hyrule’s musical legacy.

Nintendo’s Music Strategy

Unlike rivals who off-load soundtracks to Spotify, Nintendo keeps music under its own roof. The walled-garden approach aligns with the company’s history of controlling distribution—think Virtual Console or the eShop’s retro libraries. By bundling the app with Switch Online, Nintendo turns melodies into a retention tool: cancel the sub, lose the tunes. It’s a subtle nudge that keeps players subscribed even during gaming lulls.

Preserving Game Music History

Game audio often fades into obscurity when systems age out, but Nintendo Music offers an official archive accessible on modern phones. That preservation matters; original cartridge audio data can degrade, and ripped YouTube uploads carry legal risks. Hosting high-quality masters ensures new generations hear Koji Kondo’s work as intended, safeguarding cultural heritage alongside player nostalgia.

Meet the Composers Behind the Magic

While Koji Kondo penned the original N64 themes, Mahito Yokota and Takeshi Hama assisted on the 3DS overhaul. Their goal: polish instrument samples, enhance stereo separation, and layer subtle orchestration touches. They resisted the temptation to rewrite beloved melodies, instead treating the score like an ornate sculpture—dusting, shining, but never reshaping.

What Soundtracks Could Drop Next?

Patterns suggest another Zelda update in a few weeks—Majora’s Mask feels likely. Beyond Hyrule, fans hope for Metroid Prime 4’s soundtrack once the game launches, or a full Animal Crossing: New Horizons OST to complement its existing “Island Tour” sampler. Nintendo may also surprise with indie partnerships—imagine Celeste or Hollow Knight under an official banner, further broadening the app’s reach.

Conclusion

With each new soundtrack, Nintendo Music cements its place as the go-to hub for official game audio. The Ocarina of Time 3D addition isn’t just another drop; it’s a reminder that classics can evolve while staying true to their roots. Whether you’re revisiting childhood memories or discovering Hyrule’s tunes for the first time, this update proves the app is more than background noise—it’s a living, growing celebration of game music.

FAQs
  • How many tracks were added in this update?
    • Nintendo added 51 Ocarina of Time 3D tracks, totaling just over an hour of new music.
  • Do I need to pay extra for Nintendo Music?
    • No. A basic Nintendo Switch Online membership grants full access without additional fees.
  • Can I listen offline?
    • Yes. Tap the cloud icon on any soundtrack to download songs for offline playback.
  • What are spoiler settings?
    • Enable “Hide Spoilers” in settings to automatically filter out late-game or boss themes you haven’t reached yet.
  • Will Nintendo Music come to the Switch console?
    • Nintendo hasn’t announced plans, but community demand is strong, so it remains a possibility.
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