If you thought Nintendo's alarm clock was the most unexpected product it could launch this year, think again

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There's something truly admirable about the way Nintendo marches to its own beat. While Sony and Microsoft were jamming specs into their consoles to make the games look better and run smoother, Nintendo created the Switch, a handheld hybrid that has sold more than 143 million units.

While everyone is patiently waiting for Nintendo to announce the Switch's sequel, the Japanese gaming company keeps pumping out the most random products you could ever imagine. Like the Alarmo alarm clock that was announced early October.

Or Nintendo Music, which launched this week. If anybody had that on their Nintendo Bingo card for 2024, you win by default.

Nintendo Music is a music app for iOS and Android that lets Nintendo Switch Online customers. Just like Spotify or Apple Music, you can stream music from the soundtracks of a range of Nintendo games.

There isn't a huge range of games to choose music from right now, at least not in Australia. By my count, there are 24 game soundtracks available, starting from 1985's Super Mario Bros., right up to 2023's Pikmin 4.

Here's a list of games on offer right now:

• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• Pikmin 4
• Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
• Splatoon 3
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Kirby Star Allies
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Tomodachi Collection
• Super Mario Galaxy
• Wii Channels
• Nintendogs
• Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
• Metroid Prime
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Lylat Wars
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
• Donkey Kong Country
• Kirby's Dream Land
• Dr. Mario
• Metroid
• Metroid (Famicom Disk System)
• Super Mario Bros.

Given the sheer number of Nintendo games that have been released since 1985, it seems like its early days for the platform. There's nothing from the Wii U, or the 3DS, and only a handful of titles from other massively successful consoles.

Nintendo's launch video says the lineup will expand over time, though I'm shocked there wasn't more to start off with.

Unique features

The app does offer a couple of unique features that highlight why it couldn't just launch all these soundtracks on another music streaming platform.

You can listen to playlists based on characters, games and moods. There are also playlists of Title Themes, Boss Battles or Victory songs.

Given most of the soundtracks are instrumental, and designed to loop, Nintendo has added the ability to extend selected tracks to 15, 30 or 60 minutes for uninterrupted background music while you work or study.

If you haven't played a game, you can even "Spoiler Block" the game's soundtrack from your listening, including pre-produced playlists, so you don't hear something you don't want to.

First impressions

I find it crazy that I spent today working to the sound of Mario Kart 8. But I did, and I enjoyed it.

I'm glad that the service is a free add-on for Nintendo Online customers and not an additional subscription, because it's not worth spending any extra money on. There's just not big enough of a library to warrant any sort of extra payment.

But as a value-add for an existing subscription I don't really use that often? Yeah, I think it's great.

The app is slick and easy to use, navigation is clear and the sound quality is great. If you're a Nintendo Online subscriber, it's definitely worth downloading.