Nintendo Store App Is Like a Time Portal to Your Gaming Historical past

Nintendo has launched a cell app for its storefront, the on-the-nose-named NIntendo Store app, for iOS and Android. And whereas it does a superb job of constructing it simpler to browse and buy video games for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, probably the most compelling characteristic could also be one which lays out your Nintendo gaming historical past by 12 months.

Buried on the very backside of your Profile web page (you may get to it by tapping the icon along with your Mii on the backside proper) is an possibility known as Play Activity. At the highest, your Recent Activity will show video games you performed not too long ago and for the way lengthy. But scroll down via All Activity and you will find video games and console apps stretching again years and years.

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For me, it was a shock to see Wii U and NIntendo 3DS titles I’d forgotten all about, equivalent to a recreation my daughters loved — Art Academy: Home Studio — and Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, which I performed in 2015 for 10 days. I’ve no recollection of enjoying Steel Diver for Nintendo 3DS, however there’s proof to show that occurred on March 28, 2011.

Why Play Activity issues

If the characteristic had been simply nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, that might be one factor, however for anybody who has an extended historical past throughout a number of Nintendo console generations, that is good data to have. In an period of remakes and re-releases, it is useful to know what video games you even have performed earlier than, what console you performed them on and whether or not you spent a lot time on them. My Play Activity historical past is affected by video games I solely performed for lower than an hour, equivalent to Ridge Racer 3D, and deserted for others.

It jogs my memory that I performed Nintendogs, the lovable canine simulator, for a full 4 years, from 2011 to 2015. Why hasn’t Nintendo rebooted that franchise? 

It’s helpful that you could type the play historical past by most not too long ago performed, date first performed, complete time performed and by recreation system. I used to be stunned by what number of titles I performed on the Wii U, but it surely in all probability paled compared to the variety of video games I performed on the GameCube or the unique Wii. The Play Activity would not seem to return that far; for me, it stops at 2011 with the Wii U and 3DS. Games on the Switch seem to indicate extra element, displaying you ways a lot you performed for every gaming session.

But most of all, it is good to have a doc that charts your relationship with Nintendo’s techniques and software program, whether or not it is to see how a lot time you spent watching Netflix in your Switch or to see what number of hours you have logged in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

What else is within the Nintendo Store app?

If Play Activity had been the one characteristic within the Nintendo Store app, it could nonetheless be price a obtain for longtime avid gamers. However, that is only a nice-to-have characteristic, not the principle attraction.

The finest motive to obtain the Nintendo Store app is the shop itself, which turns into a lot simpler to navigate and search via than the model on the Switch, which may be sluggish and cumbersome. You could make purchases on your Switch or Switch 2 immediately within the app, use Nintendo Points, do GPS check-ins and think about occasions, promotions and recreation information from the corporate. 

There’s additionally merchandise out there, together with recreation soundtracks, clothes and toys. Being capable of rapidly navigate which video games have demo variations and with the ability to ship a digital obtain to your Switch out of your cellphone is useful.

An Ask the Developer tab is a pleasant space to browse within the News part of the app; latest tales focus on the making of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

Using the Nintendo Store app requires linking your Nintendo account.