Nintendo officially launched the Nintendo Store app for iOS and Android on November 5, 2025, finally giving mobile users a dedicated platform to browse the eShop, purchase games, and manage their Nintendo ecosystem from their phones. What’s surprising is that the standout feature isn’t the mobile shopping. It’s the ability to view detailed play activity data spanning back to the Nintendo 3DS era, offering players a nostalgic look at their gaming history over the past decade and a half.
Five Years of Japanese Exclusivity Finally Goes Global
The My Nintendo app originally launched in Japan in April 2020 and has been exclusive to Japan for five years. Nintendo finally decided to rebrand it as the Nintendo Store app and release it worldwide on November 5, 2025. The app is available on both the Apple App Store for iOS and Google Play Store for Android, though it’s not yet available in all regions. Malaysia and the Philippines remain excluded, likely because Nintendo eShop services are only launching in those countries later this year and next year respectively.
The global rollout represents Nintendo recognizing that mobile shopping is standard for modern digital marketplaces. Fortnite has an app. Xbox has an app. PlayStation has an app. Until now, Nintendo didn’t have a dedicated storefront application, forcing players to use web browsers or their consoles to manage purchases. The Nintendo Store app finally closes that gap.
The Secret Best Feature: Playtime Tracking Back to 3DS
The most talked-about feature isn’t eShop integration. It’s the ability to review detailed play activity dating back to the Nintendo 3DS era. Link your Nintendo Network ID (NNID) to your Nintendo Account and the app displays your gaming history from 3DS and Wii U up to February 2020. Switch and Switch 2 play activity shows in even more granular detail, with session-by-session breakdowns rather than just total hours.
This feature has players absolutely loving the app because it provides something Nintendo has never offered before: a unified historical record of their gaming across multiple console generations. Players can see exactly which games they played most frequently on the 3DS. They can revisit their Wii U library. They can track detailed Switch playtime down to individual sessions. It’s nostalgia meets data analytics in a way only Nintendo could offer given their hardware history.
Mobile Shopping for Everything Nintendo
The primary purpose remains eShop browsing and purchasing. Players can browse Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch systems, accessories, physical and digital games, and Nintendo merchandise directly from the app. When you find something you want, tapping it takes you to the My Nintendo Store in your browser to complete the purchase. It’s not a full in-app checkout experience, but it provides convenient discovery that previously required navigating to My Nintendo on your phone’s browser.
Physical product availability varies by region, so some players won’t see physical merchandise options. However, digital games and subscriptions are available globally for players in supported regions. The ability to set wishlists and receive push notifications when items go on sale is a particularly useful feature for deal-hunting players.
News, Events, and Rewards Integration
The app aggregates Nintendo game news, event information, and promotional content in one place. Rather than visiting multiple websites or following social media accounts, players can open the app and see what Nintendo is announcing today. This centralized news feed approach encourages regular app usage beyond just making purchases.
Check-in functionality lets players physically visit Nintendo stores or official events and earn “related rewards” by checking in via the app. Nintendo hasn’t fully detailed what these rewards are, but the system encourages community engagement beyond digital shopping. It’s a bridge between online and offline Nintendo experiences.
Not a Replacement, But a Complement
The Nintendo Store app doesn’t replace the existing Nintendo Switch app, which handles friend lists, game-specific services, and screenshot/video sharing. The two apps serve different purposes. Nintendo Switch app is for social features and game services. Nintendo Store app is for shopping and play history tracking. This split might seem confusing, but it reflects different use cases.
Players who just want to check whether friends are online should use Nintendo Switch app. Players who want to discover new games or track their gaming history should use Nintendo Store app. Neither is comprehensive on its own, but together they provide the core mobile functionality Nintendo players need.
Why Play Activity Tracking Matters So Much
The play activity feature resonates with players because it answers a question they’ve asked for years: “How many hours did I actually spend on that 3DS game?” Nintendo finally has an answer. The granular session-by-session tracking for Switch 2 and Switch lets you see not just total playtime, but when you played, how long each session was, and how your gaming habits evolved over months and years.
For completionists and statistics-obsessed players, this is dream functionality. For casual players, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Seeing that you spent 400 hours on Pokemon on your 3DS nearly a decade ago hits different. Gaming memory becomes quantifiable and shareable.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Nintendo Store app launch?
November 5, 2025 on iOS via the Apple App Store and Android via Google Play Store.
Is the app free?
Yes, the Nintendo Store app is completely free to download and use. You don’t need a subscription or membership.
What countries have access?
The app is available in most major regions worldwide, though it’s not available in Malaysia and the Philippines. Availability expands as Nintendo launches eShop services in those regions.
Can I actually buy games directly in the app?
You can browse games and products in the app, but purchasing redirects you to the My Nintendo Store website in your browser. It’s not full in-app checkout, but it streamlines discovery.
How far back does the play activity tracking go?
For 3DS and Wii U, data is available up to February 2020. For Switch and Switch 2, detailed session-by-session tracking is available for all gameplay since those systems’ respective launches.
Do I need to do anything special to see 3DS playtime?
Yes, you must link your Nintendo Network ID (NNID) from your 3DS to your Nintendo Account. This is a one-time setup.
Can I see my Wii U playtime?
Yes, if you link your NNID, Wii U play activity dating to February 2020 is accessible in the app.
What other Nintendo mobile apps exist?
Nintendo Switch app (friends and social features), Nintendo Music (streaming), Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, and Nintendo Today (news aggregation). The Nintendo Store app is separate from all of these.
Is the Nintendo Store app worldwide?
No, it’s not available in every country. Malaysia, the Philippines, and a few other regions don’t have access yet.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Store app’s November 5, 2025 launch finally gives mobile users what they’ve needed for years: a dedicated app for browsing Nintendo games and managing their digital library. But the real magic is the play activity tracking that lets players revisit their gaming history spanning from 3DS to Switch 2. For players who want to reminisce about hundreds of hours spent on Pokemon, Monster Hunter, or countless other Nintendo games over the past decade and a half, the Nintendo Store app offers something genuinely special. Download it free on iOS or Android and prepare to lose time scrolling through your gaming history.