Nintendo has released a new mobile application for its storefront iOS And Androidand while Nintendo Store app does a good job of making it easier to find and buy games for Nintendo Switch And Switch 2its most attractive feature may be the one that displays your Nintendo gaming history by year.
At the very bottom of your profile page (accessed by tapping the Mii icon in the bottom right corner) is an option called “Game Activity.” The Recent Activity section at the top will show you the games you've recently played and the time you've played them. But scroll down the All Actions section and you'll find games and console apps created over the years.
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It was a shock to see games for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS that I had completely forgotten about, like a game my daughters loved – Art Academy: Home Studio – and Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, which I played in 2015 for 10 days. I don't remember playing Steel Diver for Nintendo 3DS, but there is evidence that it happened on March 28, 2011.
Why gaming activity is important
If this feature was just nostalgia for nostalgia's sake, that would be one thing, but for those who have a long history with multiple generations of Nintendo consoles, this is good information. In an era of remakes and re-releases, it's useful to know what games you've actually played before, what console you've played them on, and how much time you've spent playing them. My gaming history is full of games I played for less than an hour, like Ridge Racer 3D, and abandoned for others.
A special feature of the Nintendo Store app is a section that shows players their gaming activity across different consoles going back to 2011. Nintendogs + Cats is a virtual pet simulator for Nintendo 3DS.
This reminds me that I played Nintendogs, a cute dog simulator, for four whole years, from 2011 to 2015. Why hasn't Nintendo rebooted this franchise?
Helpfully, you can sort your game history by recent games, date first played, total time played, and game system. I was surprised at how many games I played on the Wii U, but it probably pales in comparison to the number of games I played on the GameCube or original Wii. The gaming activity doesn't seem to have lasted that far; for me it all ends in 2011 with the advent of Wii U and 3DS. Games on Switch display more detailed information, showing how much you played in each game session.
A special feature of the Nintendo Store app is a section that shows players' in-game activities on different consoles since 2011. Super Mario
But most of all, it's nice to have a document that reflects your relationship with Nintendo systems and software, whether it's finding out how much time you spent watching Netflix on your Switch or how many hours you spent playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
What else is there in the Nintendo Store app?
If Play Activity were the only feature in the Nintendo Store app, it would still be worth downloading for experienced gamers. However, this is just a nice feature and not the main attraction.
The best reason to download the Nintendo Store app is the store itself, which makes it much easier to navigate and search than the Switch version, which can be slow and clunky. You can make in-app purchases for your Switch or Switch 2, use Nintendo Points, check in with GPS, and view company events, promotions, and gaming news.
Merchandise including game soundtracks, clothing and toys are also available. It's very convenient to be able to quickly navigate which games have demos, as well as send digital downloads to the Switch from your phone.
The Ask a Developer tab is a convenient area to browse in the News section of the app; recent articles discuss the creation World of Mario Kart And Donkey Kong Bananza.
Linking your Nintendo Account is required to use the Nintendo Store app.
