Games with Soundtracks that Became Cultural Phenomena

Video game music has come a long way, from basic electronic sounds to elaborate orchestral pieces and carefully chosen song selections that really shape how players feel. Some game soundtracks have become incredibly popular, even influencing mainstream culture and being performed in concerts around the world. These scores often become just as recognizable and important to a game as its characters and how it’s played. The games listed below showcase key moments where music helped take the gaming experience to a new level of global recognition.

‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1985)

Koji Kondo’s soundtrack for ‘Super Mario Bros.’ is legendary, largely shaping the sound of early video games. Created for both the Famicom and Nintendo Entertainment System, the game’s music features memorable, repeating melodies that perfectly match the on-screen gameplay. The iconic “Ground Theme” became globally recognized, appearing in everything from TV shows to orchestral concerts. This soundtrack set a new standard for being both catchy and technically impressive, especially considering the limitations of the 8-bit technology at the time.

‘The Legend of Zelda’ (1986)

The original ‘Legend of Zelda’ established a spirit of adventure that continues to define the series and video games in general. Composer Koji Kondo’s famous “Overworld Theme” was designed to capture feelings of exploration and bravery within the Nintendo game. This music is a key part of the series’ identity and is often featured in newer games. Its popularity is clear from the concert tours that showcase the game’s music to fans around the world.

‘Mega Man 2’ (1988)

‘Mega Man 2’ is famous for its exciting and rock-influenced 8-bit music, created by composer Takashi Tateishi. Developed and released by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the game pushed the console’s sound chip to produce energetic and intricate rhythms. The music from “Dr. Wily’s Castle” is a classic example of chiptune and has been remixed and performed by many artists. Its upbeat melodies had a big impact on how developers created music for fast-paced action games in the late 1980s.

‘Tetris’ (1989)

The Game Boy version of ‘Tetris’ made a tune called ‘Type A’ famous – it’s based on a traditional Russian folk song, ‘Korobeiniki’. Nintendo, who created and released this version of the game, turned a little-known melody into something almost everyone recognizes. The music’s speed changes to match the increasing pace of the game, which cleverly connects the sound to the feeling of tension while you play. Now, this particular arrangement is strongly associated with ‘Tetris’ and the entire history of puzzle games.

‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ (1991)

As a huge Sonic fan, I always loved the music in the original game! It was composed by Masato Nakamura, who was part of the popular J-pop band Dreams Come True. Sonic Team and Sega really nailed the vibe – the music was super upbeat and poppy, perfectly matching how fast Sonic was! That “Green Hill Zone” theme is iconic, honestly. It just felt like the cool, colorful Genesis era. What was so cool about the soundtrack was that it showed video game music could be as good as, and reflect, what was popular in mainstream music at the time.

‘Street Fighter II’ (1991)

The music in ‘Street Fighter II,’ created by Yoko Shimomura and the team at Capcom, is a key part of what makes the game special. Each level’s theme was carefully crafted to match the fighter who represents that country or style – for example, Ryu’s music is calm and serious, while Guile’s is powerful and inspiring. Originally released for arcades and later home consoles, the game’s soundtrack became hugely popular and continues to influence fighting game music today, with many of its songs being remixed for modern esports events.

‘Chrono Trigger’ (1995)

The soundtrack for ‘Chrono Trigger’, mainly created by Yasunori Mitsuda with contributions from Nobuo Uematsu, is widely praised. Developed and published by Square, the music uses recurring themes to support the game’s story of time travel through various periods. Known for its emotional power and immersive atmosphere, the score maximized the capabilities of the Super Nintendo’s sound hardware. It’s consistently ranked among the best video game soundtracks ever made and has been adapted into many jazz and orchestral performances.

‘Final Fantasy VII’ (1997)

The PlayStation’s CD format allowed ‘Final Fantasy VII’ to feature a sweeping and memorable soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Developed and published by Square, the game’s music included the iconic “One-Winged Angel,” which notably used a digitally recorded choir for the first time in the series. This soundtrack was crucial to the game’s worldwide popularity, helping to introduce Japanese role-playing games to Western audiences. Today, its themes are often performed by professional orchestras, connecting the worlds of video games and classical music.

‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’ (1997)

Michiru Yamane’s soundtrack for ‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’ is a standout feature, mixing gothic rock, classical music, and jazz. Created and released by Konami, the music enhances the game’s immersive exploration of Dracula’s castle. It was a significant improvement in audio quality for the series, taking full advantage of the PlayStation to deliver a sound comparable to a professional recording. Many fans consider this score to be a key element of the ‘Metroidvania’ style, and it’s still highly sought after by collectors and music enthusiasts.

‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)

‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ cleverly wove music into its gameplay, centering it around the ocarina. Created by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64, the game asks players to learn and play short tunes to advance. Composer Koji Kondo designed these melodies to be catchy and emotionally impactful, using just five notes to make them easy to learn. The game’s music became incredibly popular, sparking a renewed interest in ocarinas and inspiring other games to incorporate music into their gameplay.

‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2’ (2000)

‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2’ revolutionized video game music. Instead of generic tunes, it featured a cool mix of punk, hip-hop, and metal, introducing many players to bands like Rage Against the Machine and Bad Religion. The soundtrack was incredibly popular and is often credited with influencing the music millennials and Gen Z grew up with. It proved that a great playlist could be just as important to a game’s success as how it played.

‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ (2001)

The music of ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’, created by Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori, is truly epic. Developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft, the game’s iconic main theme blends choral chants with powerful drumming. The music dynamically shifts to match the action on screen, enhancing the gameplay experience. This soundtrack not only defined the sound of the original Xbox but also helped establish ‘Halo’ as a major force in gaming, known for its cinematic quality.

‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’ (2002)

Man, playing ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’ was like stepping right back into the 80s! Rockstar really nailed the vibe with the music. They didn’t just throw in any songs, though – they licensed a ton of awesome pop, rock, and new wave hits. Hearing stuff from artists like Michael Jackson and Hall & Oates while cruising around the open world totally made the game feel authentic. It wasn’t just a game, it felt like the 80s, and I think that’s why it’s still so popular and why so many other games and movies try to capture that same feeling.

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

The music in ‘Minecraft’ is a calming, minimalist soundtrack created by Daniel Rosenfeld, who goes by the name C418. Developed by Mojang Studios, the soundtrack features soft piano and electronic melodies that play throughout the game. Many players appreciate how the music creates a feeling of both peacefulness and inspiration while exploring the game’s expansive world. Its relaxing qualities have also made it incredibly popular for studying and unwinding, racking up billions of listens online.

‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’ (2011)

Jeremy Soule composed the epic and sweeping music for ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.’ Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game’s iconic main theme, “Sons of Skyrim,” includes a 30-person choir singing in a made-up dragon language. The soundtrack perfectly reflects the game’s vast open world and its Nordic-inspired setting. It quickly became popular, and the main theme is now widely recognized and frequently used in online videos and memes.

‘The Last of Us’ (2013)

Okay, so the music in ‘The Last of Us’ is seriously amazing. It’s all done by Gustavo Santaolalla, who’s won an Academy Award, and it’s mostly guitar-based. Naughty Dog and Sony really nailed the atmosphere – the music is super raw and acoustic, which totally fits the game’s story and how emotional it is. It’s not your typical big orchestral score; it’s much more stripped down and focuses on building tension and that feeling of sadness you get from being in a broken world. Honestly, the music was a huge part of why everyone loved the game’s story and how cinematic it felt.

‘Undertale’ (2015)

Okay, so the music in ‘Undertale’ is seriously amazing – all made by just one person, Toby Fox, which is incredible! He uses these recurring musical themes for each character, so you instantly recognize them. And ‘Megalovania’? Forget about it! That track blew up online – I saw remixes everywhere, memes, even at sports games! Honestly, I think the soundtrack was a huge reason why ‘Undertale’ went from being this cool indie game to something everyone was talking about.

‘Doom’ (2016)

The video game ‘Doom’ has a powerful soundtrack blending industrial metal and a style called “djent,” created by composer Mick Gordon. Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, the music changes based on how well the player is doing in battle. Gordon used unique synthesizers and a lot of distortion to build an intense and driving sound that’s central to the new ‘Doom’ games. The soundtrack won many awards and showed that less common genres like industrial metal can become popular thanks to video games.

‘Persona 5’ (2016)

The music in ‘Persona 5,’ composed by Shoji Meguro, is a major part of what makes the game so popular. Its blend of acid jazz and J-pop perfectly complements the game’s cool, stylish look and the story of a group of rebels. Songs like “Last Surprise” were huge hits, even leading to live concerts and tons of digital downloads. Many fans point to the soundtrack as a key reason why ‘Persona 5’ stands out and has become successful around the world.

‘Cuphead’ (2017)

The video game ‘Cuphead’ boasts a unique soundtrack of big band jazz created by Kristofer Maddigan. Developed by Studio MDHR, the music was recorded with real musicians to capture the feel of 1930s cartoons. The score features more than three hours of jazz, ragtime, and swing, which complements the game’s hand-drawn visuals. Remarkably, the soundtrack topped the Billboard Jazz Charts, a rare achievement for a video game score in that genre.

Tell us which video game soundtrack had the biggest impact on your musical taste in the comments.

2026-01-23 18:19