Have you heard of chiptune, a music genre with a rather cute-sounding name?
It’s a general term for music created using sound chips found in personal computers and home game consoles from the 1980s—like the Famicom (NES) and Game Boy—characterized by its bleepy, electronic tones.
That said, a wide range of music has emerged that employs chiptune techniques, making it a fascinating genre that defies easy categorization.
In this article, we’ll showcase classic tracks from representative chiptune artists from a variety of perspectives.
If you’ve only recently become interested in chiptune, be sure to check it out!
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Recommendation of 8-Bit: A Compilation of Chiptune Masterpieces (1–10)
Magical 8bit TourYMCK
Within the chiptune genre, YMCK stands out with exceptional name recognition and an active presence not only in Japan but worldwide.
Not only their album artwork but even illustrations of the artists themselves are rendered in pixel art; armed with a solid concept, this trio made a name for themselves during their indie days and went on to make their major-label debut in 2008.
The plugin-format software synthesizer “Magical 8bit Plug,” developed by member Yokemura, has greatly contributed to the evolution of chiptune, and at the same time, the group has been energetically performing at large festivals and taking on remix work, continuing to operate beyond the confines of chiptune.
YMCK has many signature songs, but the one introduced here is a track from their de facto debut album Family Music, released independently in 2004, whose Beatles-esque title is sure to make you grin.
From the intro, the nostalgic 8-bit bleeps-and-bloops and Midori’s cute vocals delivering a pop melody may come as a surprise to those who’ve never listened to chiptune.
Be sure to check out the music video too—it features delightful pixel-art animation!
ukigumoHigedoraibā
As one of Japan’s quintessential chiptune artists, it’s impossible not to mention Hige Driver.
Now active across a wide range of fields beyond chiptune—providing songs to other artists and working as an arranger—Hige Driver began publishing his own music online in 2005.
The track “Hello Windows,” made using only Windows XP sound effects, became a hot topic on Niconico and quickly boosted his online recognition.
He has continued releasing works at a relentless pace ever since, and many will remember that he married popular voice actress Ari Ozawa in 2020.
With such a distinctive talent, Hige Driver released his second album, Hige Driver 2UP, in 2009, which includes the fan-favorite track “ukigumo.” It’s a stunning killer tune that bursts into a full sprint from a somewhat wistful intro—its exuberant chiptune approach aside, the unforgettable melody line truly speaks for itself.
A Girl I KnowSabrepulse
Sabrepulse is a pioneering figure in chiptune, renowned for a sound that blends various forms of electronic music such as drum and bass and dubstep.
He began releasing music in the mid-2000s, and especially in his early work, most of his compositions were created using LSDj—a fact well known to music fans who have followed chiptune since its early days.
As mentioned at the start, he remains prolific today, producing refined, drum-and-bass-leaning tracks while still retaining chiptune elements.
Among his discography, the track “A Girl I Know,” which we’re highlighting here, is a must for chiptune enthusiasts.
Released in 2006 on the album Chipbreak Wars, it lets you fully enjoy the essence of UK-style chiptune, just as the album title suggests.
The unconventional, twist-filled song structure is fantastic, too!
Missing YouTrash80
Trash80, from San Diego, California, USA, is also known as a pioneering artist in the history of chiptune.
He announced the ArduinoBoy, a device that lets you use a Game Boy as a MIDI sequencer, and in 2020 developed the Dirtywave M8 music production tool—making him famous not only as a musician but also for his diverse hardware talents.
His track “Missing You” is included on the EP Icarus, released in 2008.
It’s the kind of song where a chiptune-like timbre carries the main melody over a simple electro beat, and as the title suggests, the melody has a somewhat wistful resonance that feels very pleasant.
With its strong emphasis on melodic quality and a dramatic build in the latter half, the excellence of the track is something you’ll immediately understand once you give it a listen!
SpacemanKola Kid
Kola Kid is a somewhat rare Russia-born breakcore/chiptune producer.
His sound, which blends chiptune-like timbres with ferocious breakcore beats, creates a unique atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and chaotic.
The track featured here, “Spaceman,” is from the 2012 EP Rave to the Grave.
In just under three minutes it packs in a wealth of detail; the cute chiptune melodies ringing out over savage breakbeats are truly fascinating.
The latter half of the track, where it seems to go off the rails and run wild, is another highlight!
ChiptuneDubmood
Before we even put it into words, the song title says it all.
Dubmood, a Swedish artist who has earned respect as an originator by releasing chiptune on the internet from as early as 1996, continues to be active in the 2020s as a DJ, producer, and remixer.
His 2013 7-inch single “Chiptune” is a track that embodies the classic, straightforward style that lets you fully savor the appeal of chiptune.
It’s also a great recommendation for anyone who just wants to try listening to what chiptune is all about!
SpectraChipzel
Born in 1991 and hailing from Northern Ireland, Chipzel is an artist known for creating chiptune music using the Game Boy, as well as a highly talented female composer who has worked on numerous video game titles.
She began producing chiptune in her mid-teens, and in 2010 she showcased her precocious talent by releasing her debut album, Disconnected.
While gaining recognition through live performances, she has also been active in a wide range of work, including composing video game soundtracks, as mentioned at the beginning.
Her 2013 album Spectra was later used as the soundtrack for a racing game of the same title that was created based on the album’s content, and the track introduced in this article is the album’s title track.
It’s a dynamic and cool chiptune made with her trademark Game Boy sequencer, LSDJ, and it also seems like it could be enjoyed as dance music with a moderately relaxed BPM!