[All-Time] A Collection of Masterpieces in Video Game Music [Up to the Latest Tracks]

Glimmers of Lovesugiyama kouichi

[15-Minute Endurance] Dappled Light of Love - Dragon Quest XI (BGM)

If you’ve played Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, this is a track that will set your heart ablaze.

It’s a masterpiece brimming with the warmth of sun-dappled light, beginning with delicate harp tones before the melody is passed to alto flute, oboe, and then strings—like listening to the story of life itself.

Heard during the moving scenes depicting the World Tree of Life and the bond between the sisters Veronica and Serena, it left a deep impression on many players.

It’s perfect for immersing yourself while reminiscing about the game’s most emotional moments, and just as lovely as music to soothe your daily fatigue.

Final Battle (vs. Rival)Poketto Monsutā

Pokémon Red and Green — Final Battle (Rival Battle) BGM

This is the background music that plays during the final boss battle in the original Pokémon series—Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow.

The chiptune sound from the Game Boy is nostalgic, and many people probably remember how absorbed they were in playing back then.

Arranged versions of this track have been used not only in Pokémon game titles like FireRed and LeafGreen, the remakes of Red and Green, but also in the anime.

The driving melody that ramps up the player’s tension is still thrilling to hear even now.

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Green Hill ZoneNakamura Masato

Sonic The Hedgehog OST – Green Hill Zone

This track, which plays in the first stage of the side-scrolling action game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Mega Drive, was released to the world alongside the game in July 1991 in Japan.

The composer is Masato Nakamura, leader of DREAMS COME TRUE, who is active as a bassist and producer.

Created under the constraints of a 16-bit FM sound chip, the piece aimed for a melody that would stand on its own as pop music, and it’s notable for its bright, bouncy rhythm and sophisticated chord progressions.

It brilliantly conveys, through music, the exhilaration of sprinting across grassy fields.

A piano arrangement was used in the 2020 live-action film Sonic the Hedgehog, and when the sequel was released in Japan, a vocal version by DREAMS COME TRUE was featured as the theme song.

It’s a track we recommend not only for those who want to revel in retro game nostalgia, but also for anyone interested in the fusion of chiptune and J-pop.

Chop Chop Master Onion RapMatsuura Masaya

Parappa the Rapper: Chop Chop Master Onion Rap

This is the track that colored Stage 1 of the 1996 PlayStation music game PaRappa the Rapper.

Created by Masaya Matsuura, it’s memorable for its uniquely quirky setup in which the karate dojo master, Chop Chop Master Onion, teaches training through rap.

While rooted in hip-hop, the song exudes a playful, poppy vibe with a distinctly J-pop sensibility.

Players follow the master’s rap as a model, entering button inputs in a call-and-response format—an approach that delivered an experience that could be called the origin of rhythm games.

The soundtrack was included on the album PaRappa The Rapper Original Soundtrack, released by Sony Records in December 1996, and it has been carried forward through the PSP version and the PS4 remaster.

It’s a perfect track for anyone who wants to explore the history of game music or relive the excitement of that era.

Theme of LauraYamaoka Akira

Theme of Laura

That melody that grabs the player’s heart the moment they step into the fog-shrouded town.

The main theme of the PlayStation 2 horror game composed by Akira Yamaoka is a classic that was released on the soundtrack in October 2001.

Its mournful guitar riff repeats as percussion layers in, unfolding a unique sonic world where quiet despair and faint hope coexist.

It’s unmistakably Yamaoka’s sound—straddling industrial and trip-hop—yet what stands out in this work is the more rock-leaning, emotional edge brought to the fore.

In 2024, a new arrangement was included on the remake’s soundtrack, showing that the piece continues to evolve even after more than 20 years.

The official YouTube video has surpassed 10 million views, and the abundance of international comments speaks to its popularity.

If you want to experience artistry that transcends the boundaries of game music, or immerse yourself in sonically rich psychological depth, this is a must-listen track.

Bloody TearsMatsubara Kenichi

Castlevania II Music (NES) – Bloody Tears (Day Theme)

This is a piece that carved its name into video game music history as the BGM that plays on the daytime field in Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, released for the Famicom Disk System in August 1987.

Composed by Kenichi Matsubara, the track is stunning in its structure: from a majestic, pipe-organ-like intro, it plunges into a driving, exhilarating rhythm.

Its melancholic melody in a minor key and a powerful, forward-thrusting beat brilliantly portray the protagonist’s fate and resolve as he fights on to lift the curse.

It’s impossible not to admire how such a dramatic narrative was woven within the constraints of 8-bit sound hardware.

As one of the defining themes of the series, it also received a new arrangement in Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate.

A must-listen for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a world of gothic horror or has an interest in retro game music.

Battle! Zero LabToby Fox

[Pokemon SV] Final Boss Battle [Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Gameplay Video / BGM]

A masterpiece of electronic music that fuses tension and exhilarating speed.

Composed by Toby Fox, this track colored the climax of the story in the Nintendo Switch titles Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.

Its soundscape, combining grandeur and uplift, is striking.

As the theme that plays during the final boss battle, it brilliantly heightens the scene’s intensity.

If you’re seeking a heated showdown, this song will give you a powerful push forward.

Included on the album “Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet + The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Super Music Collection.”