[2026] Many classic tracks! A compilation of nostalgic Japanese video game music
From the era when chiptunes echoed to the time game music earned the artistry to be performed by full orchestras.
When we think back to those days playing on the Famicom, Super Famicom, and PlayStation, the excitement of the time comes flooding back with the melodies, doesn’t it? The countless adventures we dove into, controller in hand, were brought to life by unforgettable game BGM.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected nostalgic game music born from the Showa era through the mid-2000s.
From works lauded overseas as art to tracks with a devoted cult following, immerse yourself in the full allure of game soundtracks!
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[2026] Many Iconic Tracks Appear! A Compilation of Nostalgic Japanese Video Game Music (21–30)
Heavenly Prayersugiyama kouichi
A sacred piece from Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, released in July 2009, that’s sure to move any fan.
Composed as the BGM for the Celestrians’ realm where players spend much of the early story, it unfolds from a harp prelude into a majestic yet somehow poignant melody.
It seems to carry the tenderness and sorrow of the angels watching over the world, and every listen tightens my chest.
The piece was later used at key moments in Dragon Quest X as well, moving many fans all over again.
Let out a battle crysugiyama kouichi
This is the track that plays during regular battles in Dragon Quest VIII.
It’s a true fanfare that instantly stirs excitement and tension for the fight to come.
Just hearing the ascending melody at the start conjures up images of the heroes facing off against monsters.
And that bold, triumphant motif that charges into the enemy lines with a roar—how can you not love it? It’s the perfect number for when you want to ignite your fighting spirit or psych yourself up.
To the endless skyUematsu Nobuo
This BGM, featuring a moving melody, plays during key moments of the main story and leaves a strong impression.
Incorporating a mood that blends the cheerfulness and sorrow of Irish folk music, it conveys a gentle warmth through orchestral tones, as if embracing the resolve to set off into the sky.
It’s included on the album “GRANBLUE FANTASY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS” and is notable for its arrangement of the main theme.
It often plays during scenes where bonds with companions are reaffirmed or at turning points in the adventure, making it a track that invites you to listen while reminiscing about the story.
Longing of the WindMitsuda Yasunori
In the game Chrono Trigger, this is one of the most popular tracks, rivaling the main theme.
Its somewhat wistful, melancholic tone is highly lyrical.
It’s also easy to play on instruments like the piano, making it popular both to listen to and to perform.
Within the game, it’s an especially memorable and very beautiful piece.
This feeling…sugiyama kouichi
A beautiful melody that seems to give voice to the characters’ unspoken feelings in a pivotal scene from Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King.
It opens with a plaintive harp line, then gradually adds strings and woodwinds to delicately portray subtle shifts in emotion, building to a grand orchestration at the climax.
Even without lyrics, you can sense the complex emotions—deep sorrow, poignancy, and the strong will that lies beneath.
It’s a perfect piece for a quiet night when you want to calm your mind and drift into contemplation.
Ole! Silvia!sugiyama kouichi
This is the theme BGM for Sylvando, the traveling entertainer who joins your party in Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
Led brilliantly by a sparkling trumpet, the piece has the feel of a cheerful parade.
Listening to it vividly brings to mind Sylvando’s personality—always bright and eager to delight everyone around him.
The album “Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age,” released in January 2018, includes an orchestral performance that adds an extra layer of elegance to the lively in-game arrangement.
Perfect for lifting your spirits!
Glimmers of Lovesugiyama kouichi
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.