[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)
Dragon Quest V: Overture Marchsugiyama kouichi
This is the famous Dragon Quest “Overture.” The arrangement differs with each entry in the series, and in the fifth installment, the overture has a particularly strong orchestral feel, resulting in a richly weighty sound.
Its expansive, world-opening tone makes it perfect for signaling the start of the game, and when the opening begins, it heightens your excitement to dive in even more.
It’s truly one of those pieces that deserves to be called the quintessential opening!
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.
Melody of the Bladesugiyama kouichi
This is a piece known as the regular battle theme from Dragon Quest X: The Five Awakened Races Online.
Beginning with a vivid fanfare from the brass section, it stirs the fighting spirit of countless players as they face the foes they encounter.
Interestingly, there’s an anecdote that the striking introduction was extended by one measure during development to match the interval before battles begin—evidence of the game’s meticulous craftsmanship.
It’s a rousing track, perfect for recalling days of adventure or finding the courage to confront the challenges before you.
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.
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.
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.
Chrono TriggerMitsuda Yasunori
The main theme of Chrono Trigger.
You can hear it in the opening, and from the very beginning it delivers an outstanding sense of speed and impact—it’s incredibly cool.
The song contains a dramatic arc, with developments that never get boring and evoke the life of the protagonist Crono, the fate awaiting him, the adventures, and the story to come.
It’s a true main theme, famous for its high level of completion.