[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)
Gran TurismoAndo Masahiro
Consumer game consoles advanced into 3D with Sony’s PlayStation and Sega’s Saturn, becoming explosively popular as next-generation systems.
One of the highlights of 3D was racing games, and the BGM for Gran Turismo was handled by Masahiro Andoh of T-SQUARE.
Robo’s ThemeMitsuda Yasunori
The theme song of Robo, a character from Chrono Trigger.
It’s a refreshing and bright piece that conveys the polite, humble, and earnest nature of Robo—a robot you meet in a ruined future—along with his mechanical movements and the spirited vibe of a wholesome young man.
It features a rhythmic, upbeat feel and a catchy, memorable melody.
[2026] Many classic tracks appear! A roundup of nostalgic Japanese video game music (31–40)
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.
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.
Epilogue ~To Dear Companions~Mitsuda Yasunori
This is the famous piece that plays during the farewell scene in Chrono Trigger’s ending, when each character returns to their own era.
The melody in the first half is the heroine Marle’s theme, “Chrono and Marle ~ Far-Off Promise.” Its sound—like a fusion of music box and orchestra—creates a goosebump-inducing sense of grandeur in the middle section.
It’s a beautiful, slightly melancholic piece, perfectly suited for scenes of parting and departure.
Evergreen WindUematsu Nobuo
Characterized by the light, buoyant rhythms and warm melodies typical of Celtic music, this piece is beloved as BGM that plays on in-game shop screens and the like.
The refreshing sound woven by folk instruments such as tin whistle, fiddle, and accordion wonderfully captures the bustle and lived-in feel of a port town in a skybound world.
Included on the album “GRANBLUE FANTASY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK” and later performed live, it has become one of Granblue’s signature popular tracks.
It’s perfect music for taking a breather in the midst of an adventure.