[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 classic tracks appear! A roundup of nostalgic Japanese video game music (41–50)
Fivefold Demon Towersugiyama kouichi
This is a piece you can hear in Dragon Quest X.
It’s the BGM that plays in the game’s Japanese-style region, the Eltona Continent, at majestic towers and ancient shrines.
The charm of this track lies in how it expresses the ethereal aesthetic of gagaku using only Western orchestral instruments—for example, rendering the koto with a harp and the hichiriki with an oboe.
It beautifully fuses the tension of exploring the tower interiors with a mysterious atmosphere.
It’s a rare, Japanese-flavored work in the Dragon Quest series—be sure to give it a listen.
[2026] Many classic tracks appear! A roundup of nostalgic Japanese video game music (51–60)
The hero sets forthsugiyama kouichi
This is the field BGM from Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
After a gentle introduction, a hopeful brass fanfare brightly proclaims the beginning of the adventure.
The soaring string melody that follows evokes both anticipation for the grand journey ahead and a sense of resolve toward the mission at hand.
You can almost picture the hero pressing forward, step by step across the land.
Included on the album Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest XI” Echoes of an Elusive Age, released in January 2018.
The Lost Worldsugiyama kouichi
A beautiful piece that plays while you explore the past in Dragon Quest VII.
Its somewhat wistful woodwind melody seems to tell the story of landscapes from a lost era and the breath of the people who truly lived there.
It was also used in the world called “False Lendersia” in the online game Dragon Quest X, and became a topic of conversation for how perfectly it matched that setting.
It’s one of those masterpieces you’ll want to listen to when you quietly feel like reflecting.
To the wide worldsugiyama kouichi
The background music that plays when you walk across the vast, fully explorable 360-degree field in Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is one of the most beloved tracks in the series.
Its quietly opening melody evokes the hero’s very first step into an unknown world.
From there, the layers of sound gradually build, giving you the sensation that the endless horizon and grand scenery are unfolding before your eyes.
Even without lyrics, it conveys a clear sense of anticipation for the adventure to come.
Koichi Sugiyama himself reportedly called it “one of my best works,” which further speaks to the game’s high level of polish.
In Search of Lost Timesugiyama kouichi
This is the ending theme that is deeply etched in the hearts of players who saw the story of Dragon Quest XI through to the very end.
As a work that could be called the culmination of the series, it is sprinkled throughout with nostalgic melodies from past entries.
It is also included on the album Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age,” released in January 2018, where the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra’s magnificent performance brilliantly adorned the finale of a long-running adventure.
Please take your time and savor the lingering afterglow of this grand tale!
The strong onessugiyama kouichi
This is the battle theme that plays when you face boss-level enemies in Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden.
From the opening, the dissonance and the pounding timpani rolls foreshadow the fierce fight to come and instantly heighten the tension.
It’s not just intense, though—the piece develops into a slightly comical phrase in the latter half, showcasing Koichi Sugiyama’s signature playful touch.
It’s included on the album Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest VII” Warriors of Eden + Original Soundtrack, released in September 2000.
Adventure journeysugiyama kouichi
This is the field theme from Dragon Quest III.
It’s the piece the heroes will hear the most, with a powerful finish that seems to express a courageous heart.
It has become very popular—recently even used as BGM in TV commercials.
It’s truly a famous masterpiece, renowned as the definitive theme of adventure.