[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)
Ace Combat 4Kobayashi Hiroki
The hardware evolution from PlayStation to PlayStation 2 brought a dramatic improvement in graphics.
Ace Combat, a classic 3D shooting game, saw its first PS2 installment with “4.” The BGM also featured more dramatic music.
[2026] Many classic tracks appear! A roundup of nostalgic Japanese video game music (51–60)
The midday crescent moonHamada Seiichi
Since the days of the Family Computer, the domestically produced detective adventure game series Jake Hunter: Detective Saburo Jinguji has been highly regarded.
After moving to the PlayStation, both its storytelling and music advanced significantly.
The BGM adopted more jazz-inspired tracks, creating a more mature atmosphere.
XanaduTakahashi Toshiya
Xanadu is a domestically produced role-playing game that became a massive hit back when personal computer manufacturers like NEC, Fujitsu, and Sharp were still producing machines with their own proprietary standards.
It recorded an astonishing 400,000 copies sold, which is said to be a record for PC games.
Star CruiserYamanaka Tokiya
In the consumer console space, the game commonly said to be the first to use full polygons is Star Fox, but in fact Star Cruiser came earlier.
It’s a masterpiece of a grand space opera, and its soundtrack was full of great tunes.
Final Fantasy VIIUematsu Nobuo
Alongside Dragon Quest, one of the hit Japanese role-playing game series is Final Fantasy.
While Koichi Sugiyama is responsible for the music in the Dragon Quest series, Final Fantasy’s music is handled by Nobuo Uematsu.
Baroque of Puyo PuyoMATS
The opening theme of Super Puyo Puyo for the Super Famicom.
It’s a fun track with a game-like feel and playfulness, yet it also conveys a rich, orchestral expansiveness.
Its catchy melody sticks in your head, and many people praise it as the definitive Puyo Puyo theme.
WizardryHaneda Kentarō
The classic RPG Wizardry was originally an overseas game, but it was remade multiple times in Japan.
At that time, the person chosen to compose music across the series was Kentaro Haneda, a composer of classical-style theatrical music.