Wonderful game music

BGM from the Pokémon series through the ages: A compilation of legendary tracks

POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Wildly popular in games and anime, the Pokémon series—known as “Pocket Monsters” in Japanese—captures the hearts of both adults and children.

With the smartphone game Pokémon GO having become a social phenomenon, chances are you’ve heard of it at least once.

In this article, we’ll introduce background music (BGM) from the Pokémon series.

If you want to listen to those nostalgic tracks again or learn which Pokémon BGMs are especially popular, be sure to check it out.

For those who have played the games, these tunes will bring back memories—and might even make you want to play again!

BGM from past Pokémon series: A compilation of legendary tracks (1–10)

Route 209

Pokémon DPP Route 209 (Night) 10-Minute Loop

Route 209

This is the background music that plays on Route 209 in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

It’s characterized by a calm and elegant tone.

Woodwinds like flutes and horns, along with piano, enhance its gentle atmosphere.

This track also appears in Super Smash Bros.

Brawl.

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Battle! Elite Four

[Pokémon Black and White] Battle! Elite Four

Battle! Elite Four

This is the Elite Four battle BGM from Pokémon Black and White.

The opening has a somewhat ominous feel, as if it’s expressing the harshness of the battle that’s about to begin.

The powerful beat really amps up the fight!

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Battle! Champion

[Champion Edition] Latest Version (Gen 1–SV The Indigo Disk) Historic Champion Battle BGM Medley [Pokémon BGM / Gameplay Video]

Battle! Champion

This is a track that plays during the final showdown with the Champion Leon in Pokémon Sword and Shield, released in November 2019.

Since Leon is the strongest Pokémon Trainer in the Galar region, the track even includes crowd chants, and the energy is incredible.

You can really feel the audience’s anticipation through the music.

By the way, Leon reportedly became Champion at age ten and has never lost an official match since.

It’s a piece worthy of a Champion’s entrance, and one that really fires up challengers as well.

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BGM from the Pokémon series through the ages: A compilation of masterpieces (11–20)

Route 10

Pocket Monsters Black/White Route 10 BGM Pokémon Pokemon

Route 10

This is the track that plays on Route 10 in Pokémon Black and White.

Unlike the battle BGM, it’s calm yet carries a subtle sense of tension, which is quite striking.

That makes sense, as Route 10 leads to Victory Road—the prelude to the tough battles that await.

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Battle! Frontier Brain

Pokémon Emerald Frontier Brain Battle BGM

Battle! Frontier Brain

This is the audio used in the Frontier Brain battles in Pokémon Emerald.

It’s among the most popular tracks in the game’s soundtrack, and there’s a story that many looped versions of it have been made on video-sharing sites.

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Battle (vs. Gym Leader)

Pokémon Generation I BGM - Battle (VS Gym Leader)

Battle (vs. Gym Leader)

The Gym Leader battle BGM that colored the very first generation, Red and Green—a legend that could be called the beginning of Pokémon.

It’s a masterpiece that amps up the tension-filled battles with its familiar, catchy melody! It also pairs perfectly with the sound effects when you send out a Pokémon or unleash a move.

Many of us probably struggled against Brock’s Onix or Misty’s Starmie depending on which starter we chose.

Including those bitter memories, this track is indispensable! No matter when I listen to it, it makes my heart race with excitement.

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PWT Finals!

PWT Finals! Orchestra Arrangement [Pokémon BGM]

PWT Finals!

This is the BGM for the final match of the Pokémon World Tournament in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

It’s also popular as a track that really gets you pumped.

Since it’s a battle theme, it naturally has a sense of tension, but overall the sound is very refreshing.

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