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 (21–30)

Deoxys Battle

Deoxys battle BGM

Deoxys Battle

This is the battle theme prepared for the boss fight against Deoxys in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire on the Game Boy Advance.

At the time, it became a hot topic because the melody resembled Awa Odori music, spawning several memes! Since it was processed by a 32-bit CPU—an evolution from the Game Boy—its sound was highly praised.

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Dark Matter Battle: Second

[Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon] Dark Matter Battle – Second

Dark Matter Battle: Second

The intro is striking—it feels like a song is about to start.

This is the second-phase boss battle BGM against Dark Matter from Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon.

Perhaps because Dark Matter is a mass of negative emotions like hatred, the melody has a somewhat painful, sorrowful quality.

It’s a very compelling track to listen to.

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BGM from the Pokémon series through the generations: A compilation of masterpiece tracks (31–40)

Battle! Gym Leader (Johto)

Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver Johto Gym Leader Battle BGM

Battle! Gym Leader (Johto)

This is the BGM that plays during Gym Leader battles in the Johto region in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

I think it’s a battle theme that’s very characteristic of Pokémon.

The up-tempo, urgent feel makes it sound just like a battle theme and really gets your heart racing.

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Battle! Colress

Ghetsis Battle BGM

Battle! Colress

A battle theme characterized by a cyber vibe.

This is the BGM for the Colress battle in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, and it plays during the final fight on the Plasma Frigate.

You can hear a counting voice here and there.

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Battle! Mewtwo

Pokemon X and Y 'Battle! Mewtwo' Arrangement

Battle! Mewtwo

This is background music from Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.

These titles are collectively referred to as Pokémon X and Y.

This track really showcases the driving pace and tension characteristic of battle themes, which helps get players fired up.

It also incorporates melodies from the original games, much to the delight of fans.

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Kikyo City

Pokémon HGSS BGM Violet City

Kikyo City

This is the track that plays in Violet City in Pokémon Gold and Silver.

The distinctive sound known as the Game Boy sound source feels incredibly nostalgic, doesn’t it? It’s a song that instantly transports you back to childhood just by listening to it.

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Battle! Olive

[Pokémon Sword and Shield] 'Battle! Oleana' BGM [10-minute loop] [Background music for work] [Pokémon Sword Shield music]

Battle! Olive

A track that plays during the battle with Oleana, a character from Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Oleana is a long-haired woman wearing a red tube top, a black miniskirt, and a fashionable lab coat.

She serves as Chairman Rose’s secretary, and is always cool-headed and strict.

This piece is a tense BGM that captures her atmosphere.

Although Oleana may seem like a villain at first glance, the gentle melodies that occasionally surface in the track hint at a deeper, more complex character.

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