If you are a gamer, you might find yourself randomly humming video game theme songs. The best theme songs are irresistibly catchy and incredibly fun to sing.
Do you remember the Super Mario or Packman’s theme song? Are you already humming the tune, or are you normal?
The general trend correlates with iconic video game theme songs and sales figures. So yes, that’s how they squeeze money from your pocket.
12 Iconic Video Game Theme Songs of All Time
The theme songs included in this list are catchy, iconic, irresistible to sing, and are popular games. So if you have a great voice, grab a microphone, otherwise close the doors and windows.
| S.N. | Name | Composer |
| 12 | Medal of Honor Frontline | Micheal Giacchino |
| 11 | Mortal Kombat | Olivier Adams, Maurice Engelen |
| 10 | The Sims | Jerry Martin and Marc Russo |
| 9 | FireWatch | Chris Remo |
| 8 | Crash Bandicoot | Josh Mancell |
| 7 | The Last of Us | Gustavo Santaolalla |
| 6 | Dune II | Frank Klepacki and Dwight Okahar |
| 5 | Domm I | Robert Prince |
| 4 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Koji Kondo |
| 3 | System Shock 2 | Eric Brosius, Ramin Djawadi, Josh Randall |
| 2 | Metal Gear Solid | Kazuki Muraoka, Hiroyuki Togo, Takanari Ishiyama, Lee Jeon, Maki Kirioka |
| 1 | Super Mario Bros | Koji Kondo, Mahito Yokota |
12. Medal of Honor Frontline
The soundtrack of war games compared to the other games is tricky. It must be rousing and thrilling, but it should not celebrate war.
The soundtrack should have a touch of sadness. On top of that, Medal of Honor Frontline is a first-person shooting game. Therefore, it should have elements of horror also.
Plus, the first-person shooting games were not as good then as they are now. So, the responsibility was given to Micheal Giacchino.
The talented composer, who later won Oscar with Up, was the perfect fit for the soundtrack. The central theme starts with a literal bang followed by gentle humming and melancholic violin perfectly captures the pathos and horror of World War 2.
The soundtrack was a runner-up at GameSpot’s Best Music on PlayStation 2.
The game and soundtrack are available here on Amazon.
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11. Mortal Kombat
If the theme song of the previous video game represented the Hollywood aesthetics, then the theme song of Mortal Kombat represents the exact opposite.
The composers Engelen and Adams were members of the band Lords of Acid. The band focused on techno, net beat music slowly gaining popularity.
The composers delivered a knock-out, sensational album while composing an album for the band. The newness of the sound is visible or instead heard from the iconic gong sound from the beginning.
They changed the bell sound of martial arts tournament to the gong and infused the whole soundtrack with techno beats. Honestly, it’s as catchy as a dance number.
The main theme was remixed for the 2021 reboot. The remixed version reached number 5 on the Billboard Electronic Digital Songs Sales.
The new version of the game is available on Amazon.
10. The Sims
During the late 1990s, video games focused more on action and adventure games. The idea that players will spend time managing virtual life and fulfilling the needs of virtual people seemed absurd.
The Sims is perhaps the most iconic game in that regard. It just seems so chill and so casual. The game even attracted a lot of casual female gamers.
Therefore, the soundtrack of Sims had to be casual, breezy, and fun. The main theme composed by Jerry Martin and Marc Russo is exactly light and breezy.
It’s less of imposing or disturbing music and more of a soothing sound. But, unfortunately, the composers were not well known to the public.
The latest version of the game is available on Amazon. In addition, you can listen to the main theme on YouTube.
9. FireWatch
A lot of the video game theme songs on this list are mainstream. However, Firewatch is an indie game developed by Campo Santo.
The players play the role of a fire lookout, Henry, in a national forest. The players have to comminuted with Delilah for further progress. It has elements of mystery also like last year’s huge fire in the national forest.
Chris Remo composed the music for Firewatch. The soundtrack has beautiful compositions. However, the best track is the central theme.
In the beginning, it has a leisure pace. Then, the rhythm slowly started to get faster and build towards a big crescendo.
It beautifully reflects the leisure pace of the game in the beginning and the brisk pace as the events unfold.
You can listen to the sound on Amazon.
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8. Crash Bandicoot
Modern smartphone users might be more familiar with the Crash Bandicoot android or ios version. However, for PlayStation users, Crash Bandicoot is one of the best games of the 90s.
The game’s main theme is incredibly iconic for something so simplistic. The players play as a Crash who has to defeat Neo and rescue Tawna.
The video game’s main theme song was composed by Josh Mancell. Apart from Crash bandicoot, he also composed for Jak and Daxter.
The game offered very few innovations in terms of the story of gameplay. However, the sound and main theme were incredibly iconic.
The sound of crushing the opponents, opening the box by jumping on it all were incredibly iconic.
You can buy the game at Amazon.
7. The Last of Us
The title of the game itself evokes sadness. The game (The Last of Us) is set in the post-apocalyptic United States. Joel, the main character, is helping a teenage girl, Ellie, by saving her from hostile humans, cannibal creatures.
Even though it’s an action-adventure game, it doesn’t have loud or rock theme songs. The theme song composed by Gustavo Santaolalla is incredibly melancholic in its nature.
Gustavo Santaolalla is an incredibly talented music composer. He even won two Oscars back to back for Brokeback Mountain and Babel.
His command over the craft can be seen in the theme song. He uses guitar, violin to make almost operatic music.
The video game’s main theme reflects the characters’ despair, hope, and unflinching will to survive.
You can buy the game part II Playstation 4 at Amazon.
6. Dune II
Dune’s (2021) music is excellent, scored by Hans Zimmer. But, you would be amazed to learn that the Dune II video game’s main theme is also excellent.
Almost all the video games on this list are the first installment. It’s common knowledge that the first part is great and the second installment is more or less repackaged the same.
However, that’s the case in the case of Dune 2. Dune 2 was better in terms of gameplay and also in terms of the main theme.
The main theme composed by Frank Klepacki and Dwight Okhara has both scope and depth. Its main theme with vibrating sound and drums conveys the terror and vastness of the space.
Without the iconic sound, the gameplay would have felt improper. You can buy new installments on Amazon.
5. Doom I
The main theme of Domm I with the funky electronic music became an instant classic. It made fighting demons from hell look cool.
ID Software developed the game for MS-DOS (remember MS-DOS?). It was again re-released with the same iconic theme almost two decades later.
The main theme composed by Robert Prince is catchy and upbeat. Apart from Doom, he also worked on Wolfenstein 3D, Doom II: Hell on Earth.
It was also the most technically advanced game of its time. It is estimated that more than 15 million copies were sold within the first two years.
One of the leading reasons for its success was the iconic theme music.
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4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
This list might be a nostalgia trip for the gamers of the 90s. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is also one of the most iconic games of the 90s.
It is made by the Japanese company Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda is also regarded as the game which launched Nintendo to fame.
The theme song composed by Koji Kondo is also very different from the western games theme song. It sounds more like a marching pass.
The players play as a link in the game, who’s on a journey to save Hyrule. In order to save Hyrule, he has to defeat a demon king.
So the almost military-like music is a perfect fit for the game. Apart from that, it was also the first time characters had their own theme song.
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3. System Shock 2
In System Shock 2, the player is on a starship and has to stop the spread of a genetic infection. Again, it conveys the horrors of technology and mass outbreak.
So the composers had a unique challenge while creating theme music for System Shock 2. The composers include Josh Randall, Eric Brosius, and Ramin Djawadi.
All of them are prolific composers, particularly Ramin Djawadi, who has also composed for the Marvel movies. The composers did a great job capturing the game’s technological horrors.
2. Metal Gear Solid
American composers dominate the list, but the Japanese composers have made some of the most iconic theme songs of all time. The composers of the Metal Gear Solid game have used drums and electric guitar to create the music.
The player has to infiltrate a nuclear weapon facility in the game to neutralize the threat. The sound effects make the player look cool.
The rock theme of Metal Gear Solid is rousing. Apart from that, there are also horror elements in the main theme.
It also conveys the dangers and horror elements of the game well. The overall soundtrack also has a sort of a James Bond vibe to it.
1. Super Mario Bros
We are sure that you are thinking about Super Mario’s main theme as you read this. Remember the sound as Mario gathers a coin?
There must be very few people in the world who haven’t heard of Super Mario. After all, it’s considered one of the most famous video game theme songs.
Again the mastermind behind the theme song is Koji Kondo. He has cemented his position as one of the best video game main theme composers with these two theme songs.
The main theme doesn’t have operatic quality or high production value. But, it’s simple and easy to remember.
Conclusion
Did we miss any iconic theme songs? Which is your favorite video game theme song?
