15 Greatest Video Game Theme Songs Of All Time
"MORTAL KOMBAAAAAT"... or maybe something else?
Never underestimate the power of the theme song. Although in the last few years you'll be hard-pressed to find any game launching with an immensely memorable track (even MGS V downplayed its own legendary score), some of the most heartwarming and euphoric memories we all have for gaming come from recognising a particular piece of music.
From the early days of chiptune Mario to the mid 90s and the introduction of CD-quality audio, right through to the modern day, where the likes of The Witcher 3 or Far Cry Primal's developers recruit professional musicians or entire choirs to bring their games to life, we've seen varying degrees of effort put into that one title track that goes on to symbolise a given game or franchise.
The following tracks instantly connote their digital counterparts, and have helped certain titles live on long past their initial shelf life. Let us know what you think are the greatest theme songs in the comments below, but first, check out our top 15 candidates below...
15. Sonic The Hedgehog (Green Hill Zone)
The definer of childhoods, the creator of Nintendo-hate and the continued fosterer of radical 90s attitudes, Sega needed Sonic to land with an impact that would make waves for the rest of time.
Thankfully, when you're backed by some of the most gifted composers in the business, have a dedicated art team giving your character little touches like Michael Jackson's sneakers and a PR campaign that literally had him saying he was better than Mario, it was definitely going to catch on.
Alongside the phenomenal opening level, an accompanying piece that burrowed its way into our brains came with the 'invincibility' power-up tune, which has gone on to be called many things, but always meant you could sprint through levels without worrying about hitting anything - provided you didn't fall into a bottomless pit.
Both are great, and Green Hill Zone takes the cake, but the below theme also helped give thousands of gamers some of their most fond memories.