Sonic the Hedgehog 3

How good is the music in Sonic the Hedgehog 3? Legend tells us Michael Jackson himself worked on the soundtrack. And while that remains unconfirmed, we can definitely confirm that this soundtrack still slaps.

Knuckles’ theme made this new character seem mysterious, and the “Final Boss” theme is nothing short of thrilling. And for fans of this music, don’t sleep on the equally-awesome soundtrack for Sonic & Knuckles.

Jet Set Radio

Jet Set Radio is one of those games that cannot be separated from its amazing soundtrack. In fact, it’s a sure bet that many of you remembered a track from this game as soon as you read the title.

The entire soundtrack was like a weird fusion of hip-hop, J-pop, and a blend of big beat and pop/punk.

And as fun as the gameplay was, the best part of playing this game was listening to amazing tracks such as “Sweet Soul Brother.”

Killer Instinct

Nowadays, Killer Instinct seems pretty quaint and simple. But back in the day, this cabinet was the perfect fusion of weird characters, killer combos, and an amazing soundtrack.

Songs like “It’s a Jungle” will echo in your head long after the arcade shuts down. And “The Instinct” makes for a perfect signature song for this memorable Rare title.

Come for the combos, stay for the jams.

Super Mario Bros.

If we’re discussing iconic game soundtracks, then Super Mario Bros. must be part of the conversation. In fact, this game showed the world how catchy and even addictive gaming music could be.

Who can forget hearing the music for the first time when you traveled underground? Or the frenetic music of Bowser’s levels? The music for this game quickly became just as iconic as Mario himself.

Undertale

Undertale made for a completely unexpected gaming experience. It challenged our notions of what an action/RPG could be. But what really stuck with us was the soundtrack.

All of the songs are great, but the standout hit is “Megalovania.” Good luck getting this one out of your head once you hear it for the very first time.

This song is so good that it has now become a staple of my weekly D&D games on Roll20.

Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong Country felt like a revolution when it first came out. Rare turned the simple platformer into a complex game filled with hilarious characters and breathtaking graphics. But above it all was the soundtrack.

Every song was wonderfully moody and atmospheric. But there was nothing quite like the music for underwater levels.

It’s good that Donkey Kong can breathe underwater because players everywhere often sat for long minutes on these levels soaking up the tunes.

Mega Man 2

Each Mega Man game is less like a single game and more like a collection of unique experiences. Every level and boss is unique, right down to the music. And it arguably never got better than Mega Man 2.

It’s tough to pick the best theme from the game, but we’re going to go with the Bubble Man level music. Just be warned, if you play it today, it will be stuck in your head for weeks.

Crazy Taxi

Crazy Taxi is one of the most visceral arcade games ever made. There is nothing quite like the experience of pulling off moves like the Crazy Dash.

But what really kept us pumping quarters into this game was the soundtrack.

The main headliners on the soundtrack are Bad Religion (with songs like “Inner Logic”) and The Offspring (with songs like “Way Down the Line”). Just don’t listen to the music in the car unless you want to put the pedal to the metal.

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is arguably the best game on the Super Nintendo. And even if it’s not the best SNES game, it definitely boasted the best SNES soundtrack.

From “Corridors of Time” to “Frog’s Theme” and everything in between, each song on this soundtrack is a banger. And simply listening to these tracks late at night is the best way to start vibin’ in style.

Halo

The Halo franchise has really stood the test of time. Part of this is due to the fun multiplayer and part of it is due to the iconic character of Master Chief.

But the rest of the franchise success can be attributed to the awesome music.

The orchestral score managed to make exploring this first game feel nothing short of epic. From “Ambient Wonder” to the “Truth and Reconciliation Suite,” these songs are deadlier than the game’s overpowered pistol.

The Last of Us

In many ways, The Last of Us is a very unconventional blockbuster game. It has the great graphics and gameplay that you expect from a AAA title. But it also has a moody and elegiac score that makes each moment feel emotionally raw.

Songs like “Home” feel mournfully nostalgic, while songs like “The Path” help to ratchet up the tension. Real talk: without this amazing soundtrack, this game would not have made nearly the splash that it ended up making.

Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was always destined to land on this list. That’s because it manages to have not one but two amazing sets of music.

The actual game soundtrack is beautiful and even haunting at times thanks to songs like “Prelude of Light” and “Gerudo Valley.” But the real stars are the different Ocarina songs you can play, including “Saria’s Song” and “Zelda’s Lullaby.”

Final Fantasy VII

Most Final Fantasy games have awesome music, but we decided to give the nod to FF7. This was when the franchise switched to CD-based gaming, and the extra storage space helped Squaresoft bring the music to life.

There are almost too many good songs here to choose from. But if we had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be Sephiroth’s song “One-Winged Angel,” which elevated your final battle into the stuff of German opera.

Tetris

There's something meditative and Zen-like about the original Tetris. You aren’t just clearing blocks, you’re also clearing your mind.

And the theme music suits the gameplay perfectly. It’s not too slow and not too fast, but it gets in your head for life.

Is it any wonder that so many gamers are still humming that theme after first playing it on Game Boy decades ago?

Doom

Is it even possible to see screenshots from the original Doom and not hear that heart-thumping soundtrack?

The original Doom helped define the run and gun shooter, and the soundtrack goes perfectly with level after level of monster-slaying action.

There are plenty of game soundtracks that kick ass, but this might be the only one that “rips and tears” ass.