Best Game Soundtracks On The Nintendo Music App

The surprise unveiling of the Nintendo Music app has given fans the long-awaited chance to stream some of the best video game soundtracks ever made, as well as bespoke playlists. The selection of game music, which the company says it will be adding to in the coming months, spans decades and covers every system from the Famicom all the way to the Switch.

Heavy hitters like Mario and Zelda are represented, but there are also some esoteric choices thrown in for good measure, such as the music from Nintendo’s fondly-remembered Wii console. There’s already a lot to choose from, so to make life a little easier, here is a ranked selection of the best soundtracks currently available on the app.

8 Dr. Mario

These Frenzied Tunes Are Just What The Doctor Ordered

• 8 tracks
• 13 minutes
• Game released 1990

Dr Mario was Nintendo’s attempt at ‘stuff falling from the sky’ puzzling that was made popular by the wildly successful Tetris. In the game, Mario took on medical duties, flinging colored pills, which the player then had to arrange to defeat nasty viruses. The game was unique in that an NES and Game Boy were released at the same time.

The game’s soundtrack was provided courtesy of legendary composer Hirokazu ‘Hip’ Tanaka, who also made music for seminal titles like Super Mario Land and Metroid, His tunes complement the cartoonish, frantic action taking place on screen, and although the soundtrack is short, clocking in at only 13 minutes, the prescription is nostalgic chiptune heaven.

7 Super Mario Bros.

This Iconic Offering Will Make Fans Jump For Joy

• 16 tracks
• 10
• Game released 1985

In 1985, video gaming as we know it changed forever with the arrival of Super Mario Bros., a game that launched its parent company into the stratosphere, as well as its debut console, the Family Computer (or Famicom, renamed as the Nintendo Entertainment System outside of Japan).

The tunes here have been remixed, reinterpreted, and reinvented by countless listeners in the decades since, but they still have plenty of appeal all these years later. From the unmistakable “Ground BGM” to the waltz of the underwater level, Koji Kondo’s compositions are the gold standard for video game earworms.

6 Wii Channels

A Welcome Reminder Of The Wii’s Quirky Charm

• 62 tracks
• 2 hours 14 minutes
• Console released 2006

Nintendo’s Wii broke the video game rulebook in more ways than one; it effortlessly outsold the competition despite being an underpowered competitor, and it used an entirely new type of controller. But it also had an incredible selection of tunes that played while players were browsing the console’s different channels.

From the soothing ambient sounds of the Wii Menu to the cutesy theme of Mii Plaza, many of the tunes here are background music in the very best sense and could be played as an aural bed to help listeners relax or focus even when they didn’t have a video game in front of them.

5 Donkey Kong Country

The Big Ape Gets A Great Selection Of Tunes

• 26 tracks
• 44 minutes
• Game released 1994

Donkey Kong Country raised many eyebrows at the time of its release thanks to its then-cutting-edge graphics and superb platforming action, not to mention reinventing Donkey Kong himself as a protagonist. However, in the time since, it has garnered acclaim for its soundtrack, which is now regarded as one of the very best out there.

The ultra-catchy “DK Island Swing” will be well-known to fans, but the soundtrack also boasts some other standouts, such as the techno funk of “Funky’s Fugue,” underwater level’s gorgeous theme “Aquatic Ambiance,” a tune which would be right at home on any chill-out playlist.

4 Super Mario Galaxy

A Cosmic, Cinematic Spectacular

• 81 tracks
• 2 hours 6 minutes
• Game released 2007

Mario headed for the stars in Super Mario Galaxy, a stunning game that shot the humble plumber into space and gave players one of the very best games ever created. Its epic scale was greatly enhanced by the decision to create an original, fully orchestrated score.

The tracks here boast plenty of bombasts, from the mighty “Enter The Galaxy” to the climactic “Bowser Battle.” There is also room for some softer moments like “Luma” and the gentle, sublime “Rosalina In The Observatory 3,” a waltz that feels reminiscent of scenes from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

3 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

A Legendary Game Has A Soundtrack Without Equal

• 82 tracks
• 1 hour 15 minutes
• Game released 1998

The formula that Nintendo hit upon with Ocarina of Time completely revitalized the Zelda series by putting it in 3D. The new music that came with the game also enchanted listeners, so much so that, nowadays, there are live concerts and lo-fi remixes devoted to music from the game.

As the opening chords of “Title Theme” bring to mind images of Link racing across Hyrule on horseback, the soundtrack takes the listener on a tour of this incredible game’s greatest moments, like the triumphant score that plays as Link travels across Hyrule Field. A wonderful trip down memory lane and a masterclass in-game music.

2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

As Soothing As a Hot Drink And A Big Hug

• 407 tracks
• 12 hours 12 minutes
• Game released 2020

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a cozy gaming experience that has soothed millions of players since it came out. There’s no rush and no stress, just a gorgeous world full of quirky villagers and an ongoing list of things to see, do, collect, and discover. The game’s music is the key to this deeply relaxing experience.

As with the Wii Channels soundtrack, players don’t need a video game to get the most out of its audio component. The full experience runs across a mind-boggling 12 hours (there’s a “Top Tracks” playlist which shortens things to a more manageable 2 hours) and every facet of life on the island can be found there.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

An Epic Experience Which Befits A Masterpiece

All these years after its release, Breath of the Wild remains an astounding video game that still can produce goosebumps and offers up a ton of content for players to enjoy. Few games have been able to truly produce an open-world experience that lives up to the name, but the game’s playground more than lives up to such a label.

Much of what made previous Zelda games work was rethought for this title, including its music. The subtle, understated overworld themes work a charm, as do the more involved pieces like the gorgeous theme for the game’s towns, including Hateno Village. There aren’t many video game soundtracks that can be described as perfect, but this is one of them.