Nintendohas had some incredibly iconic soundtracks through the decades, and with Nintendo Music having been shown off, they’re finally makingsome kind of half-hearted effort to represent their best.
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They’re kings of variety, so I figured it’d only be right to showcase a large variety of 10 of Nintendo’s best Soundtracks. There are a few hundred I could’ve thrown onto this list, but these are the best of the best, in my opinion.
For this list, I’ll only consider one entry per franchise for variety’s sake. I’ll also aim to rank soundtracks based mostly on quality, but because of the masterpieces we’re dealing with, quantity can be a determining factor.
10Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet
Featuring Toby Fox
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Pokémonhas always had great soundtracks, and when they gotUndertalecreator Toby Fox tohelp with the soundtrack for Scarlet and Violet, it popped off incredibly hard.
These have your typical peppy battle tracks, absolutely entrancing town and route themes, on top of some absolutely beautiful and memorable compositions all around.
I’d say this is one of the most consistent OSTs in Nintendo’s whole catalog, never letting you down with an underwhelming song, though it doesn’t have any transcendent pieces of work, either.
On top of that, I prefer soundtracks that take time to settle down and have some orchestral pieces now and then, and I don’t think these games have any particular song you can point to as their magnum opus, but at least the Tera Raid music is great.
9Kid Icarus: Uprising
A Heavenly Melody
Kid Icarus: Uprising
For some of the best-orchestrated pieces you’ve ever heard, you’ve got to turn to the 3DS forKid Icarus: Uprising.It’s an action-packed soundtrack that delivers the heavenly tracks you’d expect from a series aboutan Angel fighting through many underworld forces.
These tracks range from bombastic pieces that get your blood flowing to more sinister and incredible melodies like Dark Pit’s theme.
It genuinely has it all; I just wish we had more, as there are not that many full-length tracks, and ultimately, the instruments used for a majority of songs get a little stale.
8Metroid Prime
Slow-Going but Sublime
Metroid Prime Remastered
For an incredible mix of the more atmospheric tracks you’d expect from an incredibly moody experience, blended together with some upbeat, electronic, and iconic songs you’d expect ofMetroid, Primehas it all.
It goes from tracks like Tallon Overworld which are a vibe and a little unsettling, to tracks like Phendrana Driftsthat entrance you in their atmospherewith a melody you’ll never forget.
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I’d say I’d like more real instruments balanced with the heavy synths, alaMinecraft’sOST, but what we have is still some absolute masterclass compositions.
If you’re looking to jam out or just to have something calming to listen to, you’ll get a great mix of both with Prime.
7Splatoon 3
Funky Fresh beats.
Splatoon 3
Alright, grill me all you want, butSplatoonmusic is some high-energy and incredible stuff, and I’m tired of hearing slander from those who just don’t get it. I’m not really partial to any game in the franchise, since they all have some iconic and awesome tracks, so I chose three primarily for Deep Cut’s songs and a wider selection overall.
Not to mention, for what the Side Order DLC lacked in visuals, it brought in great, peppy, and energetic music. The only complaint I can muster is that a lot of the tracks are a little too chaotic, even for me.
If I pass you the aux, and you put on Toxic Anoxic, you’re getting kicked out of the car, but if it’s anything from the Story Mode, it’s a jam.
6Super Mario Galaxy 2
Soaring Above the Rest.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
I could put just about any Mario OST from the last 15 years on this list, andI was tempted to go for Mario Kart 8, 3D World, or Odyssey, but I decided onSuper Mario Galaxy 2.
This is one of the most consistently incredible OSTs in history, with each new song being another iconic banger you’ll never forget.
Every track is peppy, joyous, and makes me feel filled with the utmost sense of whimsy. There’s not as many beautiful orchestral pieces as in the first game, but I think it more than makes up for it with an even larger variety of awesome level themes, pretty hub world music, and great times.
5Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The Most Immaculate Vibes
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossingis the de facto series for chill music that’ll make one of the best calming playlists you could ever ask for. WhileNew Horizons might be disappointingfor most things, the music it brought is a lovely mix of the series' usual jazzy and peppy feel, with some great Acid Jazz thrown in.
It’s a unique flare compared to the rest of the series, and while I think New Leaf is certainly right up there in terms of quality, I prefer the instruments in New Horizon. It’s always a great listen and if you need some music to relax, zone out to, or just lock in on work to, it’s perfect.
4Kirby Planet Robobot
Dramatic Digitized Dancing
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Kirby’shad some incredible tunes over his long run, andRobobot serves to both celebratethe series' long musical history with a ton of great electronic remixes, while also doing its own thing.
If you’ve played through this game you’ve probably found yourself humming the main leitmotif by the end, it’s infinitely iconic.
Not only does it have an incredible variety of tracks, but all of them actually help serve a narrative, with genuinely eerie tracks complimenting the typical bright and cheery stuff you’d expect.
My only wish is that it was a bit more extensive, as there’s already a bevy of beautiful ballads here, but I want more.
3Xenoblade Chronicles
Emotionally Moving
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicleshas a ton of incredibly beautiful pieces, intense battle themes, and songs like Gaur Plains that are endlessly replayable and absolutely astonishing.
Every new area theme feels like you’re entering a whole new mystical environment that is instantly entrancing, mostlydue to the music complimenting the environment.
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It’s got a similar orchestral feel to that of Kid Icarus Uprising, with even more iconic and engaging pieces that’ll leave you determined, joyous, or sobbing.
I especially want to mention the credits theme, which is a beautiful cherry on top of a sundae that leaves this as one of Nintendo’s single best soundtracks to date.
2The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Choosing a singleZeldagame was incredibly difficult, asall of them are masterclassesin their own right with soundtracks to boot, but I decided on Skyward Sword.
Namely, the bombastic orchestra backing tracks like the Ballad of the Goddess never fail to impress, but then you’ll get songs with wildly different instrumentation, never having a dull moment.
Every track in this game serves the gameplay and story immaculately, while also having an extensive list of some of the best songs the Zelda series has ever seen.
Every dungeon feels like you’re entering a brand new culture that’s unlike anything on earth, and it’s all beautiful, a masterpiece for sure.
1Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
A Smash Hits Album
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
You might say this one is cheating, and that’d be fair, but objectivelySuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecontains plenty of songs from most entries on this list, and more.
It’s got the best of every Nintendo franchise and even more from third parties likeSonic,Persona,Metal Gear, andKingdom Hearts.
Even if you don’t want to count the music it just takes directly from other games, the remixes, and original compositionson display are all incredibly energeticand never miss.
Lifelight is one of the best main themes for a Smash game, and even if you don’t like it, you’ve got a few thousand other songs in this OST to listen to.
