Poll: What's The Best Piece Of Music In A Nintendo Game?

Nah my fav is the bowser levels in Mario 64. No idea what it's called though!

I voted for Gourmet Race 64, but… this wasn’t a good idea for an article. It doesn’t make sense…

I'm partial to the credit roll for ALttP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJh3D_zX0To

Space Junk Galaxy or be square!!!

Again, one of my favorite is from Miitopia.

https://youtu.be/03NDYc4PVU0

Gotta be ballad of the goddess. Song gives me chills every time I hear it. Honestly, the music in skyward sword is just amazing in general.

These are some of the most random selections, but all I know is the Wii Sports Theme is basically the "National Anthem for Gamers"... all rise! It defined a whole gaming generation and still slaps to this day!

*Either that or the Wii Shop Channel music.
P.S. Please bring some jazzy tunes to the Switch Eshop Nintendo.

... Wun can only hope.

Too many great songs didn't make the list. There are too many good songs. Honorable mentions: Super Mario Bros Theme, LoZ Theme, Pokémon Red and Blue Route 1, F-Zero Mute City, F-Zero Big Blue, etc.

Song of storms, nuff said!

I should've recommended Code Name STEAM, but I doubt it'd have been selected anyway.

It's full of bangers tho

https://youtu.be/Oq0AcgCtwoY

@Reyren Same. That OST gets a lot of hate from some people but it's seriously my favorite in the entire series. I can understand why none of the tracks were listed here, though. Not bombastic enough.

I can't vote for Totaka's Song and this makes me sad.

I'm honored to have my selection prominently featured! I don't think Paula's Theme is necessarily "THE BEST" song from Earthbound but it is my personal favorite and I agree with the description offered here completely!

as a kid, I returned to polstar preschool many times while playing through the first time, just to hear this music again. WHAT A GAME! ❤️❤️❤️

Music is "my thing" in my life, and Earthbound certainly had a big part of it.

thanks NL, I love this whole exercise!

Seriously, though. Dire, Dire Docks can bring me to tears if I'm in the right frame of mind. Childhood, y'know.

I'll see if I can give more thoughts later when I'm not confronted by a big stack of papers. Great picks all around, though.

ALL of these are solid choices, but the Forest Temple theme from Ocarina of Time has been my go-to music for years now to meditate or calm down.

Gourmet Race for me but it's closely followed by Ballad of the Goddess. I don't remember actually hearing the entire song for Ballad of the Goddess in Skyward Sword.

That was way more difficult than i was expecting. But ultimately gave it to the Overworld Theme LoZLttP i had too.

Also there's not enough Game Boy representation on this list for me. 2 songs that always pop in my head randomly are:

• Space Zone: Star Maze- Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20mS5CcZGQU&ab_channel=AlbirdVampPrinceMK2

• Ending Theme- Super Mario Land 1 (especially once it really kicks in after 26 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqRaAZdEuY&ab_channel=wildfremd

But let's be honest... as a gaming company whole, Square Enix's music catalogue is above all others. Now that would be a real challenge to pick the best track. Long live original gaming music pieces!

... Wun can only hope.

Some great picks in here, and certainly hard to choose a definite favourite among them.

Somewhat expectedly, my number one favourite didn’t make the list. It’s the Deku Palace theme from Legend of Zelda, Majora’s Mask. For those of you who haven’t played/ heard it, check it out here https://youtu.be/-PVr9lPrf0U . I love this song and game to death

My favourite isn't on the list, Ballad of the Wind Fish from Link's Awakening.

"Not the music in Breath of the Wild tho, [...]
If these subtle piano drops even count as music, which I sincerely doubt.. [...]“

@Mauzuri

you are entitled to your opinion, but OTOH you haven't listened to a whole lot of different music, apparently. there's a whole world of minimalism, ambience, and particularly minimal piano music out there that you might want to acquaint yourself with, lest you continue to show your ignorance publicly on the matter✌️

here I'll get you started 👍
https://youtu.be/mk2SNcpTNbs

Dang, how is there not a Super Mario World track on here!?

I picked LttP overworld. Port Town is also a banger.

Maybe I missed it, but no Donkey Kong Country? Seriously?? Gotta be Forest Interlude from DKC2! 😁👌

https://youtu.be/x5EgRk0mQM8

This was a hard choice. Had trouble picking between LttP Overworld theme, Gerudo Valley, Dire Dire Docks, Gourmet Race 64, Aquatic Ambience and SMB2. Too many amazing options.

Ultimately I went with LttP Overworld theme because my soul.

Came for Good Egg Galaxy, left satisfied.

Why on earth do you leave the original Super Mario Theme out of the selection? That piece of music is catchy, has quite an interesting harmony and purely iconic!

No question for me, Twilight Princess: Midna's Lament.

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Song of Healing from Majora's Mask:
https://youtu.be/XDX4ZwUeOok

It’s hard to beat the Zelda overworld theme and its many variants. That song got me into both videogames and music as a tyke. I mean, I’m not very demonstrative but 30+ years later, when The Knight Who Seals the Darkness started in Age of Calamity, I yelled and levitated off my couch. Not only is it an excellent rendition but it solidifies that melody as Link’s theme.

You guys put Tough Guy Alert! but not The Grand Finale. Really?

Nothing from Ocarina of Time?

Theres some great and good songs in here, but nothing I'd consider the best of them all.

@BLD Was listening to it just last week, the heavy rock songs rule.

Man, that was tough, there so many great choices, some even iconic. I do find curious that nobody mentioned the Super Mario Bros theme, you know, from the NES game, the theme that is going to be on everybody's mind next year with the movie release.

The desert level in sm64!

No Splatoon!?! What is this?

Oh nice, Brinstar made it up there!

Though, in the poll I voted for Dire Dire Docks

Awesome choices. How dare you make us choose 1

For some reason I can never get the Super Mario 3D World song out of my head, that or the Dr. Mario songs.

Guess I missed the submissions for this one. Happy to see Xenoblade getting plenty of love. I'm surprised none of the main themes made it in, but you could make an equally long list for each game in the series and still be missing out. I'm also surprised there isn't more Pokemon representation. Though even out of what is there, it's hard to narrow it down to one choice. At best, I can maybe settle on a tie between Ballad of the Goddess and You Will Know Our Names.

Without putting too much thought into it, I'd add in Delphino Plaza from Sunshine, Cynthia's Theme from Diamond/Pearl, the End Credits from X/Y, the Smash Bros. version of Stickerbush Symphony, at least a couple of the Smash Bros. main themes, Break the Targets from Melee, Mute City from F-Zero, Dark Pit's Theme, as well as a few others from Uprising I can't remember, Moo Moo Meadows from Mario Kart Wii/8, Lost Woods/Saria's Song and Song of Storms from Ocarina of Time, though the Twilight Princess version of the former might be the best, Great Fairy Fountain from...probably most Zelda games, Wind Waker's main theme, Midna's Lament from Twilight Princess, Skyloft's Theme, all versions of Fi's Theme, the Bazaar Theme(s), and a whole laundry list of others from Skyward Sword, and like I said before, just the entire Xenoblade series soundtrack, besides maybe some from X. There's probably a few dozen more I'd kick myself for forgetting to mention, but oh well.

Not a single SMRPG. A curse on both your houses!

Every Baten Kaitos, Xenoblade and Koji Kondo music

The Interlinked Moebius battle theme in Xenoblade 3 is by far the BEST track I've heard in any Nintendo game.

@ralphdibny co-sign

@fox_mattcloud Aquatic Ambiance and Stickerbrush Symphony are on the list. I was also going to say I wish I nominated Forest Interlude. Not sure if it's my favorite (really hard to choose) but it's got to be one of the best Nintendo songs at least.

I chose Buoy Base because I only actively chose to listen to two of them (and I only listened to the Bowser's Inside Story one because I didn't know which song the title was referring to). Which is a correct choice but this list has no final boss from Yoshi's Island so 0/10. :V

I'm kidding obviously. Like I could make a personal top 100 Nintendo songs list and have to make seriously painful cuts, there are countless fantastic pieces of music to choose from.

Out of these I'm gonna go with Kraid's Lair, I prefer the Zero Mission version of it, it is a top tier track.

I cited Link to the Past Dark World theme as my favorite Nintendo track in the last article but as I had more time to think there's definitely some strong contenders in Mining Melancholy from Donkey Kong Country 2 and Lower Brinstar from Super Metroid.

Guys it's StickerBUSH Symphony, confirmed by David Wise himself! 😜 https://twitter.com/David_Wise/status/940515439649665024?t=qYGQ03PCl44_PSwIJVsm3Q&s=19

Its funny how the 'troll' answer would normally be the Wii Shop Channel, except its a solid contender in its own right, and has been remixed and sampled more than most of these other songs are.

My brain says Mario Galaxy or Animal Crossing but my heart says the Wii Shop Channel, as it is the pulse running through my veins.

Yay my favorite one made the list ..forest temple theme!

@somnambulance This is also one of the songs I can listen to for ten hours!!! It was one of my runner-up choices! https://youtu.be/c2_VdzHQWNs

My top picks aren't here. Some real good ones, but none that I'd really choose.

For example:
XC1 Ending Theme
FETH Edge of Dawn
M&L BiS In the Finale
Kirby CROWNED
XC2 Drifting Soul

@tourjeff I voted for Gerudo Valley, so there is at least one OOT soundtrack.

EDIT: Forest Temple and Zora’s Domain were also listed. It is a big list, though. Easy to overlook.

Animal Crossing New Horizons 5 A.M. music is amazing.

Also love the underground levels music in Super Mario World for SNES.

@tourjeff There are several to choose from?

There must be a glitch, because I didn't see The Grand Finale from Bowser's Inside Story.

I demand a similar poll but only with opening themes! (Another one could be ending themes, or just both of them).
I cant believe the opening/start screen of Xenoblade Chronicles 1 didn't make the list in this poll. Its trully a masterpiece

Super Metroid: Lower Norfair

@KateGray Did no one submit (Great) Fairy Fountain? I'm surprised it's not here considering you gave it a whole ranking list of its own. That one's still missing Light Spirit's Elegy from Twilight Princess, by the way. Guess I can't fault you for Gerudo Valley, though. It is a great track.

Can't talk about the Xenoblade music since I haven't played any game on that series, but some of the selections feel bit run-of-the-mill, as in they're great songs but kinda expected selections for a "best of". I was hoping for more overshadowed tracks or from less popular games.

Anything from DKC 1and 2.

Nasty Majesty is my favourite but that didn’t make the cut so I’m going Dragon Roost Island from Wind Waker.

I also remember when I knew absolutely nothing about xenoblade, not even the gameplay. I put on the first game and listened the start screen music and watch the beautiful in-game day and night cicle as the music went on. That moment I knew I just had to play the hell of that game (which I did). A decade later I wasnt wrong with that hunch

I knew I wasn't the only one who really liked Gusty Garden.

Other fav soundtracks of mine: Kirby's Epic Yarn, Gumshoe, Super Mario Land, Zelda's Lullaby, City Folk 1am, New Leaf 1am, New Horizons 1am, Punch Out!! cycling cutscene, Excitebike, Duck Hunt title theme

For this poll, I'll say Dragon Roost. But really, the whole Wind Waker soundtrack is just brilliant. I find it so relaxing.

Wow this list has some incredible songs what a great article!! The Donkey Kong Country songs are killer I love the ominous sound to them.

This music is all great pity I want to die

not a single track from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
what is this nonsence?

Just a few off the top of my head... Might not be the best but they are amongst my absolute favorites:

BotW Hyrule Castle
Ganondorf finale in Twilight Princess
Gerudo Valley, Spirit Temple and Forest Temple in OoT
Final Hours in Majora's Mask
Samus' theme, Ridley's theme and both Brinstar themes in Super Metroid
ID Purpose in Fire Emblem Awakening
Staff Credits in Mario Kart 64

Edit: cheating to include the 2017 Switch Direct Presentation / BotW trailer theme. It's not in a game, but my god that music is SO good.

For me it's Jump Up, Super Star! from Mario Odyssey

Listening to Frosty Wheel from Kirby's Epic Yarn at this very moment. Love that soundtrack.

And I'm sticking with Majora's Mask Final Hours. Innumerable swellness throughout, however.

Techno factory from Kirby’s return to dreamland and Pokey armed and dangerous (both are Hal but idc lmao)

It is a tough decision. Theres just too many. With Zelda ALTTP the dark world theme hands down. Ocarina Volvagia boss battle, Majora, Elegy of Emptiness, Wind Waker, Molgera Battle, Twilight Princess, the overworld theme. Mario 64 Dire Dire Docks or Koopas Road, Mario Galaxy, Melty Molten Galaxy, SMO steam gardens, DCK factory, DKC2 hot head bop, DKCR factory, DKCTF factory, FZero X Silence, F Zero GX Port town, Mariokart 64, credits, Smash Bros Brawl, butter building, Smash Wii U, Shadow man theme, Metroid, Kraids Lair, Super Metroid, Ridleys lair, Metroid Prime, Phendrana Difts, Metroid Prime 2, Sanctuary Fortress, Metroid Prime 3 Skytown. There's still so many more. Too hard to pick.

Unironically Yoshi's New Island - The Special Levels

No pokemon, no botw main theme... Great songs on here but wow...

I think we can answer this scientifically: just ask Nintendo which songs they've filed the most copyright claims over.

Some great choices and to be honest difficult to pick what's best. Here's a couple maybe overlooked.

Super Mario Bros 2 Overwold theme (check out the jazz remix online! Incredible!)
Mechonis Field - Xenoblade Chronicles
F-Zero credits (that bass line!)
Pilotwings 64 Hanglider theme is perfect.

This article is a nostalgia overload for me!

I’m sticking with Dire Dire Docks on this one. It’s just such a special song.

Ah man, Fab Fairies Dance is really fun, but for Miitopia I would have gone for The Darkest Lord theme, one of my favorite boss themes and the best track in the game IMHO.

5pm in animal crossing new horizons, and the theme/opening song on style savvy styling Star on 3ds. They are much better than anything in this list! Check those songs out!

Dragon Roost im going with here but phendrana drifts is so good to. You can’t ask me a favorite music or movie question because it all depends on my mood to what I’ll be drawn to.

Outset Island from Wind Waker.

There are so many good Nintendo game soundtracks it is incredibly hard to pick just one. Happy to have grown up with such memorable music in my favorite games.

Xenoblade 1's Main Theme is amazing. Pressing play before it does a loop is a crime. Honestly a lot of 1's stuff just remains timeless with the kickass battle themes and area songs.

Where's the Splatoon love tho? I'm still salty they never brought back Sucker Punch by Hightide Era from Splatoon 1 in battles.

Probably would have been better to do a load of themed lists; best spooky music, best battle music, best soothing music, etc. It's just impossible to choose one best tune for me.

The title screen track from Mega Man 3! Especially the Bit Brigade cover.

Possibly the hardest question I've ever seen relating to games! So many amazing songs for so many moods. So many great ones on and off this list.

I had to go with Aquatic Ambience because it was the first time I really remember a song in a game hit me as being beautiful and moving. Not that there weren't incredible compositions before that were fantastic and memorable but this was something totally different. Other songs may pass ot up depending on my mood (even others on this list) but, I'll always remember the feeling of hearing this song as a kid.

End credits music Super Mario 64.

Anything Super Metroid or Metroid Prime.
The soundtracks for these games are pure perfection.
Just brings about the feelings and dreams of a remastered Metroid Prime trilogy on switch that much deeper.
So much nostalgia with the Donkey Kong and Zelda games.
I am shocked that this doesn't have the original Super Mario theme, it's the godfather of gaming themes.

Man, I think it’s just the whole mario galaxy ost. Everything in there, I love it so much, and it kinda grew my taste in music, I just love the instrument used and the way they are, it all sounds so magical and well, galaxy like!

But, if I had to pick one, gusty garden galaxy.

Sorry but the GOAT is Mario World credit music

My Tetris Attack entry didn't make the final cut. =/ I understand there's plenty of good tracks in Mario and Zelda games but having half the list full of them is silly. Should have been more variety. Maybe next time. Aquatic Ambience it is.

Tetris A-Type. Might've been different if I could've voted for the NES Overworld Theme (sometimes simpler is better) or SNES Mute City.

Gourmet Race is a clasic. But Jump Up Superstar was the only time ever I shed tears in a Mario game. The build up, those 2D sections, the finale. Perfect. What a moment, I'll never forget it.

Write-in: Super Mario 64 Main Theme
Write-in: Hateno Village (BOTW)

@Mauzuri

thanks for your utterly non-defensive reply! I didn't see that coming.

I'm not asking you to like it, I'm just pointing out that it's legitimate music, well conceived and performed 👍 I agree that it fits the game world, though I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it for what it is too.

you must admit that the town music is fantastic, right? come on. Rico? Gerudo? Hateno? Bueller?

edit - BTW I sleep to Erik satie and BOTW sometimes, that's a great context for that music!

Aww, you have to make me choose just one? I love several of these tracks! I can't possibly pick just one!

Lower Brinstar from Super Metroid. Haunting track.

@Dragmire

I LOVE Hateno Music! hateno, gerudo at night, and rito are my favorite tracks.

I wish there was more of a physical manifestation of music in BOTW, like in ocarina, MM with the pub band, links awakenings whole thing, etc. BOTW has the rito with the accordion (forgive me, it's been a while,) but not a whole lot else that I can remember.

here's hoping for more musical themes, situations, and characters in the next one!

Boycotting the vote due to lack of Kirby nominations. It may not be Nintendo’s best series, but it definitely has some of the best tunes. Star Allies has got some incredible piano tracks.

That said, there are a lot of good options in this list.

The best has to be Aquatic Ambience from DKC, however, some other great tracks include Fear Factory from DKC, Big Blue from F-Zero, Mute City from F-Zero, Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64, Moo Moo Farm from Mario Kart 64, the Title Screen Theme from Metroid, the music from level 1 of Star Fox, the Song of Storms from Ocarina of Time, the main theme to Killer Instinct, the underwater theme in Super Mario 64, the Legend of Zelda intro music, and the serenade from Link's Awakening.

I'm not sure but the best piece of music in a Nintendo game is also the best piece of music in any game, period.

Forest Interlude from DKC2

No NES Legend of Zelda title theme? Sigh.

Guess I'll be part of the 1% voting for Super Mario Bros. 2's character select music.

I cannot believe no one (apart from this B64 character, who has pretty much mentioned every game ever created) has highlighted METROID PRIME's title screen.

https://youtu.be/TFBUtNrw6xM

And then GRIS.

https://youtu.be/c1UN0unVLQs

You all are deaf.

Except for (Uncle) Franklin, maybe.

@-wc- … you know, I really liked the minimalist take for Breath of the Wild, especially while free exploring. I thought it made tracks like Hateno, Tarrey Town, Hyrule Castle all the more memorable!

Uncanny how I was sitting around after a long week listening to Stickerbush Symphony (or a remix of) when this article pops up! I love finding different versions of songs that I remember growing up. I have to say, for the original versions, I voted for Dire Dire Docks because it was the first melody that popped into my head when I read the title but my all time favorite is Great Fairy Fountain from OoT. It’s amazing how some tunes just stick with you.

Oh and I really would like to see how the people who chose the Forest Temple music live their lives. That song still makes me paranoid haha

Gerudo Valley.

I really like the Site 6 area theme in sрIаtоon 3 to be honest, though its a recent game

@Mauzuri This article is a celebration of video game music, and you’ve contributed perhaps the dullest take on the medium that exists.

I mean, I agree with you in so far as BoTW’s overworld orchestration failing as a piece of pop music. Or rock music. Or dance music. Or countless other genres. You can’t tap your toe to it. You can’t sing along to it. You can’t breakdance to it or even do the most modest robot. But that’s not the point. It’s not a radio-friendly chart topper. It’s the score to a desolate yet hauntingly beautiful world on the brink of ruin. And as that, the music excels: adding so much to the texture of the game while allowing space for the expansive wilderness to… breathe.

I know an incredibly dense four-part breakdown of the BoTW soundtrack isn’t going to change your mind, but here it is anyway:

https://youtu.be/tl-6K3zrcr0
https://youtu.be/F6YaK8bOvWY
https://youtu.be/xZBodzjVSjA
https://youtu.be/nUoophDioZA

Seashore War, Pollyanna (I Believe in You) vocal version, the Super Mario Galaxy End Credits, Grandma's Theme (Wind Waker), Calamari Inkantation, Fire Emblem: Opera of Light, Star Fox Zero/Assault's Star Wolf theme, Reincarnation, and Ending and Credits (Link to the Past) deserve high placings as well.

Voted for Animal Crossing 7pm (which is incorrectly titled as 7am in the poll). There are lot of good choices but seeing one of the Animal Crossing songs on the first page made me think of this song and then I saw it was also a choice so I had to pick it. I know it's not going to win or anything but it deserves a vote or two.

They didn’t list my top 5

1. Super Mario Bros. 3: Overworld Theme 2
2. Zelda: A Link to the Past: The Dark World
3. Zelda: Oracle Games: Overworld
4: Star Fox 64: Corneria
5. Super Mario Land: Credits Theme

Aquatic Ambience for the win.

Either Forest Temple or the Chest opening jingle--both OoT. Best music on switch from any publisher, something from FF7 (boss, opening or JENOVA themes). There were some good tunes on Jet Force Gemini, especially the opening, but can't remember (otherwise... the music when you landed was catchy) when in the game they were 👴

Also, love the Hyrule track's music on Mario Kart 8!

With that said… even though Nintendo didn’t make it… the greatest piece of music to ever grace a Nintendo console imo is Corridors of Time from Chrono Trigger.

That track is INSANELY well crafted and composed, with the perfect instrumentation being used with the SNES sound chip.

@P-Man

That’s number 6 on my personal list.

That song blew my mind as a kid.

As repetitive as it might be, my personal favorite is the Mariokart Wii main theme.

@Mauzuri

It’s not a catchy soundtrack to listen to on its own, but for the game itself it’s damn near perfect dude.

It fits BOTW and what it is supposed to be perfectly. The OST is awesome. It just doesn’t do much when listened to outside of the game.

For me its still ocarina of time music, everything in that game was just magical and gave the game some extra mystery.
I really loved the gerudo song, gave some latin vibe hearing that gitar.

The home screens for GameCube and Wii need a mention. So does the first and third main tracks in Mario Paint. Interesting the main action themes from the original Mario and Zelda aren’t on here.

@OrtadragoonX those are all great choices!

@Glamdring64 same it was always such a standout. So many great remixes of that track now. I love Funk Fiction’s the best.

@RudeAnimat0r Forest of Illusion!

Gerudo Valley from Ocarina of Time

Animal Crossing New Horizons: Main Theme

A toss up between Phendrana Drifts and Gusty Garden Galaxy for me. I went Gusty in the end.

FFXV Pocket Edition HD
"Valse di Fantastica" (@1:27)
https://youtu.be/ExulsLn2lEc

Let’s be honest here. There’s so so many great pieces of music that it’s almost impossible to choose. Now more than ever I’m going to really appreciate and soak up that beautiful music as I game. Thank you musical geniuses for blessing my ears for decades.

Dragon roost!

For sure I would have put the opening screen of Super Metroid too. It perfectly set the scene for the game to come, probably more so than any other game.

One of my personal favourites is the Lost Woods theme from OoT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljqe4Nj7nBA
DK Island Swing is another one of my favourites, it's so catchy and really pushes you forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbtvzVL8PG8

Can't really decide which to vote for on this list, too many amazing songs (and still missing so many others).

I have always loved the music from Super Mario Bros. 2 (especially since I was a 1980s / early 90s kid).

Arcterra's first theme in Metroid Prime Hunters is my favorite. My second favorite track isn't even on here either, which is Colony 9 Night theme from Xenoblade Chronicles. Valak Mountain's day track is solid, but its night track too is better. My third favorite track is listed though so that's what I voted for, which is Dire, Dire Docks from Super Mario 64.

No mentioned of Advance Wars series? Love the electric guitar of Grit’s theme, and all the other musics having the vibes of a military.

Also, Starfox 1 ending with all the beautiful orchestra like arrangements, which i never expect SNES is capable of that.

@datamonkey Agree, I think it was called Bowser's road or Road to Bowser or something, but that's always been my favorite as well. Expected to see in the list, but glad that at least it made it to the first comment.

While there's a lot of strong contenders on this list (Dire Dire Docks, Space Junk Galaxy, and Stickerbrush Symphony are all easy picks), I'm surprised Midna's Lament didn't make the cut. After 2 playthroughs and dozens, probably hundreds, of times listening to the song on its own, it still hasn't lost its impact; it never fails to bring me right back to a simpler time.
Only complaint is how the combat music still interrupts this beautiful track...

I voted Forest Temple, but, probably my single favorite piece of music of a Nintendo game is the menu music of Star Fox 64. It's pure nostalgia, just listening to it brings me back to better times. That game was my brother's favorite, I miss him every day.

@Anachronism It was my first choice, actually.... buuuuut writing a whole article about it means you have to listen to it a LOT. So I need a bit of a break from Fairy Fountain

Not a single Pokémon Colloseum song made it on this list? I cry foul! Don't try to pretend that Mirror B's theme isn't living in your head rent free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp5ceMa5KXI

My favorites are the intro music from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Fire Emblem Awakening, as well as the music from the trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I also love «the song» from Super Mario World, in all its different variations.

@westman98 Somebody had to bing that one up, so i don't have to! Tnx!

All of these songs are great for their own reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2cYSuiPjYA&ab_channel=MusicalToasters
this is the one

Either rogueport sewers(ttyd) or wooded kingdom Mario odyssey

These results are surprising! Except for Gerudo Valley getting such a high place. Song's a bop.

That said, I voted for Gourmet Race and it seems by the comments that there are dozens of us. ✊

I voted for Gusty Garden. It's breathtaking and makes me want to grab a flower and fly away. My 2nd vote was going to be Gerudo Valley. I'm glad to see my votes are consistent with the top results. Koji Kondo is a legend

I loved Metroid 3 corruption soundtracks.

Mute City from the F-zero stage on Smash deserves a nomination too!

@datamonkey Koopa's Road

I kind of wish I could choose 3 choices on this poll. I went for Dire Dire Docks, but I would also vote for Valak Mountain Night theme (Xenoblade) and Phendrana Drifts (Metroid Prime). And one that's not on this list that I would include is Hyrule Field from Ocarina of Time.

@Casco yes I expected to see it in the list also but I suppose they had a lot to choose from.

Either way you clearly have good taste in music! Kudos to you 🙂

Edit - @ThePizzaCheese yes you were right @Casco is called Bowser’s Road - https://youtu.be/AJj6GGLaIfI

It never makes anyone's list but mine, but I love the finale music from A Link to the Past. The triumphant march that seques into a slow and beautiful version of the main theme. Kinda bummed the Symphony of the Goddess never tackled it

So many good tunes. Anything from Xenoblade Chronicles or Super Mario Galaxy has my vote.

@Saturos1 Agreed, DKC2 has such an epic soundtrack. The way they made a lot of it sound so orchestral using limited hardware, like Haunted Chase. So epic

My personal childhood favourite was always Gerudo Valley from OoT

@PrincessKatamari Totally agree with you. Most Zelda games have fantastic soundtracks too!

Dire Dire Docks is a bit controversial... Jolly Roger Bay is the correct answer and my winner. You hear it in that world first - Dire Dire Docks is later in the game.

Zora's Domain is a close second for me.

Third place is also N64 and the main menu song from Lylat Wars. I love the hopelessness of that song, as if you failed in your mission.

Hard to choose between dragon roost, forest temple and gerudo

@Platinum-Bucket such a jam

@tux_peng same! Ended up going with Gerudo, but they are all fire.

There's so many but I feel like Nintendo really nails the underwater themes. DK Country is a great example and Mario 64 also killed it. I'm also a believer that the Twilight princess soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. Midna's Theme is so simple but such a fantastic work. (I'm actually really hoping that Nintendo does release a 35th anniversary symphonic album as they've done in previous anniversaries but I'm not going to hold my breath.)

Can’t disagree with Gerudo Valley or anything from the great David Wise soundtrack for DKC2

Some curveball suggestions from me would be Monk Max Kashia from BOTW https://youtu.be/UlMuHQ2g-Cc

And more recently this banger from Kirby forgotten land https://youtu.be/uvg4ASNDPsM

Bonus - this version of the N64 rainbow road from MK8 goes hard https://youtu.be/NuG53TOJqlo

Oh man, this list needs the music from the Moon level from Ducktales. I use it as the ring tone on my phone.

I voted aquatic ambiance, but there are very strong numbers on the list. A tough call.