X

Readers' choice: best video-game songs of all time

Well, dear readers, we gave you our recommendations, and you shot back in fine style — so much so that you deserve a feature showcasing your own excellent choices.

Michelle Starr
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
Michelle Starr
reader_1.jpg
1 of 14 H2O Entertainment

Tetrisphere

Well, dear readers, we gave you our recommendations, and you shot back in fine style — so much so that you deserve a feature showcasing your own excellent choices.

If you want to go check it out, you can find our selections for the best video-game songs of all time here.

Got any more to add? Let us know!

Composed by Neil D Voss

Henry said:

"Tetrisphere on the N64 had an awesome progressive techno soundtrack."

reader_2.jpg
2 of 14 Rare Ltd

Killer Instinct Gold: Main Theme

Composed by Robin Beanland

Henry said,

"Also, another N64 game (which actually came with the CD soundtrack) was Killer Instinct Gold."

reader_3.jpg
3 of 14 Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Saria's Song; Song of Storms

Composed by Koji Kondo

Karlos, Greig, Tom and Shaun all voted for The Legend of Zelda, with Tom elaborating that "The Lost Woods" and "Song of Storms" were the best two songs.

reader_4.jpg
4 of 14 GT Interactive

Unreal Tournament: Run

Composed by Alexander "Siren" Brandon, Michiel "MCA" van den Bos, Andrew "necros" Sega and Dan "Basehead" Gardopée.

Billy said:

"Mass Effect series, Unreal Tournament, Halo".

Since Unreal Tournament was the only one of those that we didn't have a track from, here is a track called "Run".

reader_5.jpg
5 of 14 Electronic Arts

Need for Speed: Underground: Born Too Slow

Composed and performed by The Crystal Method

Karl said:

"'Born Too Slow' on Need for Speed".

We think this one is cheating a tiny bit, since the song wasn't written for the game, but since it is technically on a video game soundtrack, we guess it qualifies.

reader_6.jpg
6 of 14 Taito

Arkanoid: ZX Spectrum Title Theme

Composer unknown

Sergey said:

"That sad theme from Arkanoid for PC/XT (circa 1981) CGA version, when the storyline is told ..."

(We hope we found the right one, Sergey.)

reader_7.jpg
7 of 14 Konami

Metal Gear Solid 4: Metal Gear Saga

Composed by Harry Gregson-Williams

Songs from Metal Gear Solid 1, 2 and 3 were not enough for Cedric:

"Why no Metal Gear Solid 4?"

Preshen added in his two cents:

"I think every song in MGS 4 should be on this list; not only were they awesome, but they were well placed amongst the situations."

reader_8.jpg
8 of 14 Reflections Interactive

Shadow of the Beast

Composed by David Whittaker

Composed by Ben Houge

Logan said:

"Needs more Shadow of the Beast. And Arcanum."

reader_9.jpg
9 of 14 Interplay Entertainment

Fallout 2: A Kiss to Build a Dream On

Composed by Louis Armstrong

As per our earlier comment, we think this one is also cheating a little. Jai, however, thought that we were random-capitalisation insane:

"Are you cRaZY?

"You missed Fallout 2's 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On'.

"Madness!"

reader_10.jpg
10 of 14 Valve

Portal 2: Want You Gone

Composed by Jonathan Coulton and performed by Ellen McLain

AshtonH said:

"Portal 2 — 'Want You Gone'".

It just ain't no "Still Alive", though.

reader_11.jpg
11 of 14 Konami

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest: Bloody Tears

Composed by Kanichi Matsubara

Maverick John also thought that we had lost some of our marbles, but he gave us this, too:

"Personally, I thought 'Bloody Tears' should have been in there from Castlevania; it's the most memorable song from the series, anyone who would have heard it would have known where it came from straight away."

reader_12.jpg
12 of 14 Rockstar

Red Dead Redemption: Far Away

Composed by Jose Gonzalez

Composed by Jamie Lidell

Composed by Ashtar Command

Yadekul seems to be labouring under a misapprehension vis a vis my provenance and a certain Beatles' real name, but he also raised a good point:

"Ahh, Michelle, as Ringo's granddaughter, I thought you'd do a little better with your musical selection! You forgot the pure awesomeness of Red Dead Redemption.

"Jose Gonzalez wrote 'Far Away' for it (brilliant), Jamie Lidell came up with 'Compass' (also brilliant) and then Ashtar Command contributed the incredible closing theme, 'Dead Man's Gun'. That one would bring a tear to a glass eye."

reader_13.jpg
13 of 14 Sony Computer Entertainment

God of War II: The End Begins

Composed by Gerard K Marino

Goose90 told us:

"God Of War OST — 'The End Begins'. Most epic thing I've ever heard."

reader_14.jpg
14 of 14 Sega

Out Run: Splash Wave

Composed by Hiroshi Miyauchi

Alex said:

"I have fond memories of 'Splash Wave' on the old Sega Outrun arcade machine!"

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos