The Evolution of Nintendo Game Music [1981-2023]

* Affiliate Link

0:00 Year 1981: Title Theme - Donkey Kong
0:19 Year 1982: Title Theme - Donkey Kong Jr.
0:35 Year 1983: Title Theme - Mario Bros.
0:49 Year 1984: Title Theme - Punch-Out!!
1:14 Year 1985: Overworld Theme - Super Mario Bros.
1:48 Year 1986: Overworld Theme - The Legend of Zelda
2:30 Year 1987: Palace Theme - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
3:04 Year 1988: Overworld Theme - Super Mario Bros. 2
3:37 Year 1989: Overworld Theme - Super Mario Land
4:13 Year 1990: Title Theme / Main Theme - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
4:47 Year 1991: Fairy Fountain - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
5:14 Year 1992: Green Greens - Kirby's Dream Land
5:54 Year 1993: Corneria - Star Fox - Marioverehrer
6:21 Year 1994: Theme of Samus - Super Metroid
6:42 Year 1995: Athletic Theme - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
7:17 Year 1996: Gourmet Race - Kirby Super Star
7:43 Year 1997: Main Theme - Star Fox 64
8:18 Year 1998: Gerudo Valley - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
8:52 Year 1999: Trainer Red Battle Music - Pokémon Gold & Silver
9:23 Year 2000: Song of Healing - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
9:54 Year 2001: Main Theme - Luigi's Mansion
10:31 Year 2002: Delfino Plaza - Super Mario Sunshine
11:08 Year 2003: Baby Park - Mario Kart: Double Dash
11:34 Year 2004: Minish Village - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
11:59 Year 2005: Title Theme - Animal Crossing: Wild World
12:31 Year 2006: Overworld Theme - New Super Mario Bros.
13:10 Year 2007: Gusty Garden Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy
14:03 Year 2008: Main Theme - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
14:31 Year 2009: Realm Overworld - The Legend of-Zelda: Spirit Tracks
15:13 Year 2010: Sky Station Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy 2
15:46 Year 2011: Ballad of the Goddess - The Legend of Zelda - Skyward Sword
16:12 Year 2012: Don’t Speak Her Name! - Fire Emblem Awakening
16:44 Year 2013: Super Bell Hill - Super Mario 3D World
17:22 Year 2014: Zinnia Battle Music - Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
17:47 Year 2015: Lost in Thoughts All Alone - Fire Emblem Fates
18:19 Year 2016: Main Theme - Paper Mario: Color Splash
18:43 Year 2017: Kass' Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
19:02 Year 2018: Lifelight / Main Theme - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
19:38 Year 2019: The Edge of Dawn / Main Theme - Fire Emblem: Three Houses
20:12 Year 2020: Red Streamer Battle - Paper Mario: The Origami King
20:31 Year 2021: Main Theme - Pokémon UNITE
20:56 Year 2022: Final Boss Battle Music - Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
21:24 Year 2023: Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Composer(s): Various

Arrangement © Marioverehrer (2021-2023)
Original Music © Nintendo (1981-2023)

[PianoMusicBros]

Enjoy the evolution of Nintendo game music, 1 song for every year! Hope you like this musical journey through Nintendo's history!

[octogamergirl]

Me fangirling over here seeing ballad of the goddess, don’t speak her name, lost in thoughts all alone, edge of dawn, and my two fav paper mario games :) thank you very much for the wonderful list!

[BlueScarabGuy]

There's just something about Mario's music, where even the pieces I don't necessarily know sound like I've known them forever, because the composers know exactly what Mario music should sound like, while still being creative.

[chipsdubbo]

Don't Speak Her Name is an amazingly underrated piece, especially for how well it fits the part of the game it plays in.

[Valihir]

I love this video!!

My one thing is at 16:12
As much as I like this song, my pick for 2012 would be the dark pit theme

[Mr.Blaiddyd]

I love "Don't speak her name"!
Well done !

[LooseAsADEUCE]

This was awesome! Very pleased with the Zelda love but NGL I'm super surprised we didn't get New Horizons in 2020 and Metroid Dread in 2021.

[PurpleGooberYT]

The zelda tears of the kingdom main theme has been stuck in my head ever since it came out 3 months ago

[mdg]

i love how every1 (myself included), calls the champion theme from G/S "red's theme", we all have just come to know it as his theme after the ass kicking he gave us in our casual runs (dont deny it)

[hadla]

At the end of the donkey Kong music, I was expecting the dkc theme to start 😂

Luigi’s mansion is the best on piano! 💕

[Dudewitbow]

Lack of Xenoblade is criminal given its of the few games that ACTUALLY got nominated for best score at the game awards

[paperluigi]

I’d argue that the theme for 2017 should’ve been Jump-Up Super Star or Fossil Falls.

[mariusl]

We need a Metroid Video. All great Metroid themes. The greatest Nintendo music. Epic, heroic, sad... Everything. Pleeeease

[SomniRespiratoryFlux]

Imagine trying to narrow down all of Nintendo's music to just one song from one game per year... You could probably remake this list without repeating any games from this version, barring maybe a couple of the pre-NES years, and still get an impressive collection of songs. Nice medley, and some really interesting choices trying to spread things around and show off different franchises some.

[get_stached]

I like how in the Fairy Fountain theme, the short notes look like rupees!

[cubata]

In 2002 Mario Sunshine and not Metroid Prime...? Wtf

[wubbers]

Now this, this is more like it. I enjoyed this.

[paulbird]

14:03 brought me back to when I was 3 years old

[danielaguila]

I dont recall 1981 Donkey kongs theme being that one, as fas as I know that the intro for donkey kong country, I might be mistaken.

[hyun-shik]

This video is just Smash Bros without the fighting.