Video Game Tracks That Became Global Hits Worldwide

Explore iconic video game soundtracks from Super Mario Bros. to Minecraft and The Last of Us, with tracks that topped charts and captivated players
Video Game Tracks That Became Global Hits Worldwide
Miha Prebil

The best video games are a full package of entertainment. Gamers are drawn to compelling storylines, captivating graphics, exciting action, and, above all, memorable music. These elements make games entertaining. It’s no surprise that many other gaming niches take a similar approach. For example, slot games reviewed on Slotozilla.com have elaborate music scores. This, plus the sound effects, makes gameplay enjoyable for players.

The fact is that not all video games have remarkable soundtracks. Nonetheless, many game soundtracks have become global hits. They topped charts worldwide, sometimes becoming more popular than the games. In this post, we’ll cover some popular video game soundtracks you’ll love.

Super Mario Bros

The first soundtrack on this list is probably not a surprise to anyone. The original Super Mario game was the go-to game for every person who grew up in the 80s, 90s, and even the 2000s, bridging across a number of generations.

The game was created in 1985, thus predating internet streaming and modern music charts. Nonetheless, the earworm soundtrack was popular with millions of people all over the world, and for that reason, deserves a spot on this list. The actual game is one of the most recognizable games in the world, and Nintendo's biggest franchise to date.

Minecraft

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Minecraft is the Super Mario of the modern era. This game, which debuted in 2011 as a minimalist world creation video game, is one of the most downloaded games of all time. The game did well, so we’re not surprised by the fact that its soundtrack is among the most popular worldwide.

Minecraft has soothing, minimalist music. It was done by German musician Daniel Rosenfeld (known professionally as C418). Included among its record-breaking music chart record achievements are:

The Minecraft: Volume Alpha soundtrack peaked at No.4 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart on 29 July 2023.

The track got to the No.5 spot on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart on 17 December 2022.

Three tracks from the Minecraft game appeared in the top 20: Sweden, Minecraft, and Subwoofer Lullaby.

Halo 4

Halo is another modern classic that has ruled the video gaming world for the past two decades. This legendary video game franchise is undoubtedly one of the best shooting games ever created. The imposing nature of this game is better understood when you realize how its soundtrack had such an incredible grip on players.

The Halo 4 score was released in December of 2012 at position 50 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This marked the highest ever video game soundtrack ranking for the US at that time. The score also peaked at Number 3 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart.

The Last of Us

Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us game has grown into a massive media franchise. It features sequel games, movie adaptations, and comic books. The storyline is captivating. Not only this, but it also offers action-packed gameplay.

But what we’re most fascinated about is its soundtrack. The game has a sombre acoustic sound by Gustavo Santaolalla. Tracks like the titular “The Last of Us” and “The Choice” have both hit a combined 66 million streams on Spotify, while generating up to £225,000 in streaming revenue.

League of Legends

League of Legends is one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arena games ever released. Unsurprisingly, this game has three tracks on the list of the most-streamed video game soundtracks on Spotify.

The most popular of these soundtracks is Legends Never Die, which was written by the Riot Games Music Team. This track has been streamed up to 219 million times on Spotify, generating a massive revenue of up to £745k on its own. Rise, another popular track from the game, has generated more than half of this figure, with over 130 million Spotify streams.

Undertale

Undertale is a famous Indie role-playing game that enjoys a cult following. This game has been quite popular with indie fans and has been hailed as a game that shaped the entertainment tastes of an entire generation.

But beyond the success of the game itself, soundtracks from Undertale have also had a profound impact. MEGALOVANIA, a track from the game, is the fourth-most popular video game track on Spotify. This track has generated up to £253,000 in revenue, from a massive 74 million streams.

Cuphead

Studio MDHR’s run-and-gun game, Cuphead, drew inspiration from old cartoons from the 1930s. This indie game was launched in 2017 and was a runaway success right off the bat. Over a million copies of this game were sold worldwide within the first two weeks of its release, which is impressive for such a simple game.

The shooting action and boss battles in this game are accompanied by intriguing jazz and swing tunes composed by Kristofer Maddigan. Selected tunes from the game, including Floral Fury and the King’s court, were compiled into an album which debuted at number one on the Billboard Jazz Album charts in September 2019. The album is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first video game soundtrack to reach No.1 on a US Billboard chart.

Conclusion

From simple sound effects to elaborate multi-instrument compositions, the world of video game music has evolved quite significantly over time. The soundtracks listed here are some of the most impressive ones to have emerged over the years, with their impressive ability to keep players engaged. These soundtracks contribute to the legendary status of the games they are associated with.

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Miha Prebil

Miha Prebil

CPO at Viberate
Digital product enthusiast who turns chaos into order. Passionate about new tech. World traveller with a curious mind and music always playing in the background.