What's your favourite menu music in a game?
a year ago by BurntWits to c/patientgamers
My first post about video game music here did really well (most commented post in community history), so I figured I might make it a series of sorts. If this post does well too I might make more video game music posts in the future.
Basically what the title says, what is/are the best menu theme(s) in your opinion? It can be from the main menu, the pause menu, if it’s a menu it counts here. I’ll put a few of my favourites in the comments as well, and look forward to see what others have to say.
I already commented on Outer Wilds, and this one is probably not fitting on Patient Gamers, but...
I have never just stopped and listened the main menu of a game fully, on multiple occasions... Until Expedition 33.
For whatever reason I felt like i was comitting a sheer disrespectful act to interrupt it.
Expedition 33 is a game I finished a couple weeks ago and have continued to be obsessed with since. Not really patientgamers material seeing as it's pretty recent, but I'm so glad I made an exception for it.
Funnily enough the lyrics for that menu music is basically a plot synopsis that spoils the whole story in poetry, but it's fine because it's in a mutated medieval french. A lot of the game's music is like that, actually.
Agreed. Relevant: https://youtube.com/shorts/0k23djFBHt8
Iconic
Man, being earwormed in the main menu and through the entrire game to reach credits and have the full song blast through was mind blowing to me back when it released!
The only game so far that achieved this (and surpassed it by a lot IMO) is Outer Wilds
The Mirror's Edge theme was written and performed by Lisa Miskovsky who was part of Cheiron Studios and worked on several hit songs including Backstreet Boys' "Shape of my heart". One of my favorite songs of hers is "Why start a fire".
Deus Ex main menu
That's one hell of a menu song, thank you for memory ride...
Same. I'm between CE and 3.
Nobody mentions Need For Speed Underground: 2?
It had an iconic soundtrack.
Doom 2016!
The main menu theme for Dark Souls III is probably my favourite main menu theme ever. It perfectly encapsulates the tone of the game in my opinion and I always have to listen to it before starting up the game.
Dark Souls II, I think has a better piece for its menu music
Civilization 4
Really surprised to not see Civ 4's Baba Yetu mentioned yet. It's literally the first video game music to win a Grammy.
Fallout 4, the theme is so somber it immediately gets you in the right mood.
Goldeneye pause music.
The Sims 2's menu theme whisks me right back to 2005
The Halo 4 theme was so good that I would let it play out before starting a game most of the time. Definitely my favorite title theme.
Some other good ones are Skyrim, LOZ Ocarina of Time, and Star Wars Republic Commando
One Must Fall 2097.
That intro with the lightning was hype to my little 8 year old brain.
Honorable mention to the Elegy track from Firefall. That game deserved a lot better than it got.
Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
That jazzy midi is an absolute banger, gets me into the mood to build railways.
edit: ooh, almost forgot: Jazz the Jackrabbit (the first game). Absolutely phenomenal mainmenu music, that bassline slaps so hard.
Gotta be The Witcher 3 for me
Everyone knows that first place belongs to Mega Man II.
I have a lot of these, but The Right Way Around, by Daughter, for Life is Strange: Before the Storm grabbed me the second I launched the game.
A more traditional main menu theme that I love is Ecce valde generous ale from Panzer Dragoon Saga. It's a brilliant introduction to the game, drawing the player into a mysterious world in a post-apocalyptic setting.
The original Life Is Strange menu music is lovely too.
Guys. I know we aren't forgetting halo 3 here
Gangsta pause music baybeeeeee
The menu theme of Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Nobody has mentioned FTl: Faster than light yet as far as I can see. It's so iconic!
Fallout 4. Its not the radio stuff we all love... its the almost erie pause screen music that comes on after a while.
A mainstay on my shuffle playlists in the Encore Mode Save Select Theme, Double Take, from Sonic Mania Plus. Track is by Falk du Yeong, who did the music for the popular Sonic Fangames Before and After the Sequel.
A recent one that Youtube Music (hooray for Revanced) revealed to me is the Main Menu theme of Mindwave, by Dorkus 64. Apparently the game is kind of a mix of WarioWare but with jumping into people's minds as the setting? Can hear a lot of WarioLand 4 influence in the track. Weird, and an absolute bop.
Honorable Mentions:
Deus Ex
Unreal Tournament
Glover and Frogger had great music, I am surprised this popped in to my head but there you go.
Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Here's an old favorite of mine. Very chill and the menu will play it all day long if you like...This tune is from one of the sub-menus from the original Katamari Damacy. I think it was the menu where you can explore the various items you've collected. It's called "Katamari☆Stars"
Here's a link to it in the middle of the entire soundtrack on YouTube (an amazing collection of songs in it's own right ♥️) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAA6hq9RL-4&t=3515s
Not sure if they are my favorite but these are the 3 first that came into my mind, in this order:
I am pretty sure there are another good ones out there that I can't remember right now (like Time Hollow).
The slow buildup and somber tone of Hitman III menu music „Death Awaits“ lives rent free in my head for a while now. Choir and strings in the end 👩🍳👌
I always really liked the menu music from Guild Wars Eye of the North because it is an actual overture.
The mellow tunes of the Hollow Knight main menu is what comes to mind.
The only right answer: Deus EX
Without thinking about it too hard, the binding of Isaac. I like how when you unlock the tainted characters, when you flip to that menu the song changes to a different version. It's the same song, but creepier.
I still remember getting goosebumps from Baldur's Gate 2's menu theme back in the day. It really set the mood and made me excited to start.
A more recent main menu theme that impressed me was Hellpoint's. Together with the menu showing that black hole - it is just wonderfully ominous.
I sometimes blast this while driving. It's such a strangely upbeat menu theme.
The main menu for Battlefield 3 on console is still the gold standard imo. Had atmosphere without being sacrificing usability.
Going off pure style points NFS Most Wanted 2005 always gets you in the right mood for the game, although having replayed it countless times I still fumble navigating the menus at times. So I'm aware it isn't the most user friendly design.
Two menu songs are tied first place for me.
First is the one that plays on the main menu of Final Fantasy 15. Especially when it plays as the main background theme during the end of the game.
The other one is Nier Automata. Deff a whole mood.
A Plague Tale Requiem, especially after beating the game.
I always liked one of the menu themes in Sonic Advance, which was basically just a slightly different version of Star Light Zone from Sonic 1 lol
Hard to pick a favourite but: The Legend of Dragoon Goldeneye FFX Halo 2
I think favourite combat music could be a good topic too!
Edit again because I missed what probably actually is my favourite. Baldur’s Gate 2.
I don't think I'd actually say it's my favourite, but the opening cinematic/menu song for Dragon's Dogma is pretty nostalgic for me. And kinda became a meme in the games hardcore community fanbase.
🎶 The wind is pushing meeee 🎶
Final fantasy 15, crystalline chill. Can just leave that on repeat. Didn't even like ff15
FF XV is a broken and flawed game at best, and realistically probably closer to objectively bad. But the soundtrack is an absolute banger with some stellar leitmotif work. Dewdrops At Dawn at the very end picking up the line from Sunset Walz/Valse Di Fantastica is probably my favorite.
I really like Wizardry 8 main menu theme and also Gothic 1 and plenty others too.
EDIT: How could I forget Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOUUS6JIRQ0
Have a very nostalgic theme for a very specific group of people. :P
Demon's Souls character creation theme
i know dark souls has always been more popular but there's something very special about the atmosphere in DeS. This track set the tone extremely well
Smash Bros Wii U
I think A Hat in Time deserves a mention!
Late to the party but Policenauts plays regularly in my head.
Gran Turismo 2. The different areas of the menu have different music and they're all great.
Maplestory, such a great soundtrack maplestory login screen
Metal Gear Solid 2 menu theme. The digital sound fits with the main menu motif like a glove, and evokes a sense of mystery and foreboding of what is to come. And boy, you are in for a surprise!
Oh man definitely Cyberpunk 2077 start screen. Gets you right into the mood for tech'ing up and causing some anarchy.
It starts quiet too. But if I'm not past that screen by the time the beat hits, I'm in that menu until the song ends :D
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Ever since the first time I loaded it up on Genesis, the Streets of Rage 2 menu theme has been an all timer for me. It’s the perfect encapsulation of 90’s techno and sets the mood for one of the greatest beat ‘em ups of all time.
Sanabi.
The main theme opener is a striking arrangement of synth notes, which admittedly end up being a bit skippable after hearing them quite a few times. However, there is a reveal moment in the story that makes it hit way harder. It stuck with me after that 😁
Night in the Woods, which has one of the best sound tracks, hands down
Main Menu screen for The Twin Snakes remake of Metal Gear Solid on Gamecube.
I have many but teen me loved the XGRA menu edit of BT's Madskillz - Mic Chekka so much I would leave the menu open while cleaning etc.
Final Fantasy II for SNES (Main title/menu)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mvT1ddiBc
Alas, the game itself was long ago murdered.
Some of the jrpgs like final fantasy are great, octopath traveler, dwarf fortress menu is up there as a minimalistic folk. I'll go with pillars of eternity
The Anno games always had really good music. Anno 1602 for example had this as the title music
Anno 1503's title music is engrained in my memory as well
The first thing that leapt to mind was Age of Empires.
Right about now its time to rock with the bickety Buck Bumble
Like, it's a whole song. It shouldn't be here, but it rocks!
Not a menu, but NES Battletoads wins best pause music for me.
It was never called a pause menu in my experience unless there was an actual menu. Otherwise it's a pause screen.
Colin McRae: Dirt. The first one.
Yakuza 0 Cabaret Club menu theme
Last Epoch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xosfYHQIcQ
either Sonic Adventure 2 or Doom Eternal.
Sonic Adventure 2 is just silly, it's like a 10 to 15second loop of a slightly different version of the main theme but it's got this like added guitar (I'm not a musician AT ALL) that just really kicks it up a notch. hell I even have the mp3 of it that i'll listen on loop for a few minutes.
Also the original Apex Legends menu music and character selection music was VERY good.
Sierra's "Red Baron II" (1998) might not be my favorite but it had some of the most memorable music for me. Repetitive military marches with the main theme being rather jaunty. It didn't hurt that it was my first flight sim and the first PC game I'd ever played online. I was around twelve at the time so it's hard not to remember how cool it all was to me.
Some of my favs were already listed, I’d add Cyberpunk 2077, Max Payne 2, and Dark Souls 2 (that portamento).
Final Fantasy XII, not just for the amazing menu music but also due to how the opening cinematic blends seamlessly with the menu UI in the PS2 version. It all comes together perfectly.
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The galaxy map theme from the Mass Effect series is one of my favourite tunes in a sci-fi game. I love the chill atmosphere as you select your destination, and hearing it outside the game always makes me want to revisit the series.
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