Story and gameplay are two of the most important parts of a video game when looking at it critically. However, sometimes a well-timed music track that pulls the player deeper into that world can make them want to play it even more than they did before. Here 20 gaming tracks that hype up combat to ridiculous levels.
Fly Me to the Moon – Bayonetta
This version of Fly Me to The Moon is a far cry from Frank Sinatra’s smooth and laid-back classic crooning. The Bayonetta version is still smooth but with a more up-tempo pace. It’s a perfect combination for getting players hyped up to slay hordes of ridiculously powerful angels.
And you’re going to need all the hyping up you can get because Bayonetta doesn’t pull any punches in the difficulty department. The entire soundtrack is outstanding, but this version of Fly Me to the Moon is just too unforgettable to not mention.
Fight On! – Final Fantasy VII
The Final Fantasy franchise has a long and storied past filled with decades of success and fantastic games. Most recently, Final Fantasy VII Remake blew everyone’s socks off last year. It played great and it had remixed versions of all the nostalgic hits.
And even though the remix of Fight On is fantastic, there’s just something magical about the midi instrumentals in the original that an orchestra can’t recreate. Both of these hype gaming tracks accurately convey the importance and tension of the battle to the players, but the original pulls it off a bit better.
Hydrogen – Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is one of the most stylish games around that’s also a franticly beautiful mess of gore and color. If the visuals aren’t enough to get you going, then surely the soundtrack will with a song like Hydrogen. This hype gaming track almost comes from out of nowhere.
It begins fairly subdued and creates anticipation for a minute or so until the more frantic melody kicks in and doesn’t let you go. It’s the perfect music to listen to while running around and wildly killing a bunch of bad dudes.
Battle! Champion Cynthia – Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
The fourth generation of Pokemon games was blessed with absolutely fantastic music. Honestly, the Lake Guardian battle theme was close to making the list, but Champion Cynthia’s battle theme is just too good to pass up when it comes to hype gaming tracks.
You know what you’re getting into from the beginning. You just battled through 12 of the best trainers in Sinnoh, so there’s no point in try to build anticipation. And this song makes that point loud and clear as it blasts right through a minimal intro into an intense instrumental and the unrelentingly fierce main melody.
Asgore’s Theme – Undertale
When you go back and talk about Undertale, everyone loves to talk about Sans and Megalovania. There’s no doubt it’s a hype track, but the song that plays during your fateful battle with Asgore is at least on the same level while encapsulating the feel of the entire game.
Just like the game itself, this track starts out cute and innocent, then it quickly takes a turn that makes you realize the seriousness of the situation. All throughout this track, the up-tempo pace keeps you on edge, yet the melody still manages to remain hopeful and almost cheerful throughout.
Night Walker – Under Night In-Birth
Under Night In-Birth is probably the best fighting game you’ve never heard of and it has an equally good soundtrack to accompany the stellar gameplay. And having some adequately hype music should be a prerequisite for fighting games anyway.
From the get-go this track is ready to get players excited to start wailing on each other. The piano intro is light but its quick tempo prepares you for the fight ahead. Then it only gets even more intense from there once the drums and other instrumentals kick in.
Groznyj Grad Alert – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Just in case the fate of the world falling into nuclear war isn’t enough of a reason to be on edge while playing MGS3, then there’s the Grozynj Grad Alert track. The tension of being seen by the enemy is only compounded when this track starts playing.
The feeling of relief once this track stops playing is one of the best parts of MGS3. But this track is so good that it almost makes you want to have another run-in with a soldier. You’ll hear it plenty of times throughout the game (depending upon your skill level) but it never fails to deliver the hype.
Magmoor Caverns – Metroid Prime
There’s just something enthralling about the Magmoor Caverns music in Metroid Prime. For a lot of players, it’s the first place they end up after getting through the Chozo Ruins. And since the initial visit to the Talon Overworld is so brief, it feels like this is where you’re finally getting into the meat of the game.
Even if you end up traveling there a bit too early and can’t stand the heat, the unyielding beat lets you know that this place is not for the unprepared. The track intimidates but it also gets the player hyped to take on a whole host of new dangerous enemies living among the magma.
The Edge of Green – Radiant Historia
RPGs are known for their hype battle themes, but The Edge of Green battle theme in Radiant Historia turns up the intensity more than just a few notches. The percussion intro at the start is reminiscent of war drums that would get you ready to run head-first into battle.
Then the strings and other instrumentals piled on top of the driving drumming keep you interested to see what will come next. In between the loop there’s a more calm section that gets the player ready for another burst of hype.
Corneria – Star Fox
Gameplay in Star Fox games has been a bit disappointing as of late, but the music hasn’t let up one bit. These soundtracks are still filled with tons of killer gaming tracks that hype up players and make them want to keep jumping back into the cockpit of Fox McCloud’s Arwing.
But the original Corneria theme is still an incredible piece of music that demands attention. It has that perfect blend of 80s-sounding electric drums and a futuristic-sounding melody that you would expect from a game all about high-stakes space dogfighting.
Daughter of the Dark God – Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler has one of the most eye-catching art styles you’ll see in an RPG, but it also has a soundtrack filled with tons of hype gaming tracks. All of the standard battle themes really help the player get into the mindset of wanting to wipe the floor with their enemies.
But then there’s Daughter of the Dark God which is just leaps and bounds above everything else. From the beginning, there’s a very clear feeling of peril. But the quick tempo keeps it from just being a dark and ominous track. Together, these sounds make the player feel a complex mix of emotions.
Battlefield – Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee is one of the most beloved Gamecube games ever released because of its smooth gameplay and ease of entry for new players. But no matter if you’re just starting out or if you’ve been playing for almost 20 years, there’s no denying how hype Battlefield is.
While it’s just essentially a remix of the game’s main theme, the striking rhythmic backdrop gives it a powerful boost of hype. It’s the perfect track to get you ready to dunk your friends off stage or to just toss turnips at them as they frantically try to rush back to the stage.
Mass Destruction – Persona 3
Back when Persona 3 launched on PS2, it wasn’t as big in the West as it is now. But just like all of the other games in the series, it has a fantastic soundtrack with plenty of songs to that hype up the game’s turn-based battles.
From the unforgettable vocal intro to the jazzy brass, it’s something that you’ll want to listen to non-stop while slaying shadows. Something that’s catchy and gets you into the mood of wanting to play the game is all you can really ask for from a battle theme.
At Doom’s Gate – Doom
If you have any questions about what kind of game Doom is, then simply jumping into the first level and listening to the music will answer all of your questions. At Doom’s Gate is the perfect way to get players in the right mindset to run around at 57 mph while blasting demons in the face with a shotgun.
Despite the complexity of the actual parts being played, the fact that this song can be produced with a single guitar and drum set is mind-blowing. The heavy metal guitar and driving percussion are just the perfect combination to rip and tear to.
The Dauntless Blade – Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
After the successes of Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates on 3DS, Nintendo decided to remake one of the classic games in the franchise. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is that remake and it features a remix of one of the most hyped battle themes.
If this track titled The Dauntless Blade doesn’t get you ready for battle, then it’s likely that nothing will. When you hear the relentless beat and melody of this song it just sounds like pure struggle and conflict.
The Won-Stoppable Wonderful 101 – The Wonderful 101
The Wonderful 101 is one of those games that almost suffered the terrible fate of being stuck on the Wii U. Fortunately, a remaster came to other consoles and PC a few years later and everyone was able to enjoy this fun little romp.
The game isn’t amazing by any definition of the word, but there’s just something magical about the game’s corny theme song. This track only runs a couple of times during combat throughout the game, but it never fails to hype up anyone playing.
Strike the Earth! – Shovel Knight
If you’re an indie game and trying to find a way to leave an instant positive impression on a player, then Strike the Earth is the best place to start. Very few games start out with a level theme this good.
Not only is it a fantastically composed piece, but it also sets the stage for the beginning of Shovel Knight‘s long and arduous adventure. It’s such a hype song that it completely makes you forget that you’re playing as a knight wielding a gardening tool.
The 13th Struggle – Kingdom Hearts II
Organization XIII in general (character design, backstory, etc.) is arguably one of the most intriguing things about the Kingdom Hearts franchise. And of course, that means the battle theme needs to be one of the most hyped gaming tracks around.
With the 13th Struggle, you get everything you need to know about the Organization. The organs, strings, and piano all sound very mysterious while the snare, other percussion instruments, and brass have an aggressive almost militaristic feel.
Bloody Tears – Castlevania II Simon’s Quest
You can’t have a video game music list without including a track from Castlevania. It’s a classic series that has some of the absolutely best video game music ever composed. And there’s nothing better to get players of Castlevania II hyped than Bloody Tears.
The beginning of the game is not intense at all but you wouldn’t know that from this song. The driving bass drum lays down the foundation for the melody that gets players hyped up to whip away skeletons, fish men, and any other enemies that stand in Simon’s way.
Magna Centipede Stage – Mega Man X2
There’s no doubt that some people will disagree with this choice of song from the Mega Man series. But that’s to be expected when you dig into a franchise like Mega Man which has decades of absolute bangers.
The NES games are great, but there’s no way their songs can match the complexity of the Magna Centipede stage theme. You would literally have to pull a drumming robot out of the Mega Man world to play the percussion par. Plus the way the melody and harmony stack on top of one another just makes you feel motivated to get going.
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