10 Absolute Best Songs in The Legend of Zelda

Music is very important to a lot of video games, but perhaps none more so than The Legend of Zelda. Not only does music function as the backing during every section of each of the games, but it also serves a purpose for the characters, sometimes unlocking things or being central to progressing forward. Link can play songs on his ocarina in Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, for example. As a result, some of the songs from these games still rank among the best ever put in a game, making The Legend of Zelda arguably the definitive game series for music.

Out of the roughly two dozen Zelda games with dozens of songs each, these 10 really stand out.

10. Main Theme

The main theme from the original The Legend of Zelda game is incredible. It so perfectly encapsulates adventure and exploration. The 8-bit sound of it also does a good job at dating the song, letting gamers know just how long this franchise has been around. The tune has adapted and evolved for other games and is still very relevant to today’s entries, too.

9. Midna’s Lament

Midna’s Lament is one of the most thematically resonant songs in the entire franchise. It captures the hopelessness often felt throughout Twilight Princess, perfectly capturing Midna‘s struggle. The portion of the game during which this plays is emotional, and there’s hardly a more emotional track in the decades-long franchise. It is also a masterclass in using a leitmotif across a game.

8. Mabe Village

Mabe Village is one of the places Link visits most often in Link’s Awakening. In the 2019 remake for the Nintendo Switch, it has undergone a makeover, looking much more toybox-esque. The theme that accompanies it is incredible, and it fits the game and the location. Link’s Awakening is by no means a dark or serious game, but it has danger and adventure. Not in Mabe Village, though, which is why this theme is so peaceful and light.

7. Minish Village

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is a very playful game. The premise is that Link can shrink to a microscopic size and uncover these tiny people, which is admittedly silly and fanciful. The Minish Village theme is perfect, then, because it captures the essence so beautifully. The use of xylophone-esque tones and generally lighter (in tone) instruments fits like a glove.

6. The Sky

The Sky from Skyward Sword is a perfect example of how to do a prominent theme. Given the time Link spends in the sky, which is much more than in any of the ground locations in Hyrule, it has to be a good theme. Fortunately, it is. It’s a great representation of flying, with a lot of genuine whimsy. Flying through the sky in and around Skyloft is a lot of fun, and the theme really matches that idea well.

5. Dragon Roost Island

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a cartoonish game that is often seen as childlike. It has a more “fun” gloss than its counterparts from the early 2000s, such as Twilight Princess, Ocarina of Time, and Majora’s Mask. As such, it needs music that fits that vibe, and perhaps there is no better in-game example than Dragon Roost Island. The theme here is so upbeat and amusing, making it arguably the best thematic representation of what Wind Waker tried to be.

4. Dragons of Hyrule

There is something so magical about landing on the dragons in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The music is perhaps the most magical part, beautifully riffing on the main theme of these two games but toning it down and softening it out. You could genuinely fly onto Farosh or Din and spend hours just riding around listening to the theme, as it provides a fantastic ambience.

3. Hidden Village

Twilight Princess is often a serious, contemplative, dark game, and the music generally fits that vibe. But when Link enters the Hidden Village to rescue someone, it’s one of the most upbeat and exciting parts of the game. Clearing out Bulblins has literally never been more enjoyable. It’s not an easy section of the game, but the music makes it timeless and an absolute blast.

2. Gerudo Valley

Koji Kondo crafted a magnificent video game theme when he sat down to pen Gerudo Valley for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It is one of the rare gaming songs that literally makes you want to get up and dance. It’s so good that you want to remain in the area for much longer than you have to, simply because the music is so much better than in pretty much any other location in any other game.

1. Zelda’s Lullaby

Zelda’s Lullaby first debuted in Ocarina of Time. The now-iconic tune played when Link first snuck into the castle to speak with the princess. It has since been used in so many different games, being reversed, edited, and tweaked in order to create different tracks. It’s really the perfect song for Princess Zelda, as it matches her character well and is really fun to play on the ocarina in the games.

What’s your favorite Zelda track? Let us know in the comments down below!

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