Video game music often sets the tone for the adventures that await players. For games like Halo, the score will consist of epic orchestral anthems. Others, like the Metroid franchise, feature low-key, ambient music that places Samus Aran in an eerie, suspenseful setting. In short, video game music is integral to a game's feel.
However, some video game music is diegetic, meaning it comes from the world of the game itself. Several video games feature worlds or stories that contain their own fictional musicians who perform at various parts of the game. These bands, singers, and musicians are some of the most iconic performers in gaming history.
10 Kass The Bard
This character made his debut in the Zelda franchise in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Prior to that, the Zelda series has always had a musical side, as many of the games feature Link coming into possession of a magical musical instrument. While Link fancies an ocarina or lyre, Kass plays with a simple accordion.
Throughout Link's adventures in Hyrule in Breath of the Wild, he will often come across Kass in certain locations. There, Kass will delight Link with a song that contains clues for a nearby puzzle. His signature theme was even adapted into a composition for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
9 Mae's Band
Night in the Woods is an indie game that was first released in 2017. The story-driven adventure game follows Mae, a young adult who drops out of college and returns to her hometown. Upon arrival, she reunites with her former high school band, consisting of her best friend Gregg, his boyfriend Angus, and the cynical Beatrice.
At several points in the game, Mae joins her friends for band practice. These sections lead to a mini-game where players accompany the rest of the band on bass guitar. They're a welcomed break from the heaviness of the game's story, which touches on issues of mental health and a small town's economic collapse.
8 Elite Beat Agents
This rhythm game released for Nintendo DS was one of the system's most critically acclaimed games. The game centers on a secretive government agency that helps people in need through dancing to popular songs. Over the course of the game, the Elite Beat Agents perform to Avril Lavigne, Village People, and Destiny's Child.
It may be a stretch to call the Elite Beat Agents a band, but no one can deny that their performances are quite literally healing. Unfortunately, the game's sales did not live up to its glowing reviews. As a result, it's unlikely that the Elite Beat Agents will ever make a comeback performance, despite outcries from desperate fans.
7 The Chorus Kids
Rhythm Heaven was one of Nintendo's most popular franchises in the late 2000s, though it hasn't seen a new release since 2015 on the 3DS. The game features many mini-games that test players' rhythm capabilities. Many of these characters have gone on to become iconic, though none quite as much as the Chorus Kids.
The Chorus Kids, who appear in the mini-game "Glee Club," got a boost in popularity when they were speculated to appear in Super Smash Bros. 4. Game data suggests they were cut in development, but perhaps there's still a chance. Many Nintendo fans would love to see these off-key lookalikes turn the battlefield into their own recital.
6 Koffing And The Toxics
Pokemon Black 2 & White 2 featured many new characters in the Unova region. One of them was Roxie, a white-haired bass player who serves as the Virbank City Gym Leader. Her specialty is Poison-type Pokemon, which fits her personality as a rock star who, according to other characters, infuses her songs with toxic power.
The anime expands even further on Roxie's musical origins, even giving her band a name: "Koffing and the Toxics." Despite her tough, punk-rock nature, she's one of Ash Ketchum's most admirable opponents. However, in the games, her personality is more brash and aggressive, which seems more in line with her genre preference.
5 Mayor Pauline
Many video game fans know Pauline as Mario's first love interest, all the way back to the arcade version of Donkey Kong. The character has since been replaced in the mainline Mario games by Princess Peach. However, she makes a grand return as the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey, with a musical twist.
After Mario successfully restores the power to New Donk City, Pauline leads a city-wide celebration. This includes a performance by her of the game's theme song, "Jump Up, Super Star!" In reality, the song was performed by the composers for the game, known as the Super Mario Players, and sung by Kate Higgins.
4 Runaway Five
Earthbound is one of Nintendo's most eccentric titles, featuring an off-kilter vision of American life. This also applies to the game's characters, who often are inspired by aspects of American culture. One example would be the Runaway Five, a six-person jazz band inspired by the Saturday Night Live characters "The Blues Brothers."
Ness encounters the Runaway Five at several points in the game. In Twoson, Ness helps the Runaway Five escape a $10,000 debt the jazz musicians find themselves in. Later, in Fourside, the band has accumulated an even greater debt, which Ness also helps them out of, but they repay Ness by praying for him at the game's climax.
3 The Sex Bob-Ombs
Most people know the Sex Bob-Ombs from both the wildly popular Scott Pilgrim graphic novel, and its film adaptation, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. However, the band also makes an appearance in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, a beat-'em-up that is heavily inspired by the original graphic novel series.
In multiplayer mode, if all players use their taunts at the same time, they form the Sex Bob-Ombs. Together, they'll play a song that summons a Yeti who deals massive damage to all enemies on-screen. It may be difficult to coordinate this move with four players, but perhaps it'll convince video game fans to start their own bands.
2 Off The Hook
The Wii U title Splatoon, even upon its announcement, received praise for its soundtrack. However, music became integral to the world of the game, as a pop duo known as the Squid Sisters hosted Inkopolis News. These characters were so popular, in fact, that they went on to debut as holograms in real-life performances.
Splatoon 2 replaces the Squid Sisters with a different music duo called Off the Hook. Consisting of Pearl and Marina, these characters are an improvement over the previous game's musical duo. They even have a larger library of songs than the Squid Sisters, including the energetic "Ebb & Flow" or the ballad-like "Into the Light."
1 K.K. Slider
This traveling musician is probably the most iconic video game musician of all time. In the Animal Crossing series, K.K. Slider often appears in the player's town on Saturdays, taking requests for songs. These acoustic performances often play over the game's credits, soothed by the sweet vocal stylings of K.K. himself.
The most recent installment, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, tasks players with the goal of attracting K.K. Slider to perform in their town. For eager fans of K.K's music, it would be wise to set time aside between 6:00 pm and midnight on Saturdays to see him perform. He's even inspired fans to create K.K. Slider covers of popular songs.