With some of the highest-rated games of all time, The Legend of Zelda series has produced many great gaming moments; some of which have defined generations. With all that said, however, these iconic scenes would be a lot less impactful without a strong soundtrack to back them up. That's where Koji Kondo, one of the greatest composers of the era, comes into play.
The series has consistently featured some of the most effective musical scores in the industry, and Tears of the Kingdom continues this rich tradition. Every The Legend of Zelda game is packed full of memorable and mesmerizing tunes, but the very best Zelda songs are quite a bit more memorable than some of the others.
Updated June 27, 2023, by Tom Bowen: From the 8-bit era right up to the present day, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series has consistently delighted players with its fantastic gameplay mechanics and stunningly beautiful visuals. One thing that often gets overlooked, however, is the franchise's excellent use of music. In the three and a half decades or so since the series made its debut, there have been countless high-quality tracks that have helped to punctuate and shape Link's many adventures. In certain entries, these were even incorporated into the actual gameplay, with Link being given an instrument so that those controlling him could play along with some of the best Zelda songs from the comfort of their own homes.
15 Shrine Battle (Tears of the Kingdom)
Though very much a fantasy franchise, many of the themes and ideas that are found throughout the Zelda series seem to be inspired by historical settings. Tears of the Kingdom eschews this idea somewhat though, with the Zonai Constructs that players encounter throughout the game managing to feel pretty futuristic despite being ancient tech from the playable protagonist's perspective.
The Shrine Battle theme mirrors this idea, with its synthy sounds helping to paint a picture of a high-tech digital world that is kept grounded by its occasional analog beats. It's a little reminiscent of the soundtrack for Stray; another game that takes place in a run-down futuristic setting in which robots play an important role. This is far more groovy though, and a lot more memorable to boot.
14 Zora’s Domain (Breath of the Wild)
Zora's Domain has shown up in numerous Zelda games over the years, but the best iteration can arguably be found in the series' most recent mainline entry, Breath of the Wild. This is as much down to the changes made to the tune and the power of the hardware on which it plays on though as it is the context surrounding its use.
Peril and danger are common themes in the Zelda series, but none more so than in Breath of the Wild. In a world that has been ravaged by Calamity Ganon, hope and happiness are difficult to come by, yet the enchanting aura of the domain of the Zora remains as vibrant as ever and the audio accompaniment masterfully reflects this.
13 Palace Theme (Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link)
Despite being one of the only true sequels in Zelda's chronologically confusing timelines, Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link is very different from Link's debut outing. It plays like a more traditional side-scrolling platformer, leading to many fans branding it as the black sheep of the series. One area where it doesn't differ though is in the audio department, with the game once again featuring an excellent score.
There are plenty of great tracks throughout the title, but the pick of the bunch is arguably the Palace Theme which is used at numerous points during the game. Its layered melody is incredibly reminiscent of some of the music from classic Mega Man games and perfectly captures the danger and chaos that's standing between Link and the Triforce.
12 Astral Observatory (Majora's Mask)
The themes and ideas explored in Majora's Mask are a lot darker and more mature than the ones found in its N64 predecessor and this is reflected in the game's fantastic soundtrack. Many of the songs found throughout the title mirror the sense of hopelessness and dread laid out in the game's narrative, though it isn't all doom and gloom.
Astral Observatory is a hauntingly beautiful track full of excitement and wonder, which is perhaps why it stands out so much from the rest of the game's soundtrack. Beneath the whistful melody lies an air of hope, something which is noticeably absent throughout the majority of Majora's Mask. As such, it manages to be both uplifting and tragic all at the same time.
11 Ganondorf's Theme (Tears of the Kingdom)
Ganon is one of the best video game villains, but there are times when his more primal nature can leave a little to be desired when it comes to understanding his motivations and providing any kind of meaningful characterization. It's for this reason that many series fans were thrilled to find out that Ganondorf would be returning in Tears of the Kingdom, and the Gerudo Warlock turned Demon Lord definitely did not disappoint.
Though his interactions with Link are somewhat limited, the moments that the pair do get to share together are incredibly effective. A big part of this is down to Ganondorf's Theme: a stunning musical arrangement that is dripping with hate and malice. The drums do most of the heavy lifting, but it's perhaps the choral components of the piece that really capture the character's sinister nature.
10 Forest Temple (Ocarina of Time)
The Forest Temple in Ocarina of Time is interesting in that, while Link's primary goal is still to solve puzzles and beat the dungeon's boss, the way that players go about doing so is very different from any dungeon that came before it. Given its uniqueness, there needed to be a song to help convey the arduous nature of chasing down the Poes.
The result is something that sounds spiritual and grand while also evoking feelings of exploration. Beginning with percussion fading in and out, the stringed instruments slowly enter; increasing in intensity as the vocals finally hit. It's one of the more underrated songs in the franchise, despite complimenting the temple in the best possible way.
9 Dragon Roost Island (The Wind Waker)
The Wind Waker took the things that 3D Zelda games did right in a brand new direction. Ditching the pseudo-realistic aesthetic of its predecessors, it adopted a more cartoonish look. Not only that, but it also did away with the traditional medieval settings of previous titles, taking place on a series of islands instead. To complement this aesthetic, players were treated to the Dragon Roost Island song.
With more stringed instruments, backed by what sounds like claps or snaps, and a pan flute for the melody, this song is one of the most iconic in the game. It really fits in with the island setting, and it doesn't feel out of place in the Zelda franchise despite the somewhat drastic change in direction.
8 Ballad of the Goddess (Skyward Sword)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword may be a little controversial in terms of fan reception, but one thing no one can deny is that it had one heck of a soundtrack. Case and point, Ballad of the Goddess. In many ways, this song captures the same feeling of grandeur as the franchise's main theme, while still managing to sound completely different.
Skyward Sword was the first in the franchise to feature a full orchestral soundtrack, making it sound far grander than earlier games right off the bat. Interestingly, Ballad of the Goddess is actually Zelda's Lullaby played in reverse. Yet, despite sharing many of the same elements, it sounds completely new and unique.
7 Dark World Dungeon (A Link To the Past)
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past doesn't get nearly enough credit for its amazing soundtrack. Maybe that's partly down to the relatively underwhelming sound system in the SNES, however, Dark World Dungeon proves that, sometimes, all the bells and whistles aren't required to put together a fantastic song.
The dungeon theme sets the tone right away, jumping into a frantic melody while lower-keyed horns play loudly in the background. It's almost as if the song wants players to know they should speed through the area, while also remembering that there is potential danger around every corner.
6 Hidden Village (Twilight Princess)
Of all the music in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Hidden Village feels the most out of place. Instead of the traditional orchestral songs that instill feelings of high-fantasy adventure in the middle ages, it sounds more like something one would expect to find in an American Western movie.
With a guitar and whistle handling the melody, there appears to be a slight tinge of digeridoo before a flute chimes in. This marks a transition to a more Latin American sound, with trumpets taking over for the duration of the song. The mish-mash of sounds, though out of keeping with fan expectations, really does fit the area's aesthetic as a result.
5 Main Menu (Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer)
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda took one of the best parts of the Zelda franchise and built a fantastic spin-off game around it. Unlike other titles, however, it was able to stray away from tradition and offer something a little more modern. The result is this fantastic chill-hop-inspired remix of the main menu song from Ocarina of Time.
Fans of the Zelda series may not be used to the kind of gameplay mechanics that come with Crypt of the NecroDancer, and therefore may be a little put-off. Yet, for those who genuinely love the music from the series, this title is full of gems like this, though players should expect all of them to be quite this good.
4 Main Theme (Tears of the Kingdom)
The Main Theme of Tears of the Kingdom was used in several of the game's trailers, and it's easy to see why. This beautifully composed piece of music just screams adventure, with its rich and full texture helping to provide a sense of grandeur that feels like the perfect accompaniment for what is itself one of the most densely-packed Zelda games to date.
Even for non-Zelda fans, it would be difficult not to get just a little excited watching Link fall gracefully through the air as the orchestra begins to fire up. Granted, it could perhaps be argued that the piece's upbeat tone is often at odds with the bulk of Tears of the Kingdom's main story, but that might just be the point. At its core, the Main Theme is a hopeful one and that is very much in line with both Link and Zelda's TotK arcs.
3 Gerudo Valley (Ocarina of Time)
Gerudo Valley first appeared in Ocarina of Time for the N64, although numerous versions of the track have been released in the years that have followed. The most memorable iteration can be found on the special 25th anniversary CD that came bundled with Skyward Sword and offers the same feelings of mysticism and hot desert days as the original but on a much grander scale.
Starting with the violins, the intensity picks up before the brass section kicks in with the memorable hook of the song. The Gerudo Valley track had always been a fan favorite even before this release, though it wasn't until the orchestral version showed up that it started getting the recognition that it really deserves.
2 Song of Storms (Ocarina of Time)
Ocarina of Time may be full of iconic tracks, but Song of Storms is perhaps the most recognizable original tune from the game. Taught to Link as an adult by the owner of a windmill in Kakkoriko Village, the song actually creates a pretty interesting paradox, as payers must travel back in time to play the song to the man as a child.
With a mix of various wind instruments, the tune has a special ring to it that makes it incredibly unique. More importantly, perhaps, it's able to loop perfectly without ever becoming too annoying, which bodes well given how often players will have to listen to it during their playthough.
1 Main Theme (Various)
While The Legend of Zelda series is known for its music, it's defined by one song. Written by Koji Kondo for the very first Zelda game, this song has been updated in almost every subsequent title. As iconic as the franchise that it spawned from, it now features an entire orchestra and screams adventure throughout every single note.
It's hard to imagine the franchise without this song, and, in a way, it's one of the most important in gaming history. Regardless of the era that they grew up in, there's a version that all series fans hold near and dear to their hearts, so which one is best will likely come down to player choice more than anything else.