Since its origin on the Nintendo 64, the Super Smash Bros. franchise has been home to some of gaming's greatest characters colliding for the very first time. From all-stars of Nintendo's biggest franchises, to obscure retro characters, and even beloved third-party representatives, Smash may be the best love letter to gaming history there ever was.
It's only fitting that a fighting game dedicated to video game history also pays tribute to the best music from its represented games. In the most recent title, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, there are over 1,000 music tracks available in the game. Of the ones created especially for the Super Smash Bros franchise, these are the most memorable.
12 Tetris (Type A)
Tetris is one of the highest-selling video game franchises of all time, rising to popularity after its release on the NES in 1989. The game's origins date back to the Soviet Union, as it was originally created by a Russian software engineer named Alexey Pajitnov. Fitting with its creator's heritage, the original Type A theme of Tetris was based on a Russian folk song.
When the song appeared as a remix in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it carried over some elements from the original folk version of the tune. However, its creepy vibe makes it much more unique than the chiptune version from the original game. When placed on the Luigi's Mansion stage, it makes for a creepy yet thrilling piece of music to fight to.
11 Gourmet Race
For the first two Smash games, Kirby was the sole representative of his franchise. That changed with Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii, which added Meta Knight and King Dedede to the roster. Along with their inclusion, a whole new selection of Kirby music was added to the franchise, including a new remix of the music for the Gourmet Race level.
This song previously had remixes in the Nintendo 64 game and Melee, but its Brawl iteration is more fast-paced, with electric guitars and synth solos. It definitely sounds more intense than the original version from Kirby Super Star. It's quite addictive to listen to, especially given how hardcore it is for a Kirby track.
10 Magicant
Super Smash Bros for 3DS was the first portable title in the series' history. To separate it from its companion game, Super Smash Bros for Wii U, the two games have mostly different stages. For the 3DS game, that included the new stage from the Mother series, Magicant, based on the dream world from the popular SNES RPG, Earthbound.
The theme music for Magicant, as featured in the 3DS & Wii U games, is a beautiful orchestral rendition of the Magicant theme. The original SNES game's music sounds very odd and creepy, which is fitting for the game's tone. Particularly, the remix's single violin melody makes it sound more melancholic than its original version.
9 Ryu Stage
Ryu was the first newcomer to be added as DLC for Super Smash Bros for 3DS & Wii U. Of course, this meant that lots of music from the Street Fighter series would be added to the mix. The remix of Ryu's stage theme from Street Fighter II is a good example of a Smash Bros remix that reinterprets a piece of music while still keeping a lot of similar qualities.
From the energetic drums to the 80's-esque synth line, this music fits perfectly on the Suzaku Castle stage in both Smash 4 and Ultimate. It even has a moment where the music speeds up to incorporate what it's like when a player reaches low HP in the Street Fighter series. It even has a folk violin section that comes in halfway through the song.
8 Underworld
Pit debuted in Super Smash Bros Brawl, making his first appearance in a game since Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for the GameBoy. His appearance was enough to warrant a revival of the series developed by Smash director Masahiro Sakurai himself, called Kid Icarus: Uprising. Suffice it to say, but Sakurai brought many Smash remixes to the game.
One of these remixes was a re-interpretation of the NES Kid Icarus game's Underworld theme. Its iteration in Kid Icarus: Uprising is more fast-paced and rock-sounding, while the version that appears in Super Smash Bros Brawl is orchestral and triumphant. If there is any reason to continue the Kid Icarus series, it's to get more iconic music.
7 Gerudo Valley
There is no shortage of great songs from The Legend of Zelda, especially when it comes to Smash Bros remixes. There's the iconic Temple Theme from Melee and even a remix of Kass's Theme from Breath of the Wild. However, the spot on this list has to go from the Gerudo Valley theme remix from Super Smash Bros for 3DS & Wii U.
This music was a fitting inclusion in the fourth Smash Bros installment, as the 3DS version included a Gerudo Valley stage. The song even made a return in Ultimate, along with the stage. It's a catchy, acoustic guitar-driven tune that perfectly fits the tribal, desert landscape of Gerudo Valley as it appears in Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64.
6 Lost In Thoughts All Alone
The new age of the Fire Emblem franchise has included some of the series' best music thus far. Fire Emblem Awakening has the iconic "Id (Purpose)," which also has a remix in the Super Smash Bros series. However, one of the franchise's stand-out tracks is "Lost In Thoughts All Alone," the main theme of the 3DS title Fire Emblem Fates.
The song plays a pivotal role in the game's story, as it's sung by the main character Azura. The remix of it that appears in Super Smash Bros Ultimate doesn't include its lyrics but makes up for that by being an epic reinterpretation of a truly stellar main theme. It also includes an interpolation of the Fire Emblem Fates song "End of All" that plays during the final boss.
5 Ashley's Song
Sadly, Ashley from the WarioWare games doesn't appear as a playable character in Smash Bros. She does show up as an Assist Trophy, but her best representation comes in the game's music. In Super Smash Bros Brawl, a remix of "Ashley's Song" from WarioWare: Touched! debuted, becoming one of the few Smash remixes with lyrics.
The song sounds like a delightfully charming Halloween jingle, with a jazzy flair. The lead female vocalist takes the role of Ashley herself, threatening to cast a hex on any person who won't be her friend. When playing on WarioWare stages in Ultimate, it can be difficult to get this catchy big-band tune out of your head.
4 Route 209
Like The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon is another Nintendo franchise that features a notable selection of great remixes in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. One remix originated in Super Smash Bros Brawl, adapting the music that plays on Route 209 in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl. However, this remix is unique for how closely it resembles the original track.
Route 209 comes early on in Diamond & Pearl, making this route one of the more leisurely strolls in the fourth-generation games. Its Smash Bros remix is equally chill, incorporating a lot of the same instruments as its original version. It nonetheless becomes a weird choice for the stage Spear Pillar, though that can be forgiven for how delightful it is to listen to.
3 Spiral Mountain
The inclusion of Banjo-Kazooie in a Super Smash Bros game had been something fans clamored for since Melee. The bear and bird finally got their shot at revival as DLC in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Along with their inclusion, the game received the Spiral Mountain stage, based on the iconic starting area from the original Banjo-Kazooie for Nintendo 64.
Its remixed music in Ultimate also bears some close ties to the original franchise. The theme for Spiral Mountain, which played during Banjo's reveal trailer, was composed by the original games' composer Grant Kirkhope. It, therefore, captures a lot of the charming energy of the original game, making it one of the most dedicated remixes in Ultimate.
2 Stickerbrush Symphony
On the topic of Rare Studios games, "Stickerbrush Symphony" is a classic Donkey Kong Country 2 track that is featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Its original appearance in the SNES title is a lot more mellow than its Smash Bros version. It mostly consists of a soaring synth pad and ambient piano and synth lines playing the song's main melodies.
The version that appeared in Brawl, which often plays during the Subspace Emissary, is a tad bit more high-energy than its original version. It includes pizzicato strings, a breakneck drum beat, and a speedy acoustic guitar in the background. As it progresses, it gets way more energetic with string swells, making it a worthy competitor to its original rendition.
1 Go K.K. Rider!
Animal Crossing fans already have enough trouble getting K.K. Slider's music out of their heads. The musician makes occasional appearances in player's towns, taking requests for songs while credits scroll. Even before Villager and Isabelle made their playable debuts, a remix of the song "Go K.K. Rider!" appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The song was included as part of the stage Smashville, which featured many cameos from Animal Crossing characters. This remix is complete with K.K's iconic "que-oh" vocals, as well as high-energy acoustic guitar and strings. It also has a section that mellows into a melancholic orchestra, combining the song's original energy with Smash Bros epic-ness.