My first post about video game music here did really well (most commented post in community history), so I figured I might make it a series of sorts. If this post does well too I might make more video game music posts in the future.
Basically what the title says, what is/are the best menu theme(s) in your opinion? It can be from the main menu, the pause menu, if it’s a menu it counts here. I’ll put a few of my favourites in the comments as well, and look forward to see what others have to say.
Final Fantasy XII, not just for the amazing menu music but also due to how the opening cinematic blends seamlessly with the menu UI in the PS2 version. It all comes together perfectly.
The galaxy map theme from the Mass Effect series is one of my favourite tunes in a sci-fi game. I love the chill atmosphere as you select your destination, and hearing it outside the game always makes me want to revisit the series.
I already commented on Outer Wilds, and this one is probably not fitting on Patient Gamers, but…
I have never just stopped and listened the main menu of a game fully, on multiple occasions… Until Expedition 33.
For whatever reason I felt like i was comitting a sheer disrespectful act to interrupt it.
Expedition 33 is a game I finished a couple weeks ago and have continued to be obsessed with since. Not really patientgamers material seeing as it’s pretty recent, but I’m so glad I made an exception for it.
Funnily enough the lyrics for that menu music is basically a plot synopsis that spoils the whole story in poetry, but it’s fine because it’s in a mutated medieval french. A lot of the game’s music is like that, actually.
Not one person said Goldeneye? Wow. The main menu is good of course, but that pause music is legendary.
Agreed. Relevant: https://youtube.com/shorts/0k23djFBHt8
Halo takes it for me
Same. I’m between CE and 3.
The Sims 2’s menu theme whisks me right back to 2005
Nobody mentions Need For Speed Underground: 2?
It had an iconic soundtrack.
Civilization 4
Really surprised to not see Civ 4’s Baba Yetu mentioned yet. It’s literally the first video game music to win a Grammy.
Iconic
Nobody has mentioned FTl: Faster than light yet as far as I can see. It’s so iconic!
Deus Ex main menu
That’s one hell of a menu song, thank you for memory ride…
Man, being earwormed in the main menu and through the entrire game to reach credits and have the full song blast through was mind blowing to me back when it released!
The only game so far that achieved this (and surpassed it by a lot IMO) is Outer Wilds
The Mirror’s Edge theme was written and performed by Lisa Miskovsky who was part of Cheiron Studios and worked on several hit songs including Backstreet Boys’ “Shape of my heart”. One of my favorite songs of hers is “Why start a fire”.
The menu theme of Jazz Jackrabbit 2
The only right answer: Deus EX
