Mario might be known for his exceeded platforming, spectacular games, fun characters, incredibly creative level designs and concept, plus epic boss battles, Mario is also well-known for music. The soundtracks from his games are amazing, but out of hundreds of tracks, which Mario music is the best? Well, that’s what I’ll be deciding today. So, in my opinion, here are the top 25 greatest Super Mario music tracks of all time. By the way, I’ll only be including music from the main-line platforming games. So, as good as the Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Mario sports music is, it won’t be included. I also won’t be including any remastered music from older games in remakes. And with that, let’s begin.
#25: Overworld Theme – Super Mario Bros.
You can’t talk about iconic Super Mario music without the classic original track. The overworld theme of Super Mario Bros. definitely deserves the name of ‘iconic video game music’ in every right. The simple tune is a perfect gateway into the game and gets stuck in your head very quickly. I also like that it has different tunes instead of one just looping over and over again. It makes the track all the better.
#24: Battle on the Great Tower 2 – Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World includes my personal favorite level in Mario history: The Great Tower of Bowser Land, and part of that love comes via the incredibly epic music. After you grab the checkpoint, the second theme of the level plays and the real fight begins. It feels like you’re getting closer and closer to the end as the music goes on, and it is perfect. It’s one of the best ending themes in Mario history if you ask me.
#23: Bianco Hills – Super Mario Sunshine
While it is repetitive, you can’t say that this isn’t one of the catchiest Mario songs ever. The tropical sounds and adventurous tune mix well to create a piece of music that fits perfectly with it being the first level in Super Mario Sunshine. It’s also a pretty iconic song that is one of the most recognizable from the game.
#22: Athletic – Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
A great Mario athletic theme exemplifies excitement, adventure, and action. This theme juggles all of that in a fantastic and catchy chiptune. While it can eventually get repetitive with repeating the same tune over and over, it’s hard to get to that point with Super Mario Land 2’s bite-sized levels.
#21: Beach Bowl Galaxy – Super Mario Galaxy
Tropicality and adventure mix perfectly in the theme for a beach level in a Mario game. Beach Bowl Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy is epic, exciting, and feels perfect for a water level. It has a perfect beat, it feels like the Isle Delfino theme from Super Mario Sunshine, and it is just a perfect piece of Mario music. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the best songs from Super Mario Galaxy’s incredible soundtrack.
#20: Overworld – Super Mario 3D Land
One of the best and most memorable theme songs comes from Super Mario 3D Land. The exciting sense feels perfect in the game, with it taking the shape of a more casual experience, just like the game itself. Super Mario 3D Land isn’t an epic, open-world, sandbox Mario title: it’s simple and classic, which the music perfectly shows.
#19: Overworld – New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
While future New Super Mario games would remake this theme, I think the original overworld theme from New Super Mario Bros. on the DS is the best. The beginning has an electronic, unique sound before the main tune. It’s a lot more interesting than the bland recreations from future games in the series. The tune regardless is a perfect opener for a game that’s trying to be a new version of the original NES title.
#18: Overworld Theme 2 – Super Mario Bros. 3
Another 8-bit, iconic chiptune is the second overworld track in Super Mario Bros. 3. This music is a perfect mix of athleticism in the platforming as well as a sense of mystery. The two concepts work very well in this overworld theme because of the levels the music is used in. It fits well with the atmosphere of the levels with a mysteriousness and action in the game.
#17: Sky Station Galaxy – Super Mario Galaxy 2
Compared to Super Mario Galaxy, its sequel has equally epic music. The theme for Sky Station Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is arguably the best music of all the beginning levels in Mario games. The explorative, adventurous, and epic tune works spectacularly in re-introducing you to the setting and worlds of Super Mario Galaxy.
#16: Overworld – Super Mario Bros. 2
Classic 8-bit chiptunes make this overworld theme one of the best of the 2D Mario games. The tune is so memorable and can easily get stuck in your head. It fits in perfectly with the game as the overworld theme with fast music and exciting tunes. This theme is definitely one of the best music tracks on the NES and the 2D Mario titles.
#15: Ending Theme – Super Mario Land
There is no doubt that the Game Boy is the king of beautiful chiptunes. The ending theme to Super Mario Land is a Mario ending theme like no other. It really feels like the game has finished, pairing magic and adventure into one tune. The song is beautiful and an amazing way to end one of the most underrated Mario titles ever.
#14: Comet Observatory – Super Mario Galaxy
The 3D Mario games are widely known for their expansive hub worlds, and not only is the Comet Observatory from Super Mario Galaxy one of the best, but it also has a very relaxing but adventurous music track to go along as you explore the many nooks and crannies of the hub. The music is perfect as a gateway into the game’s levels, and feels perfect with the setting being the middle of space.
#13: Scamper Shores – Bowser’s Fury
Is it just me or does this theme sound like something from a Paper Mario game? Anyway, the Scamper Shores theme is perfect for the first level of Bowser’s Fury. Moving on from the dark and horrifying tone of the first Bowser encounter to this bright atmosphere and fun music is a pretty great transition. It’s so hype-inducing and exciting.
#12: Cascade Kingdom – Super Mario Odyssey
If you started crying when you first entered Cascade Kingdom and heard that terrific music, I don’t blame you. This music was a perfect way to begin Super Mario Odyssey with the first large-scale kingdom. It blends exploration and adventure into one song, which are both the main themes of the entire game. It’s a perfect way to start one of Mario’s greatest adventures.
#11: Yoshi Star Galaxy – Super Mario Galaxy 2
Yoshi is really fun and exciting to play as in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and the theme of Yoshi Star Galaxy does no less than exemplify that feeling. The fun tune mixes extremely well with the gameplay with Yoshi. It almost sounds like a medley of the best Yoshi’s Island songs with the tunes and instruments. It’s perfect for a Yoshi level.
#10: Family – Super Mario Galaxy
I’m going to be honest, but Super Mario Galaxy is one of the most touching and personal games in the series with Rosalina’s story. The Family theme from the game is one of the most touching in the entire series. It’s a relaxing, beautiful symphony.
#9: Slider – Super Mario 64
Another iconic Super Mario 64 is the memorable Slider theme. The exciting and fast-paced theme pairs perfectly with the levels in which Mario slides really quickly down a long slide. It may be just stupid fun, but any 90s kid that played this game will probably agree that this song is the most memorable in the game. It’s awesome.
#8: Overworld (Yoshi) – Super Mario World
While very similar to the standard overworld theme in Super Mario World, there’s a neat, almost tropical-sounding beat in the background that is included in the track when you hop on the back of Yoshi. Not only is the exciting overworld track in Super Mario World fantastic to begin with, but mixed with the extra beat alerting you that you’re with Yoshi makes this an even better track.
#7: Delfino Plaza – Super Mario Sunshine
Excitement, adventure, tropical, and catchy are all things that make the theme of Delfino Plaza one of the best songs in Mario. It’s the perfect song to serenade you run around a tropical island town. It’s insanely catchy and uniquely magical. It has a fast-paced beat, uses different instruments really well to captivate you and entice that island town theme, and it all makes for a great music track.
#6: Inside the Castle Walls – Super Mario 64
Iconic, well-themed, and catchy are all terms that perfectly describe the Peach’s Castle theme of Super Mario 64. It blends simplicity with a royal tune into a very iconic piece of music. It may be simple, but it is still one of the most recognizable and beloved Mario songs. While it is repetitive, I don’t feel it ever gets to the point of annoying after a few repeats, but your view may differ.
#5: Gusty Garden Galaxy – Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy is arguably the most epic Mario game of all time, and part of that is the brilliant soundtrack. The main theme of Gusty Garden Galaxy is one of the most exciting and thrilling songs of the Mario series. The sense of exploration and excitement works incredibly well here, as well as making it feel perfectly in place with the space setting.
#4: The Credits Roll – Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World’s credits theme is perfect for several reasons: not only does it spectacularly finish off a great video game, but it also feels like a perfect culmination. Reusing the tunes of some of the best songs from the games and putting them into one piece of music is a great way to wrap up the game. I’m not kidding that this is the Mario credits song that made me feel the most accomplished when I first beat the game.
#3: Athletic – Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
When I say that Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island has some of the most underappreciated music tracks because of the game’s reputation, it means that I think that the game should be remembered much more along with all of its music. The game has some of the catchiest tunes you’ll hear on the Super Nintendo, as well as some of the best chiptunes from the 16-bit era. The athletic theme is particularly fantastic, mixing a sense of excitement and adventure together, just like the game itself.
#2: Jump-Up, Super Star! – Super Mario Odyssey
I never thought a fully orchestrated soundtrack would work for a Mario game, but look how that turned out. So when Super Mario Odyssey was going to include a song with words, I wasn’t as skeptical, and look how that turned out. Jump Up, Super Star! is fantastic. It has so much excitement and Mario love put into one song that makes for an epic music piece that fits perfectly into the game.
#1: Credits Roll – Super Mario World
A lot of the end/credit themes in Mario games are some of the most memorable tunes and are a perfect way of wrapping up the game. Super Mario World is no different. This theme takes the same catchy tune and broadens it with different sounds and slight changes in the tune. The song is the perfect way to finish what is already a spectacular Mario game, and in my opinion the greatest Mario song of all time.