this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2025
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Patient Gamers

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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.

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[–] Zeddex@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

Hard to pick a favourite but: The Legend of Dragoon Goldeneye FFX Halo 2

I think favourite combat music could be a good topic too!

Edit again because I missed what probably actually is my favourite. Baldur’s Gate 2.

[–] BurntWits@sh.itjust.works 2 points 21 hours ago

That’ll be the next one!

[–] Ropianos@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Nobody has mentioned FTl: Faster than light yet as far as I can see. It's so iconic!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ817kvh_DM

[–] LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 day ago

The Sims 2's menu theme whisks me right back to 2005

[–] Mad_Punda@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

Crusader Kings II

[–] kugel7c@feddit.org 3 points 1 day ago

Need For Speed Most wanted (2005), Need for speed music of that time period was kinda goated in general.

[–] peteypete420@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Fallout 4. Its not the radio stuff we all love... its the almost erie pause screen music that comes on after a while.

[–] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Deus Ex

Unreal Tournament

Glover and Frogger had great music, I am surprised this popped in to my head but there you go.

Jazz Jackrabbit 2

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 1 points 23 hours ago
[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenter the Gungeon... whispers: enter the gungeon

[–] Freakazoid@lemmings.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] turbofrog@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I have many but teen me loved the XGRA menu edit of BT's Madskillz - Mic Chekka so much I would leave the menu open while cleaning etc.

[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 4 points 1 day ago

The only right answer: Deus EX

This

[–] vulgarcynic@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Ever since the first time I loaded it up on Genesis, the Streets of Rage 2 menu theme has been an all timer for me. It’s the perfect encapsulation of 90’s techno and sets the mood for one of the greatest beat ‘em ups of all time.

[–] TargaryenTKE@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Star Wars: Republic Commando

[–] coolmule0@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Oh man definitely Cyberpunk 2077 start screen. Gets you right into the mood for tech'ing up and causing some anarchy.

It starts quiet too. But if I'm not past that screen by the time the beat hits, I'm in that menu until the song ends :D

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Metal Gear Solid 2 menu theme. The digital sound fits with the main menu motif like a glove, and evokes a sense of mystery and foreboding of what is to come. And boy, you are in for a surprise!

[–] SiblingNoah@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Really surprised to not see Civ 4's Baba Yetu mentioned yet. It's literally the first video game music to win a Grammy.

[–] ms_lane@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)
[–] Genjar@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Maplestory, such a great soundtrack maplestory login screen

[–] ChogChog@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Late to the party but Policenauts plays regularly in my head.

[–] MycelialMass@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago
[–] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 2 points 1 day ago

I think A Hat in Time deserves a mention!

[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Xenoblade Chronicles X character creation music.

[–] datavoid@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)
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[–] BurntWits@sh.itjust.works 28 points 2 days ago

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.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago

Hotline Miami has a banging soundtrack, including the main menu music

[–] HexesofVexes@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mvT1ddiBc

Alas, the game itself was long ago murdered.

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago

Nobody mentions Need For Speed Underground: 2?

It had an iconic soundtrack.

[–] Willdrick@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] Odo@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not one person said Goldeneye? Wow. The main menu is good of course, but that pause music is legendary.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 day ago

Without thinking about it too hard, the binding of Isaac. I like how when you unlock the tainted characters, when you flip to that menu the song changes to a different version. It's the same song, but creepier.

[–] blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Smash Bros Wii U

[–] Damage@feddit.it 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)
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[–] Sunsofold@lemmings.world 4 points 2 days ago
[–] Feadogbandit@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Final Fantasy II for SNES (Main title/menu)

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)
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[–] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)
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[–] uawarebrah@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago
[–] kratoz29@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 days ago

Not sure if they are my favorite but these are the 3 first that came into my mind, in this order:

  1. Uncharted 2
  2. Xenoblade Chronicles
  3. Kingdom Hearts

I am pretty sure there are another good ones out there that I can't remember right now (like Time Hollow).

[–] BurntWits@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 days ago

The whole Elder Scrolls series has awesome main menu music but I think Morrowind is probably my favourite of the bunch. But they’re all great.

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago

One Must Fall 2097.

That intro with the lightning was hype to my little 8 year old brain.

Honorable mention to the Elegy track from Firefall. That game deserved a lot better than it got.

[–] e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 days ago

I always really liked the menu music from Guild Wars Eye of the North because it is an actual overture.

[–] signor@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

DS3 or just from software has some incredible music. Ffxiv also has some great music as well.

[–] benni@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

The life is strange start menu music makes me feel things.

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