With it being May and the happiest month of the year (Come on, man, that’s not even arguable—more midriffs, more movies, more fun!), we thought it was time to kick back, relax, and turn up that happy music. So here are the 25 happiest songs to ever appear in video games. Most of them, as you’ll soon see, are from old-school titles. We don’t know if it’s just the nostalgia talking or what but games today just don’t seem to be as happy as they used to be. Thanks a lot, Gears of War!
"Beginning of Destiny"
Virtua Tennis
Virtua Tennis for the Dreamcast was one of those games where you kind of questioned whether the hard rock music fit the action on the screen. But there was no questioning this rousing tune as you volleyed the ball back and forth with your rivals. We LOVED this track. (Get it? Love? Because it’s Tennis? Like, 30-Love. No? You uncultured swine).
Team Select Screen
NBA Jam
Because when you’re playing the Seattle Super Sonics vs. the Charlotte Hornets, there’s no cheerier song.
"All I Want" by The Offspring
Crazy Taxi
Hey, hey! We know this is a real song from a real band (Whatever happened to The Offpring, by the way? They seemed to have gone the way of Shasta McNasty), but when plowing through the Pizza Hut lawn to drop off your customer, there’s no happier tune. Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah!
Main Theme
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Okay, so we may be a bit biased since this is one of the first games we ever played, but this toe-tapping number definitely gets you in the mood to journey through the magical realm of Miracle World.
Battle Music
Final Fantasy V
We were going to go with the victory music of practically every Final Fantasy game, but we picked this fun tune instead. It just makes us smile. Coin toss, coin toss!
"Washed Up on the Beach"
Lester the Unlikely
Never played Lester the Unlikely? We don’t blame you. It kind of sucks. But this first level music always gets us bopping our heads and patting the air with our hands. It’s a silly looking dance. You should see it sometime.
“I Hear the Music in My Soul”
Lumines
We like this song a lot better when we’re not watching a line go across the screen. It’s a lot less hectic that way.
Dream Forest
Rayman
That forest isn’t going to clear itself, you know. Luckily, you have this happy song to clear it with.
Main Theme
Donkey Kong Country
Ah, we see what you did there, Nintendo. You took the old song from the original game, and made it all funktafied. It makes us want to do the Mario. What do you mean we’re showing our age?
“Sleepyhead” by Passion Pit
Little Big Planet 2
Alright LBP2, alright. Thanks for finding this happy joint for us by Passion Pit. We owe you one. This made our summer last year. It really did.
Overworld Theme
Super Mario Land
You knew we had to get some Super Mario on this list. And this isn’t the only song from the series, either, but it’s definitely one of the best. Heeeey, little man, we see you smiling over there.
Main Theme
Rainbow Islands
What’s essentially an up-tempo version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is all the more sugary when you factor in that this is a game where you make rainbow bridges and walk over them. How fascinating.
Title Theme
Patapon 2
Must. Get. Song. Out. Of. Head! But it’s impossible! Just bringing this song up again gets us remembering the nights we couldn’t sleep because we kept hearing it in our heads. But in a good way!
Main Theme
Bubble Bobble
This happy melody was our ring tone for countless years until we realized we were hearing this song in our heads even when we weren’t getting phone calls. That’s when we knew we had to delete it.
“Super Brother” by Guitar Vader
Jet Grind Radio
We have no idea what the lyrics are about in this song, but really, when did that ever matter? All we care about is spray painting the city while people scream “Supa Brotha!” What could be better?
"Saria’s Song"
The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
Fully capturing the whimsical, early years of Link, this song brings us back to Link’s childhood, and our own.
Level 2, World 1
Super Mario Bros. 3
Yes, we’re well aware that the original Mario Bros. song is more memorable, but this joint is just so much happier. We can picture sliding down grassy knolls on our butts into goombas already.
"I Gotta Believe"
Parappa the Rappa
Somebody say hooooo! Say ho ho ho! Now screeeeeam! I gotta, I gotta, I gotta, I I I I got got got, gotta believe, I gotta believe! And that’s just our version of this joyous final song. What’s yours?
Hill Top Zone
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Our necks hurt from bopping our heads so hard from this one. This is the best Sonic song ever. Prove us wrong.
Delfino Plaza
Super Mario Sunshine
Again, there are a lot more classic Mario tunes, but few really capture fun and happiness (and sunlight!) like this one. And you gotta love that guitar sting plucking. How does Nintendo do it?
Clock Tower Stage
Marvel vs. Capcom 2
We have to admit it. When we first heard the music in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, we kind of hated it. We mean, jazz? Who puts jazz in a fighting game? But this playful music is one of the best things about this magnificent fighter. It gets us in the mood to brawl. We almost had a heart attack back there.
Gourmand Land
Rayman Origins
What? How did such a recent game get on this list? Well, the truth is, Rayman Origins is one of the happiest games ever made, and this song just adds to the glee. We love this jam.
"Katamari Roll (You Up into My Life)"
Katamari Damacy
Oh, that’s just wonderful. “I want to wad you up into my life”? Given the theme of the game, that’s probably the greatest line ever. So clever. So, so clever.
Maple Treeway
Super Mario Kart (Wii)
So, so many Mario Kart songs to choose from, so, so many songs. So, which one do we go pick? Well, out of all the great Mario Kart memories we’ve had, this song has probably provided the most. It works so perfectly with the fall theme of the track. And while this may be a May article, we can’t help but think back to all of our great Fall days. Ah, memories.
"Sky High"
Daytona USA
This song was actually the inspiration for this whole article. Seriously, what’s happier than this song? Who doesn’t want to fly sky high into blue, blue skies? We certainly do.