Top 10 Video Game Theme Covers

In 1988, gamers had the pleasure of dying again, and again, and again, as they attempted to traverse through the world of “Ninja Gaiden.” Thank goodness we had an amazing soundtrack to serve as a backdrop to our ninja-fied demise. The Minibosses have somehow managed to go further than throwing their controllers in frustration. The group has made a career out of covering video game tunes, and this particular track combines several of the iconic tracks of the NES classic. It reminds us what it means to be that stealthy warrior, maybe we can dive into the game again -- on second thought, nevermind.

In a world where giant apes are kidnapped by dastardly Kremling kings, it’s up to the sidekicks to stop chomping on bananas, put on their hats, and become heroes... seriously, this remix makes the game sound like an upcoming summer blockbuster instead of a charming nineties gem. This particular track is a cover to Lockjaw’s Locker, a stage where the water rises and forces you to swim past the hazards around you. However, from the intense beats of Vincent Rubinetti’s cover, you’d think the stage featured giant explosions or espionage, not two primates swimming through a pirate ship on a swordfish.

End credit songs are often grand musical pieces to reward you for beating the game. Ico’stheme may not be a heart pounding, orchestrated number, but it fits the tone of the game and ends things on a quiet, beautiful note -- even as things collapse around us. An acoustic guitar is the perfect candidate for a cover to this song, but Per Fredrik -- or “PelleK” -- takes it a step further. He takes hold of his guitar and sings the vocals, a daunting task for any cover artist, but as soon as he hit that first note we were instantly hooked on his soothing voice.

A song so badass that it was mainly used for the unique monsters in the game. A song so good that it’s one of the tracks used for Shulk in “Super Smash Brothers 4. ” We’d have to pick the grandest of covers that portrays the precise amount of EPIC that this tune carries, and nothing says EPIC like drums and... a kazoo? Though, as we listen to Tsuko G. nail all of those notes, we really feeling the urge to run around with a sword and take on monsters the size of skyscrapers. Who knew that the kazoo could be such a powerful instrument.

A prime example of why it’s hard to pick just one song per artist, Smooth McGroove -- with the occasional appearance of his cat -- does acapella covers to a huge selection of video games. If you have a favorite game, chances are, he’s covered its most iconic track. In the end, we decided to give this one to Guile for two reasons: this particular theme shows the range in Smooth McGroove’s voice, and, well, even if the meme has died down we’re still trying to keep it alive…

Most times, when a game starts up, you want to jump into the adventure right away. However, with “Chrono Trigger,” we always enjoyed letting the title screen run its course to show us a glimpse of the journey we were about to embark on. On top of the exciting gameplay, the music was the perfect way to get anyone excited to dive into Square’s now legendary RPG (0:48). Our number five pick emulates that feeling and turns up the excitement. As if having the violin and guitar playing off each other wasn’t enough, there’s a full orchestra playing in the background.

This one’s a favorite of ours, a legend we all know and love. The music in Skyrim is sensational to listen to, and covers like that of Peter Hollens are just as brilliant. “The Dragonborn Comes” is a legendary song between the bards in the game, and they’ll usually sing it when asked. There’s one name -- or bard, we suppose -- that comes to mind for the perfect cover: Malukah. As she gently strums her guitar, she sings the familiar lyrics with a voice that will send chills down your spine. As if that weren’t enough, she ends the song with the mesmerizing chant from the main theme.

We could go on for days about how spectacular “Journey” is, but the most important thing we can say about it for this musical list is that its soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy. While there had been single video game tracks nominated in the past, this was the first time an entire soundtrack was up for the award. We can’t imagine how daunting it had to be to cover the music of the game, but Taylor Davis did it beautifully. It’s not just her violin skills that leave us in awe, but the cinematography as sheperforms is breathtaking to watch.

As soon as the game begins, you’re treated to an enchanting melody as the characters sit around a fire, their weapons put away after what we assume has been a long journey. You’re not quite sure who they are, but the song pulls you in as you’re told to listen to the story. There have been some wonderful covers to this song, but this particular one draws us in because of the instruments used: a combination of English Handbells and a pipe organ. Lynn Andersen and Brandon Victor perfectly recreate the sense of wonder we felt the first time we discovered Zanarkand.

Before we get to our number one cover, let’s increase the volume for these honorable mentions:

“Squid Sisters” by sdhizumi
“Splatoon” (2015)

“Song of Storms” by insaneintherainmusic
“Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998)

“The Wolven Storm (Priscilla’s Song)” by Sharm
“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” (2015)

“Strike The Earth! Plains of Passage” by Little V Mills
“Shovel Knight” (2014)

“Super Mario Brothers Overworld Theme” by Jimmy Wong
“Super Mario Brothers” (1985)

Since it’s damn near impossible to pick just one good song out of the Zelda franchise,trust us we even made a list on that, Lindsey Stirling has combined a few of them. This is another example of a cover that you want to watch and listen to as Lindsey -- dressed as Link -- travels through different areas that look like they’ve come straight from the game . Oh, and Epona makes an appearance, too. While Lindsey has covered several video game covers, notably her amazing Assassin’s Creed cover, there’s a sense of whimsy and wonder with this one that makes us play it on repeat and wish we could jump on Epona and go on an adventure.

There are so many amazing video game covers out there that its impossible to limit our choices to just 10, so let us know what video game theme covers do you currently have on your playlist and we just might create another list? And for more musical top tens covered everyday, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.