I'd say most Mario games have a great and memorable soundtrack (based on the ones I've played at least) and this is no exception.
Good Egg Galaxy is the first galaxy we meet in the game and it's accompanied by a warm, hopeful and somewhat cozy theme.
Honeyhive Galaxy is charming little track with it's funky beat and playful marimba-like synth. The track fits the weird and peacful mood of this tiny level in the game.
Gusty Garden Galaxy is that ever-hopeful, beautiful and at the same time somewhat laid-back track that lives rent-free in my head. It sparks feelings of nostalgia and especially the start of the track should lift your spirits every time.
Space Junk Galaxy is another beautiful galaxy theme. The minimal use of different instruments/synths and the piano brings out a serene and peaceful mood. The tracks manages to sound elegant, dreamy and nostalgic at the same time.
Space Fantasy also fills a similar theme, being the next track that appears in the game. Interestingly the motif of lightly arpeggiated chords continues over into Battlerock Galaxy, but now it plays a more supporting role. Marching drums are introduced into the forefront of the composition to create a sense of suspense and danger, it's a massive rock with several cannons after all. The track shifts between having the trumpets and the drums or the violin and lighter string instruments in the foreground, shifting between a sense of suspense and wonder. I feel this also makes the track sound somewhat majestic with the orchestral elements bringing the intesity to a climax, giving of an epic mood as well.
Beach Bowl Galaxy is another memorable galaxy theme. When the percussion reaches it's climax before the track starts over there is used some kind of vfx sound that reminds me of Donkey Kong Country. Sounds somewhat like a monkey roar from the jungle similar to the one in Bonus Blitz Room I'd say.
The underwater version version of the theme uses the same motif, but the notes are more "drawn-out" and lighter, with a sort of soft muted bass to mimic how water affects the sound.
Ghostly Galaxy sounds exactly as the you'd expect from the name.
Buoy Base Galaxy sounds somewhat triumphant, but also has a haunting motif in there. To me it tries to convey duty and grandeour which makes it sound heroic, befitting of the weird foretress in the level. The underwater theme behaves similar to the other underwater versions, making the theme sound somehwat muted and distant.
Library sounds like it tries to describe a sense of stillness or contentment, but also
reflection and mysticism.
Freezeflame Galaxy is interesting because it has both a fire-themed and an ice-themed track:
They both use the same repetive motif as a backdrop, but where the ice-version uses light and sharp notes, the fire-version instead uses a soft deep percussion, with softer and more drawn-out notes.
Dusty Dune Galaxy is a brilliant track, using a sitar-like synth to convey the desolate and warm nature of a desert. Other tracks from other games utilizing similar sounding synth or tone to cover similar themes that come to mind:
Drip Drop Galaxy make me imagine water droplets accompanying the recurring motif, dripping of an icicle in a cave.
Toy Time Galaxy is a remix of the classic iconic mario theme from the original Super Mario Bros. series.
Purple Coins remixes some of the other tracks in the game and sounds funky and quirky.
Deep Dark Galaxy sounds haunting, scary and mysterious, very similar to entering a haunted house. It gives of the feeling that there is some kind of evil lurking deep inside the level.
Melty Molten Galaxy sounds a bit quirky in the beginning, but builds suspense using middle-eastern drums before it introduces a sitar-like synth to describe the hot and barren landscape.
Final Bowser Battle is a good tense boss battle theme, but I can't say I remember it all that well to be honest.
Final Bowser Battle (Choir) puts more emphasis on the choir as the title states. The racing violins, horns and the choir helps convey the gravity of the battle, but I can't put my finger on where in the battle it's used. Maybe they sort of blend together when looking at the gameplay 🤔?
Staff Credits befits the end of the journey, using the game's signature motif, but this time played slowly and gently using the lighter orchestral instruments. This gives of a sense of nostalgic reflection and finality to the end of the journey.
Favorites
Though I would say the gap between 1 and 2 on this list is quite large.
Composers
- Published:
- 2 August 2025