Top 7 Tekken Songs To Get Pumped Up For Battle
Image via Bandai Namco
Tekken is an outstanding fighting game series that has repeatedly upped the ante in both graphics and mechanics. It’s refreshing to see so many combat styles from around the world, but what’s just as exciting are the games’ soundtracks. The beats are intense in some pieces, but there are some incredible rock-heavy songs that will get your heart pounding. Here are the Top 7 Tekken songs from across the series to get you pumped up for battle!
“Heat Haze Shadow” - Tekken 7
“Heat Haze Shadow” is emblematic of the excellent EDM-heavy soundtracks of the current Tekken era. The percussion is deep, the melody is heavy in tone, and the everchanging cacophony of notes keeps you on your toes. As you’re playing Tekken 7, this music gets you excited for the battle, and your heart begins to pound faster. The singing in the middle of the track lets you catch a breath, and then, the song comes hand-in-hand with some fresh vocals that accompany it beautifully.
BotanicSage has remixed this song so well with other fan-favorite tracks from the action and fighting game genres. Somehow, Sonic Adventure 2’s “Live And Learn,” Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance’s “Rules of Nature,” and Devil May Cry V’s “Devil Trigger” all mash-up to create an absolute banger and a workout playlist must. It also includes two other tracks from Revengeance: “It Has To Be This Way” and “Stains of Time.”
“Moonlit Wilderness” - Tekken 5
For a sinister mood to be set on a fighting game stage, the music has to be dark and brooding. Thankfully, “Moonlit Wilderness” has that in spades. The choir sets a harsh tone as the snare drum carries it along with some exciting beats. The piano in the background has a somber melody, and it’s as if someone took a song from Bloodborne and twisted it into a fighting game soundtrack.
Ryan Lafford did a supremely rock cover of this moody track and managed to successfully bring that dark atmosphere to the piece with his piano playing and implementation of the glock.
“Jin Kazama” - Tekken 3
Tekken 3 took a more rock-focused approach to its soundtrack as opposed to the modern EDM takes on the series. The Devil-gene-imbued character Jin Kazama has a phenomenal theme song that has a simple, yet edgy melody that perfectly captures his personality. The guitar riffs hit you over and over with a punchy melody, and the percussion then kicks you down to the ground before the bass picks you up as it lays a solid foundation.
Vincent Moretto uploaded an incredible cover of the song as his guitar goes for a deeper tone to the original track, and it works brilliantly. He then brings in a slower version with a slight Japanese-sounding inspiration in the middle, creating a unique sound for the commonly known track.
“Moonsiders 1st” - Tekken 7
Arguably one of the best fighting game themes ever, “Moonsiders 1st” pumps up the crowd at competitive tournaments around the world. The exhilarating drum beat, the exciting melody, and the beautiful piano playing all make up a perfect stage theme. It’s cool to hear the piano take center stage in a genre of games where the guitar is usually the main instrument.
Kade Kalka does a remarkable job of covering this track. His twist on the popular song is adding chiptune to the song. It gives a nostalgic feeling that works so well within the track. The guitar helps remind you of the era that “Moonsiders 1st” comes from as there’s a stellar solo in the middle of the cover.
“Poolside” - Tekken 7
We may have a lot of Tekken 7 songs on this list, but it makes sense as it’s the game with the best soundtrack in the series. There’s a remix of “Poolside” from Tekken 5 that sounds great in Tekken 7. It’s an uplifting track that fits its environment: a beachside arena. It also calls to mind the 90s Eurodance hit “Better Off Alone” by Alice Deejay, giving us some nostalgic tones. Overall, it’s a quality track that deserves a spot on this list as it has a pleasant melody and manages to raise the carefree vibes of the song as it continues.
Not too many covers of this track are available on YouTube, but Fahad Lami has pulled off a quality remix with solid guitar elements and heightened beats that help accentuate the happy melody that “Poolside” has.
“Hidden Retreat (Yodelling in meadow hill)” - Tekken 6
The Tekken series is not afraid to go absolutely bonkers, and the inclusion of a sheep-themed stage is one example of that. This track hasn’t been covered by the VGM community (AFAIK), but there’s a lot of potential. It has a fun, upbeat melody that matches the stage perfectly, and the yodeling in the background matches perfectly with the instrumentals. I’d love to see a cover artist like Ro Panuganti or FamilyJules7X try to cover it as it’s an exciting track that needs more attention. It would be a real challenge!
“Solitude” - Tekken 7
After all those battles, it’s time to cool down with the chill vibes that “Solitude” brings to Tekken 7. The snare drum and instrumentals build up to a thrilling chorus at first, but then it relaxes into a calming piano melody that cools down the player. The synths then rise again to create the epic chorus once more. The piano is such an integral part of the track, showcasing the grand majesty of the instrument.
That majesty is heightened by PianoCat with a solemn, loosened-up version of “Solitude.” The piano playing by PianoCat is incredible as the finger placement is absolutely transfixing within the video. I actually prefer this to the original track as it’s less chaotic, and the cover has a sense of elegance to it.
That’s it for our Top 7 Tekken Songs! Go check out our favorite fighting game stage themes ever and why Street Fighter 2’s soundtrack still kicks ass to this day.
CHRIS PENWELL
Chris Penwell is a writer and podcaster who loves to talk about video game music. His favorite soundtracks are from the Kingdom Hearts series, Celeste, Beyond Good & Evil, Gravity Rush, and Final Fantasy X.