Bowser's Road
- Not to be confused with Bowser's Theme (Super Mario 64).
| "Bowser's Road" | |
|---|---|
| "Bowser's Road" in Super Mario 64 | |
Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | D Dorian |
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) |
"Bowser's Road",[1][2] also known as "Koopa's Road"[3] or "Bowser's Domain",[4] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays in Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Fire Sea, and Bowser in the Sky. The theme's title originally used Bowser's Japanese name, despite the soundtrack releasing in the West physically in 1996 and in Super Mario 3D All-Stars in 2020. This was corrected in the Nintendo Music app in 2024.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Bowser's Road", and it returns for the same purpose in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It is also included in the official albums Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack, Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits, Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection, and The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music.
Super Mario Galaxy[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy and the Nintendo Switch ports, Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, an orchestral arrangement of "Bowser's Road" arranged by Mahito Yokota plays in Bowser's Star Reactor and Bowser's Dark Matter Plant. It is titled "The Fiery Stronghold" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Super Mario Galaxy Original Soundtrack album, which is the name of the sole mission in Bowser's Star Reactor, "The Fiery Stronghold".
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Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]
In Super Mario Galaxy 2 and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, an orchestral arrangement of "Bowser's Road" arranged by Mahito Yokota plays in Bowser's Lava Lair and Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet. It is likewise titled "Bowser's Lava Lair" in the Nintendo Music app. It is also included in the official Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack album.
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Mario & Sonic series[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit]
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In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, an arrangement of "Bowser's Road" can be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Bowser's Domain (Super Mario 64)" in the game's sound test.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]
In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the arrangement of "Bowser's Road" from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Bowser's Domain: Super Mario 64" in the game's sound test.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]
In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the arrangement of "Bowser's Road" from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Bowser's Domain: Super Mario 64 (Remix)" in the game's sound test.
Mario Party series[edit]
Mario Party 9[edit]
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In Mario Party 9, an arrangement of the opening seven notes of "Bowser's Road" plays before the final boss battle at the end of a board when Bowser and the "Boss Battle!" text appear.
Mario Party: Island Tour[edit]
In Mario Party: Island Tour, an arrangement of "Bowser's Road" plays in Bowser's Peculiar Peak.
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Mario Golf: World Tour[edit]
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In Mario Golf: World Tour, a medley arrangement of "Bowser's Road" and "Castle BGM" from Super Mario Bros. plays in the Bowser's Castle golf course.
Mario Tennis Aces[edit]
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In Mario Tennis Aces, a medley arrangement of "Bowser's Road" and "Bowser's Theme" from the same game plays during the final boss battle against Bowcien. It was arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.
Mario Kart World[edit]
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In Mario Kart World, a metal arrangement of "Bowser's Road" can play during routes in Grand Prix or VS Race. In Grand Prix, it is one of the themes that can play on the route from Toad's Factory to Bowser's Castle in the Lightning Cup. It is simply titled "Bowser's Road" in the game's pause menu.
Other appearances[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]
The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band jazz medley arrangement of "Airship BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3, "Bowser's Road" from Super Mario 64, "Final Battle with Bowser" from Super Mario Galaxy, "Bowser's Highway Showdown" from Super Mario 3D World, and "Bowser" from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.
Minecraft[edit]
In the Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and New Nintendo 3DS versions of Minecraft, the original version of "Bowser's Road" can play in the End in the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "The Fiery Stronghold" from Super Mario Galaxy on Nintendo Music
Image for "Bowser's Lava Lair" from Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo 64 | 1996 | Original | "Bowser's Road"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario 64 DS | Nintendo DS | 2004 | Original | "Bowser's Road"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Galaxy | Wii | 2007 | Arrangement | "The Fiery Stronghold"[5] | Mahito Yokota |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games | Wii | 2009 | Arrangement | "Bowser's Domain (Super Mario 64)"[6] | |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Wii | 2010 | Arrangement | "Bowser's Lava Lair"[1] | Mahito Yokota |
| Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games | Wii | 2011 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [Wii]) | "Bowser's Domain: Super Mario 64"[7] | |
| Mario Party 9 | Wii | 2012 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games [Wii]) | "Bowser's Domain: Super Mario 64 (Remix)"[8] | |
| Mario Party: Island Tour | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Arrangement | ||
| Minecraft: Wii U Edition | Wii U | 2016[a] | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition | Nintendo Switch | 2017 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition | New Nintendo 3DS | 2018[b] | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Minecraft | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Mario Tennis Aces | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Original | "Bowser's Road"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]) | "The Fiery Stronghold"[5] | Mahito Yokota | |||
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Bowser's Road"[9] | |
| Super Mario Galaxy | Nintendo Switch | 2025 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]) | "The Fiery Stronghold"[5] | Mahito Yokota |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2025 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) | "Bowser's Lava Lair"[1] | Mahito Yokota |
| Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2025 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]) | "The Fiery Stronghold"[5] | Mahito Yokota |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) | "Bowser's Lava Lair"[1] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack | 1996 | Original | "Koopa's Road" | Koji Kondo |
| Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits | 1996 | Original | "Bowser's Road" | Koji Kondo |
| Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection | 2005 | Original | 「クッパへの道」 (Kuppa e no Michi) | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Galaxy Original Soundtrack | 2008 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]) | "The Fiery Stronghold" | Mahito Yokota |
| Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack | 2010 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) | "Bowser's Lava Lair" | Mahito Yokota |
| The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music | 2015 | Original | 「クッパへの道」 (Kuppa e no Michi) | Koji Kondo |
Live performances[edit]
| Event | Year | Location | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live | 2015 | Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan[10] | Arrangement | Super Mario Special Band |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2024 | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy [Wii]) | "The Fiery Stronghold" | Mahito Yokota |
| 2024[a] | Original | "Bowser's Road" | Koji Kondo | |
| 2025[b] | Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) | "Bowser's Lava Lair" | Mahito Yokota |
Names in other languages[edit]
"Bowser's Road"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クッパへの道[1] Kuppa e no Michi |
The Road to Bowser | |
| German | Bowser Woogie[3] | - |
"The Fiery Stronghold"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クッパ砦の死闘[1] Kuppa Toride no Shitō |
Battle of Bowser's Fort |
"Bowser's Lava Lair"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | クッパの溶岩帝国[1] Kuppa no Yōgan Teikoku |
Bowser's Lava Empire |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nintendo Music
- ^ Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits
- ^ a b Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Mario & Sonic series sound tests
- ^ a b c d Super Mario Galaxy Original Soundtrack
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii) sound test
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii) sound test
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games sound test
- ^ Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ Seedhouse, Alex (July 1, 2015). Super Mario 30th Anniversary Live concerts announced for Japan. Nintendo Insider. Retrieved December 10, 2025.