Main Theme (Super Mario 64)

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"Main Theme"
"Main Theme" in Super Mario 64
The image for "Main Theme" from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Genres Jazz-funk, big band
Key C major
BPM 114
Time signature 2
2
(with swung eighths)
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
Arranged in
"Opening" (Super Mario 64)
"Slider" (Super Mario 64)
"Cool, Cool Mountain" (Super Mario 64)
"Course Clear" (Super Mario 64)

"Main Theme",[1] also known as "Super Mario 64 Main Theme",[2] "Ground BGM",[3] or "Overworld Theme",[4] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario 64, where it plays in the levels Bob-omb Battlefield and Whomp's Fortress, as well as the outside sections of Tall, Tall Mountain and Tiny-Huge Island.

History[edit]

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Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

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See also: Opening (Super Mario 64), Slider, Cool, Cool Mountain (theme), Course Clear (Super Mario 64)

Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Main Theme", and it returns in the Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS, and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, for the same purposes. 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. The game also features six additional arrangements of the theme, all of which were arranged by Koji Kondo, as with the rest of the game's soundtrack.

The theme that plays during the opening cutscene incorporates an arrangement of the main motif of "Main Theme". It is titled "Opening" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

A frantic bluegrass/country arrangement of the main motif of "Main Theme" played in D major at a presto tempo plays in the levels Tower of the Wing Cap, Vanish Cap Under the Moat, Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow Ride, and Wing Mario Over the Rainbow, as well as all slide areas and Koopa the Quick's footraces. It is titled "Slider" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

A winter/Christmas arrangement of the main motif of "Main Theme" plays in Cool, Cool Mountain and Snowman's Land. It is titled "Cool, Cool Mountain" in the Nintendo Music app and "Snow Mountain" in the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

A brief arrangement of "Main Theme" plays whenever the player collects a Power Star. It is titled "Course Clear" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

A brief slow-paced, depressing-sounding arrangement of "Main Theme" plays in the Game Over screen. It is titled "Game Over" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack album.

A very short arrangement of "Main Theme" is used as a sound effect for when Red Coins are collected. Each additional coin increases the pitch of the sound.

Icon of an audio speaker. Opening - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Icon of an audio speaker. Slider - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Icon of an audio speaker. Cool, Cool Mountain - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Icon of an audio speaker. Course Clear - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Icon of an audio speaker. Game Over - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

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In Super Mario Sunshine and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the sound effect heard when the player collects a Red Coin is a very short arrangement of "Main Theme" very similar to the arrangement heard in Super Mario 64. However, the pitch does not change as more Red Coins are collected.

Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]

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In Super Mario Galaxy 2 and the Nintendo Switch port, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, a jazz arrangement of "Main Theme" arranged by Shigetoshi Gohara plays in the Throwback Galaxy. It is likewise titled "Throwback Galaxy" in the Nintendo Music app. It is also included in the official Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack album.

The sound effect that plays when a Comet Medal is collected is based on the Red Coin sound effect from Super Mario Sunshine.

Icon of an audio speaker. Throwback Galaxy - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Galaxy 2
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Super Mario Maker[edit]

In Super Mario Maker, the original version of "Game Over" plays when the player loses a life as Costume Mario with the Mario, Mario (Silver), or Mario (Gold) costumes.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the original version of "Main Theme" can play in the Delfino Plaza stage. It is titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" in the game's sound test.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]

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In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, an arrangement of "Main Theme" arranged by Hiroyuki Kawada can play in the Peach's Castle stage, which was added as downloadable content on July 30, 2015. This arrangement also quotes "Opening" from Super Mario 64 near the end. Exclusively in the Wii U version, the original version of "Main Theme" can play in the Delfino Plaza stage. Both the original theme and the arrangement are titled "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)" in the games' sound tests.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, both the original version and the arrangement of "Main Theme" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. They are both titled "Main Theme - Super Mario 64" in the game's sound test.

Mario & Sonic series[edit]

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit]

In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, an arrangement of "Main Theme" can be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Ground BGM (Super Mario 64)" in the game's sound test.

Icon of an audio speaker. Ground BGM (Super Mario 64) - The arrangement heard in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
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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 "Main Theme" from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Main Theme: 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 "Main Theme" from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Main Theme: Super Mario 64 (Remix)" in the game's sound test.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]

In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the arrangement of "Main Theme" from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Overworld Theme: Super Mario 64 (Remix)" in the game's sound test.

Illumination film series[edit]

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

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In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a brief arrangement of "Main Theme" arranged by Brian Tyler plays while Mario is following Toad around Toad Town. It is titled "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" in the film's official soundtrack.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie[edit]

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In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a brief arrangement of "Main Theme" arranged by Brian Tyler plays when Mario and Princess Peach are surrounded by Bob-ombs on Planet Bowser (alluding to Bob-omb Battlefield, the first level where this theme played in Super Mario 64). It is titled "Your King Has Returned" in the film's official soundtrack.

Mario Kart World[edit]

Mario Kart World features two arrangements of "Main Theme", both of which are erroneously referred to as "Title Theme", despite the fact that the original version of "Main Theme" does not play in the title screen of Super Mario 64.

A Philadelphia soul arrangement of "Main Theme" based on the arrangement from the "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series can play exclusively in Free Roam during the day. It is titled "Title Theme (Big Band) (Super Mario 64)" in the Nintendo Music app and "Title Theme (Big Band Ver.)" in the game's pause menu. This arrangement was also featured in the Mario Kart World Direct, where it plays during the "Free Roam" section.

As with the big band version, a mariachi arrangement of "Main Theme" can play exclusively in Free Roam during the day. It is titled "Title Theme (Latin) (Super Mario 64)" in the Nintendo Music app and "Title Theme (Latin Ver.)" in the game's pause menu.

Icon of an audio speaker. Title Theme (Big Band) (Super Mario 64) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World
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Icon of an audio speaker. Title Theme (Latin) (Super Mario 64) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World
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It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts[edit]

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The It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts episode "Making Melodies" features a brief arrangement of "Main Theme" that is played on Note Blocks by Mario, Yoshi, and Toad. It is followed by an arrangement of "Course Clear".

Other appearances[edit]

Mario & Zelda Big Band Live[edit]

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The "Mario & Zelda Big Band Live" concert series featured a live big band arrangement of "Main Theme" that also quotes "Opening" from Super Mario 64 at the beginning. It is titled 「スーパーマリオ64 オープニングテーマ〜地上のテーマ」 (Sūpā Mario 64 Ōpuningu Tēma 〜 Chijō no Tēma, "Super Mario 64 Opening Theme ~ Ground Theme").

Super Mario Officially Licensed Music Folio Series[edit]

As part of the Super Mario Officially Licensed Music Folio Series, Super Mario Series for Piano and Super Mario Series for Easy Piano both feature piano arrangements of "Main Theme" arranged by Shinobu Amayake, while Super Mario Series for Guitar features a guitar arrangement of "Main Theme" arranged by Satoshi Aikawa.

Bayonetta 2[edit]

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Exclusively in the Nintendo Switch version of Bayonetta 2, a brief piano arrangement of "Main Theme" plays when the player unlocks the Chain Chomp weapon.

Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]

The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band jazz arrangement of "Main Theme".

Icon of an audio speaker. Super Mario 64 Main Theme - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live
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Minecraft[edit]

In the Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and New Nintendo 3DS versions of Minecraft, the original version of "Main Theme" can play in the Overworld in the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack.

Super Mario Orchestra Concert[edit]

The "Super Mario Orchestra Concert" series featured a live orchestral medley arrangement of several musical themes from Super Mario 64, including "Main Theme".

Nintendo Live 2023[edit]

Nintendo Live 2023 in Seattle, Washington, USA featured a live performance by the Super Mario Super Big Band of themes from various Super Mario games, including "Main Theme".[5]

Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 1996 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Arrangement "Opening"[1]
"Slider"[1]
"Cool, Cool Mountain"[1]
"Course Clear"[1]
"Game Over"[1]
Sound effect
Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo GameCube 2002 Sound effect
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Game Over"[1]
Past sound effect (Super Mario 64)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008 Original "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)"[6] Koji Kondo
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Wii 2009 Arrangement "Ground BGM (Super Mario 64)"[3]
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii 2010 Arrangement "Throwback Galaxy"[1] Shigetoshi Gohara
Sound effect
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Wii 2011 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games [Wii]) "Main Theme: Super Mario 64"[7]
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games [Wii]) "Main Theme: Super Mario 64 (Remix)"[8]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Original "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)"[9] Koji Kondo
2015[a] Arrangement "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)"[9] Hiroyuki Kawada
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2015[a] Arrangement "Main Theme (Super Mario 64)"[10] Hiroyuki Kawada
Minecraft: Wii U Edition Wii U 2016[b] Original Koji Kondo
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U 2016 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games [Wii]) "Overworld Theme: Super Mario 64 (Remix)"[4]
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition Nintendo Switch 2017 Original Koji Kondo
Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition New Nintendo 3DS 2018[c] Original Koji Kondo
Minecraft Nintendo Switch 2018 Original Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Original "Main Theme - Super Mario 64"[11] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U) "Main Theme - Super Mario 64"[11] Hiroyuki Kawada
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Original "Main Theme"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Game Over"[1]
Past sound effect (Super Mario 64)
Past sound effect (Super Mario Sunshine)
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement "Title Theme (Big Band) (Super Mario 64)"[1]
"Title Theme (Latin) (Super Mario 64)"[1]
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Switch 2025 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) "Throwback Galaxy"[1] Shigetoshi Gohara
Past sound effect (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii])
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Switch 2025 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) "Throwback Galaxy"[1] Shigetoshi Gohara
Past sound effect (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii])
  1. ^ a b Added as downloadable content on July 30, 2015
  2. ^ Added as downloadable content on May 17, 2016
  3. ^ Added in an update on June 5, 2018

Film and television[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 Arrangement "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom"[12] Brian Tyler
It's Me, Mario! Stop Motion Shorts 2025 Arrangement
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 2026 Arrangement "Your King Has Returned"[13] Brian Tyler

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack 1996 Remix "Super Mario 64 Main Theme" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Game Over"
Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits 1996 Original "Super Mario 64 Main Theme" Koji Kondo
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live CD 2003 Past arrangement (Mario & Zelda Big Band Live [Live performance]) "SUPER MARIO 64 Opening Theme ~ Overworld Theme (NINTENDO64: 「SUPER MARIO 64」)"
「スーパーマリオ64 オープニングテーマ〜地上のテーマ (N64:「スーパーマリオ64」より)」(Sūpā Mario 64 Ōpuningu Tēma 〜 Chijō no Tēma (N64: `Sūpā Mario 64' Yori))
Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)
Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection 2005 Original 「メインテーマ」 (Mein Tēma) Koji Kondo
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) 「なつかしの砦」 (Natsukashi no Toride) Shigetoshi Gohara
The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music 2015 Original 「メインテーマ」 (Mein Tēma) Koji Kondo
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2023 Past arrangement (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" Brian Tyler
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2026 Past arrangement (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie) "Your King Has Returned" Brian Tyler
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Spotify) 2026 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) "Throwback Galaxy" Shigetoshi Gohara

Live performances[edit]

Event Year Location Type Title Credits
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live 2003 Nihon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo, Japan Arrangement 「スーパーマリオ64 オープニングテーマ〜地上のテーマ」 (Sūpā Mario 64 Ōpuningu Tēma 〜 Chijō no Tēma) Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live 2015 Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan Arrangement Super Mario Special Band
Super Mario Orchestra Concert 2018 ROHM Theater Kyoto Arrangement
Nintendo Live 2023 2023 Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, USA Arrangement Super Mario Super Big Band

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live (DVD) 2003 Past arrangement (Mario & Zelda Big Band Live [Live performance]) 「スーパーマリオ64 オープニングテーマ〜地上のテーマ」 (Sūpā Mario 64 Ōpuningu Tēma 〜 Chijō no Tēma) Shigeo Nukita, The Big Band of Rogues (Tokyo Cuban Boys Jr.)
Super Mario Series for Piano 2011 Arrangement "Main Theme" Shinobu Amayake
Super Mario Series for Easy Piano 2011 Arrangement "Main Theme" Shinobu Amayake
Super Mario Series for Guitar 2011 Arrangement "Main Theme" Satoshi Aikawa
Nintendo Music 2024[a] Original "Main Theme" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Game Over"
2025[b] Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]) "Throwback Galaxy" Shigetoshi Gohara
2026[c] Past arrangement (Mario Kart World) "Title Theme (Big Band) (Super Mario 64)"
"Title Theme (Latin) (Super Mario 64)"
  1. ^ Added on December 23, 2024
  2. ^ Added on September 15, 2025
  3. ^ Added on June 22, 2026

Names in other languages[edit]

"Main Theme"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
Japanese メインテーマ
Mein Tēma
Main Theme [1]
German It's a me - die Melodie It's a me - the Melody [2]
Spanish Tema principal Main theme [14]

"Game Over"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
Japanese ゲームオーバー
Gēmu Ōbā
Game Over [1]
German Game Over Gospel - [2]

"Throwback Galaxy"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
Japanese なつかしの砦
Natsukashi no Toride
Nostalgic Fortress [1]

Notes[edit]

  • On the Nintendo Music app, "Main Theme" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating from Super Mario 64. "Main Theme" shares this title with "Slider" and "Dire, Dire Docks".

References[edit]