Although it’s not uncommon for Nintendo games to have fantastic scores, the Legend of Zelda series has some of the best music in all of video gaming. Thanks to the brilliant Koji Kondo and his team, the Zelda games have become known for their powerful compositions that are both emotional and engaging all while complimenting what’s on the screen perfectly. It’s no surprise that these masterpieces have inspired fans to play, remix, and even orchestrate the music into their own creations.

In my first Zelda Top Five contribution, I’ll be counting down my personal top five favorite Zelda songs. Obviously, music is subjective and what sounds good to me might not sound good to you, but I hope you’ll at least appreciate my selections. Check out the list after the break, and feel free to make your own in the comments!

5. The Legend of Zelda Overworld (The Legend of Zelda)
I know, I know, this one is obvious. Of course I’m going to include the original Legend of Zelda theme, I can’t pretend it doesn’t deserve a spot! The song just screams classic, it’s catchy and fun with a strong sense of adventure throughout. It’s a good thing too, because you’ll be hearing it for hours. Just imagine if in the first Zelda game instead of this masterpiece you heard a mediocre tune playing in the overworld. I guarantee it would’ve seriously hurt the franchise, but thankfully that didn’t happen.

4. Dragon Roost Island (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)
Just like my number five pick, this song is catchy and fun with an incredible sense of adventure. I can’t imagine a better piece of music to sum up the experience of playing The Wind Waker than this, and it’s a reminder of how much music helps a game resonate.

3. Dark World (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)
The Dark World theme from A Link to the Past might not be as popular as the overworld theme, but in my opinion it’s much better. If I could choose just one song to convince somebody that the music in the Zelda series is epic I’d definitely choose this one. The music speaks for itself.

2. Song of Storms (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
The windmill song from Ocarina of Time is a fan favorite, and for good reason. I remember the first time I heard this enchanting tune in the game, I was so mesmerized I stood still for an inordinate amount of time just listening to the melody. Yes, it is very simplistic, but that’s part of the charm. I just love it, and that’s reason enough for its number two spot.

1. Song of Healing (The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)
It’s no secret I’m in love with Majora’s Mask, and you better believe that includes the music. From Clock Town to Majora’s theme, there’s a seemingly endless supply of choices I could pick for the top spot of my list, but in the end none can compete with the beautiful Song of Healing. There’s an almost overwhelming feeling of sadness to the song to be sure, but within that there’s hope, and a faint happiness just waiting to be unleashed. And that really encompasses the theme of Majora’s Mask; a world that needs to be healed and a song of healing that can help do just that.