History Leitmotif / VideoGames

* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'':

* ''VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim'': {EDGE OF THE FUTURE} plays during the final battle is a remix of "Brat Overflow" that fades into the original version from the title screen.
* Remixed parts of "Brat Overflow" can be heard throughout [[spoiler:"The Ones Who Were Plugged In"]], [[spoiler:"Inherit Humanity"]], and especially [[spoiler:"The Only Neat Life to Live"]].

* ''VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim'' has a few examples
** {EDGE OF THE FUTURE} plays during the final battle is a remix of "Brat Overflow" that fades into the original version from the title screen.

** ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' has "Ezio's Family". First played over the opening credits, remixed several times as "Earth" which [[spoiler:plays when Ezio recovers his father's Assassin robes]] and then as "Venice Rooftops", which plays during chases, races and courier missions (occasionally). Played in [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic all its glory]] over the credits of both ''II'' and ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood Brotherhood]]''.
*** And on top of all that, it's Ezio's theme in ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV''.

* ''VideoGame/BioShock'' has a somewhat unusual example. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziFdpLRwyps main theme]] in the [[VideoGame/BioShock1 first game]] later went on to become [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti8zJyZYc98 Eleanor's Lullaby]] in ''[[VideoGame/BioShock2 2]]'' which is the theme for your Little Sister in the game, Eleanor, and is the closing music for the game. Also of note is the track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlu2z2gkhhI Cohen's Masterpiece]], the theme for a ''MadArtist'' which plays when he finishes his masterpiece (with your help)

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: VideoGame/ModernWarfare'' had a particularly striking one used throughout the game (composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, which was sadly ignored by later composers for the series.

*** In said game, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1YKC8cNXR8 "Lucca's Theme"]] probably got played the most, as it starts up whenever anything science/awesome/awesome science-related happens. In fact, the track name is simply "Fanfare", and is adapted, in two separate versions, as the victory theme in the sequel, ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. This doesn't mean it ''isn't'' Lucca's theme, though -- it plays when you talk to her in the End of Time, the same way everyone else's theme does.

* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' has some recurring themes, the most famous is "Windy", played in the hubworld and in musical tracks such as "Barn Boys", "Give us our money back, honey" and "The Ugga Bugga's". Ze professor Von Kriplespac's theme is played during the battle with The Little Girl, when Conker is in the Windy's harbor and during the second assault in the remake.
*** ''Live & Reloaded'', remake of ''Bad Fur Day'', also features a recurring theme, that plays during the game intro, and briefly as game over in the Chapter X, as well as in "Doon I" and in "The Ditch".

* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' features Leitmotif for each of the factions, giving each a certain musical style:
** The Space Marines, befitting being futuristic knights, tend towards [[OminousLatinChanting Ominous High Gothic Chanting]].

* ''VideoGame/DetroitBecomeHuman'' has leitmotifs for each of its main characters, appropriately titled "[Name] Main Theme" that play during crucial moments involving the character.
** In addition, Connor and Kara have both of their themes combined into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H8x7HUOtU one]]. Aptly, it plays during the chapter "On The Run" when the two of them run into each other.

* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' has distinct leitmotifs for each of the four main factions, which in turn are incorporated into the "Quest Clear" jingle for their respective quests. There are also a number of regional motifs, such as the uileann pipes melody in Diamond City and Goodneighbor, and the accordion-based theme in swamp and coastal areas.
* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has 2 different entire soundtracks depending on your karma. If you do evil stuff, you get a dark brooding soundtrack, if you do good actions, you get an upbeat heroic sounding soundtrack. The major factions also have respective leitmotifs, which are integrated into the FinalDungeon theme depending on which side you have chosen.

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' gives the titular Freddy Fazbear a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZOOx40rE3k music-box rendition]] of "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toreador_Song Toreador]]" from ''Theatre/{{Carmen}}'', which only plays when Freddy is on the move or all the lights have gone out and he's preparing to kill you horrificially.
** [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2 The sequel]] has [[spoiler:The Puppet, whose theme is a music box rendition of ''My Grandfather's Clock;'' should you let its music box run out, it's very quickly replaced with Pop Goes the Weasel.]]

** For ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', the [[FireIceLightning Three Mage-Sisters]] have ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW74nivdYcU Song of Supplication]].'' It gets remixed several times, as Zan Partizanne's theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZCTUM20Czc Forgotizanne Flash of Lightning]], [[spoiler:Void Termina's battle theme after the three sisters get forcefully sacrified by Hyness, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5l3Zz58264 The Star-Conquering Traveler]],]] and their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZlogxysD88 Celebration Picture, Let Them Know We're Happy.]]
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' uses Bastila's theme for foreshadowing as you approach the top of the Rakata temple.

* In ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', the three Special Infected (zombies with special abilities) have unique themes that play when they are attacking the players, but the Boss Infected, the Tank and the Witch, have motifs that play constantly whenever they are in the field of play.

* In the ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet'' games, there is a particular theme that is heard in the music for My Moon in the original game, the sequel and the Vita version.

** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' the Collector ship that [[spoiler:destroys the Normandy and kills Shepard]] has a distinct percussive, syncopated leitmotif that appears in every single track that features the Collectors.
*** Likewise it's been twisted and deepened but if you listen carefully you can hear [[spoiler: Vigil's theme]] almost buried in the background of the collector's theme, hinting that [[spoiler: the Collectors are Reaperised Protheans]].

%% *** Vamp is accompanied by a surprisingly beautiful and sensual viola motif, and also [[SoundtrackDissonance campy flamenco flourishes with castanets and guitar when he murders people]]...

%% ** Samus also got her own theme tune in ''Super''. Notable occurrences have included ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption Prime 3]]'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}'' games are ''very'' fond of doing this, usually having themes for each villain (and for each age, in the later games). Also, Sirrus and Achenar, the evil brothers from the first game, have their themes return in ''VideoGame/MystIVRevelation'', if only briefly.

* ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' uses leitmotifs mostly for when police show up in-game and engage in a pursuit, replacing the in-game music tracks with composed pursuit music
** Leitmotifs are much more prominent in Need for Speed: Carbon, where each type of car (tuner, muscle, or exotic types) has a certain genre of music play when you're driving that type of car (electronic, rock, and rap/hip-hop respectively). Each boss in the game also has a song that plays for them when they show up, with Angie (21st street crew) having [[https://youtu.be/cyjmd00s-_Q Hurricane by Kyuss]], Kenji (Bushido crew) with [[https://youtu.be/3ER93-X2eJw Fighting in Built up Areas by Ladytron]], Wolf (TFK crew) with [[https://youtu.be/LkEx5_92HLI After Party by Dynamite MC]], and [[spoiler: Darius (Stacked Deck crew) with [[https://youtu.be/5sh50lzdyQU Hype Boys by Sway]] ]]

* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'''s most prominent leitmotif is that of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8sjk57G-s8 Spirit Tree]], which is also the main RecurringRiff. There are also themes for Ori themself([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-tWqEod9Ig "Ori, Lost in the Storm"]]), Naru ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJaWzAcBYEg "Naru, Embracing The Light"]], whose motif is further elaborated upon in the backstory-exploring BonusDungeon from the UpdatedRerelease), Sein ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXusr86Oyko "Finding Sein"]], and "The Ancestral Trees"), Kuro ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi9dAv2aM5E "Kuro's Tale"]], "Facing The Dark", "Fleeing Kuro", and "The Sacrifice"), and Gumo ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnykuxhswGs "Gumo's Hideout"]] and "Breaking Through The Trap"). Furthermore, most locations have leitmotifs, such as Swallow's Nest (which has a DarkReprise when the forest falls to the decay and Naru dies), Sunken Glades, Moon Grotto ("Down The Moon Grotto" and the aforementioned "Gumo's Hideout"), the Ginso Tree ("Climbing The Ginso Tree" and "Restoring The Light"), the Misty Woods ("Lost In the Misty Woods" and "The Mists Cleared"), the Forlorn Ruins ("Home of the Gumon" and "Escaping The Ruins"), Sorrow Pass ("Riding The Wind" and "Completing The Circle"), and Mount Horu.
* ''VideoGame/OriAndTheWillOfTheWisps'', in addition to reusing the main theme (most prominently as a ThemeMusicPowerUp) and Ori's and Naru's leitmotifs from the first game, introduces new leitmotifs for characters and locations such as Ku ("Ku's First Flight", "Separated By The Storm", "Reunification"), Kwolok ("The Eyes of Kwolok", "Kwolok's Hollow", "Kwolok's Throne Room", "Kwolok's Malaise"), the Wellspring ("The Ancient Wellspring", "A Look Inside"), the Decay/Shriek ("Ash and Bone", "Escape With the Memory of the Forest", "Shriek's Tale", "Shriek and Ori"), the Wisps/Seir ("Amelioration", "Fading of the Light", "Escaping The Sandworm"), Baur ("Baur's Reach", "A Snowy Skirmish", "Baur's Peak"), the Luma Pools ("Luma Pools", "Resolution in Paradise"), and Mouldwood Depths/Mora ("Shadows of Mouldwood", "Mora the Spider", "The Darkness Lifted").
* In ''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'', the player ships have their own dogfight themes, which would be played as they would fly in space in order to reach the next destination. The original characters (of Parodius) have their own original themes, while playable quest characters from other Konami-games [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW-X3_w1ljY&list=UUcgBRZ4vO8rDtRfi6L7Tc3Q&index=14&feature=plcp would have their iconic tune implemented on their theme]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de0iJ8PmjoA&list=UUcgBRZ4vO8rDtRfi6L7Tc3Q&index=8&feature=plcp it might be even be shortened remix of a theme from their games.]]

** Additionally, "Poem for the Soul" has been the theme for the Velvet Room since ''Persona 1''; however, ''3'' is notable for turning it into an [[AwesomeMusic/VideoGames insanely rocking boss theme]].

*** Another prime example specifically from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''/''Yellow'' is the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjA4SgVDmh4 rival's (Blue's) encounter theme]], which plays whenever he comes on-screen and talks, usually challenging you to a match.
%% *** Actually, every rival gets one, but Blue's is the most notable.
*** In addition to the rivals, many other characters get re-occurring themes, such as some of the professors, and important [=NPCs=] like [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Eusine]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSa_TGbJjCg "Eusine's Theme"]]) and [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Looker]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQiP08u1Ds "Looker's Theme"]]). [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite N's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-qOoB_XKY battle themes]] (not to be confused with his overworld leitmotif, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff6lFyYvk-U "Prisoner to a Formula"]]) are especially notable for their development of one of the few atonal[[note]]specifically, serialist[[/note]] themes in the franchise.
%% *** Many Legendary Pokémon have their own themes. The list includes Deoxys, Giratina, Arceus, Ho-oh, and Lugia. Additionally, many legendary trios/duos get their own common theme such as the Weather Trio (Groudon, Kyogre and Rayquaza) sometimes getting a slight variation unique to each member like the Legendary Beasts.
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s3uLEmw8fM Time Gear]]" is this for ''VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers'', with variations of it playing at the most emotional moments of the story. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdIdtWIktvA title theme]] is a more minor one.

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' appropriates the main menu theme from ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', in various forms, throughout the game.

* Every single character from ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'' has [[ImprobablyFemaleCast her]] own [[AwesomeMusic/VideoGames incredibly rockin']] theme song.
** From Hanzō Academy:
*** Asuka: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1SnVaYG4y0&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "In My Grandfather's Name"]]
*** Ikaruga: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Yas94IGYI&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "Flying Swallow Wakes"]]
*** Katsuragi: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGUd2HxdPwk&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "Anxious Blood"]]
*** Yagyū: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VM594kt_Gc&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "Believe In Yourself"]]
*** Hibari: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYv2LZxfKhg&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "I Have to Do Something!"]]
*** [[spoiler:Daidōji]]: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOx2jLPTiE&list=PL691540D60273A3E8 "One I Must Protect"]]

* Creator/{{SNK}} has done this. Geese Howard's theme names always involve something "for Geese", but all of them are rearrangements of his theme from the original ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', which was titled "A Kiss for Geese". Afterwards came "Soy Sauce for Geese" (''Fatal Fury Special''), "A Kiss for Geese - Cyber Dub Edit" (''[[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Art of Fighting 2]]''), "One More Kiss for Geese" (''Real Bout Fatal Fury''), "A Stiff Neck for Geese" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters The King of Fighters '96]]''), "Soy Sauce for Geese -End of The First Nightmare-" (''Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition''), and finally concluding with... [[PlayedForLaughs "Mustard for Geese"]] (''The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match''). The only exception to the name rule thus far is "Kiss Geese Once More", from ''KOF: Maximum Impact''. Most games after ''[='96=]'' in which Geese is present, as well as his [[GuestFighter guest appearance]] in ''VideoGame/Tekken7'', have used remixes of "Soy Sauce For Geese", the most recognizable thanks to its flute.

*** "It Doesn't Matter" has resurfaced triumphantly in ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' with two different renditions. Less so, Tails' theme from ''Sonic Adventure 1'' and ''2'', "Believe in Myself" has been arranged as the theme of the Blacksmith (who is "played" by Tails).

*** This was topped by ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'', where each stage theme had no fewer than four variations -- one for its map screen plus one for each of the three acts. Somehow it never seemed repetitive, either: the map's theme was more low-key and served to introduce the melodic material, and then each act was a progressively more intense version of the same theme. One of these themes, in fact, was the GreenHillZone music from the original ''Sonic''; all too appropriate for a stage (Sunset Hill) which was itself a sort of [[NostalgiaLevel re-imagined]] and {{remixed|Level}} version of that place.

** Mitsurugi's themes throughout the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' tend to build up to a common motif, as heard in his themes in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgAQQKESKcQ Soul Edge]] (50 seconds in), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqFvRyGvGWk Soul Calibur]] (38 seconds in), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueP2Xv8W7UE Soul Calibur II]] (51 seconds in), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CpCCSPJm_8 Soul Calibur III]] (1:46 minutes in), and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W891SR8oJTw Soulcalibur V]] (41 seconds in).
*** The one in ''Soulcalibur II'' is technically Taki's theme, but the motif is most common with Mitsurugi's themes.

** During Star Fox Adventures, Krystal and Fox had their own theme whenever they were on screen together. Given the nature of the two characters, it could be interpreted as a 'love theme'. A longer and more 'tribal' variation of the same theme was used in the Cape Claw location of the game.

** ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'' has theme music for certain villains (Mr L, Count Bleck and Dimentio).
*** ''Super Paper Mario'' also features a remix of pretty much every song in it. Most notably, the music for the fight against the BigBad is remixed [[spoiler:during the fight against the TRUE final boss]]. Bonus points also go to [[spoiler:Count Bleck's]] leitmotif for being a MusicalSpoiler: It is a remix of the "Memory" theme.
%% *** In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', [[ClassyCatBurglar Ms Mowz]] has her own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x663wX2Drk8 theme music.]] As does Luigi, when telling you a story.
%% ** Numerous characters in ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' have themes, including Peach, Bowser, Twink, [[GoldfishPoopGang Jr Troopa]], and the Star Spirits.
%% ** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' has Bowser's theme, which receives an OminousPipeOrgan remix for the final battle.

** [[OverlordJr Bowser Jr.]] is actually given his own leitmotif in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2''. It's also even used for your battle against his Boomsday Machine.

** Everybody, both captains and sidekicks, get one in ''VideoGame/MarioStrikersCharged'' but while anyone who scores a goal will have their theme play, the captains will also have their themes play when they enter the field (if they're the home team) and when they win.
* Similarly, while [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Yoshi]] has picked up a theme song of sorts with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nghTrcPBp3s title theme]] to ''VideoGame/YoshisStory'', he's most often associated with a pair of bongo drums or a woodblock [[VariableMix layered over whatever music is playing at the moment.]]

* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' gives leitmotifs to all of its characters, usually based on the series they came from--for instance, if you've brought Getter-1 from ''Shin Manga/GetterRobo Armageddon'' with Ryoma at the controls, you often get a rendition of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaJw6lqGFew HEATS]] by Hironobu Kageyama, while Amuro Ray in the Nu Gundam from ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'' fights while [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmuf1GaUSyA the Char's Counterattack main theme]] plays in the background.

* ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound}}'''s [[TheDragon Dragon]] Pokey has a theme that follows him everywhere as do The Runaway Five, and the SoundStone melody also acts as one for Ness and the journey as a whole after you've found all of its pieces. Paula also has a Leitmotif, but it's not heard as often.

* The soundtrack to ''VideoGame/Mother3'' is very heavily built on leitmotifs that recur in numerous variations throughout the game, including [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQOskWSGKoc His Highness' Theme]] for scenes involving the Pigmask Army, the [[{{Sexophone}} saxophone]] line in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMRST8PixfA Magypsy's Home, Sweetie-Pie]] for the Magypsies (which actually serves as a MusicalSpoiler later on in the game if you're paying attention), and, of course, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pSe2XhlsMw Love Theme]], which will break your heart with its every appearance in the context of the game.
** ''VideoGame/{{Mother|1}}'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cCIiE3oUkw "Eight Melodies"]] is another memorable example.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIRJxpbJKGA Saturos and Menardi]] share their theme (simply named for them), along with a BossRemix [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Op3rHRQ2M theme]]. Saturos, being Saturos, also has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh1svF7sR68 his own boss theme]] when encountered alone, and it's hands-down one of the fandom's favorite pieces -- it even came back as BonusBoss [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kui8MlFol4g battle theme music]] in ''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn''!

* The FinalBoss theme in the arcade game ''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTurtlesInTime'' was also used in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project'' for the NES, which came around the same time.

* Several characters in ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' have their own leitmotifs; for example, Godot's "The Fragrance of Darkness; That is Coffee", which was used [[ThemeSongReveal quite cleverly]] later on.
%% ** Godot also earns extra points by having his ''own'' theme music as his ''personal cellphone ringtone''.
%% ** Damon Gant is frequently accompanied by his own, imposing organ music.
%% ** Matt Engarde has an innocent theme [[spoiler:that changes to the polar opposite of Pursuit once he reveals his true colors. The theme of his true self is used in the sequel whenever a villain has the upper hand.]]
%% ** Jake Marshall is also accompanied by a fitting Wild West theme.
%% ** The confident Shi-Long Lang and utterly badass noir detective Tyrell Badd are both accompanied by their own equally badass themes.
** Klavier's theme music, "Guilty Love", is actually heard by other characters, although it's justified: it's the no. 1 hit of his band, the Gavinners.
%% ** Also, Pearl's theme is simply a more upbeat remix of Maya's theme.
** Ema Skye's theme, "Turnabout Sisters 2005" is remixed and accompanies her every time she appears in a new game (renamed "The Scientific Detective" starting with ''VisualNovel/{{Apollo Justice|AceAttorney}}'').
*** Despite being called a "2005" mix, the original "Turnabout Sisters" has a different melody and is used as the theme of Maya Fey (the original being called "Turnabout Sisters 2001" and also has "2002" and "2016" variations).
** The "Objection!" theme of each game is considered the leitmotif of the main character; in ''VisualNovel/{{Ace Attorney Investigations|MilesEdgeworth}}'', Miles Edgeworth's "Objection!" theme is a remix of his theme song, "Triumphant Return".
*** ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]'' gives three such themes, one for each playable character: "Objection!" for Phoenix, "A New Chapter of Trials" for Apollo Justice, and "Courtroom Révolutionnaire" for Athena Cykes. Apollo and Athena also have non-court variations of their themes ("I'm Fine!" and "Let's Do This!", respectively) that play when interacted with outside the courtroom setting.
** Similarly, each of their "Pursuit" themes: the most outstanding is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFcJmOs8DRQ "Pursuit - Corner the Culprit"]] from the first game, which is synonymous with Phoenix Wright's feats of badassery.
%% ** In the early games, only important characters have their own theme, but in later ones, almost every witness has one.
%% *** One example in particular -- "Auspicious People" pops up in two consecutive games for Lotta Heart.
%% ** Dahlia has the calm theme "The Visage of What Once Was", [[spoiler:and in the end it gets used for Iris as well]].
** Often times, a character's theme will be remixed as a sadder theme to fit the mood. For example, [[spoiler:Maya Fey's "Turnabout Sisters' Theme" becomes "Turnabout Sisters' Ballad", Shi-Long Lang's "Speak Up, Pup!" becomes "The Fall of the House of Lang", and Athena Cykes' "Courtroom Révolutionnaire" becomes "A Sad Memory"]].

* ''Creator/SNK'' has done this. Geese Howard's theme names always involve something "for Geese", but all of them are rearrangements of his theme from the original ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', which was titled "A Kiss for Geese". Afterwards came "Soy Sauce for Geese" (''Fatal Fury Special''), "A Kiss for Geese - Cyber Dub Edit" (''[[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Art of Fighting 2]]''), "One More Kiss for Geese" (''Real Bout Fatal Fury''), "A Stiff Neck for Geese" (''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters The King of Fighters '96]]''), "Soy Sauce for Geese -End of The First Nightmare-" (''Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition''), and finally concluding with... [[PlayedForLaughs "Mustard for Geese"]] (''The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match''). The only exception to the name rule thus far is "Kiss Geese Once More", from ''KOF: Maximum Impact''. Most games after ''[='96=]'' in which Geese is present, as well as his [[GuestFighter guest appearance]] in ''VideoGame/Tekken7'', have used remixes of "Soy Sauce For Geese", the most recognizable thanks to its flute.

* VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim has a few examples

[[folder: ''The Legend of Zelda'']]

%% *** Except that what Brawl called "Theme of Samus Aran, Space Warrior" was just Super's Ending Credits tune. In ''Super'', the "Theme of Samus Aran, Galactic Warrior" is completely different.

*** In addition to the rivals, many other characters get re-occurring themes, such as some of the professors, and important [=NPCs=] like [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Eusine]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSa_TGbJjCg "Eusine's Theme"]]) and [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Looker]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQiP08u1Ds "Looker's Theme"]]). [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite N's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-qOoB_XKY "battle themes"]] (not to be confused with his overworld leitmotif, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff6lFyYvk-U "Prisoner to a Formula"]]) are especially notable for their development of one of the few atonal[[note]]specifically, serialist[[/note]] themes in the franchise.

*** In addition to the rivals, many other characters get re-occurring themes, such as some of the professors, and important [=NPCs=] like [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Eusine]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSa_TGbJjCg "Eusine's Theme"]]) and [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Looker]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQiP08u1Ds "Looker's Theme"]]). [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite N's]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr-qOoB_XKY "battle themes"]]) (not to be confused with his overworld leitmotif, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff6lFyYvk-U "Prisoner to a Formula"]]) are especially notable for their development of one of the few atonal[[note]]specifically, serialist[[/note]] themes in the franchise.

*** In addition to the rivals, many other characters get re-occurring themes, such as some of the professors, and important [=NPCs=] like [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Eusine]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSa_TGbJjCg "Eusine's Theme"]]) and [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Looker]] ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQiP08u1Ds "Looker's Theme"]]).

* ''VideoGame/WildARMs'' games naturally jump on the bandwagon. There's the series main theme, "Into the Wilderness," which plays once or twice at key moments in each game, usually the ending or introduction. In ''VideoGame/WildARMs1'', Boomerang has his own theme, which is slowed down for a "funeral dirge" late in the game. In ''VideoGame/WildARMs3'', Virginia has "Ready! Lady Gunner!" while the Schroedingers have "There's Only One Family Named Schrodinger". There are special boss themes for Janus and the Prophets.

--> "Embrace the darkness that's within me / No hiding in the shadows anymore / When this wickedness consumes me / Nothing can save you and there's no way out"

--> "I must not forget that I have bled / Felt no respect for the demons in my head / Something saved me, put me out of my destiny / And dropped me safely in this hell."

--> "Devil in my blood, living on the edge / Split myself in two, death is all around / Summoning the power / Drag myself through pain"

--> "Bury the light deep within / Cast aside there's no coming home / We're burning chaos in the wind / Drifting in the ocean all alone"
* VideoGame/Destiny and its sequel, VideoGame/Destiny2 have several.

* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series is in love with this trope. Creator/NobuoUematsu, the composer of much of its music, is known for creating memorable leitmotifs for characters, locations, and events.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' was the first game in the series where many different characters are given leitmotifs. Nearly all of the protagonists have one, as do some of the villains, most notably Golbez with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6io4j8ey42E "Clad in Black"]]. Nothing says ''"Oh shit, I'm about to get my ass kicked by the BigBad"'' quite like those {{Ominous Pipe Organ}}s.
*** The "Theme of Love", Rosa and Cecil's relationship theme is so popular and well-known in Japan, it's now being included in many schools music books over there.
** Gilgamesh of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', from his second appearance on, is one of only two enemies in the game to get his own theme, "Battle on the Big Bridge" (also known as "Clash on the Big Bridge" or simply "Battle with Gilgamesh"). This one was so memorable that when Gilgamesh made a cameo in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', his theme came with him (in a well-done orchestration, at that) as well as a big bridge to fight on. This happened again in both ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''[='s=] [[DownloadableContent Coli]][[BonusBoss seum]] and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV: Episode Gladiolus'', though the former's venue was, sadly, not a big bridge.
*** In addition to that, usage of the theme outside of battling Gilgamesh himself came [[spoiler: during the fight against Necrophobe in ''V''. The boss just doesn't seem to die, and then suddenly [[ThemeMusicPowerUp you hear the theme]]. SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome for Gilgamesh.]]
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', for example, almost all of the playable characters (and some of the villains) have their own leitmotif (with the exception of the twin brothers Edgar and Sabin/Mashe, who share one). Terra's leitmotif, which is also the Overworld Map theme, is effectively the ThemeTune for that entire game. Even more well-known, though, are the {{Recurring Riff}}s for concepts that span more than one game, such as the Crystal Theme/Prelude, the Final Fantasy Theme/Prologue, the (much-remixed) Chocobo Theme, the Moogle Theme, and the Victory Theme.
*** Terra's true character theme is "Awakening". Celes's character theme is the famous opera song "Aria Di Mezzo Carattere" played slower and more sad in tone.
*** [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Dancing Mad"]], the music that plays during the party's final confrontation with [[BigBad Kefka Palazzo]], incorporates numerous letmotifs that, when you sit down, listen to them, piece them together, and [[FridgeBrilliance think about it]] sums up everything Kefka is so perfectly, it couldn't be the final boss music for anyone else but him.
** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth's]] leitmotif is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rV40ypje7o "Those Chosen By the Planet"]], which is played during his slaughter of [[DoomedHomeTown Nibleheim]], not the immensely popular '[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDD-iYkHBhc "One-Winged Angel"]]. Or rather, that ''was'' the case in ''VII'', but due to its popularity, "One-Winged Angel" [[BootstrappedLeitmotif has become Sephiroth's leitmotif in all of his future appearances]].
*** "One-Winged Angel" is a more complex and choir-accompanied rearrangement of "Those Chosen By the Planet" (not too dissimilar from how the 4th movement of "Dancing Mad" is primarily a battle piece rearrangement of Kefka's material).
*** "Those Chosen By the Planet" also appears in ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' within the cue "Beyond the Wasteland" about one minute in. Ultimately, it has still remained as Sephiroth's character motif throughout the franchise's later entries, whereas "One-Winged Angel" is merely a battle rearrangement for him.
*** Perhaps compounding this is the fact that "Those Chosen By The Planet" is a rearrangement of "Sealed Book" from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', used throughout to represent the Void.
*** Like Terra, Cloud shares his motif with the game itself ("Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII"), but used in a way that's somewhat more complicated. The sweet and upbeat B section of the main theme is slowed down and rearranged for guitar and strings for moments to do with Cloud's love life ("Interrupted by Fireworks"); the gloomy and plodding second half of the Main Theme is used for TheReveal; and the main A-section melody, in a minor key, is used for moments focusing on Cloud's FakeMemories. Of those uses, when Cloud is beginning to get an inkling something is wrong, the melody is broken down just to the distinctive interval leap and played on an echoing out-of-tune piano ("Who Are You?"); when Cloud is having a mental breakdown the full melody line plays in a psychedelic, irregular time signature ("Who am I?"). On top of that, the distinctive interval is a ''[[ArcNumber seventh]]''.
%% ** ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' features no less than eight songs titled "Theme of Crisis Core (''Subtitle'')." The theme also appears in songs that don't follow this naming convention, such as "Burden of Truth" and "The Burdened."
%% ** ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'' uses two different motives throughout, which can be considered "Vincent's Theme" and "Lucrecia's Theme."
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'''s soundtrack has so many leitmotif-using songs that it is actually one of the soundtrack's biggest criticisms (depending on whether you think they help tie things together, or simply make everything sound the same). Probably half of the 100+ songs in the game use the leitmotif of a previous song, and many of those that don't hail from earlier games in the series (the Crystal, Chocobo, and Moogle themes, for example).
*** Kuja's Theme, in one form or another, is guaranteed to show up any time that he does.
*** It also plays instead of the usual World Map theme when [[spoiler:half the party travels to Oeilvert under his orders to save the other half]]. This, combined with the airship's eerie scripted flight, really drives home how dire things are.
*** "Melodies of Life", also from ''IX''. This song appears everywhere, from when the game starts to the ending credits.
*** [[HopelessBossFight Bea]][[GuestStarPartyMember trix]] has three versions of hers, and they double as {{Mood Motif}}s. Though one of the three doesn't resemble the other two as much.
*** The piece "Zidane's Theme" is an interesting case. While we never hear an arrangement of his material with the same jovial tune that opens the track, "Unrequited Love" winds up being a more melancholic rendition of his theme and has more frequent usage by comparison [[spoiler:(even becoming a town theme later on in the game)]].
** Tidus's theme in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is remixed into a more upbeat and generic Blitzball theme.
*** Seymour has a rather creepy one, which plays over every one of his appearances in the first half of the game (and even after that). [[ObviouslyEvil If his manner and appearance doesn't immediately tip you off to his being evil]], this certainly will. It's even the theme music for his first battle.
*** Yuna's theme is a hopeful piece, which usually plays when the Calm, or her defeating Sin, is brought up. [[spoiler:It becomes a TearJerker when it plays over Tidus's flashbacks of them together, when he discovers she'll die if she calls the Final Aeon.]]
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', on top of having the usual leitmotifs for the main characters, also had a short melody that appears in every track of the game at some point (besides tracks that are borrowed from other ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' soundtracks of course). The FinalBattle actually [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic becomes a small war between the Imperial and Heroic leitmotifs]], with the latter eventually overwhelming the former.
*** The character themes are actually remixes location tracks special to the characters. For example, Ashe's theme is really the theme song of the creepy dungeon Giruvegin, and the Pharos, because that's where her ancestor placed the nethicite. You can also hear the theme of the Tomb of Raithwall.
** The leitmotif for ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' is "[[Franchise/FabulaNovaCrystallisFinalFantasy Fabula Nova Crystallis]]". Tracks containing this melody include two location themes, three event themes and a character theme with lyrics to boot.
*** Lightning's theme is also used as a battle theme, aptly named "Blinded by Light".
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'' subtly pokes fun at the idea with the character of Tristam, whose leitmotif begins playing just before he appears on screen. The main character, Benjamin, apparently hears this music and begins looking around for him whenever it begins playing. It's worth noting that Tristam is the ''only'' character with his own theme music.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' has the the aptly named "Protagonist's Theme", which serves as Ramza's theme and whose opening notes are reprised in several other tracks throughout the game, most notably the battle themes "Antipyretic" and "Precipitous Combat".
** Luso's leitmotif in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' is second to be the ThemeTune (the actual Theme Tune is "Summer Vacation") since the music was used in other songs.

%% ** Characters with special relationships often get vs./rival theme music. To date, Sol and Ky have "Conclusion" (''[=GG1=]''), "No Mercy" (''X''), "Noontide" (''XX''), "The Re-coming" (''[=GG2=]''), and "Reunion" (''Xrd''). ''Guilty Gear XX Accent Core'' even gave new vs. music to Order-Sol and Ky, "Keep The Flag Flying." Similarly, ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters The King of Fighters '98]]'' gave two different vs. themes to the same fight: "Cool Jam" plays if the player character is Kyo Kusanagi vs. Iori Yagami, and "Esaka Forever" plays if it's Iori vs. Kyo. [[note]]Both themes were attributed to the characters in ''[=97=]'', a game that did not feature themes for most playable characters/teams (most stages instead had more ambient music and sounds), but this is notable in that these themes will specifically [[BackgroundMusicOverride override]] Kyo and Iori's default themes.[[/note]]

*** Characters and concepts also have instruments and {{Recurring Riff}}s associated with them. {{Ominous Pipe Organ}}s for the Heartless, mournful piano melodies for Nobodies, strings for Keyblade Wielders, [[OminousLatinChanting chanting]] for the heart in general.
*** In the series, certain bosses' battle music will sound suspiciously familiar. [[spoiler:Xion's boss music in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts358DaysOver2'' has strands of Sora's. Kairi's, Naminé's and her own theme as well as "Dearly Beloved"]].

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series has leitmotifs for most major characters, most notably "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFajj7WInZU Zelda's Lullaby]]" (which first appears in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'') and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tse60SNufZc Ganon's Theme]]" ([[LeaningOnTheFourthWall which Ganondorf himself plays]] on an OminousPipeOrgan in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''). In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', their themes are actually ''combined'' when [[spoiler: Ganondorf possesses Zelda for a boss battle.]]
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJqN14qriHw main theme of the series]], which was the [[LevelOneMusicRepresents overworld theme in the first game]], came to be [[BootstrappedTheme seen as Link's own theme]]. Remixed versions of it play when the Links of various ''Zelda'' games from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' onward awaken to their destinies as heroes.
** Link in ''II'' had the standard Legend of Zelda theme playing, but only when he was in the match on the Olympus Shrine stage. Additionally, the "Item Get" jingle played when he won instead of the standard victory theme.
** There's also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEnAuzjgKU Midna's haunting theme]] from ''Twilight Princess'', which she [[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=H_8SobLzsZE occasionally hums]]. The song has a few different variants that can be heard throughout the game when traveling the overworld, most notably "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoBRdekWKxI Midna's Lament]]".
** Saria plays her own theme song, the self-titled "Saria's Song". When she stops playing her ocarina to speak with Link, the Lost Woods goes completely silent. A remix of the song gets recycled as the theme for the Lost Woods/Sacred Grove in ''Twilight Princess''.
** [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]], gives us the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJQu3iTi54M theme of the titular evil mask]], which has a slew of variations that are heard in each of the four provinces of Termina, as well as the final boss fight.
%% ** Also, Ilia (Link's BFF in ''TP'') and Aryll (Link's lil' sis in ''WW'') have their own melodies, as well as Tetra and her Pirates (though it's replaced as her theme by [[spoiler: ''Zelda's Lullaby'']] once her destiny is revealed.)
** The Master Sword has one that plays in some form or another when it is climatically drawn from its pedestal in each game it appears in. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QruZZdwQ4KE You know the one]]: "Dadadada dadadada dadadada dadadada daaaaah DAAAAAH ''DAAAAAH'' '''DAAAAAH!'''"
*** Funnily enough, that's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvODpHnV9o4 the same]] ItemGet jingle that plays after every InexplicableTreasureChest and PlotCoupon, only drawn out and made more awesome. As befits the most awesome item in the game, of course.
%% ** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yc7kp_ETGU Sheik]] also gets one in ''[=OoT=]'', as well as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8R0biN_OWk Kaepora Gaebora.]]
%% ** Linebeck of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' has his own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk5RBAqziW8 rather awesome theme,]] as do [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnRmYVyPfTI Oshus]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNo1QvrhGvU Bellum.]]
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', "Zelda's Theme" is not initially present, but Zelda has a different leitmotif that subtly evokes it. Ghirahim also has an ominous yet whimsical theme that mixes in a pipe organ. ExpositionFairy Fi also has a beautiful one.
*** And, of course, there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM3CyUgqWiM Groose]], whose theme evolves along with his character and ends up as what many think is one of the best songs in ''Skyward Sword''.

* The ‘’VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' Series:

** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil2'' had William Birkin's theme, which had a variation for each of his mutations.

*** Sherry, Ada, and Tyrant also had their own musical themes.
** In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'', the titular monster has many pieces of theme music, but the two most memorable ones are "Feel the Tense...", which plays whenever he is skulking around in the immediate area and is just ''made'' to make the player feel incredibly nervous, and "Nemesis' Theme", a much louder and more dramatic piece of music that plays whenever he enters the same room as Jill.

* ''VideoGame/DetroitBecomeHuman'' has leitmotifs for each of its main characters, appropriately titled (Name)'s Theme that play during crucial moments involving the character.
** In addition, Connor and Kara have both of their themes combined into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H8x7HUOtU one]]. Aptly, it plays during their scenes.

** There are also quick little riffs that play when one of the three spawn. This builds subconscious associations among casual players and gives hardcore players (the ones who will poke around the games sound files to find these) something to listen for.

* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' and ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'': ""[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DTjMisARs8&ab_channel=SlasherPL You May Call Me Father]]" is this for [[spoiler: Balder, which plays during his boss fight in the first game and his younger self's last fight in the second.]]

*** Phoenix is the only character in ''Ultimate VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' with ''two'' themes; "Objection! 2001" (his leitmotif from his first game) is his standard theme, while "Pursuit - Corner the Culprit" (which plays at the climax of a trial) is used when he enters [[SuperMode Turnabout Mode]].

** VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', for example, almost all of the playable characters (and some of the villains) have their own leitmotif (with the exception of the twin brothers Edgar and Sabin/Mashe, who share one). Terra's leitmotif, which is also the Overworld Map theme, is effectively the ThemeTune for that entire game. Even more well-known, though, are the {{Recurring Riff}}s for concepts that span more than one game, such as the Crystal Theme/Prelude, the Final Fantasy Theme/Prologue, the (much-remixed) Chocobo Theme, the Moogle Theme, and the Victory Theme.

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has [[{{Understatement}} quite a few]], though some of these are because a character will have conventional music and a BossRemix of the aformentioned piece. Out of the 101 tracks on its soundtrack, only eleven do not contain some sort of leitmotif. The most widespread and truest leitmotif, however, would be the opening sequence song "Once Upon A Time', which appears in the tracks "Start Menu", "Home", "Hotel", "Can You Really Call This A Hotel I Didn't Receive A Mint On My Pillow Or Anything" and "[[TitleDrop Undertale]]". If you go for GoldenEnding, "Hopes and Dreams", "SAVE the World", "Bring It In, Guys!" and "Last Goodbye" will appear.

** {EDGE OF THE FUTURE} plays during the final battle is a remix of "Brat Overflow" that fades into the version from the title screen.

* Nearly [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters every character of the large cast]] of the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' has their own leitmotif. In fact, many have more than one. This large influx of [[AwesomeMusic/TouhouProject awesome music]] fuels not so much the fandom as it ''[[AdaptationDisplacement displaces]]'' it.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' and its sequel has for Crow Armbrust, "I'll remember you", the song played during the credits sequence [[spoiler:following his death. The melody of it is used in several other pieces, including the piece "Remaining Glow" played during and following his death and even "The Decisive Collision," which is actually the final boss theme of the original game, played during the first battle between Rean/Valimar and Crow/Ordine.]] "New Companions" is actually used in the original ''Cold Steel'' to introduce both Millium Orion and Crow, but its perky nature fits the personality Millium displays and it's used in several other scenes involving her, including in ''Cold Steel II''. [[TheHero Rean]] meanwhile gets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH-Xxj22Kog Blue Destination]] as his theme in the second game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} 2'' handles this in a unique way. Olimar and Louie don't have signature themes; instead any music playing is rendered in a straight 4/4 beat whenever Olimar is in control, and in an off-kilter swing beat whenever Louie is in control.
** ''Pikmin 3'' has a few, more traditional leitmotifs for the various characters. The first seven notes of ''2[='=]s'' main theme are associated with the Pikmin themselves, and the tune that was used for discoveries and gathered treasures has become indicative of Hocotate as a whole. The new protagonists from Koppai have their own motif, and finally, the final boss has one. [[ActionGirl Brittany]], [[TheCaptain Charlie]], and [[BigEater Louie]] each get their own theme when they are introduced, as well.

** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'', the track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1WeimmTGF4 Fiend]] is associated with Fiend-class demon bosses. It also appears in arranged forms in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIMAGINE'', ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', and ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' in the same context.