Games with cool desert themes

I just really like desert themes in video games I guess

Suggestions happily welcome!

NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata
Memories of Dust
Journey
Journey
Road of Trials

(Technically a lot of the themes play during the desert areas but this one stands out in particular to me)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Gerudo Valley

(you didn't really think this wouldn't show up right? ;) )
Daytona USA
Daytona USA
Desert City
Breath of Fire III
Breath of Fire III
Desert of Death
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
Thunder Plains
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X2
Overdrive Ostrich Stage
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Gritzy Desert
Guild Wars
Guild Wars
Crystal Oasis
F-Zero
F-Zero
Sand Ocean
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon Emerald Version
Route 111 Desert
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler
The Sunlands
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
Dusty Desert
Rogue Galaxy
Rogue Galaxy
Shadow of the Sun
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Desert Stage
Golden Sun
Golden Sun
Lamakan Desert
Legaia 2: Duel Saga
Legaia 2: Duel Saga
Wasteland Of Far Away Places
Mario Party 3
Mario Party 3
Spiny Desert
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Kazooie
Gobi Valley
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Crossing the Desert
Wild Arms 3
Wild Arms 3
Advanced Desert
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Mor Ardain - Roaming the Wastes
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
Dusty Dune Galaxy
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Hail from the Past
Skies of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia
Kingdom of Nasrad
Kirby Air Ride
Kirby Air Ride
Sky Sands
The Sea Will Claim Everything
The Sea Will Claim Everything
Baharat
Touhou Double Focus
Touhou Double Focus
Desert Area
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Tomb Time
Worms Armageddon
Worms Armageddon
Desert
Rabi-Ribi
Rabi-Ribi
Rabi Ribi Ravine
Sonic Lost World
Sonic Lost World
Desert Ruins Act 1
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 4
Pharaoh Man Stage
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Rock Star
Yoshi's Woolly World
Yoshi's Woolly World
The Desert Pyramid Beckons
Rockman 4 Minus Infinity
Rockman 4 Minus Infinity
Pharaoh Man (Fillmore)
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Seafloor Palace

(you're flying through the desert to the destination despite the interesting non-desert name)
Evenicle 2
Evenicle 2
[Ancient Murals](Ancient Murals)
Tetris Plus
Tetris Plus
Egypt
Soma Bringer
Soma Bringer
Adol Desert
Paper Mario
Paper Mario
Dry Dry Desert Trek
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Sleeping Treasure in the Sand
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
U.N. Squadron
U.N. Squadron
Desert/Caves
Miitopia
Miitopia
Battle (World 2)
Sable
Sable
Honestly, most of the OST would fit here; here's The Ewer as an example.
Bravely Second: End Layer
Bravely Second: End Layer
Land of Sand and a Large Clock
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Scorching Sands
Metal Slug X
Metal Slug X
Judgement X
Persona 5
Persona 5
Going through the Scorching Desert

Bonus: Rivers in the Desert (it doesn't actually take place in the desert level but it's got the imagery down!)
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
Desert After Tears
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
The Dalmasca Eastersand
Donkey Kong 64
Donkey Kong 64
Angry Aztec
Breath of Fire IV
Breath of Fire IV
Tiny Village in the Desert

(honestly, most of the tracks on this OST could substitute, very deserty)
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Dunes Battle Theme

Desert Battle Theme
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Northern Desert
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
Sands of Amber
Super Monkey Ball
Super Monkey Ball
Desert

Bonus remix from Banana Mania
Metal Slug 2
Metal Slug 2
Judgement
Risk of Rain 2
Risk of Rain 2
Terra Pluviam
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Desert Theme
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The Waste Where Life Began
Gun & Frontier
Gun & Frontier
Most of the game's OST could work from what I've been told, but here's a sample:

Desert Mountain Storm
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song
Oasis From a Window
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Kingdom of the Desert
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Slipsand Galaxy
Guacamelee!
Guacamelee!
Desierto Caliente
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Great Canyon

DX Remix
Killer7
Killer7
Tecks Mecks
Dujanah
Dujanah
Duja-Dub
Diablo II
Diablo II
Toru

6 Comments


1 year ago

Added Xenogears, thanks!
it does the common "desert music as orientalist pastiche" thing but i do still like "toru" from diablo ii

6 months ago

One of my favorite desert settings in a game is the Scorching Sandpaper Desert and Shroom City in Paper Mario: The Origami King.


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