The Minecraft Soundtrack Is Now On The US Library Of Congress' List Of Nationally Significant Recordings

Summary

The Minecraft theme was added to the US Library of Congress list of Nationally Significant Recordings.
The theme was recognized alongside iconic songs, and the Windows 95 start-up sound.
The ‘You Died’ sound effect from Dark Souls should be next.

Some video game sound effects and music are almost as iconic as the video games they’re from. Your ears would surely perk up if you randomly heard the Super Mario Bros. coin sound or Dark Souls’ ‘You Died’ sound effect in public. Similarly, soundtracks like Ezio’s Family from Assassin’s Creed 2 and the Street Fighter 2 theme are also immediately recognizable to gamers.

Jack Black as Steve in A Minecraft Movie holding a pickaxe and wearing Mario's hat.

Minecraft Has Become As Culturally Important As Mario In A Quarter Of The Time

Minecraft came out in 2011, but the movie shows just how dominant the franchise has become in that short time.

However, there are some sound recordings that are so culturally significant that the government gets involved. The US Library of Congress has a dedicated section for these types of sound recordings, and keeps adding to them every year. While it’s mostly filled with songs, historic speeches, and even sports commentary, this year features a video game soundtrack.

The Minecraft Theme Enters The US Library Of Congress’ List Of Nationally Significant Recordings

Along with the likes of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On and My Life by Mary J. Blige, Minecraft: Volume Alpha has made it onto the 2025 list. “Since its official release in 2011, Minecraft has grown into a cultural phenomenon, building its legacy as one of history’s most successful video games one voxel at a time,” says the entry on the Library of Congress’ website.

“Key to the game’s early success is the ambient-style soundtrack, created by German producer Daniel Rosenfeld under his alias, C418. The gentle electronic score lends itself perfectly to the game’s open-ended design and sandbox environment, which invites players to interact, explore and build, free from any specific narrative constraints.”

Minecraft Creeper and Roblox man in front of Wavemother Shadowheart in Baldurs Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 Is The New Minecraft

With so much community content, there are dozens of user created ways to experience Baldur’s Gate 3.

Along with the Minecraft theme is the Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime, better known as the Windows 95 start-up theme. Younger audiences may not know what it sounds like, but for us old folks, it ushered in the age of computers and the early days of the internet.

The Minecraft theme is only the second video game related recording to make it onto the list, with the first one being the Super Mario Bros. theme by Koji Kondo, added in 2000.