When thinking about desert bops my first thought will always be "Dry dry desert trek" from Paper Mario 64

Hyper Light Drifter - Petrichor
Fallout (1) - Desert Wind
CrossCode - Temple of the Valley

But wait, there's even more:

Ultimate Chicken Horse - Pyramid
Bug Fables - Defiant Root
Cuphead - Pyramid Peril
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - Scrabania
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Tatooine Dune Sea
Rayman Origins - Music World: Action V1
Don't Starve (both Reign of Giants and Together have it so choose whatever) - Summer Jobs
Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Desert Battle II
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Time Only Knows
ULTRAKILL - Sands of Tide

Wow I never realized so many games had ass deserts...

Also may I suggest the Dalmasca Estersand theme from FFXII. Just a very classic "let's go on an adventure"-type orchestral number.

Gobi valley from banjo kazooie
Slipsand from galaxy 2

Gotta give a shout out to Superstar Saga's Teehee Valley my beloved (the original version is also pretty good but I prefer the remake version on this one) and Return to Dreamland's Sandy Wilds

The Pyramid Cave theme in Sonic Adventure 2 is a favorite video game track of mine.
Kalimari Desert from Mario Kart
Twilight Princess's Gerudo Desert
Gritzy Desert from Partners in Time

shin megami tensei III: nocturne - large map (technically desert music since the whole overworld's one lmao)
xenoblade chronicles x - oblivia
the legend of zelda: breath of the wild - gerudo town night
f-zero gx - 8 guitars ~ sand ocean
the legend of zelda: majora's mask - ikana valley
mother - yucca desert

Sonic Lost World Desert Ruins Zones 1 and 4

Most of Sonic and the Secret Rings' soundtrack but I'll make special mention of Let the Speed Mend It.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Eagus Wilderness
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Dannagh Desert
Zelda Ocarina of Time - Gerudo Valley
Zelda Twilight Princess - Kakariko is saved
Zelda Skyward Sword - Lanaryu Desert
Grime - Unformed Desert

Phoenotopia Awakening - Atai
Dofus - Saharach 1
Dofus - Saharach 3

i recommend kirby air ride's sky sands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Iem2o2r2OM

Sorry for being late, here's my picks.

Diablo II - Act 2
Hard Corps Uprising - Stage 1 Origins
Pizza Tower - Oregano Mirage
R-Type Leo - Red-Hot Desert
Top Gear Rally - Desert
Jumping Flash - World 2-1
Spyro 2 - Scorch
Rally Cross - Oasis
Steel Reign - Hidden Desert Base
Warhawk - The Pyramid

Wow didn't expect the OoT song to not be Gerudo valley. This game has really has gone through a critical reexamination huh.

Persona 5 - When Mother was There

Sonic Unleashed - Arid Sands (Day)

Sonic Unleashed - Arid Sands (Night)

Personally I enjoy 'Tostarena: Ruins' from Super Mario Odyssey.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps - The Windswept Wastes
Spyro the Dragon - Dry Canyon
Super Kiwi 64 - Desert

Sizzlin' Sands from Bugsnax.

Xenoblade 2 Roaming the Wastes/Mor Ardain

Cool list, might I recommend Desert of Despair from Ys 7

Always thought the desert theme from NSMB Wii was pretty iconic.

Might I suggest...

- Croc: Legend of the Gobbos - Desert Island 1 (there are a few different versions of this in-game, but this is my favorite)
- Monster World IV - Arabesque Court in Dream
- Phantasy Star IV - Motavia Field
- Pokémon Colosseum - Outskirt Stand
- Sonic & Knuckles - Sandopolis Zone, Acts 1 and 2
- Sonic Robo Blast 2 - Arid Canyon Zone, Acts 1 and 2
- Wild ARMs - Migrant Bird of the Wilderness
- Wild ARMs 3 - Migratory Birds ~ Scoundrels

Swirling Sands - The Last Remnant
Northern Desert - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky

@macblank I was literally about to say Croc 😭 good pick tho

My suggestions:
A Day in Agrabah from Kingdom Hearts.
Pharaoh Man Stage from Mega Man 4.
Judgment from Metal Slug 2.

Super Mario Galaxy - Dusty Dune Galaxy
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Mor Ardain - Roaming the Wastes

If it counts, Temple of Drifting Sands from NieR: Replicant