"Night Bus" Games

Circa 2010 - 2012, the Hipinion message boards saw a lot of discussion around "Night Bus," which was both an emerging online music scene and a feeling the certain media evoked. There was a lot of talk about whether something was "Night Bus," but not a lot of agreement as to what that really meant. Beyond the main music-centric thread, there were smaller threads on film and other media, including one on "Night Bus Video Games." This list includes most of the games mentioned in the thread. I also included some games that had music that was featured in various Night Bus-themed mixes in the main music thread, along with one or two games I think a pretty night bus.

If you read this list and have NO idea what night bus is... well, you're in the same boat as most people. Best not to think about it too hard.

City Bus Simulator 2010
City Bus Simulator 2010
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Space Station Silicon Valley
Space Station Silicon Valley
Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64
The Maze of Galious: Knightmare II
Puggsy
Puggsy
Light Crusader
Light Crusader
"I know it has Light in the title, but play the game."
Paganitzu
Paganitzu
Gobliiins
Gobliiins
Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?
Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?
EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus
EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus
Mickey's Space Adventure
Mickey's Space Adventure
Think Quick!
Think Quick!
Super Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets!
Super Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets!
Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown
Cauldron
Cauldron
That theme music on the C64 version.
Super Solvers: Midnight Rescue!
Super Solvers: Midnight Rescue!
Arcticfox
Arcticfox
Captain Comic II: Fractured Reality
Captain Comic II: Fractured Reality
The Adventures of Captain Comic
The Adventures of Captain Comic
Karateka
Karateka
Manhunter: New York
Manhunter: New York
Zork
Zork
Jet Set Willy
Jet Set Willy
Zaxxon
Zaxxon
Wizard of Wor
Wizard of Wor
Noctis
Noctis
Aztec
Aztec
Night Stalker
Night Stalker
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Night Driver
Night Driver
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Castlevania
Castlevania
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Trials of Mana
Trials of Mana
Terranigma
Terranigma
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Blackthorne
Blackthorne
X-Men
X-Men
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
"Star Light Zone is the most night bus OG sonic level."
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco is surprisingly night bus for a game where you play as a dolphin, which is more of a "chillwave" thing.
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage
Vegas Stakes
Vegas Stakes
Top Gear
Top Gear
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana
"Opening Theme" used in the mix MΛNΛ by Drudge.
Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
"the first four hitman games are weirdly kind of nightbus, something about slinking around quietly and garotting as few dudes as possible."
Max Payne
Max Payne
Fez
Fez
Limbo
Limbo
"Limbo is more witch house."
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V
Tekken 3
Tekken 3
Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
"Jellyfish Sea" was used in the mix NBSX: Eidos Aria Réunion.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
"Klonoa is night bus with a hint of chillwave"
Tobal No. 1
Tobal No. 1
tobal no. 1's quest mode was night bus.
Castlevania
Castlevania
Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini
"jet force gemini was blisscore"
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
This was mainly mentioned because of the music for "Dire, Dire Docks," and to a lesser extent the "Save Menu" theme.
Ikaruga
Ikaruga
Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
"Night bus as marketed to children."
Ōkami
Ōkami
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Blue Stinger
Blue Stinger
"blue stinger is john carpenter's the fog crossed with gigi the magical princess in videogame form."
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
D2
D2
"dreamcast is the night bussest console for sure"
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio
"Jet Grind/Set Radio is like a nightbus/blisscore combo...but somehow it works."
A Mind Forever Voyaging
A Mind Forever Voyaging
"All Infocom games are witch haus, except A Mind Forever Voyaging"
Sleep Is Death
Sleep Is Death
Cave Story
Cave Story
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Strider
Strider
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder
City Connection
City Connection
Marble Madness
Marble Madness
"Depending on the color scheme, Marble Madness could be very Nightbus."
Bomberman
Bomberman
Cyber Stadium Series: Base Wars
Cyber Stadium Series: Base Wars
The Magic of Scheherazade
The Magic of Scheherazade
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Kabuki: Quantum Fighter
Kabuki: Quantum Fighter
Crystalis
Crystalis
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Blaster Master
Blaster Master
Contra
Contra
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Vice: Project Doom
Vice: Project Doom
Batman: The Video Game
Batman: The Video Game

1 Comment


2 years ago

lotta overlap with backloggdcore here


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