"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.

Nights Into Dreams...
Nights Into Dreams...
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
"Super Mario RPG was a good example of blisscore with hints of night bus."
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Batman: The Video Game
Batman: The Video Game
Vice: Project Doom
Vice: Project Doom
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Contra
Contra
Blaster Master
Blaster Master
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Crystalis
Crystalis
Kabuki: Quantum Fighter
Kabuki: Quantum Fighter
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Ghosts 'n Goblins
The Magic of Scheherazade
The Magic of Scheherazade
Cyber Stadium Series: Base Wars
Cyber Stadium Series: Base Wars
Bomberman
Bomberman
Marble Madness
Marble Madness
"Depending on the color scheme, Marble Madness could be very Nightbus."
City Connection
City Connection
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder
Strider
Strider
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Cave Story
Cave Story
Sleep Is Death
Sleep Is Death
A Mind Forever Voyaging
A Mind Forever Voyaging
"All Infocom games are witch haus, except A Mind Forever Voyaging"
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio
"Jet Grind/Set Radio is like a nightbus/blisscore combo...but somehow it works."
D2
D2
"dreamcast is the night bussest console for sure"
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
Blue Stinger
Blue Stinger
"blue stinger is john carpenter's the fog crossed with gigi the magical princess in videogame form."
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Ōkami
Ōkami
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
"Night bus as marketed to children."
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
Luigi's Mansion
Luigi's Mansion
Ikaruga
Ikaruga
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.
Jet Force Gemini
Jet Force Gemini
"jet force gemini was blisscore"
Castlevania
Castlevania
Tobal No. 1
Tobal No. 1
tobal no. 1's quest mode was night bus.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
"Klonoa is night bus with a hint of chillwave"
Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
"Jellyfish Sea" was used in the mix NBSX: Eidos Aria Réunion.
Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
Tekken 3
Tekken 3
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V
Limbo
Limbo
"Limbo is more witch house."
Fez
Fez
Max Payne
Max Payne
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."
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana
"Opening Theme" used in the mix MΛNΛ by Drudge.
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
Top Gear
Top Gear
Vegas Stakes
Vegas Stakes
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 2
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.
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
"Star Light Zone is the most night bus OG sonic level."
X-Men
X-Men
Blackthorne
Blackthorne
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Terranigma
Terranigma
Trials of Mana
Trials of Mana
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Castlevania
Castlevania
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Night Driver
Night Driver
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Night Stalker
Night Stalker
Aztec
Aztec
Noctis
Noctis
Wizard of Wor
Wizard of Wor
Zaxxon
Zaxxon
Jet Set Willy
Jet Set Willy
Zork
Zork
Manhunter: New York
Manhunter: New York
Karateka
Karateka
The Adventures of Captain Comic
The Adventures of Captain Comic
Captain Comic II: Fractured Reality
Captain Comic II: Fractured Reality
Arcticfox
Arcticfox
Super Solvers: Midnight Rescue!
Super Solvers: Midnight Rescue!
Cauldron
Cauldron
That theme music on the C64 version.
Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown
Super Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets!
Super Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets!
Think Quick!
Think Quick!
Mickey's Space Adventure
Mickey's Space Adventure
EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus
EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus
Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?
Where in Space Is Carmen Sandiego?
Gobliiins
Gobliiins
Paganitzu
Paganitzu
Light Crusader
Light Crusader
"I know it has Light in the title, but play the game."
Puggsy
Puggsy
The Maze of Galious: Knightmare II
Bomberman 64
Bomberman 64

1 Comment


2 years ago

lotta overlap with backloggdcore here


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