Bowser BGM
- This article is about the musical theme fromSuper Mario World. For other musical themes associated with and/or named afterBowser, seeCategory:Bowser's themes.
| "Bowser BGM" | |
|---|---|
 Image fromNintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | E minor |
| First appearance | Super Mario World (1990) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Bowser BGM"[1] is a musical theme composed byKoji Kondo for the final boss battle againstBowser inSuper Mario World. The opening of the theme sounds very similar to "World 8 Map (Dark Land)" fromSuper Mario Bros. 3.
Reuses[edit]
The following list does not include ports or remakes ofSuper Mario World.
| Game | Description |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Maker | The opening of "Bowser BGM" can be heard upon completing a course with the Bowsercostume in theSuper Mario Bros. style. |
| Super Mario Odyssey | The main section of "Bowser BGM" can briefly be heard during the cutscene whenMariocaptures Bowser at the end of the game, which features a screenshot of the final boss battle fromSuper Mario World as one of Bowser's past memories. |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | "Bowser BGM" plays when the "Final Boss"sound effect is triggered inSuper Mario World-style courses. The opening portion of the theme, sans the final note, is omitted. |
Arrangements[edit]
Super Mario World television series[edit]
An arrangement of "Bowser BGM" can be heard twice in theSuper Mario World animated series episode "Send in the Clown".
Mario Kart series[edit]
Super Mario Kart[edit]
InSuper Mario Kart, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" without the intro, titled "Bowser Castle" in theNintendo Music app, plays inBowser Castle 1,Bowser Castle 2, andBowser Castle 3.
 Bowser Castle - The arrangement heard inSuper Mario Kart | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]
InMario Kart: Super Circuit, an arrangement of "Bowser Castle" fromSuper Mario Kart withchiptune instrumentation plays inBowser Castle 1,Bowser Castle 2, andBowser Castle 3.
| Bowser Castle (Extra Track) - The arrangement heard inMario Kart: Super Circuit | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
The original version of "Bowser Castle" fromSuper Mario Kart returns inMario Kart Tour, where it plays inSNES Bowser Castle 3.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
InMario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of Wave 6 of theBooster Course Pass, an arrangement of "Bowser Castle" fromSuper Mario Kart plays inSNES Bowser Castle 3, likewise titled "SNES Bowser Castle 3" in theNintendo Music app. A looping drum set beat is layered on top of the theme whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.
This theme is arranged as ametal composition; the only retained instruments from the original SNES version of the track are the sampled AKAI S1000 brass hits, though at times, their sound also deviates from the original.
The final lap version of the arrangement uses a shorter intro; this distinction is shared with "Rock Rock Mountain" and "DK Jungle" inMario Kart 7, and "Toad Harbor", "Mute City", and "GBA Ribbon Road" inMario Kart 8.
| SNES Bowser Castle 3 - The arrangement heard inMario Kart 8 Deluxe | File info 0:30 |
| SNES Bowser Castle 3 (Frontrunning) - The arrangement heard inMario Kart 8 Deluxe | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart World[edit]
 | It has been requested that at least oneaudio and/or video file related to this section beuploaded.Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See thehelp page for help getting started. |
InMario Kart World, ametalstep arrangement of "Bowser Castle" fromSuper Mario Kart can play on any VS Raceroute coming fromAirship Fortress,Wario Shipyard,Dry Bones Burnout, andBowser's Castle.
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
| It has been requested that at least oneaudio and/or video file related to this section beuploaded.Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See thehelp page for help getting started. |
InSuper Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, theGame Boy Advance remake ofSuper Mario World, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays during the final boss battle againstBowser, just like in the original game. The electric guitar used in the first phase version of the arrangement is out of sync compared to the second and third phase versions, playing one verse earlier than normal.
Itadaki Street series[edit]
Itadaki Street DS[edit]
InItadaki Street DS, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays when one player has reached the target net worth of aSuper Mario board.
| 魔王クッパBGM - The arrangement heard inItadaki Street DS | File info 0:30 |
Fortune Street[edit]
InFortune Street, an arrangement of "Bowser BGM" plays when one player has reached the target net worth of aSuper Mario board. This arrangement is slightly altered from theItadaki Street DS version.
| Target Net Worth Reached - The arrangement heard inFortune Street | File info 0:30 |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Bowser BGM (Phase 2)" onNintendo Music
Image for "Bowser BGM (Phase 3)" on Nintendo Music
Image for "Bowser Castle" fromSuper Mario Kart on Nintendo Music
Image for "Bowser Castle (Final Lap)" fromSuper Mario Kart on Nintendo Music
Image for "SNES Bowser Castle 3" fromMario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music
List ofSuper Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario World | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1990 | Original | "Bowser BGM"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Kart | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1992 | Arrangement | "Bowser Castle"[1] | Soyo Oka |
| Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Original | "Bowser BGM"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Game Boy Advance | 2001 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | Game Boy Advance | 2001 | Arrangement | ||
| Itadaki Street DS | Nintendo DS | 2007 | Arrangement | 「魔王クッパBGM」 (Maō Kuppa BGM)[2] | |
| Fortune Street | Wii | 2011 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | "Final Boss" | Koji Kondo |
| Mario Kart Tour | iOS,Android | 2023[a] | Past arrangement (Super Mario Kart) | ||
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2023[b] | Arrangement | "SNES Bowser Castle 3"[1] | |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Bowser Castle"[3] |
- ^Added in the2023 Bowser Tour on May 2, 2023
- ^Added in Wave 6 of theBooster Course Pass on November 9, 2023
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario World | 1991 | Arrangement | Michael Tavera |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario World | 1991 | Original | 「魔王クッパBGM」 (Maō Kuppa BGM) | Koji Kondo |
| Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music | 2004 | Original | 「クッパ」 (Kuppa) | Koji Kondo |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Kart) | "Castle" | Soyo Oka |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 魔王クッパBGM[1] Maō Kuppa BGM | Evil King Bowser BGM |
