10 songs that would be perfect as Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC

Despite having so many songs, Theatrhythm Final Bar DLC is still missing some key tracks

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a celebration of Square Enix’s musical history, not just Final Fantasy, and the Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC lineup will give you the game hundreds of songs when all things are said and done. Over the course of the year, the publisher will be adding songs from NieR, Octopath Traveler, Romancing SaGa, Live A Live, and The World Ends with You to the rhythm game as DLC.

Currently, there are two Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC packs that have not been confirmed as of the time of writing. Those will release on October 11 and November 1. Let’s discuss which songs from Square Enix’s catalog would be perfect for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. 

1. “Dearly Beloved” from Kingdom Hearts 3

Featured as one of Destructoid’s best Kingdom Hearts songs, “Dearly Beloved” is an iconic video game track that should be featured in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. The stunning piano-led melody would be great to play against a video montage of the events from the Kingdom Hearts series. You can also feature the bombastic jazzy version of “Dearly Beloved” from the music-rhythm take on the franchise Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory if you need a track with more energy behind it.

2. “Strange World – Marching Through The Fields” from Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

It’s a shame that the Theatrhythm game based on Dragon Quest never made it to the West. Square Enix can redeem that by including “Strange World – Marching Through The Fields” in this game as DLC. The piece is absolutely beautiful with a tremendous flow to it. It starts off as a slow, striking number and then elevates in tempo with heightened percussion. The strong theme carries through as the hero in Dragon Quest VIII explores the open world. Playing this in Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line, with its unexpected twists and turns, would be great gameplay-wise.

3. A Final Fantasy XVI Inclusion

With Final Fantasy XVI releasing this summer, it would make sense to tie in the game’s music as Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC. That would be a fun promotional move. They could drop it as free DLC as a way to futureproof this rhythm game, at least for the near future. The music from the trailers so far has been epic. Whenever a choir is in the background of some thumping tunes, you’re in for a good time in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. Alex Moukala, in the above video, recreated the theme we’ve heard from the “Awakening” trailer, so you can get an idea of what it would be like.

4. “New Bodhum” from Final Fantasy XIII-2

This track in Final Fantasy XIII-2 is so underrated that it wasn’t even included in the base song list for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. “New Bodhum” from Final Fantasy XIII-2 is such a banger with some striking piano playing, an atmospheric vocal track, and pumped-up percussion that will get you energized. Like “Marching Through The Fields,” its flow is pleasing as the instruments rise to the chorus. This would make for a fun Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC addition.

5. “bird in the hand” from NEO: The World Ends with You

It’s a shame that one of NEO: The World Ends with You‘s best songs, “bird in the hand,” hasn’t made the Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC song list yet. It has a unique funk/hip-hop sound with exciting instrumentals, catchy vocals, and intriguing rap elements. It would certainly stand out in a game that has many orchestral pieces from the mainline Final Fantasy entries.

6. “Simple and Clean” from Kingdom Hearts

If you need a new vocal track as part of the Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC lineup, “Simple and Clean” from Kingdom Hearts is one of the best options. Yes, the lyrics are silly. However, Hikaru Utada’s enchanting vocals in this song will transport you back to your childhood. It will be great to play this in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line as you take out cactuars and tonberries. Don’t make us say, “Please, oh baby” for this song, Square Enix.

7. “Struggle” from Radiata Stories

Radiata Stories is probably a game you haven’t heard of for a while, and it’s certainly one of Square Enix’s hidden gems. While the soundtrack isn’t too stellar across the board when compared to other Square Enix classics, it would be fun to have a medley of the “Struggle” battle themes in the game. “Struggle I” is an energetic number that would apply itself to a thrilling song in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. “Struggle 2″ has more of a rocky inspiration behind it, with a few Japanese instruments like the taiko drum in the background complimenting the track. Lastly, “Struggle 3” has a more jazzy take on the main theme. Mix them all together, and you should have a fascinating Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC song to play.

8. Forspoken’s Main Title Theme

Forspoken may be a disappointment for many, but the opening music is absolutely something to admire. The mix of hip-hop elements with the grand orchestrated nature of a fantasy epic blends beautifully in this song. It matches the tone and concept of the game perfectly. The theme also has a dynamic flow to it, letting the developers of Theatrhythm Final Bar Line add interesting gameplay elements to the song. It would also be neat if Frey became a DLC character of some kind you can unlock for your party.

9. “Max and Chloe” from Life is Strange

If you want to celebrate all of Square Enix’s music in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, it should look towards some of its Western-made IPs. Life is Strange is a memorable game for many. This beautiful theme is played during the end credits of the first game. It’s a guitar-forward piece that reflects the emotional bond between the two characters after facing enormous circumstances. It’s not the most exciting piece in Square Enix’s history of music, but the stirring instrumentals and simple nod towards the beloved series as Theatrhythm Final Bar Line DLC would be a neat touch.

10. Guest Remixes

One of the coolest aspects of Final Fantasy soundtracks is how they can be translated into different genres or reworked by talented musicians around the world. It would be cool to see video game cover artists release a DLC pack based on their favorite themes from the franchise. For example, Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes released a Ranchera remix of “Tifa’s Theme” from Final Fantasy VII. It sounds remarkably fitting. Cover artist and now composer Carlos “insaneintherainmusic” Eiene (alongside Julia Henderson) has also made a stellar jazzy “Sunleth Waterscape” cover from Final Fantasy XIII. Hearing their talents in a game like this would be a fantastic treat for Final Fantasy fans.

Chris Penwell

Chris is a freelance writer for multiple outlets, including Destructoid! He loves narrative games like Kingdom Hearts, Life is Strange, and Beyond Good & Evil. However, he does enjoy Fortnite and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from time to time.