One of the most important factors in choosing a good videogame ring tone is to find something instantly recognizable. Obviously, the overworld theme for Super Mario Bros. fits the bill. We love the music and we'd rank it higher, but this ring tone is simply too common. Only unoriginal hacks and gaming casuals choose the Mario theme for their cellphone ringer. Douglass C. Perry.

Continuing with the idea that a videogame cellphone ring tone has to be recognizable, we pick the classic "Music A" track from the Game Boy version of Tetris to fill the number nine spot on our list. It's about as classic as videogame music gets, though as a ringer it's just a bit too frantic. If nothing else, "Music A" is the perfect tone for the gamer that can't pick favorites.

For a slightly more obscure yet still recognizable theme, we recommend this classic Doom track. Its sharp and simple tones work great on most phones, and the song manages to stay fast without feeling crazy and pressing. The track is also just foreign enough to not get everyone's attention—only die-hards will give a friendly nod of acknowledgement.

Guile's theme blares loudly from the start, making it a great noise to call attention to your phone. It's also a pretty pleasant song that may encourage you to keep your caller waiting while you enjoy the nostalgic images the tone elicits. Most of the Street Fighter II songs work well as phone ringers, but for us it's Guile's song that's most instantly recognizable.

The Final Fantasy series has always delivered consistently solid music, though most tracks are a bit too dramatic for an activity as mundane as receiving phone calls. However, the various chocobo themes have always captured a light-hearted and joyful feel that perfectly sets up a conversation with your mother about why you don't call her more often. We like "Chocobo Forest" best.

A great thing about Mega Man music is that it's almost all instantly recognizable as Mega Man music. Mega Man 3 in particular is rife with classic tracks that just bleed blue, our favorite being the Snake Man stage theme. The track begins with a startling arrangement and then moves into something more melodious. We think it rocks, and it sounds good on a cellphone.

Few music tracks garner the respect a good Castlevania tune can earn, and few Castlevania tracks are as classic as "Vampire Killer." Its punchy NES notes make the track great for cellphones, and it's easily recognizable to the sort of gamers you might care to impress. You know, if impressing fellow nerds is your goal.

Short, punchy, and instantly recognizable, this theme from Sonic the Hedgehog makes a great cellphone ring tone. And as well-known as Sonic is, we're amazed it's not popular. Though it's probably a good thing that no one else uses the invicibility theme as a ringer—gives your phone a chance to stay wholly original. Care of IGN.

"Instantly recognizable" doesn't quite sum up the qualities of the overworld theme to The Legend of Zelda. Put the track on your cellphone and it's almost like a badge of honor that shines every time you get a call. It shows your quality as a gamer, tells those around you that you have good taste, and triggers memories of some of the best days in gaming past. Best of all, it's not very common.

Solid Snake's codec bleep perfectly fits the bill for a cellphone ringer. It's recognizable to the hardcore, easily loops, and fits perfectly within context. It's like dressing up as Solid Snake for daily life without coming off as a psychopath. The codec bleep is so cool and exclusive that we've refused to link to it. Selfish, sure, but the exclusivity is what makes the codec bleep number one.