AbstractThis study examines the teaching process and educational value of incorporating video game music (BGM) as an innovative material in junior high school music classes, with a focus on students aged 14 to 15 years old. Building on Gee’s (2003) concept of video games as learning systems that promote engagement and Green’s (2002) framework of popular music and informal learning, video game music is framed as both educationally effective and socially relevant. With the rapid development of digital technology and the gaming industry, video games have become an integral and influential part of young people’s daily entertainment and social lives. Each game utilizes background music to create atmosphere and evoke emotions (e.g., Subway Surfers, Snake, Super Mario, Genshin Impact, Tower of Saviors). These melodies, crafted through electronic sounds and rhythmic design, are familiar to students and have become an integral part of mainstream culture. They also inspire composers and have been adapted into symphonic works, rock, a cappella, and solo performances, demonstrating substantial artistic value and creative potential.In this context, the study uses video game music as a starting point to revitalize traditional music teaching, aiming to increase students’ interest, motivation, and active learning while deepening their musical understanding. The curriculum utilizes digital tools to develop three main areas: performance, appreciation, and creation. By exploring instrumentation, rhythm, form, and expression, students improve their listening skills, aesthetic sense, and creative thinking. With long teaching experience, the researcher designed step-by-step lessons closely linked to students’ everyday lives, guiding them to reinterpret familiar game music through performance and small creative projects. This approach increased classroom participation, enhanced learning outcomes, and highlighted the varied value of music in both daily and artistic contexts.Findings show that students’ familiarity with video game music increased their motivation and engagement. By reinterpreting and creating from game soundtracks, they expanded their musical horizons, strengthened curiosity, and built creative confidence. The study concludes that video game music effectively connects school learning with youth culture, enlivens classroom dynamics, supports peer discussion, and challenges traditional teaching methods. Overall, the results show that video game music is a practical and innovative resource for music education, supporting 21st-century skills and interdisciplinary learning. By merging art, technology, and culture, video game music provides a vibrant and inspiring pathway for meaningful, future-oriented music learning in the digital age.Keywords: Video Game Music; Music Education and Student Engagement; Creativity and 21st-Century Skills.