Get ready for an aural adventure! Our definitive guide ranks the best video game soundtracks ever. Twenty unforgettable scores shaping gaming. No fluff. Just the hits setting standards for what game music can achieve
Top 20 Video Game Soundtracks of All Time
A video game’s soundtrack isn’t background noise. It crafts ambience, conveys emotion, and narrates without words. It fundamentally shapes the game’s emotional impact. Legendary game soundtracks from titles like “Final Fantasy VII” have etched melodies into gaming history. The realm of video game music has remarkably expanded in complexity and creativity. Delivering auditory landscapes whisking players away to myriad virtual realms.
20. Cuphead
Video games have outstanding music. The “Cuphead” casino levels show the game’s talent for making things feel real and fun. The composer is Kristofer Maddigan. His music brings to life the crazy energy and unpredictability of casinos.
Every track is awesome jazz, big band, and swing music – genres that perfectly capture the vibe the game copies. The “Cuphead” music does more than just play in the background. It makes the player’s experience better. Each boss battle feels like a dance with luck itself.
Especially in the best online casino real money, the soundtrack’s lively brass, screaming woodwinds, and snappy drums take players right to an old-fashioned gambling hall. It’s filled with excitement and the chance of big wins. The careful attention to music details makes sure each note builds a rich and captivating environment. It proves that a well-made soundtrack can take gaming to new heights
19. Ori and the Blind Forest
Gareth Coker’s music for Ori and the Blind Forest captures the game’s emotions. The soundtrack:
- Blends with the enchanting world, enhancing the atmosphere
- Boosts visuals by matching animations and climactic moments
- Highlights the game’s artistic brilliance
The deep story is reflected and amplified by the score. It emphasizes emotional points and character growth.
18. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Greg Edmonson’s soundtrack for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is cinematic. It captures the game’s high-energy adventure.
The score elevates the experience. It intensifies the thrill of following Nathan Drake’s global journey. It adapts to each scene – tranquil or action-packed. It uses diverse instruments and styles for an authentic movie-like atmosphere. Edmonson skillfully combines orchestral elements with world music. This evokes each foreign location players visit.
17. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The music for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is amazing. Jeremy Soule created it to fit all parts of the game well, changing for different parts of the game. This makes playing the game feel very real, drawing players into Skyrim’s huge world
16. Super Mario Odyssey
Koji Kondo and Naoto Kubo’s music for Super Mario Odyssey is fun and lively. It shows how cheerful and adventurous the game is. Like the music for Super Mario Galaxy, it reminds people why they love Super Mario games. The catchy tunes and classic sounds keep this series charming.
15. Shadow of the Colossus
Kow Otani wrote the soundtrack for Shadow of the Colossus. It’s an essential part of the game’s emotional story. The music sets a chilling mood, fitting the game’s lonely atmosphere. The simple melodies build suspense and feeling. When the hero fights Colossi, the music changes dramatically. It becomes an epic orchestra. This shows how huge these battles feel. It makes them more exciting.
14. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’s soundtrack featured musical contributions from Harry Gregson-Williams. He brought his Hollywood film scoring experience to create a tense, suspenseful ambiance.
The music combined symphonic orchestral pieces and fit perfectly with the game’s stealth-action and spy storyline. As players progressed, the soundtrack dynamically adapted to their actions, immersing them deeper into the gameplay.
- Harry Gregson-Williams scored major Hollywood films before this game.
- The music blended orchestral and symphonic styles.
- Tense sounds heightened the stealth-action and spy themes.
Metal Gear Solid 3’s music smoothly shifted to intensify the engrossing gameplay experience.
13. Bastion
Darren Korb’s soundtrack for Bastion conveyed an optimistic tone amidst destruction. He melded folk, rock, and electronic music to forge an atmospheric vibe aligned with the game world’s catastrophic devastation. Though ruined, the music inspired hope. Standout tracks like ‘Build That Wall (Zia’s theme)’ and ‘Setting Sail, Coming Home (End theme)’ resonated strongly. These songs amplified Bastion’s emotionally compelling narrative and gameplay.
12. Hollow Knight
Christopher Larkin composed a cinematic, captivating score for Hollow Knight. His delightful melodies graced the game’s mysterious, somber environments with splendor.
The music complemented Hollow Knight’s intricately designed levels and challenging gameplay. This memorable soundtrack was instrumental in elevating this acclaimed indie game experience.
11. God of War (2018)
Bear McCreary’s moving soundtrack makes God of War (2018) intense. Nordic parts and big orchestra music make the music enthralling. It deepens Kratos’s journey and makes the gaming immersive, and memorable.
10. The Last of Us
Gustavo Santaolalla’s emotional music captures The Last of Us post-apocalypse world, and character bonds. Its sad tunes enhance storytelling. The Last of Us becomes profoundly moving, indelibly memorable.
9. Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI’s music shows a vast emotional range by Nobuo Uematsu, enhancing depth. A pioneer, Uematsu influenced a musician’s generation with iconic compositions. Standouts like ‘Terra’s Theme’, and ‘Dancing Mad’ make the soundtrack crucial. It marked when soundtracks drove the narrative, crafted immersive worlds.
8. Persona 5
Shoji Meguro’s Persona 5 blends jazz, rock, and J-pop for rebellion, and coolness. A polished flair highlights the opening, reflective ‘Beneath the Mask’. Tracks such as ‘Life Will Change’ and ‘Last Surprise’ greatly contribute to the allure of this diverse soundtrack. The songs make the album very appealing with their variety.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
For The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the background music was designed by Manaka Kataoka and Yasuaki Iwata. It is minimalist and atmospheric.
This enhances the game’s sense of immensity and isolation. The approach focuses on ambient sounds that blend with the natural surroundings instead of traditional tunes. This intentional lack of frequent musical compositions underscores the openness and solitude of the world. It instills awe in players while motivating exploration of the vast lands.
6. Undertale
Toby Fox composed Undertale’s soundtrack masterfully. The melodies resonate with the game’s unique characters and emotive story. They are both nostalgic and endearing. One standout track is the iconic Megalovania. This melody has gained notable fame, becoming closely tied to the game itself as an anthem.
5. Bioshock Infinite
Garry Schyman’s soundtrack for Bioshock Infinite is crucial in crafting the narrative and establishing Columbia’s ambiance as an airborne city. The lush orchestrations and era-echoing melodies enhance storytelling. This results in an immersive, memorable experience for players.
4. Nier: Automata
Keiichi Okabe received awards for his innovative Nier: Automata score. It blended vocal elements and languages, conveying a dystopian future. Okabe’s music enhanced the story, imbuing the world with nuanced emotion.
The detailed story and grim setting were elevated by Okabe’s contributions. His soundtrack meticulously layered the environment with feeling and depth.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Koji Kondo’s orchestral Zelda score is an influential masterpiece. He skillfully guided players with his music, crafting unique atmospheres and character themes.
Iconic melodies like ‘Zelda’s Lullaby’ and ‘Song of Storms’ cemented the soundtrack’s legend, adding to Zelda’s timeless charm. Kondo’s work is celebrated within the music community for its exceptional ability to immerse the player through sound.
2. Final Fantasy VII
Nobuo Uematsu’s powerful Final Fantasy VII score remains a revered classic. The emotionally charged music draws enduring praise for:
- Its heartfelt, genuine composition
- Conveying the game’s intended ambiance
- Expressing the emotional depths of Barret and Aerith by weaving their distinct melodies throughout the score.
The grand, sweeping central theme envelops players as they venture forth into Final Fantasy VII’s sprawling realm, an ever-present companion elevating their epic journey.
1. Chrono Trigger
Crafting Chrono Trigger’s legendary soundtrack was a herculean effort for composer Yasunori Mitsuda. He toiled relentlessly, pulling long studio sessions deep into the night, meticulously refining each track. Sheer exhaustion even landed him in hospital. Yet with unwavering passion and aid from Nobuo Uematsu, Mitsuda overcame every obstacles to forge an iconic musical opus that continues inspiring gamers today.
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