Over the past few decades, video games have evolved from mere entertainment to an art form of their own. This is borne out by the game’s artwork, plot elements, and another important detail: the music. A soundtrack can highlight a dramatic moment or alert the player to impending danger. Many of the gamers’ unforgettable experiences of their favorite games have a lot to do with the music and how it intertwines with events. In terms of quality and depth of transmission of emotions, music themes created for video games often surpass soundtracks for large-budget films.
Our choice is based not only on the beauty of the soundtracks themselves, but also on the impact they have in creating the overall mood of the game. Considering how many games there are with excellent music, we tried to find only the best soundtracks in our opinion.
12. Spyro the Dragon (1998) – Stuart Copeland
This music has not received the recognition it deserves, and yet it is considered one of the most memorable in the history of games. In the recently released Spyro Reignited Trilogy, players are given the option to either choose a new soundtrack created specifically for the remake, or use the original music. While playing with the original soundtrack, we found that the themes of each world were familiar and recognizable even 20 years later.
11. Metal Gear Solid (1998) – Kazuki Muraoka and Rika Muranaka
For decades, Metal Gear Solid has made a significant impact on players of all ages. One of the contributing factors to this is the soundtrack, especially the main theme, which can become one of the most recognizable themes in the history of games. Each melody is harmoniously intertwined with elements of the plot and gameplay.
10. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016) – Michael McCann
The soundtrack of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, with a mixture of electronic instruments, perfectly captures the feeling of the futuristic world in which the game takes place. The composer was clearly inspired by the movie Blade Runner, but he also created his own unique theme that stands out from other sci-fi games. The tracks “Tf29” and “Opening Credits” are fantastic examples of innovative storytelling through musical accompaniment.
9. Transistor (2014) – Darren Korb
Transistor is not only one of the most innovative and impactful indie games of the last few years, but also a soundtrack worth telling about. Throughout the gameplay, the mechanics and musical rhythm of the game work hand in hand, as one coherent piece. Note that the soundtrack consists of acoustic, electronic and vocal elements that are mixed in perfect proportions.
8.Destiny 2 (2017) – Michael Salvatori, Sky Levin, C Paul Johnson, Rotem Moav, Peter Schlosser
Both Destiny games have a great set of tracks, but the sequel is particularly renowned for its explosive and epic themes during combat, as well as emotionally weighted tracks that use stringed instruments to accompany some of the more dramatic scenes in the story campaign. Among the best songs, the first to come to mind are “The Farm,” “Lost Light,” and “Journey.”
7.God of War (2018) – Bear McCreey
It is only natural that the game of the year will be included in the list of games with the best soundtrack. The score not only reinforces the epic moments that are the bread and butter of the God of War franchise, but it also emphasizes the emotional and dramatic plot twists. The composer has masterfully managed to convey how the relationship between Kratos and his son has experienced ups and downs throughout the events of the game.
6. Red Dead Redemption (2010) – Woody Jackson and Bill Elm
Inspired by classic Western movie soundtracks, Red Dead Redemption music is a mix of old and modern sound. It features vintage wind instruments, strings and a harmonica mixed with deep bass and percussion. Tracks that deserve special attention: “Redemption in Dub”, “Dead End Alley”, “Luz y Sombra,” and “Already Dead”.
5.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) – Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata and Hajime Wakai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6O1FgvTuAQ
As with many other popular franchises, many fans have their own favorites in this series. And in every game in the series, fans also have their favorite soundtracks. So it was a tough choice, but we decided to stick with Breath of the Wild. The music in the game is both ambient and epic, it fits perfectly into the style of the game, connecting individual moments and the general atmosphere.
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) – Jeremy Soul
Skyrim contains one of the most impressive soundtracks in gaming history. The game not only offers you large-scale plots and epic battles, but also mixes them with explosive combat themes and serene melodies for peaceful exploration. While other Elder Scrolls games are also known for good music scores, the emphasis here is on percussion and choral vocals, making encounters with dragons much more memorable. The brightest tracks: epic – “One They Fear” and “Watch the Skies”, and from peaceful compositions – “The Streets of Whiterun” and “From Past to Present”.
3. Halo 3 (2007) – Michael Salvatori
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIyQVP3IUyg
The use of electronic sounds along with piano, chorus, percussion and strings made the Halo 3 soundtrack unforgettable. The music harmoniously blended into the interweaving of the game’s plot, it was exactly the sci-fi sound that Halo fans expected from their favorite game. Separately, I would like to mention the theme of the main menu, which will be remembered by gamers for many years.
2. The Last of Us (2013) – Gustavo Santaolaglia
Known for his film work, Gustavo Santaolaglia took to the video game scene with the release of Last of Us, for which he created one of the most emotional and revolutionary soundtracks in history. Since the game is more of a cinematic than a game experience, the importance of these compositions cannot be overemphasized. The musical themes seem to roll on an emotional roller coaster, vividly conveying to us the feeling of devastation and anxiety that the characters experience.
1. Final Fantasy XV (2016) – Yoko Shimomura
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpiEHxgLN-E
The Final Fantasy franchise has a lot of great soundtracks, for example from Final Fantasy VII, VIII and X, so it was difficult to decide which game should be on the list. The main reason we chose Final Fantasy XV was composer Yoko Shimomura, whose brilliant talent has long been recognized in the video game industry. She managed to bring together the fragmented plot elements with the help of music and highlight all the adventurous or dramatic events of the game. The most memorable tracks in Final Fantasy XV are “Crystalline Chill,” “Sunset Waltz,“ Stand Your Ground, ”and“ Luna ”.
Which game soundtrack would you include on this list? Write about it in the comments.