Music has always been a vital part of video games, especially since studios have grown more ambitious in the past four decades. For me, music is a crucial factor in all media and often makes the difference between a good game and an amazing game. To this day, game music has touched the hearts of many players by shaping some of the most immersive digital environments.
As a preface, the qualifications for the “best” game soundtracks are incredibly open ended since these productions may vary in genre or style. However, two vague qualities that I appreciated in all of these following productions are their emotional nuance and consistent direction. Among my selections, I not only enjoyed how they synergize with their respective game, but also how they told a story beyond the game itself. That being said, here is my top 10 list of my favorite video game music.
10. Outer Wilds
The original soundtrack of Outer Wilds is incredibly memorable and is comparable to a cozy campfire. The tracks are filled with so much gentle warmth through their combination of acoustic and soft electric sounds. I never realized that the banjo could be such a charming, yet sad instrument until I heard “Main Theme” and “Timber Hearth.” While most of the songs use similar synths to create a background ambiance, they can vary between an awestruck and emotional mood. For example, “The Sun Station” is a mesmerizing track that incorporates rhythmic technological sounds and a bright ambience to create an alien feel. Songs like “14.3 Billion Years” evoke a strong sense of nostalgia from their warm acoustics and reassuring piano. I think these tracks would be a hundred times more impactful after a playthrough. Overall, the otherworldly nature of this production makes it quite noteworthy.
9. Donkey Kong Country 2
This OST is a wonderful combination of whimsical and relaxing tracks. Many pieces, most notably “In a Snow Bound Land” and “Hot-Head Bop,” are very cozy and set the tone for a chill adventure with their soft melodies. However, the more serious themes, such as “Crocodile Cacophony” and “Haunted Chase,” have a memorable, scary vibe as a result of their urgent tone and strong percussion. David Wise, the composer of this soundtrack, did not miss with a single tune and crafted the charming atmospheres of each level theme excellently. I enjoyed the song “Snakey Chantey” for its delightful silliness and catchy, fast tempo melody. My favorite tracks are “Stickerbrush Symphony” and “Forest Interlude” because of their ethereal and calming quality.
8. Hollow Knight
The tracks of Hollow Knight offer a magnificent ambiance that draws me in to explore deeper into the grand story. The charming melodies of tracks like “Greenpath” and “Fungal Wastes” give off a cozy, humble atmosphere. At the same time, the battle themes, such as “Mantis Lords,” put me at the edge of my seat from its fast tempo and dramatic instrumentation. I also enjoyed quieter tracks like “City of Tears” and “Dirtmouth” because of their melancholic quality and riveting piano. There is just so much variety and many iconic parts that all audiences can enjoy.
7. Hades
Hades’ soundtrack is a daunting metal masterpiece that drowns out any other thought in my mind. It utilizes traditional Mediterranean instruments throughout all of the soundtracks to emulate the folk sounds. At the same time, it combines modern instruments to shift to the fast paced, heavy metal style. This juxtaposition between music styles can be seen in the range from eclectic and energetic tracks like “Out of Tartarus” to emotional and sweet songs like “Good Riddance.” The spooky synths featured in “Mouth of Styx” and “Through Asphodel” pair perfectly with the intimidating heavy guitar. Overall, the music of Hades is incredibly iconic and adrenaline inducing.
6. Disco Elysium
Sea Power’s (the English alternative rock band that composed this soundtrack) impact in shaping the atmosphere of the game cannot be understated. A majority of the tracks feature poignant ambiance that creates a sense of mystery. There is also an industrial, bitter quality throughout the soundtrack, with songs like “Martinaise, Terminal B” reflecting depressing undertones from its steady drone and rhythmic percussion. Songs like “Instrument of Surrender” and “Detective Arriving on the Scene” utilize strings and horns to make a promising, yet somber feel.
I particularly enjoy how grim the music mostly is because of how it sets such a retrospective and moody tone that accentuates the hopeful beauty of some tracks. Listening to this soundtrack is reminiscent of walking next to a briny sea on an overcast day and seeing rays of light peeking through the heavy clouds. It’s a cold, angry, and sad listen while simultaneously feeling empathetic and comforting.
5. Baldurs Gate 3
The music of Baldur’s Gate 3 has a magical allure that draws players in with its soothing acoustics and stunning vocals. “Down By the River,” which appears as a common leitmotif throughout many songs, is a prime example of the calming vocals. Many background songs in the first parts of the game, like “I Want To Live” and “Rosymorn Monastery,” are very tranquil and set the appropriate tone for each natural environment. Some of the more dramatic tracks like “The Power” are similarly gorgeous with their use of the choir-like vocals and the organ. In a landscape where many modern games utilize generic music, the tracks in Baldur’s Gate 3 really stand out for their thrilling excellence.
4. Katamari Damacy
The soundtrack of Katamari Damacy is both a fantastical and whimsical listening experience. It draws inspiration from the electric and bright sounds of early 2000s Shibuya-kei, as seen in songs like “Katamari On the Rocks ~ Main Theme.” As a fan of Shibuya-kei artists like Cornelius, Lamp, and Capsule, this soundtrack encapsulates the same colorful vibes through the silly vocals.
This production is especially impressive for how it can switch up from the wackiest tone to the most sentimental (Most notably “Lonely Rolling Star”). Also, the jazzy tracks, such as “Gin & Tonic & Red Red Roses,” hit absolutely harder than what they should be with their easygoing and upbeat sound. It is fun, joyous, and accompanies especially well on the player’s katamari journey.
3. Persona 5
Although the entire Persona series is known for having good music, the sound track of Persona 5 especially stands out for its iconic jazz and consistent quality. The vocals throughout the tracks have an energetic and smooth beauty that complements the bouncy instrumentation. While all of the Persona games have great battle themes, Persona 5’s battle theme, “Life Will Change” especially stands out for its impeccable grooviness and lively strings. The more laidback tracks like “Beneath the Mask” and “Butterfly Kiss” still hold so much panache from their catchy melodies. It’s hard to find anything part of this production that isn’t stylish.
2. Super Mario Galaxy
Fun fact, this soundtrack was actually the first usage of a live orchestration in a Mario title and it still stands as an amazing decision considering the scope of the space themed game. It was particularly interesting to me how the game’s story actually develops in the music itself as the three versions of Rosalina’s Observatory progressively become more finalized; there are more instruments added with each song and it ends with a full orchestra playing an uplifting, complete waltz. There is a delicate vibrancy that is akin to an eternal cosmos throughout the calmer songs like “Space Junk Road.” Some standout tracks are “Gusty Garden Galaxy” and “Battlerock Galaxy” partly due to nostalgia but also because of how they radiate childlike wonder using string and wind instruments.
1. Minecraft
The music of Minecraft is still fondly appreciated throughout social media not only because of nostalgia, but also because of its sincere quality. Though many of the songs have simple melodies and ambiance, it is this subtlety that shapes its lonely, yet powerful tone. Moreover, the soundtrack’s usage of synths bring out an ethereal and wistful feel unlike anything else. For example, the track “Subwoofer Lullaby” utilizes synths in a quiet melody that creates a melancholic and longing mood.
While the OST has grown over the years from the contribution of other artists, the work of C418 especially stands out for its timeless appeal. My personal favorite tracks are “Dry Hands” and “Mice on Venus” because of their sad, yet pensive sound. The piano in “Dry Hands” and the simple melody of “Mice on Venus” evoke a feeling of homesickness or serenity comparable to adolescence. It was hard to pick a favorite soundtrack but this one personally stuck with me because of its subtle sensitivity and my childhood connection with it.
Overall, game music can vary in many styles and have impressive production. It can be fun and relaxing to listen to beyond the game itself. While it is a niche genre, it should be more recognized as it can be comparable to or can even rival movie and TV soundtracks.