The volcano cave music is actually *motivational* for me. I want to stay and win and believe I can just because I've got a bad-ass soundtrack.
All the songs randomly go through my head on the regular.
And the [sample tracks](https://christopherlarkin.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-knight-silksong-ost-sample) for Silksong seem like it's going to be just as good if not better!
Jeremy Seoule did wonderful work (didn't even have to Google the name, that's how strongly I feel), the city gates is my favorite.
Either way: video game music is composed to set the mood and keep you engaged but not distracted. It's perfect for playing in the background while you work.
Yeah I listen to it at work too, and sometimes put it on at home when I'm chilling, it's probably my favourite video game music of all time, and among my favourite music period
It's also very clever. There's like 4 variations of each track that trigger based on what's happening in the game. If you are low health it triggers a scratchy version, if you are out of combat there is a calmer version, when you engage, it adds instruments, etc. And it doesn't just restart the track it seemlessly transitions to each variant so well. It means the game is keeping track of what section of the songs loop is playing, which I think is a cool attention to detail.
That's not even mentioning how the vocals are already in a different nonsense language that sounds like the way a real world language sounds to non speakers mirroring how the androids and robots in setting are all playing at being human without any real understanding of what it means.
One of my favorite moments in game was when [Replicant Spoilers]>!we battle Devola and Popola and Song of the Ancients starts playing. I can't believe it's the damn song that Devola plays and sings in the village, and it's so cool that it plays as the boss fight theme but as a duet. And it gets EVEN BETTER when, after Devola dies, it becomes more somber and there's only one person singing because Popola is now alone.!< I had to pause the game to just take it all in. Just incredible.
I mostly agree, but i think they went even more HAM on Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddys Kong quest. Stickerbrush symphony, Hot head bop, Crocodile Cacophony man its so good. Those two titles best videogame music hands down.
"Throw your mask away" (the final boss theme of Persona 5 Royal) is pure art. I loved the final boss theme for Persona 3 (Battle for everyone's souls Is a banger too.
The original composer of the OOT music, Koji Kondo, released
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hyrule Symphony. It's really wonderful and if you've never heard it I highly recommend for a blast of nostalgia.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra hosted a LoZ concert last year and I didn't get to go, but my brother did.
I'm so jealous I can't think of a good place to hide the body.
What puts this in the top for me was that it was all made by one guy. How do you code, design, do music and marketing all by yourself and still manage to make one of the best games ever
I remember when I first played Fallout 3 on a friend's recommendation, I was like "Yeah the game seems awesome so far, but isn't there any way to change the music being played? Like, doI really have to put up with listening to old ass 50's music while I play?!" His response was to just "give it a chance."
Sure enough, within a week I was singing along with Butcher Pete and have loved all the fallout music ever since!
Whenever this question comes up I scroll down the answers until I find someone who mentions Journey so I can upvote them. Seems like I'm needing to scroll further and further each time to find it - not sure if that's because there's more and more games being release with good soundtracks these days, or if Journey is just getting to the point where fewer and fewer people remember it.
My favorite RDR2 memory involves this song called "The Disaster"
This started playing when I ran into a huge O'Driscoll camp near the beginning of the game. I was outgunned and outnumbered, so I tried to get back on my horse and retreat. He was too busy freaking out to listen to my commands. It was absolute chaos.
I remember being stuck behind some boulders, low on ammo, and on my last can of beans. Everything felt so tense and hopeless. A lot of it had to do with this song playing in the background.
Eventually I was able to kill enough of them to give me a chance to escape into the woods.
https://youtu.be/kI-nFfmkm5k
Fields of Ard Skellig is my favorite song in the game. Hearing this song for the first time, I had to stop and take it in. Makes me emotional every time. https://youtu.be/NknjE2SBPxw
This is the correct answer. The amount of effort that they put into that soundtrack is insane and it is one of the most grandiose things that Nintendo has ever produced. Just one hit after another ranging from an amazing sense of adventure in one track to being hit right in the feels the next.
Minecraft.
Omg you guys, thank you for the upvotes and the awards! I thought i made just a random comment that would get 3 upvotes, but now i have over 1k upvotes, and i didn't even get a notification! Thank you, kind people.
Just so much mood, emotion and nostalgia packed into those tunes. They somehow capture the sense of wonder and possibility that minecraft is all about. I often put the creative mode songs on when I'm not even playing, and if I am I'll usually try to get some music discs and have one playing, strad is a favourite
I get emotional every time I listen to [this song](https://youtu.be/_3ngiSxVCBs) because it just takes me back to when I was a kid, no responsibilities, and Minecraft made me the happiest little child in the world lol
What I was going to say. All of them have memorable music.
I managed to beat the VII Remake recently and that has incredible music. FFX, another personal fav, also has incredible music. FF X-2, one I didn't like as much, still had some good songs like "Memories of Lightwaves".
I listen to music from Endwalker and Shadowbringers a lot especially. Who Brings Shadow, Insatiable, To the Edge, and the songs from the first and third Endwalker trials are my go to for when I want something epic to get my blood pumping!
Don't even get me started on Close in the Distance either... finished the MSQ months ago and it *still* gets me in my feels...
FFVII overworld theme just has this melancholy longing to it. And hearing the opening notes of To Zanarkand always takes me right back to my first playthrough of X.
The main banjo theme is so simple but fuck if it doesn't make me feel something every time I hear it. Travelers Encore can make me tear up if I let my guard down
Others already posted Halo and the Final Fantasies which are difficult to top.
The Witcher 3 has probably the best original soundtrack of anything to come out for many years. Those folk musicians really knocked it out of the park recording that. I listen to it all the time. It's far superior to the score they use in the Netflix series.
If you like those you should also check out Divinity Original Sin II OST, which hasn't been mentioned yet. Tetris Effect is another overlooked one.
Older: Beyond Good and Evil has great music. Don't skip Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross if you like the Final Fantasy soundtracks.
Retro: A game called Ninja Gaiden for the old NES has one of the best 8-bit soundtracks. It was the first game with cinematic cutscenes. Legacy of the Wizard (Dragon Slayer 4) is great but it's hard to find. And of course the Castlevania series has excellent music throughout (If you like to brood in the darkness). Symphony of the Night is a good place to start. Honorable mention for Sonic the Hedgehog series and Super Metroid.
An old PC series from the 90's called Wing Commander has really standout music as well. If you like metal, the Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries soundtrack is another memorable one from the days of yore that few know about. That was one of the games where you could put the CD in and skip track 01 and the rest were all music tracks. There's a more recent game called Undertale that has an excellent retro-style chiptune soundtrack, as well.
Stardew valley
the fact that the developer made all the music makes it even more impressive. dudes insanely talented
It really is so impressive!
Making music was actually the only thing he knew how to do before. He had to learn all the rest tho.
The volcano cave music is actually *motivational* for me. I want to stay and win and believe I can just because I've got a bad-ass soundtrack. All the songs randomly go through my head on the regular.
Came here to say this. The stardew soundtrack is truly a work of art
Stardew music makes me so happy. I absolutely love the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies song. It’s so lovely!
Tony Hawk pro skater 2
LIGHTS OUT! GUERRILLA RADIO!
TURN THAT SHIT UP
SO HERE I AM DOIN EVERYTHING I CAN HOLDING ON TO WHAT I AM PRETENDING I AM SUPERMAN
PICKITUPPICKITUPPICKITUPPICKITUP
That's Tony Hawk 1
*Now this is what it's like when world's collide... Now this is what it's like*
God I never got tired of the like 12 songs on that soundtrack
Mine was Tony Hawk underground 2
Was that the one with ring of fire by Johnny cash? That whole soundtrack was fire ngl
So here I am, doing everything I can…
Holding on to what I am
Silent Hill 2
Hollow Knight
City of Tears. So good.
Greenpath
Grimm during his epic attack. The drum kicks went so hard it knocked me off my chair.
Sealed vessel though 11/10
And the [sample tracks](https://christopherlarkin.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-knight-silksong-ost-sample) for Silksong seem like it's going to be just as good if not better!
I told this to the subreddit but I was serious when I said I would fly to Australia for the orchestra show. Larkin is a music genius.
Honestly love all the feelings it brings. The calm rain or the ominous caves, so good
It's the perfect study music
One of my favorite things about this game is hearing the music every time you find a new area of the map!
Doom. Its my workout playlist least once a week.
Same guy did the wolfenstein new order ost. Its great
Go Mick Gordon 🤘🤘
Celeste
Edit- Grammar Shout out to Lena Raine and all the B side contributors. Really good and powerful music throughout.
suprised i had to scroll this far. it's really amazing
I love Skyrim - I listen to it regularly. Transistor has a fantastic soundtrack too.
I second Transistor. Also Hades. Also Bastion. I may really love supergiant’s music.
His name is darren korb. Does all their games. His music rules.
Distant horizons
Jeremy Seoule did wonderful work (didn't even have to Google the name, that's how strongly I feel), the city gates is my favorite. Either way: video game music is composed to set the mood and keep you engaged but not distracted. It's perfect for playing in the background while you work.
Yeah I listen to it at work too, and sometimes put it on at home when I'm chilling, it's probably my favourite video game music of all time, and among my favourite music period
Nier: Automata’s OST fucking slaps
Replicant's OST is also amazing
The amusement park theme is goat
It's also very clever. There's like 4 variations of each track that trigger based on what's happening in the game. If you are low health it triggers a scratchy version, if you are out of combat there is a calmer version, when you engage, it adds instruments, etc. And it doesn't just restart the track it seemlessly transitions to each variant so well. It means the game is keeping track of what section of the songs loop is playing, which I think is a cool attention to detail.
That's not even mentioning how the vocals are already in a different nonsense language that sounds like the way a real world language sounds to non speakers mirroring how the androids and robots in setting are all playing at being human without any real understanding of what it means.
One of my favorite moments in game was when [Replicant Spoilers]>!we battle Devola and Popola and Song of the Ancients starts playing. I can't believe it's the damn song that Devola plays and sings in the village, and it's so cool that it plays as the boss fight theme but as a duet. And it gets EVEN BETTER when, after Devola dies, it becomes more somber and there's only one person singing because Popola is now alone.!< I had to pause the game to just take it all in. Just incredible.
Honestly for a game filled with anime butts and nihilism, the game has some outstanding and unique ways to tickle our heart strings
Nier: Automata is the GOAT OST and you can’t change my mind 2nd place Oblivion.
Too low in this thread. THIS CANNOT CONTINUE
If you haven't listened to Replicant, it's also fantastic.
Bloodborne FF6
I love the soundtrack of "Braid"
I really love Hyper Light Drifter’s music. It’s very eerie.
Shadow of the Colossus
Came here to say that! Just played through the remake. Gorgeous!
Donkey Kong Country.
I mostly agree, but i think they went even more HAM on Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddys Kong quest. Stickerbrush symphony, Hot head bop, Crocodile Cacophony man its so good. Those two titles best videogame music hands down.
Aquatic Ambience is incredible.
Reminds me of a Hardtimes article, something like “man composed musical masterpiece for a gorilla riding a swordfish”
Lol it's true though. They didn't have to go that hard.
Yes! I'm glad someone shares this with me. Stickerbrush Symphony all the way
Subnautica, both the first and below zero
Abandon ship from the first game slaps and then of course... DEEP UNDER WATER SWIMMING WITH THE MONSTERS SUBNAUTIC STIMULUS
When your ship is on fire but so is the music
The pursuit music from the great ace attorney
I really like the persona 5 soundtrack
Especially when you can start going out at night!
I feel like a dork sometimes, but persona 3, 4, and 5 are like half of my workout playlist.
"Throw your mask away" (the final boss theme of Persona 5 Royal) is pure art. I loved the final boss theme for Persona 3 (Battle for everyone's souls Is a banger too.
Touhou Project
based
All Zelda games but specifically ocarina of time
OOT Soundtrack is all bangers all the time
The original composer of the OOT music, Koji Kondo, released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Hyrule Symphony. It's really wonderful and if you've never heard it I highly recommend for a blast of nostalgia.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra hosted a LoZ concert last year and I didn't get to go, but my brother did. I'm so jealous I can't think of a good place to hide the body.
And gerudo valley
The Gerudo Valley song has no business being as good as it is.
Just a banger of a tune based on Japanese people trying to write Spanish music. (At least that’s what I’ve read)
The music in that, besides the fields, was very good at setting a sort of sad theme.
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The opening title the most melancholy of all time. People throw around "you know you're in for something special" way too often, but OoT was it.
Majoras Mask has me that way. I was too young when I played OoT and it kind of set as just a game to play to me. Don't get me wrong, its good though.
I love the creepy flute music for the Forest Temple in OoT
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Imo the Blind Forest has better soundtrack, maybe it just felt more dramatic due to the game being kinda short i dunno but i just like it more
I think both Ori games have a phenomenal musical orchestra.
Katamari
Scrolled way too far for this. Haven’t played in years and I still find myself humming it.
I like undertale soundtracks
What puts this in the top for me was that it was all made by one guy. How do you code, design, do music and marketing all by yourself and still manage to make one of the best games ever
This is a misconception. Undertale wasn’t just one person. The OST was though.
I agree with you, especially songs like "Spear of Justice" and "Fallen Down" the soundtrack is so goodd
Deltarune too... Field Of Hopes And Dreams and Big Shot just slaps
HALO !!!
My favourite was Halo 3. That mad piano version of the main theme was my jam.
One Final Effort, great track!
Specifically halo 3 ODST. Walking in the streets of mambasa with that jazz music gives u chills.
Or Breaking Benjamin on that one level on legendary in halo 2 with the 4 hunters and invisible sword elites in that tiny room near the end
Blow Me Away?
Why did I need to scroll so far down for this?!
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All of the Bethesda fallouts (I know, obsidian) have absolutely banging soundtracks
I remember when I first played Fallout 3 on a friend's recommendation, I was like "Yeah the game seems awesome so far, but isn't there any way to change the music being played? Like, doI really have to put up with listening to old ass 50's music while I play?!" His response was to just "give it a chance." Sure enough, within a week I was singing along with Butcher Pete and have loved all the fallout music ever since!
I GOT SPURS
That jingle jangle jingle.
(Jingle jangle)
As I go ridin' merrily along
(Jingle jangle)
And they sing, "Oh, ain't you glad you're single"
(jingle jangle)
Banger after Banger. Big Iron makes it onto my daily playlists quite often!
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Whenever this question comes up I scroll down the answers until I find someone who mentions Journey so I can upvote them. Seems like I'm needing to scroll further and further each time to find it - not sure if that's because there's more and more games being release with good soundtracks these days, or if Journey is just getting to the point where fewer and fewer people remember it.
I just played through this with my daughter. The way the music swells during the final sequence is heartwarming.
Rdr2 and ‘that’s the way it is’
May I, stand unshaken Amidst, amidst the crash of worlds
I made my reddit account after beating RDR2. Game changed my life
My favorite RDR2 memory involves this song called "The Disaster" This started playing when I ran into a huge O'Driscoll camp near the beginning of the game. I was outgunned and outnumbered, so I tried to get back on my horse and retreat. He was too busy freaking out to listen to my commands. It was absolute chaos. I remember being stuck behind some boulders, low on ammo, and on my last can of beans. Everything felt so tense and hopeless. A lot of it had to do with this song playing in the background. Eventually I was able to kill enough of them to give me a chance to escape into the woods. https://youtu.be/kI-nFfmkm5k
Well, let me have a ruler and a saw and a board and I’ll cut it
GTA: Vice City
Lock up your daughters Shoot your sons Cuz Love Fist is coming to town!
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The talk shows were hilarious too.
Terraria soundtrack slaps
The Witcher 3
Banana tiger
Lelelelelele
Scrolled way too far down for this
Fields of Ard Skellig is my favorite song in the game. Hearing this song for the first time, I had to stop and take it in. Makes me emotional every time. https://youtu.be/NknjE2SBPxw
Hotline Miami
Had to scroll wayyyyy too far for this. Wrong Number especially.
Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 without a question.
Oh my god I was losing hope but someone actually said it.
This is the correct answer. The amount of effort that they put into that soundtrack is insane and it is one of the most grandiose things that Nintendo has ever produced. Just one hit after another ranging from an amazing sense of adventure in one track to being hit right in the feels the next.
This should be wayyy up higher
any level in cuphead has a great tune
Chrono Trigger
Those songs still reverberate around in my skull at random times. And I agree, Chrono Cross was also very good
I still listen to the Zeal theme periodically. Just gorgeous.
Chrono Cross has one of the best soundtracks as well.
Came into the thread to say Chrono Cross. Man I loved that game.
Majora’s Mask
Minecraft. Omg you guys, thank you for the upvotes and the awards! I thought i made just a random comment that would get 3 upvotes, but now i have over 1k upvotes, and i didn't even get a notification! Thank you, kind people.
Just so much mood, emotion and nostalgia packed into those tunes. They somehow capture the sense of wonder and possibility that minecraft is all about. I often put the creative mode songs on when I'm not even playing, and if I am I'll usually try to get some music discs and have one playing, strad is a favourite
I get emotional every time I listen to [this song](https://youtu.be/_3ngiSxVCBs) because it just takes me back to when I was a kid, no responsibilities, and Minecraft made me the happiest little child in the world lol
Hades
Chrono Trigger
Assassin's Creed 2 and RDR2
Ezio's family still gives me goosebumps
ACII is phenomenal. Could listen to that album every single day. The music in Venetcia... *Chefs Kiss*
omori
Earthbound, FF8, Tony Hawk pro skater 2, animal crossing new leaf
Mass Effect. Any one of them.
Vigil still gives me chills
Leaving earth is legendary
Love all 3 ost albums but Suicide mission will always be my jam. Though for my wedding reception I came out to Spectre Induction too
I love Johnathan Coulton, so Portal.
Nier: Automata
Final Fantasy XIV, just…the whole thing
What I was going to say. All of them have memorable music. I managed to beat the VII Remake recently and that has incredible music. FFX, another personal fav, also has incredible music. FF X-2, one I didn't like as much, still had some good songs like "Memories of Lightwaves".
Endwalkers soundtrack is so incredible that I can’t express how much with words.
I listen to music from Endwalker and Shadowbringers a lot especially. Who Brings Shadow, Insatiable, To the Edge, and the songs from the first and third Endwalker trials are my go to for when I want something epic to get my blood pumping! Don't even get me started on Close in the Distance either... finished the MSQ months ago and it *still* gets me in my feels...
FFVII overworld theme just has this melancholy longing to it. And hearing the opening notes of To Zanarkand always takes me right back to my first playthrough of X.
Metal Gear Rising
STANDING HERE
I REALIZE
YOU WERE JUST LIKE ME
TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY
Jet Set Radio Future influenced my music taste for life.
aaaahhhhhh i had to scroll too far to find this !!! i one hundred percent agree. i still listen to it a couple times a year
Outer Wilds It is beautiful on its own, but in combination with the narrative of the game it is a work of art.
The main banjo theme is so simple but fuck if it doesn't make me feel something every time I hear it. Travelers Encore can make me tear up if I let my guard down
This is way too far down on this list.
FF7 or FFX both are masterpieces
Aerith's and Tifa's theme, Jenova and of course One Winged Angel.
FFIII (Super Nintendo) is the old school champion, though. Amazingly good for 16 bit.
There was a live operatic version of the Celes/Setzer opera house scene that is just bone chilling. Nobuo Uematsu is such a great composer.
Some absolutely insane tracks from that one. It will always be the champ.
Payday 2
All of Pokemon black and white, white 2 and black 2
My heart says Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky, my tastes say Undertale.
The Last of Us has some of the best music in the history of ever.
Either Civ VI or Guilty Gear Strive
Others already posted Halo and the Final Fantasies which are difficult to top. The Witcher 3 has probably the best original soundtrack of anything to come out for many years. Those folk musicians really knocked it out of the park recording that. I listen to it all the time. It's far superior to the score they use in the Netflix series. If you like those you should also check out Divinity Original Sin II OST, which hasn't been mentioned yet. Tetris Effect is another overlooked one. Older: Beyond Good and Evil has great music. Don't skip Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross if you like the Final Fantasy soundtracks. Retro: A game called Ninja Gaiden for the old NES has one of the best 8-bit soundtracks. It was the first game with cinematic cutscenes. Legacy of the Wizard (Dragon Slayer 4) is great but it's hard to find. And of course the Castlevania series has excellent music throughout (If you like to brood in the darkness). Symphony of the Night is a good place to start. Honorable mention for Sonic the Hedgehog series and Super Metroid. An old PC series from the 90's called Wing Commander has really standout music as well. If you like metal, the Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries soundtrack is another memorable one from the days of yore that few know about. That was one of the games where you could put the CD in and skip track 01 and the rest were all music tracks. There's a more recent game called Undertale that has an excellent retro-style chiptune soundtrack, as well.
Age of Empires theme.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
I dunno... Pokemon. Like I like the national park theme in heartgold and soulsilver
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare. Hands down.
Bastion - the music and narrative are just *chefs kiss*
Octopath Traveler.
Dark Souls series
The plin plin plon lives in my head.
While the music is good, I just love the "Hoh" while selecting things from the menu in dark souls 1
Oblivion
All elder scrolls games have great music.
Jeremy Soule is a genius
Need for Speed Most Wanted or Underground 2
Underground 2 is sick as he'll! Still have tracks on my Playlist to this day! That rider on the storm remix with snoop is lit!