There has always been a special relationship between video games and music. Try to imagine playing a fantasy game with no epic music in the background; it would be pretty dull right? Music sets the atmosphere of the game and allows the player to fully emerge in the universe they are entering, so no wonder video game companies are going out of their way to integrate original soundtracks in their game development process.
At first, video game music was nothing but some funky bleeps and bloops, but these simple soundtracks were perfect for the minimalist atmosphere of the games. But as visuals improved, music for games has turned much more complex, with soundtracks being released as stand-alone products as well.
We put together a list of what we believe are the best video game soundtracks of all time, so consider giving them a try if you are looking for a complete gaming experience.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/0woyPEJQ7jc
Hotline Miami (2012)
After 8 years since the game’s release, people are still talking about the phenomenon that made Devolver Digital a well-renowned name in the industry. The game’s ‘80s setting would be incomplete without the impressive soundtrack developed by 9 different artists.
Hotline Miami’s soundtrack has a recognizable ‘80s vibe, with techno and synthwave influences, that works perfectly with the fast-paced gameplay and old-school graphics. At first, the 22 songs were only available to listen to Devolver Digital’s SoundCloud account, but it has since been made available for download on Steam, as well as on music streaming platforms.
The sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, is following into its predecessor’s footsteps with yet another epic soundtrack, so it’s worth giving it a try as well.
God of War (2018)
God of War is a sensational game itself, and could only be accompanied by a sensational soundtrack. The mastermind behind the soundtrack is no other than composer Bear McCreary, Emmy Award winner for his impressive work on Da Vinci’s Demons and creator of Walking Dead theme.
McCreary managed to showcase Kratos’ evolution through music, as he states in a 2018 interview. Each song is used strategically throughout the game, to highlight important moments in the character’s development, a thing that can be easily observed. Our personal favorite is the song The Summit, which perfectly underlines Kratos’ and Atreus’ journey. The composer managed to push the franchise in a more mature direction and received praise for doing so.
Bastion (2011)
Composer Darren Korb, the mind behind Bastion’s beautiful soundtrack described it as “acoustic frontier trip-hop”, and we couldn’t agree more. Acoustic guitar riffs are mixed together with sampled beats to create an original theme that combines perfectly with the game’s overall atmosphere.
Singer Ashley Barrett borrows her amazing voice to give life to the instrumental on several songs, including “Setting Sail, Coming Home”, the emotional track that marks the game’s ending.
The official soundtrack was released separately, including one additional song that does not appear in the game.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Skyrim is probably one of the most popular games of the 2010s, and for good reason. Well-created characters, an engaging story, and some epic combats, all accompanied by an impressive soundtrack, were the elements that earned Skyrim 2011’s Game of the Year award.
The game’s main theme was recorded with a 30-men choir, all singing in the fictional dragon language created especially for the series. Todd Howard, creative director for Skyrim, stated he envisioned the theme being sung by a choir of barbarians and he went on to achieve just that.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Many agree Ocarina of Time is probably the best game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, and we can’t help but wonder if the soundtrack has anything to do with it. Back then, many fans were complaining no other version of the original Zelda theme was included, but this does not make the soundtrack any less impressive.
If you didn’t already tell from the title, music plays an important role in the gameplay and story, but the soundtrack can also serve as a stunning standalone product. Forests, dungeons, and other areas of the game are made to feel even more real through their music themes. Give “Lost Woods’”, “Spirit Temple” and “Inside the Deku Tree” a listen and you will see exactly what we mean.
Halo 2 (2004)
Halo 2’s soundtrack focuses on electric guitar played by no other than Steve Vai, which accompanies players through the story, emphasizing the combat scenes and empowering us to get out of hiding with our guns firing.
When switching perspective and experiencing the Arbiter’s point of view, the soundtrack gets a horror vibe, to remind the player of the nearly impossible mission they need to complete. The cliffhanger ending, which we won’t spoil, generated many controversies, but it was made into a less tough pill to swallow thanks to the memorable soundtrack.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
The fact that the theme started playing in your head the moment you saw the name of the game proves once again this is probably the most iconic music soundtrack in the world.
Not only was the music theme iconic, but the fact that the song changed based on the area you were in made Super Mario Bros. the first-ever game where music became an integrated experience. Remember that the game was developed in 1985, where dynamic settings were a groundbreaking experience for a home video game.
GTA V (2013)
Even though GTA V does not include original music only, the player can choose from 15 radio stations which play more than 240 songs. Each station has a unique theme that fits into the LA vibe the game has, accompanying players on their journey questionably legal activities inside the fictional city of Los Santos.
The game includes several tracks that were created specifically for this occasion, most notably the ones by producer and rapper Flying Lotus, whose original work can be heard on the FlyLo FM station that he also hosts.
You will be hearing a lot of songs that bring back the 2010s vibe, proving Rockstar’s music selectors made a great job in giving the game a more cinematic touch.
