Outer Wilds. Yeah it's one of the greatest games ever made, but would it be so good without that soundtrack? Debatable.
I petitioned to play something from it at my actual wedding (sadly was overruled), and I know I'm not the only one.
Outer Wilds. Yeah it's one of the greatest games ever made, but would it be so good without that soundtrack? Debatable.
I petitioned to play something from it at my actual wedding (sadly was overruled), and I know I'm not the only one.
TUNIC, FEZ, Nier Automata, Outer Wilds.
I also have a soft spot for Paper Mario and TTYD, those soundtracks are full of bops
Outer Wilds is my number 1 all time fave OST. It makes me feel things.
Ori and the Blind Forest's ost is phenomenal.
I think all of the Supergiant Games have great soundtrack. Transistor was what got me into their games, and it was the soundtrack that caught my attention first.
Both the Nier games have amazing soundtracks that I listen to frequently.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is also great although I don't really listen to it on its own. It really makes the game feel much more impactful while playing.
I really vibe with Minecraft. The nostalgia just hits different when I listen to it.
Indie games in general have great OSTs, MGS:R and Persona (and SMT in general) are obvious popular picks.
The World Ends With You is less mainstream (with one of the few gripes being the lack of boss-specific themes, at least in the DS original I played - but it makes up with the diverse overworld and normal battle themes), as is Etrian Odyssey.
I think orchestra is mixed, it's either the best fucking tracks ever (often when mixed with electric guitar, but not necessarily), or they kind of blend with other orchestral tracks I know and don't end up being unique enough.
All the soundtracks Darren Korb makes for Supergiant. Hades resonates more with me as it's the one I've played the most, but I'm also a huge fan of Transistor's.
The Nier Automata OST is perfection. Almost every single track is memorable and lovable, I often relisten the whole ost just for fun
Disasterpeace is an AMAZING composer and has done some stellar work in both video games and film as well. Here's a couple of my favorites from video games:
Please check out some of his other work here: http://disasterpeace.com/music
Outer wilds Subnautica Subnautica Below zero FTL and into the breach are some of my favorites personally
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 6 (the opera aria was played at my wedding)
Castlevania 3, specifically the six channel Famicom version
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
I'm old, if you couldn't tell
I've been listening to some choice tracks from Final Fantasy XIV, mostly from the big epic finales. I probably should be excited for XVI, but I just reaaally don't trust the action JRPG setup.
However, an even better soundtrack to me is Ori and the Blind Forest, as you mentioned - it has some epic bangers to it, but it's also an incredible soundtrack even for the calm, peaceful tracks playing while exploring.
Credit to Nier Automata for what it's worth...there's some tracks I really like in there on their own, but...I honestly feel like those really good tracks just don't often fit the gameplay. They have some hard-hitting vocal tracks playing while 2B is wandering the city or standing around, and it really warps the feel of the pacing. I mention it because it's just an interesting example to me of "good music" not actually fitting as a soundtrack.
I like epic, intense soundtracks so, Darkest Dungeon and Frostpunk. Monster Train is pretty good too.
Bastion and Hades have just cool soundtracks you can listen to anytime. When pure adrenaline is needed the DOOM soundtrack.
Man this question isn't even fair there are so many fantastic soundtracks in gaming I could literally go on for hours about them.
Doom, Mass Effect, Halo, Skyrim, Ratchet and Clank, Assassin's creed(3 especially), Divinity original sin 2, pathfinder: wrath of the righteous, monster hunter, league of legends(all of riot games really), darktide, sonic, payday, witcher, Spiderman, Zelda, cyberpunk, megaman, final fantasy, Devil may cry, metal gear, undertale
that's just what I think of off the top of my head, there could easily be an entire sub just dedicated to the topic
One of my favourite soundtracks of all time was the haunting soundscapes from Anarchy Online. Timeless and haunting whilst travelling the wastelands of the planet Rubi-Ka.
I can’t froth at the mouth about game music, without mentioning Dear Esther. The arty solo exploreable story in a rugged haunting Hebridean landscape. The piano and cello move together in deep tones, and build up to ascending anthems of emotion. Composer Jessica Curry is simply a genius, and I can easily be moved to tears with this soundtrack. My favourite track is “I have begun my ascent”.
Also Supergiant Games soundtracks to Transistor and Pyre are emotive and catchy as any non-soundtrack album.
Doom Eternal, Destiny and Halo
I like OST that goes hard (bass heavy) and I didn't see any here. My personal favorites are:
I have probably forgotten some games and I will be happy to discover others as it is quite niche.
I definitely love hollow Knight's, if it wasn't obvious by my pfp.
I also love mother 3 / earthbound
kingdom hearts
most persona games
outer wilds
celeste
Chrono trigger
Ff7
Ace attorney
Paper Mario
I could go on and on tbh
Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal have amazing soundtracks!
Mass Effect 3 OST has seen it's fair share of play time as well though that might be just as much because I love the game so much.
Oh! Cyberpunk 2077 is amazing as well. Especially the songs from the radio stations in the game.
Far too many to list, but Final Fantasy IX's soundtrack is a tremendous work of art, and a perfect final bow for Nobuo Uematsu from the series. It's always stuck with me among nearly ever other soundtrack.
Notable Mentions (in no order):
And so many others, but I'll be here all day if I keep going.
For focused work:
Other:
Chrono Trigger is my all time favorite music too. Get a blast of nostalgia when I hear their tracks.
Chris Christodoulou killed it with the Risk of Rain 2 soundtrack, personal favorite is The Rain Formally Known as Purple
All-timer has to go to Chrono Trigger. Absolutely incredible soundtrack from start to finish.
Donkey Kong Country 2
Doom 2016, Mirror's Edge, Metal Gear Rising, Nier Automata, ah so many options... probably a bit of recency bias, but I think I'll say Neon White.
When it comes to licensed soundtracks, DiRT 2's soundtrack is perfection.
Zelda: Twilight Princess is probably my all time favorite. Midna's theme is so delightfully haunting in its several variations.
Shout out to Touhou.
Oh man, quite a few actually:
I could go on but i wanna keep this somewhat brief lol
Can't believe noone has mentioned Doom 2016, one of my favorites!
OST's are my JAM!
Ori is a classic. - It's equal parts haunting and jubilant.
Death Stranding - Don't be so serious. Every song is a masterpiece.
Overwatch - It's just good fun
Witcher 3 - hey lele lelele lele lele ley!
Cyberpunk - Dark, broody, and invigorating
Divinity Original Sin 1 and 2 - Absolute fantasy. If you want a VGM OST to plan your d&d session to, this is a great option
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Maybe it's partly because Arthur Morgan's story is so incredible but this soundtrack gives me the shivers. "May I stand unshaken... Amid, amidst a crash of the world?" omggg give it to me D'Angelo
There's tons more I'm missing here. But these ones stand out to me.
Edit: Formatting
The soundtracks from NieR:Automata and NieR Replicant are definitely my favorite of all time.
Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST are also very good.
Just in case some of you don't know...
https://downloads.khinsider.com/
It is a website with gamerips of soundtracks. There are ways to download albums without making accounts, so don't go signing up for this.
Enjoy!
I would say Factorio, the music fits both the atmosphere of an alien planet and a gigantic factory polluting the landscape
Stellaris, Crypt of the Necrodancer, FTL, Invisible Inc, and basically any Supergiant game
One that I love (in addition to Ori and Hollow Knight) is Spiritfarer. Beautiful all the way through with lovely orchestration and colorful melodies.
Literally any Final Fantasy for me. Nobuo Uematsu is just an incredible composer.
Dragon Quest series too, although Koichi Sugiyama was a…not great person.
Monkey Island 2 holds a special place for me because it introduced iMUSE and dynamically altering the music with the environment which was years ahead of its time.
Tears of the kingsom has me listening to it a lot recently. Also NieR
Oh gosh where do I even start. I have a massive list of VGM soundtracks that I listen to but if I had to pick some favs currently:
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