The following list is my top six personal favourite video game soundtracks spanning the past 30 years of gaming. Only single games are listed – I know there are tons of series’ out there with great music and I appreciate everyone has different tastes.
Before we get into the list I wanted to give honourable mentions to the Call of Duty series (would it be a James article without a COD reference), specifically Hans Zimmer’s Modern Warfare 2 as well as Metal Gear Solid (insert what a thrill here), some great tunes there. Tony Hawk Pro Skater is also responsible for like 90% of my taste in music, but that game is basically just an iPod library on shuffle (an awesome iPod library… man they should make iPods again).
6. Danganronpa V3
Those who know, know. In a series that goes hard with its music, Danganronpa V3 is no exception and is my personal favourite, especially thanks to some of these bangers. It’s the kind of game where you know exactly what’s happening as soon as the first bar comes in, and the music selection (there’s like 50 songs!) just compliments every aspect of the game perfectly. From the crazy hilarious parts to the somber and unsettling moments players face when going through the story, this soundtrack has earworms from start to finish.
5. Tekken 3
The most badass soundtrack in the entire Tekken catalogue, Tekken 3 just gets you ready to fight right from the selection screen. Character select might just be the most recognisable ever; you just know what people are playing just by hearing that awesome beginning guitar riff. Each character in the game gets their own unique and just as memorable stage music, plus there’s even a separate soundtrack for the arcade version!
4. Crash Team Racing
Probably not a game you think about when it comes to music but Crash Team Racing seriously doesn’t miss when it comes to tracks to race to. Each course has it’s own personality, not just in looks but in how they sound.
Whether it’s just vibing in a single race on Crash Cove, Aku Aku changing up the sounds mid-race, or just simply riding around in Adventure mode as the music seamlessly blends into a new track to reflect the area you are in, Naughty Dog (and more recently Beenox) hit it out of the park with this game (and Crash Bandicoot and Cortex Strikes Back and Warped! and Crash Bash…). The main menu theme is an all-timer, just look at the lil guy, talk about images you can hear.
3. Dark Souls
Plin plin plon… enough said. But seriously all the boss music is incredible, mixing choirs, pianos, drums, and harps (Firelink Shrine – come on it’s goated) to create stand out themes, making the game’s major antagonists all that more foreboding. Majula from DS2 and The Nexus from Demon’s Souls are also required listening.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
I really struggled with the order of these next two because both are equally burned into my ears forever, but Cyberpunk 2077 gets the number two spot on the list. They did a fantastic job here, fleshing out the world of Night City with a radio station experience featuring all custom songs. The anime also did just as good of a job as the game with tunes that compliment the accompanying scenes… sometimes too well.
What’s more Johnny Silverhand (one of the most iconic secondary characters ever) has a band in the game that is heavily featured. Wake up Samurai…
1. Command & Conquer
So that means that the number one spot goes to my favourite soundtrack of all-time. Out of all of the games on this list this is the only one which I would say that I would play solely for the music (even though the games slap as well). Command & Conquer (Tiberian Dawn), with it’s soundtrack produced by the legendary Frank Klepacki, may well be the first time I ever heard video game music, and what an introduction.
Every stage is complimented by The Tiberian Sons doing what they do; it’s very 90s and it’s awesome. If you’re a fan of industrial rock music, or want the perfect accompaniment for deploying troops ready for war, this is for you. When the remaster is just as good as the original (and even better in some areas – 25 years later) you know you’ve got something special. I even wrote an article dedicated to my love for it! Best song is Act on Instinct but I’ve got a soft spot for Target as well (also check out Hell March on Red Alert and Mutants/Mad Rap on Tiberian Sun).
What is your favourite gaming OST? Let me know – it’ll be fun to argue why I’m 100% right. Love u