Game Music Tracks You Should Listen To
I consider myself to be a video game music audiophile. I own hundreds of vinyl's, CD's and other media that I have collected over the years. I would like to say that in this time, I have heard my fair share of music to separate the truly good from the mediocre, and even bad. Here is my pick of tracks/games that, if you truly love music, you should give a listen to. For this list, I am going to avoid the obvious popular music like Donkey Kong Country and Chrono Trigger and instead delve into lesser-known titles for a perhaps unexpected listening experience.
17 Games
Track Name: Flea Pit (3:27)
- An unexpectedly amazing soundtrack from a game you would never suspect it would be hiding in. Tim Follin is a musical genius and deserves to stand with the greats of the 90's.
- An unexpectedly amazing soundtrack from a game you would never suspect it would be hiding in. Tim Follin is a musical genius and deserves to stand with the greats of the 90's.
Gorgeous Musical Castle Part 2 (3:28)
- There are simply too many good tracks in this game to be able to pick one. It is simply incredible that this OST was possible on the N64. The whole thing is worth listening to.
- There are simply too many good tracks in this game to be able to pick one. It is simply incredible that this OST was possible on the N64. The whole thing is worth listening to.
Track Name: Tori (4:24)
- Another Follin piece that accomplishes one of, if the the best, atmospheric tracks for the 16-bit era. In my mind, this ranks among Aquatic Ambience
- Another Follin piece that accomplishes one of, if the the best, atmospheric tracks for the 16-bit era. In my mind, this ranks among Aquatic Ambience
Track Name: Fastfall (3:00)
- My first encounter with LifeFormed, and certainly not the last. This small indie game released during the Super Meat Boy craze had a soundtrack to back up its chill tone and fluid gameplay.
- My first encounter with LifeFormed, and certainly not the last. This small indie game released during the Super Meat Boy craze had a soundtrack to back up its chill tone and fluid gameplay.
Track Name: A Raging Emperors Banquet (4:00)
- Breath Of Fire IV is an absolutely stunning visual experience, marking the end of the PS1 era as one of its final "big" titles. But, the soundtrack was equally as impressive. This track goes absolutely insane at the 1:14 mark.
- Breath Of Fire IV is an absolutely stunning visual experience, marking the end of the PS1 era as one of its final "big" titles. But, the soundtrack was equally as impressive. This track goes absolutely insane at the 1:14 mark.
Track Name: Fields Of Time Home World (3:26)
- Perhaps this is cheating a bit, but I don't care. Chrono Cross has, what I believe to be, the best game soundtrack ever created. The entire OST, from front to back, is the most well-composed and cohesive work of art that compliments the environment of the game. Another masterwork from Mitsuda.
- Perhaps this is cheating a bit, but I don't care. Chrono Cross has, what I believe to be, the best game soundtrack ever created. The entire OST, from front to back, is the most well-composed and cohesive work of art that compliments the environment of the game. Another masterwork from Mitsuda.
Track Name: The Weight Of Rain (4:00)
- Another incredible work from LifeFormed, 10 years after the incredible work of DustForce. Ethereal, mysterious, and even a bit frightening, Tunic is a game complimented by this soundtrack in every way possible.
- Another incredible work from LifeFormed, 10 years after the incredible work of DustForce. Ethereal, mysterious, and even a bit frightening, Tunic is a game complimented by this soundtrack in every way possible.
Track Name: Boss Battle (3:02)
- Many older gamers first Final Fantasy game, while too easy for many, the soundtrack stands up as some of the best 16-bit music to this day. This track, and the final boss, are still some of the most engaging fight tracks in video game history.
- Many older gamers first Final Fantasy game, while too easy for many, the soundtrack stands up as some of the best 16-bit music to this day. This track, and the final boss, are still some of the most engaging fight tracks in video game history.
Track Name: The Devils Spear (7:43)
- While Ace Combat has always ben known for it's music, the player base for this series is small, but incredibly dedicated. Their reward for this undying love is a soundtrack that is guaranteed to get them out of their couch and into the cockpit with it's jazzy and rousing soundtrack
- While Ace Combat has always ben known for it's music, the player base for this series is small, but incredibly dedicated. Their reward for this undying love is a soundtrack that is guaranteed to get them out of their couch and into the cockpit with it's jazzy and rousing soundtrack
Track Name: Theme Of Grandia (4:42)
- Lost in the wake of Final Fantasy VII, Grandia featured to be, what I believe, to be the ultimate conception of what "adventure" should be. The main theme of this game is beautiful, and if it doesn't want you to get out and see the world, I don't know what to tell you.
- Lost in the wake of Final Fantasy VII, Grandia featured to be, what I believe, to be the ultimate conception of what "adventure" should be. The main theme of this game is beautiful, and if it doesn't want you to get out and see the world, I don't know what to tell you.
Track Name: Wisdom Of Rage (5:06)
- A ruthless, punishing experience deserves an unrelenting, unforgiving beat, right? Furi is full of amazing tracks, but Waveshaper takes it home in this one.
- A ruthless, punishing experience deserves an unrelenting, unforgiving beat, right? Furi is full of amazing tracks, but Waveshaper takes it home in this one.
Track Name: Mission Theme 2
- A game that no one played, but Dean Evans dumped a whole lot of funk into. His catalogue is small, but all worth listening to.
- A game that no one played, but Dean Evans dumped a whole lot of funk into. His catalogue is small, but all worth listening to.
Track Name: Old Friends (3:51)
- Transistor is a game that simply needs to be played an experienced. I cannot place one track over the other, because it is simply too good of an OST. Old Friends is simply a favorite of mine, but the work as a whole is incredible from start to finish.
- Transistor is a game that simply needs to be played an experienced. I cannot place one track over the other, because it is simply too good of an OST. Old Friends is simply a favorite of mine, but the work as a whole is incredible from start to finish.
Track Name: Blue Resort (3:03)
- While Bomberman Hero takes the cake on it's predecessor, 64 deserves accolades for it chunky bass lines and funky tunes from a series not known for it.
- While Bomberman Hero takes the cake on it's predecessor, 64 deserves accolades for it chunky bass lines and funky tunes from a series not known for it.
Track Name: Megalomania (1:36)
- Live A Live didn't make it to US shores until 2022, but it had been bumping an incredible boss theme for almost 20 years prior
- Live A Live didn't make it to US shores until 2022, but it had been bumping an incredible boss theme for almost 20 years prior
Track Name: The Secret Of Evermore (5:27)
- Before Skyrim, before Guild Wars, before Morrowind, there was Secret Of Evermore - Jeremy Soule's first work out of high school. Square Enix's one and only US developed title tangentially related to Secret Of Mana has one of the best complete OST's that has been criminally overlooked. Do yourself a favor and listen to the beginning of true greatness.
- Before Skyrim, before Guild Wars, before Morrowind, there was Secret Of Evermore - Jeremy Soule's first work out of high school. Square Enix's one and only US developed title tangentially related to Secret Of Mana has one of the best complete OST's that has been criminally overlooked. Do yourself a favor and listen to the beginning of true greatness.
Track Name: Malware Injection (6:09)
- Another incredible surprise from a least likely entry, Hacknet has a stellar soundtrack for a game that revolves around text lines.
- Another incredible surprise from a least likely entry, Hacknet has a stellar soundtrack for a game that revolves around text lines.