I’ve got a few so I’ll kick us off.
Outer Wilds
I listen to this one an awful lot, and from start to finish, which is pretty rare for me when it comes to soundtracks. The song ‘14.3 Billion Years’ still gets me even today and the games main theme is one or the more memorable bits of gaming music I’ve ever encountered.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Atmosphere. The music goes an awful long way to setting a games atmosphere and this soundtrack is no different. I can’t necessarily listen to this on repeat like Outer Wilds, but when I do listen to it I’m immediately catapulted back to being on that damn ship.
Tearaway
This one is just disgustingly charming in a way that only a game for a Media Molecule game could be.
For soundtracks that I constantly listen to outside of gaming. It’s got to be racing games and action sport games that take the cake.
The likes of:
NFS Underground 1 & 2
NFS Most Wanted
Forza Horizon 1, 2 & 4 (not yet played 3)
Dirt 2 & 3
Tony Hawks 1, 2, 3, 4, Underground 1 & 2, 1+2
SSX Tricky, SSX (reboot)
Jet Set Radio & Future
Here’s some curated playlists of such games that I’ve made:
Sonic 2 - Chemical plant zone
I love that song too. There’s a really good remix on YouTube which I sometimes listen to while walking or driving.
That’s pretty good. The one I like best (so far) is this one.
Nice one!
Nier Automata
Rimworld is fantastic too.
Cyberpunk has a great collection to hit shuffle on Spotify.
Haven’t played the game but have added several of its bangers to my techno playlists. Epic stuff
Even if you put it on easy and just do the main story its worth it for the narative alone.
I really like ori and the will of the wisps
Really enjoyed the music in Hollow Knight
ROLLIN AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND
Simon Viklund made fantastic stuff for Payday 1 and 2.
Also Mick Gordon’s work for Doom and Killer Instinct.
Chrono Cross, Skyrim, was digging the CP2077 tracks, or pieces of it.
Showing my age here.
Chaos Overlords on PC. I used to play it just for the music as a kid.
Great Giana Sisters on C64. Turrican 2 on Amiga. Battle Valley on C64. Chemical Plant Zone, Sonic 2.
Golf Club Wasteland for chill.
Hollow Knight OST by Christopher Larkin is epic.
Hotline Miami and Ruiner for a workout session.
Of course, I highly recommend “listening” to them while playing the games themselves.
Crystalis for the NES has an absolute banger soundtrack. The game is also great. The overworld theme will stick in your head forever.
I always loved that one.
Super Mario Galaxy
Final Fantasy VI
I think Death Stranding’s use of the soundtrack was top notch. The way the music would swell up as you made it past certain points really accentuated the game.
Also Low Roar’s music is just so haunting and beautiful. Rest in peace, Ryan Karazija.
