Video game music has pretty much always been an underrated part of the industry, and is especially underestimated by those who don’t play games. While similar to movie soundtracks, video game music needs to hold your attention and span several hours at least, rather than just the three hours of a movie score.
Some of the best soundtracks in video games rival the best movie soundtracks. RPGs in particular usually have great scores because of the emphasis on character and story. These moments demand emotion, and one of the core pillars of eliciting emotion from audiences is music. Here are some of the best in RPGs.
8
Cyberpunk 2077
Music For the Genre
Cyberpunk 2077’s music is exactly what you’d imagine from the setting. It hits you with electronic tracks and heavy bass that sends the sound waves right through your body. I wouldn’t say its music does a lot of heavy lifting to create the world and mood because every aspect of Cyberpunk 2077 plays its part well, but Night City would certainly be less without it.
Creating music that’s both emotional and works for the setting can be tricky to balance, but it works well here. There result is a soundtrack that works so well in-game, but it’s also great to listen to on its own.
7
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Ancient Greece in Music
Assassin’s Creed games generally have decent music, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is one of the best. Ancient Greece is a beautiful setting filled with potential for gorgeous and creative music, and Odyssey delivers. Ancient Greek music had instruments that involved woodwind and string instruments, and these are used generously throughout Odyssey’s soundtrack, centering the setting firmly in the Mediterranean.
Aside from how it establishes the setting and culture, the music guarantees that the emotional moments land just right. On the other end of the scale, its haunting vocals hint at the otherworldly and divine, a fitting tone for a game that deals with both, while its combat music is fitting.
6
Mass Effect 3
Music That Says Goodbye
Mass Effect 3 is the most emotional and grand of the Mass Effect Trilogy, and it has the music to match. I struggled to pick between Mass Effect 2 and this, and ultimately went with Mass Effect 3 because of the sweeping vocals and instrumentation that capture the wonder of the galaxy, the terror of the Reapers, and the pain of saying goodbye.
Possibly the most emotional track has nothing but piano for most of it, using simple chords to create a sense of yearning and regret. It also includes the iconic Mass Effect galactic map music that signals a return to home in each game.
5
Elden Ring
A Score for Dark Fantasy
Elden Ring is a dark game, and it has a soundtrack to match. Its instrumentation includes prominent brass instruments that give the soundtrack a rich sound that perfectly complements the themes and visuals of Elden Ring.
The music of Elden Ring is very similar stylistically to fantasy giants like The Lord of the Rings, and helps establish its fantasy setting. Video game music has several jobs that include establishing setting while working with the visuals, and Elden Ring’s music does just that. Just listening to it without any context establishes a world that encompasses a fallen kingdom, while hearing it in-game uplifts the experience as a whole.
4
Baldur’s Gate 3
Your Personal Cheerleader
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a great game in many ways, and its music is one of the things that stood out to me on a first playthrough. It has a catchy theme song that I find myself humming, and often that in itself is rare enough that it’s worth mentioning.
However, it’s in moments of combat, in particular, where Baldur’s Gate 3’s music stands out. Baldur’s Gate 3’s combat in general makes you feel powerful, but that moment when the music rises to a crescendo when you kill an enemy feels so good that it feels like the game is physically lifting you up.
3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Nothing But Brilliance
The Witcher 3 is a powerhouse in a lot of ways, but its music is one of its strongest areas. The Witcher 3’s soundtrack, alongside the music of its Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone expansions, feature hours of music that has a distinct identity and sound. Each region has its own distinct sound that reflects the culture and characteristics of the land.
The soundtrack is also sprinkled with amazing themes that all build on each other. It’s one of the best tracks in gaming, and the music is often your only companion as you explore the lonely wilds of the Continent or the seas of Skellige.
Skyrim’s Best Feature
The Elder Scrolls has always had beautiful music, but its best soundtrack offering is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I’ll never forget the moment the first teaser trailer dropped, and I heard Skyrim’s main theme for the first time. Its choirs evoke images of Vikings, while its softer tracks are reminiscent of previous games.
The game itself didn’t disappoint, with hours of achingly beautiful tracks that establish Skyrim’s atmosphere, works alongside its culture, and gives combat an unmatched feeling of grandeur. Its music makes just wandering through the tundra or forests immersive rather than boring, and it takes a very good soundtrack to do that.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Hours of Perfection
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s soundtrack is eight hours of wonder. Lorien Testard, the composer, was famously an unknown guitar teacher when Sandfall hired him and he created one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, but Alice Dupont-Percier also deserves credit for the quality of the music.
The soundtrack features techno tracks, rock ballads, and gorgeous classical tracks with haunting vocals. Every single song on the track is incredible and is one of the reasons Expedition 33 is so compelling and emotional. It makes fights more intense, alludes to the secrets of the world, and is a core part of the game’s success.
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