New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Good video game soundtracks draw players to the game. Awful music pushes players away. But considering that music and video games go hand in hand, you can't eliminate one and leave the other.
Almost every video games in the last 40 years came with accompanying soundtracks. Some were insanely great, others not so good. Below we take a look at the best video game soundtracks of all time. The list is not definitive. Feel free to disagree with some of the picks.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
From the Legend of Zelda series, the Ocarina of Time was a game by Koji Kondo. It was first availed in the N64 console as a standalone. For its music, Kondo came up with new soundtracks that didn't include any songs from the game's prequels.
The game's music is soothing catchy. But what makes it so special is the way the soundtracks rhyme with the game's themes. Each song gives a clue to how the storyline unfolds, immersing you into the game's world the more you play it.
Red Dead Redemption (2010)
Before Red Dead Redemption II came and dominated the gaming scene throughout 2018, the original release had already made a mark. The game's enhanced graphics, unique storyline, and characterization helped lift it into a cultural phenomenon but its soundtrack also played a huge part.
From the moment you start riding your horse to the moment you cross the border and arrive in Mexico, beautiful songs play in the background. Most of the songs are also related to the scenery surrounding you, which further immerses you into the game's action.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Vice City is one of the most successful games in the Grand Theft game series. While there are many reasons why it proved to be a success, its unique approach to using soundtracks was highly acclaimed.
Most games before Vice City added soundtracks casually. Rockstars introduced a radio-style form of listening to music as you play the game, something that had never been done before. The games were chosen carefully, mixing chilled hip-hop with soothing RNB songs. The concept became so successful that all other Grand Theft Auto games incorporated a similar style to soundtracks.
Jimi Hendrix Slot Game
Who said casino games can't make great soundtracks? Jimi Hendrix is solely inspired by the iconic rock guitarist—and doesn't disappoint. From the moment you begin to play the game to clicking out, you are treated to some of Jimi's best songs ever.
The Jimi Hendrix is technically devoted to honoring the rock legend. His songs are only icing to the simple classic game that combines common rock symbols with Jimi Hendrix themes. The slot game and more musically themed casino games are available in most online games, including online casinos.
Super Mario Galaxy
After years of waiting, Nintendo finally released an album full of Super Mario Galaxy songs in 2008. The album came in two parts. The regular edition only had 28 songs. The complete edition had all 81 songs composed by Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo.
Kondo only produced four songs, so the bigger credit goes to Mahito. Either way, most of the songs are artistic, calm and addictive. It's also worth noting that the Kondo and Yokota duo were also involved in other Nintendo games, most of which have been successful.
Super Mario and Sonic
NES and Sega Genesis were two rivals in the game production industry. Then in 2008, the two companies released two games with the same music. Mario didn't mind that it was always ahead of Sonic. The company went ahead and incorporated the songs, helping both games rise into worldwide stardom.
Both Sonic and Super Mario targeted teens and younger players, which is why they chose catchy pop songs. After the two games earned great success thanks to their songs, rumors arose that Sonic had plans of letting Michael Jackson make music for the Hedgehog 3. The rumors turned out to be true even though Jackson would later abandon the project.
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
For this soundtrack, Rockstar brought together real hip-hop artists to compose music for its radio-style soundtrack. The game revolved around the issue of gang violence in America after all. Some of the biggest rappers of the time were involved in the soundtrack, including Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube.
If you hate rap songs you probably wouldn't appreciate the San Andreas theme music. However, given the game's themes of violence and related issues, the music rhymes smoothly.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is a game about a father who lost his daughter and an orphaned girl. The two try to navigate a post-apocalyptic world, battling zombies and deal with memories of lives before the apocalypse.
The Last of Us evokes more emotions than most zombie games but its soundtrack was designed for exactly this purposes. The game's soothing songs make you feel emotional while drawing ire to annihilate zombies nonchalantly until you complete the game.
God of War
God of War was the game of the year in 2018 for a reason. It told a powerful story exemplified by advanced graphics, intuitive gameplay, and great music. The game's songs are inspired by European folk traditions, which is why there is a lot of pounding drums and deep choirs.
While the songs are powerful and evoke Vikings kind of vibes, how God of War uses them to ebb into its storyline is what makes them great. Unlike some video games, these songs don't feel vestigial or only added to hype the game. They are a part of God of War and a great reason why the game is so great.
To Conclude
Music has always been a part of video games. From simple mobile games to franchises like Red Dead Redemption, it hard to find a game without music. Some of the best soundtracks can be found on classics like Super Mario, 2000s hits like Vice City and modern games like God of War.
If you are a huge fan of music, most of these soundtracks are available for downloading. Go ahead and get them and probably use them as your background while playing other games.
