TUNIC, FEZ, Nier Automata, Outer Wilds.
I also have a soft spot for Paper Mario and TTYD, those soundtracks are full of bops
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TUNIC, FEZ, Nier Automata, Outer Wilds.
I also have a soft spot for Paper Mario and TTYD, those soundtracks are full of bops
Outer Wilds is my number 1 all time fave OST. It makes me feel things.
Outer Wilds. Yeah it's one of the greatest games ever made, but would it be so good without that soundtrack? Debatable.
I petitioned to play something from it at my actual wedding (sadly was overruled), and I know I'm not the only one.
Ori and the Blind Forest's ost is phenomenal.
I think all of the Supergiant Games have great soundtrack. Transistor was what got me into their games, and it was the soundtrack that caught my attention first.
Hollow Knight
Omori
Doom 2016 and eternal
Mario odyssey
Terraria
Resident evil 4
Deathloop
Bloodborne
Nier Automata
Spectre tourment
Crypt of the necrodancer
Amnesia a machine for pigs
Metroid prime
Persona 5
Guilty gear strive
Undertale
Cuphead
These are all of my favorites personally. Omori or hollow knight being the best.
All-timer has to go to Chrono Trigger. Absolutely incredible soundtrack from start to finish.
For focused work: Shenzhen IO Exapunks Opus Magnum Into the Breach Firewatch IXION
Other: Blue Archive Symphony 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Branched Remix Minecraft Stardew Valley Spelunky Helltaker Kirby
Far too many to list, but Final Fantasy IX's soundtrack is a tremendous work of art, and a perfect final bow for Nobuo Uematsu from the series. It's always stuck with me among nearly ever other soundtrack.
Notable Mentions (in no order):
And so many others, but I'll be here all day if I keep going.
OST's are my JAM!
Ori is a classic. - It's equal parts haunting and jubilant.
Death Stranding - Don't be so serious. Every song is a masterpiece.
Overwatch - It's just good fun
Witcher 3 - hey lele lelele lele lele ley!
Cyberpunk - Dark, broody, and invigorating
Divinity Original Sin 1 and 2 - Absolute fantasy. If you want a VGM OST to plan your d&d session to, this is a great option
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Maybe it's partly because Arthur Morgan's story is so incredible but this soundtrack gives me the shivers. "May I stand unshaken... Amid, amidst a crash of the world?" omggg give it to me D'Angelo
There's tons more I'm missing here. But these ones stand out to me.
I really vibe with Minecraft. The nostalgia just hits different when I listen to it.
Oh gosh where do I even start. I have a massive list of VGM soundtracks that I listen to but if I had to pick some favs currently:
I've been listening to some choice tracks from Final Fantasy XIV, mostly from the big epic finales. I probably should be excited for XVI, but I just reaaally don't trust the action JRPG setup.
However, an even better soundtrack to me is Ori and the Blind Forest, as you mentioned - it has some epic bangers to it, but it's also an incredible soundtrack even for the calm, peaceful tracks playing while exploring.
Credit to Nier Automata for what it's worth...there's some tracks I really like in there on their own, but...I honestly feel like those really good tracks just don't often fit the gameplay. They have some hard-hitting vocal tracks playing while 2B is wandering the city or standing around, and it really warps the feel of the pacing. I mention it because it's just an interesting example to me of "good music" not actually fitting as a soundtrack.
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 6 (the opera aria was played at my wedding)
Castlevania 3, specifically the six channel Famicom version
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
I'm old, if you couldn't tell
Outer Wilds Journey Flower Abzu Shadow of the Colossus The last Guardian Mass effect Metal Gear Solid Undertale Thomas Was Alone What Remains of Edith Finch Dear Esther Firewatch No Man's Sky Death Stranding
I really like video game soundtracks :)
Both the Nier games have amazing soundtracks that I listen to frequently.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is also great although I don't really listen to it on its own. It really makes the game feel much more impactful while playing.
All the soundtracks Darren Korb makes for Supergiant. Hades resonates more with me as it's the one I've played the most, but I'm also a huge fan of Transistor's.
Pyre is a sleeper hit, soundtrack included. The way the credits song dynamically adapts to your decisions is incredible.
The Nier Automata OST is perfection. Almost every single track is memorable and lovable, I often relisten the whole ost just for fun
I like OST that goes hard (bass heavy) and I didn't see any here. My personal favorites are:
I have probably forgotten some games and I will be happy to discover others as it is quite niche.
I like epic, intense soundtracks so, Darkest Dungeon and Frostpunk. Monster Train is pretty good too.
Disasterpeace is an AMAZING composer and has done some stellar work in both video games and film as well. Here's a couple of my favorites from video games:
Please check out some of his other work here: http://disasterpeace.com/music
Undertale is my #1. Bully is my #2.
Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal have amazing soundtracks!
Mass Effect 3 OST has seen it's fair share of play time as well though that might be just as much because I love the game so much.
Oh! Cyberpunk 2077 is amazing as well. Especially the songs from the radio stations in the game.
Shout out to Touhou.
Zelda: Twilight Princess is probably my all time favorite. Midna's theme is so delightfully haunting in its several variations.
Indie games in general have great OSTs, MGS:R and Persona (and SMT in general) are obvious popular picks.
The World Ends With You is less mainstream (with one of the few gripes being the lack of boss-specific themes, at least in the DS original I played - but it makes up with the diverse overworld and normal battle themes), as is Etrian Odyssey.
Man this question isn't even fair there are so many fantastic soundtracks in gaming I could literally go on for hours about them.
Doom, Mass Effect, Halo, Skyrim, Ratchet and Clank, Assassin's creed(3 especially), Divinity original sin 2, pathfinder: wrath of the righteous, monster hunter, league of legends(all of riot games really), darktide, sonic, payday, witcher, Spiderman, Zelda, cyberpunk, megaman, final fantasy, Devil may cry, metal gear, undertale
that's just what I think of off the top of my head, there could easily be an entire sub just dedicated to the topic
Endless Space 2. The best OST I have ever come across in 20+ years of gaming. Several hundred hours in and I'm still not sick of any of the tracks.
While there's no correct answer here, I think the most widely beloved OSTs of all time probably belong to the Final Fantasy, Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario IPs.
One of my favourite soundtracks of all time was the haunting soundscapes from Anarchy Online. Timeless and haunting whilst travelling the wastelands of the planet Rubi-Ka.
I can’t froth at the mouth about game music, without mentioning Dear Esther. The arty solo exploreable story in a rugged haunting Hebridean landscape. The piano and cello move together in deep tones, and build up to ascending anthems of emotion. Composer Jessica Curry is simply a genius, and I can easily be moved to tears with this soundtrack. My favourite track is “I have begun my ascent”.
Also Supergiant Games soundtracks to Transistor and Pyre are emotive and catchy as any non-soundtrack album.
Halo 1-3 and probably reach too. There is just something about those strings that hit differently. The music perfectly portrays the feeling of loneliness and being the "last" spartan trying your best to save the human race from extinction.
Donkey Kong Country 2
As a metalhead Doom 2016 has a place in my heart (same as Duke Nukem 3D). Also, the opening credits to both Silent Hill 1&2.
Edit: let's not forget that one track in Wolfenstein: The New Order by Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah
The Great Giana Sisters (C64) Turrican (Amiga) Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Chris Christodoulou killed it with the Risk of Rain 2 soundtrack, personal favorite is The Rain Formally Known as Purple
Doom 2016 on some days, Pillars of Eternity on others
Kingdom hearts had some amazing original pieces and spins on classics.
One of my fav from the piano collection; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqmBRC6IOAs&t=11
Of course Halo 1, 2 and 3 aaand sims 2.
Bastion and Hades have just cool soundtracks you can listen to anytime. When pure adrenaline is needed the DOOM soundtrack.
The soundtracks from NieR:Automata and NieR Replicant are definitely my favorite of all time.
Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST are also very good.
Pyre's both my favorite game w/ my favorite OST. The tracks are layered in a way that they can change on the fly - and the instruments of certain characters kick in during the magical superbowl theme in really satisfying ways. Here's a couple examples:
The Dissidents' theme: Thrash Pack
Final showdown theme versus Dissidents: Never to Return
The Essence's theme: Sky Dance
Final Showdown theme versus Essence: Never to Return
Favorite tracks gotta be Path to Glory, though.