People always talk about the best video games of all time, but what makes them the best? Graphics, story, gameplay? All of those are important but it’s no coincidence that many of the best video games of all time also have the best video game soundtracks of all time.
These 20 video games provided the soundtrack for many years of my life and objectively these soundtracks are filled with bangers (like Persona 5) whether you’ve played the games or not. It’s a reminder of how important sound design is to the overall scope of player experience and how well a game is remembered decades down the road.
Best Video Game Soundtracks of All Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) – Koji Kondo
An iconic soundtrack featuring masterpieces like “Zelda’s Lullaby” and “Gerudo Valley.” When you type in “The Legend of Zelda” on YouTube, its soundtrack is the third suggested entry. This could easily be the most iconic on the list and has filled countless ringtones for decades and it’s clearly still really popular on YouTube for old gamers like me.
Final Fantasy VII (1997) – Nobuo Uematsu
Every iconic villain needs a theme song and “One-Winged Angel” stands as the cream of the crop. The beautiful melodies from “Flowers Blooming in the Church” echo through the walls of my childhood memories.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) – Jeremy Soule
Featuring the epic “Dragonborn” theme, which has become synonymous with adventure. Every gamer remembers the first time they battled their first dragon on the plains of Skyrim and Soule’s soundtrack glued the entire experience together in a brilliant way.
Undertale (2015) – Toby Fox
It is a modern classic with “Megalovania” and “Hopes and Dreams” being standout tracks, but the entire work is an 8-bit soundscape of melodies and classic video game sounds.
Chrono Trigger (1995) – Yasunori Mitsuda & Nobuo Uematsu
An RPG masterpiece with tracks like “Corridors of Time” and “Frog’s Theme.” It’s amazing what you could do with the limitation of gaming tech in 1995. Chrono Trigger’s music still stands the test of time and sound design and is a no-brainer when discussing the best video game soundtracks of all time.
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) – Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori
Is there a more famous song in all of gaming? Probably not. The Gregorian chant-inspired main theme is one of gaming’s most recognizable pieces for a reason, it introduced us to the Master Chief. Saving humanity never felt more epic.
Nier: Automata (2017) – Keiichi Okabe, Keigo Hoashi, & Kuniyuki Takahashi
An emotionally gripping soundtrack with tracks like “Weight of the World.” While I never played this game, I still found its music epic and emotionally driven.
Super Mario Galaxy (2007) – Koji Kondo & Mahito Yokota
A fully orchestrated score with tracks like “Gusty Garden Galaxy” that bring a grand space adventure to life. Equal parts whimsical and epic, the music helps narrate one of the most memorable adventures Mario has embarked upon recently.
Doom (2016) – Mick Gordon
A heavy metal-infused adrenaline rush featuring “BFG Division.” Mark Gordon brought the ruckus with this one, making every demon-slaying session feel like a bloody mosh pit.
Shadow of the Colossus (2005) – Kow Otani
A haunting and emotional soundtrack that enhances the game’s epic battles. The music helped sear the game’s immense scale into your bones. A score that made the task of tackling giants feel impossibly daunting.
Persona 5 (2016) – Shoji Meguro
A stylish mix of jazz, funk, and rock, featuring “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There.”
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) – Harry Gregson-Williams & Norihiko Hibino
A cinematic masterpiece with an unforgettable main theme.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) – Woody Jackson
A Western-inspired score that perfectly complements the game’s emotional depth and the perfect soundtrack for Arthur Morgan’s epic adventure.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) – Marcin Przybyłowicz & Mikolai Stroinski
A medieval fantasy masterpiece with tracks like “Silver for Monsters.” This score made the battles more epic, the monsters scarier, and the adventures grander.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) – Michiru Yamane
A gothic and rock-infused score with classics like “Dracula’s Castle.” This game still holds up to this day and is one of my favorite games of all time. The soundtrack combines a multitude of genres to create something that stands on its own to this day.
Mega Man 2 (1988) – Takashi Tateishi
Chiptune perfection with “Dr. Wily’s Castle Theme” standing out. It’s easy to find yourself bopping along as you restart that boss fight for the 17th time in a row.
Journey (2012) – Austin Wintory
An ethereal, Grammy-nominated score that evolves with the player’s journey. This soundtrack is a characters all its own and absolutely steals the show. Wintory created something special with this one.
Celeste (2018) – Lena Raine
A beautiful, emotional score featuring “Resurrections” and “Reach for the Summit.”
Kingdom Hearts (2002) – Yoko Shimomura
A magical score featuring the iconic “Dearly Beloved.” Even if you’ve never played this game, there’s a chance you recognize this one.
Pokémon Red & Blue (1996) – Junichi Masuda
A nostalgic 8-bit soundtrack with classics like the “Lavender Town” theme.
