Music plays a huge role in making video games immersive and iconic. Without fully realized soundtracks, games would lose a distinct layer from their atmosphere and story.
With the large swath of amazing composers and great games out there, there really is no shortage of stunning tracks worth listening to. It can be especially memorable, though, when music and lyrics are put together to create distinctive pieces that can define the game they’re in. Some of the best original songs we’ve seen truly stand the test of time.
10 Concept Of Love By Hideki Naganuma - Jet Set Radio Future
The entire Jet Set Radio Future soundtrack is a fever dream that still slaps by today’s musical standards. Although it features a lot of great licensed music, the mixes made by Hideki Naganuma really stand out and create the ultimate backdrop for skating all around Tokyo tagging every surface possible.
Naganuma’s work uses different samples to form the lyrics and mashes it all into a sonically engaging beat that makes you feel like you can literally become Lightning McQueen.
9 Wild Prairie Rose By Jessy Carolina - BioShock Infinite
The BioShock series usually finds ways to smoothly incorporate vintage music and rework modern hits to make them feel appropriate for the setting. It's a cool touch that is explained away with lore, and the series is all the better for it. Because of the great way the soundtrack is set up, the original songs that are introduced in this world feel like they belong right on the same record as the others.
Wild Prairie Rose is first heard at the fair in Columbia, sung and performed by Jessy Carolina. She's also responsible for the gripping Fortunate Son cover that paints the scene as gunfire and chaos overcome the less fortunate districts embroiled in the Vox Populi revolution. Wild Prairie Rose does a great job of making you feel nostalgic like you've truly been to this retrofuturistic city in the sky.
8 Brand New Days By Shoji Meguro - Persona 3 FES
The Persona series is chock-full of great songs, both instrumental and lyrical. Brand New Days is a timeless treasure among jewels, though, as it perfectly encapsulates a game that really launched the modern Persona titles as we know them.
It has a classic anime feel to it that is fun to listen to but also carries weight with its lyrics, especially in the context of Persona 3 FES. Hope, time, finding the answer through darkness - these are all themes that ring true by the end of the game. Kawamara Yumi’s cadence brings an upbeat feel to the song that creates a stark contrast to its moodier “The Beginning” instrumental piano version (which makes even the menu screen feel haunting).
7 Paper Boats By Darren Korb - Transistor
Paper Boats completely tells the story of Transistor, so it’s not a song you want to listen to before you’ve finished the game. Whether or not you play it, though, this song is a great jazzy tune that could fit into any moody montage.
It works well paired with We All Become, also performed by Ashley Barrett, to fully realize the world of Cloudbank and give us a deeper look into Red as a character. Paper Boats is a great song on its own, but really becomes elevated when you experience it upon finishing the game. It’s hard to expect any less from the creators of Hades.
6 When You’re Gone By The Make Believes - We Happy Few
It’s pretty astounding to see a made-up band that actually created the music you hear in the real world. In-game, The Make Believes is a popular band akin to our world’s The Beatles. Outside the game, they created every song performed by the band.
Their best hit is When You’re Gone, which feels like it would fit right in with the classic ‘60s vinyl tracks you can find today. The lyrics are crooned gently despite the darker element of how they describe being addicted to Joy. You can hear distorted versions of their music throughout the districts, but this is the song that greets you at the credits and makes you feel things.
5 Snake Eater By Norihiko Hibino - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Snake Eater is the perfect way to set the tone when you’re about to jump into Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Some of the best opening scenes in games are cinematic and immediately establish the vibe for gameplay and story, so setting this to the sound of thrilling strings and Cynthia Harrell’s vocals was a truly iconic move.
It’s hard to listen to this song without feeling like you’re about to crash a party as you sip a martini with a gun under your suit or gown. Few opening songs come close to this in terms of pure flair.
4 The Banks Of The River Are Lined With Gold By Johnny Galvatron - The Artful Escape
The Artful Escape relies heavily on music to create a magical experience for players. Because of that focus and the story it tells, you can expect an amazing original soundtrack to bless your ears throughout the game.
This game is great at bringing both orchestral guitar masterpieces and folksy tunes, but its best offering is arguably The Banks of The River Are Lined With Gold. It’s comforting and emotional all at once while somehow perfectly encapsulating Francis and Calypso.
3 Eyes On Me By Nobuo Uematsu And Kako Someya - Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy is known for sweeping melodies that make every entry feel epic and grand. Eyes On Me is a timeless one that truly defines Final Fantasy 8, especially since it makes appearances throughout the game. If you’re a Squall and Rinoa stan, you’re sure to have this in your music library.
This song is so definitive that it brought singer Faye Wong to the top of the charts and even stands as one of the highest-selling video game music discs in Japan. It even won Song of the Year.
2 God Of War By Bear McCreary - God Of War
There’s something about using the old Norse tongue that feels so epic and otherworldly. Deep echoing chants over a powerful drum beat make this song fitting of a God that has seen his fair share of battles, conquests, and destruction.
From start to finish, this song makes you feel like you are emerging from the ashes ready to take on all manner of foes. Bear McCreary really outdoes himself in God of War, and it’s a call for the ages.
1 Still Alive By Jonathan Coulton - Portal
Although Still Alive sounds distinctly more relaxed, it’s a catchy song that can easily get stuck in your head. It’s an extra payoff for anyone who went through the various challenges of Portal to hear the antagonist recall everything you went through in such a tongue-in-cheek way. Even the title alone shows the player that, yes, you won, but did you really?
Even though it is more than a decade old, it still remains one of the most memorable songs in modern gaming. GlaDOS said it herself - this was a triumph.