Video games are constantly praised for their narrative, visuals, and overall gameplay. While it's surely a noted and awarded category, a video game's soundtrack often doesn't receive the same praise as the aforementioned components. And yet, the soundtrack plays an integral role in setting the mood for whatever is happening on screen, be it a serene walk through nature or a bombastic boss fight.
The beauty of the ones we've listed below is that they're not only great soundtracks that linger in your ear after you've finished the game, but they take you back to that very moment in the game - whether it's ripping and tearing into demons or building a house in the old west. As for where, Spotify is one of the best places to listen to the following - and more - video game soundtracks.
Spotify Premium
Spotify Premium is the ad-free premium offering of the music streaming platform. It comes with multiple tiers of subscriptions, ranging from individual plans to those for families. Each plan comes with its own offerings, primarily with regard to the number of devices they cover. It also allows you to play music from anywhere, while offline.
6 Doom (2016)
Mick Gordon truly discovered the meaning of rip and tear, and it shows in his soundtrack for the 2016 reboot of Doom. Considered one of the best FPS games of all time, Doom's industrial metal laden soundtrack is not only the perfect to eviscerate demons to, but it's also great workout music. To top it all off, Gordon has even given a remastered spin to some of the original Doom's music. This soundtrack is inspiration personified.
5 Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 has many beautiful moments that you either come upon naturally, or have thrown at you by the story. However, to break our hearts just a bit more, Rockstar put together a brilliant soundtrack comprised of original and licensed tracks. It's not just the nature of these tracks, but also their timing that help create a beautifully woven narrative moment; the likes of which the game is filled with.
4 Nier Automata
It's not very often that a game makes you question the nature of sentience; and that's exactly what Nier Automata did. Not only did it achieve this thanks to its twisted yet beautiful narrative and lore drops, but also the soundtrack, which ranged from serene to dramatic, and even haunting. The instrumentals and vocals in each track complement each other in such a way that at times, you will wonder what it even means to be alive. An existential game requires a soundtrack that will make you question everything, and Square Enix nailed it with this one.
3 Tetris Effect
Tetris Effect is one of those games that can't merely be described as a game. The stunning visuals are an experience unlike anything that other games can offer. This is further amplified by the beat-based gameplay and the stunning soundtrack. All of this put together makes Tetris Effect one of the most unique experiences you'll ever live through. The soundtrack is one of the moist blissful and trippy pieces of music you're going to listen to.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered to be one of the best open world action RPGs of all time. While this can be attributed to it's beautifully created map, intricate narrative moments, or rewarding exploration, the game's soundtrack does brilliantly in setting the mood. Whether it's exploring the woods around Kaer Morhen, looking at the horizon from one od Skillige's many cliffs, of battling a dangerous Leshen, the soundtrack adds flovour to the moment.
The merry and melancholic melodies played in the game's many taverns further adds to the overall soundtrack, making it well-rounded for almost any occasion. And, od course, who can forget Priscilla's touching performance of The Wolven Storm, which made everyone fall silent.
1 Outer Wilds
At the surface, Outer Wilds may just seem like a simple exploration game, but there's so much more to it once you really get in. It is one of the most beautifully existential games you'll ever play, and Andrew Prahlow's soundtrack shows that there's music at the beginning and end of the universe. Each track elicits a particular feeling, whether it's the comfort of roasting marshmallows on Timber Hearth or experiencing utter terror on Giant's Deep.
Perhaps the most notable track is perhaps the one that plays at the end of every loop. End Times makes you stop doing whatever you were doing and forces you to watch the end of the universe with utter helplessness. There's only one thought that echoes in your mind - Was it all worth it? Did I do enough? Did I make my life count?