Personally, I’m a huge fan of Hollow Knight, Ori and the (Blind Forest/Will of the Wisps), and Kingdom Hearts. Orchestral soundtracks are just something else…
You must log in or register to comment.
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.
TUNIC, FEZ, Nier Automata, Outer Wilds.
I also have a soft spot for Paper Mario and TTYD, those soundtracks are full of bops
NieR: Automata
The Weight of the World
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.
I know! It’s such a good ost! I think one of my favorite songs for it, although not from the ost, is Andrew Prahlow’s Outer Wild - Reprise single. It’s got aspects of all different main themes and is just overall an amazing piece
I can barely make it 30 seconds into that one without tearing up and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Was looking for someone to mention Outer Wilds. I love when games weave music into storytelling and its perfect here.
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.
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.
I think orchestra is mixed, it’s either the best fucking tracks ever (often when mixed with electric guitar), or they kind of blend with other orchestral tracks I know and don’t end up being unique enough.
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.
Transistor
Katamari Damacy
Stardew Valley
Finally someone mentions Transistor!
I saw Pyre in another comment and honestly, I’d just go ahead and say everything Supergiant has made has top teir OSTs. Bynn the Breaker and Zia’s theme from Bastion, In Circles and The Spine from Trainsistor, In the Flames and Bound Together from Pyre, In the Blood and River of Flame from Hades all incredible songs. Supergiant has too many bangers to list across everything they’ve made
The Nier Automata OST is perfection. Almost every single track is memorable and lovable, I often relisten the whole ost just for fun
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.
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.
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.
Edit: Formatting
Witcher 3
🎶PAM PA RAM…🎶
Red Dead Redemption 2
I finished that game for the first time over a year ago, and still can’t listen to ‘That’s The Way It Is’ without feeling like I’ll never be happy again.
Need to queue up the house building theme after that one
Or just play That’s The Way It Is over and over and over and over again until the world is a small, bleak place full of sadness and disappointment.
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
I like OST that goes hard (bass heavy) and I didn’t see any here. My personal favorites are:
- Hotline Miami (1 & 2)
- Furi
- Katana Zero
- My Friend Pedro
- Haven
I have probably forgotten some games and I will be happy to discover others as it is quite niche.
