Basically this. I have just realized that as a guy whos teens where in the 00’s, my musical ear has been groomed by awesome videogames with great soundtracks, like Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Gran Turismo, later Need For Speed and some FIFA. But what’s the equivalent in today’s time?
I’ve bought a FIFA and a NFS recently, but the soundtracks are… OK-ish, I guess? I enjoyed the some Rocket League’s season, though.
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Golf Club: Wasteland. Played it for the soundtrack and atmosphere.
Hollow Knight is also atmospheric and tense in boss battles. Christopher Larkin is an amazing composer.
Ruiner and Hotline Miami will keep you pumped.
I didn’t know Ruiner. Thanks, game purchased.
In addition to the Octopath mention, the Xenoblade Chronicles games have some absolutely stellar soundtracks.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a night theme and day theme for each individual large area, and there are a lot of them, alongside a variety of battle music, insert tracks, and more. Each of the night/day themes share overlapping motifs, alongside motifs reflective of the larger music work as a whole.
Guilty Gear -STRIVE- is one that really stood out to me recently. It’s was my first exposure to the series, but I really enjoy how they use each character’s theme as a chance to flesh them out and tell their story.
Katana ZERO ended up being a standout soundtrack to me as well. I think the impact is greater if your first exposure to them is in the context of playing the game, but the tracks do stand really well on their own merits too.
I’d also mention Paradise Killer for a really entrancing exploration of City Pop, Jazz Fusion, some Funk, and other such genres. IMO the OST is the secret sauce for the game’s setting and mood in a really fundamental way.
Back on more mainstream games, Yasunori Nishiki’s work on the soundtracks for both Octopath Traveler 1 & 2 is outstanding. For anyone on board with the style of music typical of JRPG soundtracks, they are very worth your time.
Check out these two: “Ori and the blind Forest” and “Trine”
The soundtrack to Sayonara Wild Hearts is killer. Love that game.
Octopath Traveler’s soundtrack is amazing. Only current/last gen soundtrack I own. The variety of styles and themes for the different paths and areas really helps make each one unique, and the battle themes are some of the best JRPGs have to offer.
Metal Gear Solid games have a very memorable soundtrack. People keep memeing on Rising OST, but sleep on the other games OST.
Maybe this is just the company I keep, but I feel like snake eater is the most meme’d MGS song
Snake Eater is probably the sole exception. The Best is Yet to Come, Can’t Say Goodbye to Yesterday and Heavens Divide are usually ignored.
I’ll have to revisit those, also what’re your favorite MGRR tracks? I was sorta taken a back by your original posting, because I encounter people riffing on snake eater fairly regularly, but atleast don’t notice MGR coming up hardly ever in that way.
I am my own master now I think it is my favorite, but it is not by much. MGRR track is really good.
Snake Eater is just the ladder meme keeping it alive, funny that part uses the vocals only version unlike the memes.
There is also the main them from MGS1-3 that is legendary that probably we won’t hear again because of the plagiarism controversy.
Tight, I’ll check that out sometime tonight.
I unironically like snake eater lol. Helps that mgs3 is my favorite by far
Snake Eater is unironically the best James Bond theme. Is an amazing piece. Is just that people outside the MGS fans only know it as the ladder meme song.
For a recent-ish game, The score to The Outer Worlds is the first that comes to mind.
Different type of soundtrack, but Outer Wilds!
Hades, Cult of the lamb. They are memorable because I’m playing it a lot. I’ve purchased both soundtracks - Hades OST is on Bandcamp, Cult of the lamb OST is on Steam.
If you like more orchestral music checkout the soundtrack for Nier Automata. It came out a couple years ago and I find it great to listen to while working.
You should check out the soundtrack for the original Nier as well, (Or Replicant I suppose). I fell in love with the OST back when Nier first released as Gestalt, and I still think it’s better than Automata. Well except for the amusement park. That track slaps.
I was going to ask for some recommendations on this vibe. I basically have this https://www.youtube.com/@Meisio channel’s WOW OST playing on loop as I work. I like to mix it up a bit but often don’t find the right vibe for music to work to as it’s too distracting.
Another one I like for work that’s not distracting is Zelda and chill on YouTube. Its a couple hours and usually auto plays more similar stuff.
