8 Best Video Game Soundtracks Of All Time, Ranked

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Skyrim, which unexpectedly dropped on the Nintendo Switch, is undeniably a great game and quite possibly one of the best Elder Scrolls games ever made. Of course, its video game soundtrack, composed by the legendary Jeremy Soule, played a major role in establishing Skyrim’s position as one of the best RPGs ever since the music does a great job of bringing the in-game world of Tamriel to life, along with all the adventure and exploration.

Tracks such as “Dragonborn” and “Far Horizons” capture the essence of adventure and exploration associated with this fantasy gaming title, making it one of the best video game soundtracks in recent gaming history.

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Undoubtedly, the best Halo game, Halo: Combat Evolved, revolutionized the FPS genre, laying the foundations of many features present in modern gaming. And while the shooting action was admittedly the best part of the game, apart from the narrative, the game’s soundtrack most definitely contributed to some of the best action in the game. This video game soundtrack was composed by Martin O’Donnell (his IMDb page stands as a testament to his influence on the franchise) and Michael Salvatori, resulting in instantly recognizable tracks, such as the famous “Halo Theme,” which sets the stage for some of the most epic battles ever seen in gaming.

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Composed by Masato Nakamura, both the video game soundtrack and the entire Sonic franchise withstood the test of time, resulting in Sonic being the second most-recognizable gaming mascot in the world—right after Mario. The energetic, upbeat, and outright catchy tunes from “Green Hill Zone” are still hummed by many today, while the tense tunes from the “Labyrinth Zone” still make our fingers twitch.

Overall, this video game’s soundtrack actually complements the fast-paced Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay perfectly, and the legacy of this particular score is evident in each subsequent Sonic release.

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Number 5 on our Best Video Game Soundtracks is reserved for 1998’s Metal Gear Solid. Most of the original music for the soundtrack was composed by the Konami Computer Entertainment Sound Team Japan. However, the soundtrack’s most recognizable tracks, the “Metal Gear Solid Main Theme” and “The Best is Yet to Come,” were composed by TAPPY, and Rika Muranaka (performed by Aoife Ni Fhearraigh), respectively. And while the entire soundtrack is great, with its haunting melodies and tense action cues that do a great job of immersing players into the gameplay, these two tracks encapsulate this essence of the game by creating a sense of urgency and stealth.

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A staple of video game soundtracks, the original Super Mario Bros score was composed by Koji Kondo, and its main theme made history as the first video game music added to the Library of Congress. The music from this iconic platformer, released in 1985/1986, is both catchy and whimsical, and some of its tracks, like the “Underwater Theme,” were so memorable that people still hum them even after nearly 30 years. Kondo’s use of limited 8-bit technology now stands as a testament to his exceptional talent, as he managed to create a universally appealing soundtrack whose popularity isn’t banning.  

It’s so memorable that the Super Mario Bros movie cast recreated it to promote the film.

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The Chrono Trigger video game soundtrack, composed by Yasonury Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu, masterfully conveys the various eras and emotions experienced by those playing this time-traveling RPG. The breathtaking soundtracks contain tracks such as “Frog’s Theme” and “Corridors of Time,” but also a slew of tracks with diverse musical styles—ranging from medieval to sci-fi and futuristic tracks.

All of these tracks do a great job of reflecting the game’s time-traveling narrative and setting. The emotional depth that the Chrono Trigger soundtrack inspires has solidified its position as one of the best video game soundtracks in the gaming community.

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The runner-up of our list is the memorable score from 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, composed by the now-legendary Nobuo Uematsu. It features a mix of emotional depth and epicness that befits this legendary RPG. The entire soundtrack features an extensive range of musical styles, ranging from bombastic orchestral pieces down to delicate piano melodies such as “Aerith’s Theme,”—which has become synonymous with the series.

Nobuo Uematsu’s musical creation did an exceptional job of reflecting the game’s complex narrative and diverse character cast, leaving an indelible mark on the gaming community and the entire generations of gamers.

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The title of the Best Video Game Soundtrack on our list belongs to the best Zelda game ever—the iconic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from 1998. Yet another score composed by the renowned Koji Kondo, the music from this groundbreaking adventure that has since become a benchmark for gaming is both nostalgic and timeless.

The use of the in-game Ocarina (an actual musical instrument) as both a music and gameplay element added a whole new level of immersion to the iconic video game. At the same time, tracks such as “Zelda’s Lullaby” and “Song of Storms” beautifully captured the essence of the in-game world and its numerous mysteries. The Ocarina of Time soundtrack remains an enduring classic soundtrack that invokes many childhood memories of gamers worldwide.