10 best video game OSTs of the modern era

Video game soundtracks are some of the most beautiful and prolific music you’ll ever hear. There are so many incredible soundtracks in gaming, but we’ll narrow it down to 10 of the best video game OSTs of the modern era.

10 best modern video game OSTs

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Anytime I listen to music from Skyrim, it makes me feel like I’m home again. Jeremy Soule did an amazing job captivating gamers with the main theme alone, using intense drums and deep chants for vocals.

But I also love the quieter songs that play in this Elder Scrolls game as you’re exploring the open world or strolling through town. The medieval tone is uplifted using strings and flutes, amongst many other notable instruments.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The magic that comes with the music from Breath of the Wild is how it works in tandem with the gameplay. The light and fragmented notes that play as you walk around the open world add to how peaceful exploring can be.

It only becomes overpowering once you get to fights, especially boss fights, which is when the music picks up and makes combat in Breath of the Wild feel epic. And can we talk about how the music builds up as you slowly create Tarrey Town? It’s little details like that which make this OST memorable.

Persona 5 Royal

Although Persona 5’s music is masterful in its own right, Persona 5 Royal adds even more music to create an outrageously catchy soundtrack. Both Atlus and Lyn work together so beautifully that I couldn’t imagine the OST being as good without Lyn.

Persona 5 Royal is known for its jazz and funk elements. Naming any song as your favorite would be the correct answer because there are so many notable songs from this game. You fall in love with it even more after playing the rhythm game Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight.

Celeste

I’m not much for electronic music, but Celeste brought an astonishing OST to be the backdrop of Madeline’s journey up the mountain as she also overcomes a barrage of mental health issues standing in her way.

There are both slower and quieter parts of the soundtrack that then fade into uplifting electronic and techno melodies. Listening to the OST all the way through is just as much a rollercoaster of emotions as the game is itself.

The Last of Us

Gustavo Santaolalla is a name that sticks in many gamers’ heads as being one of the most fascinating composers after witnessing the OST for The Last of Us. Not only did he include soft and somber tunes with a ronroco, but he introduced several unique instruments as well.

After playing The Last of Us, it’s hard not to relive those same emotions you felt while playing when listening back to the soundtrack. It wouldn’t be the same without Gustavo Santaolalla and his incredible way of understanding music and how it can make listeners feel intense emotions.

Animal Crossing

I’ve put Animal Crossing as the entire franchise for this pick, simply because it would be a crime to list one game’s soundtrack and not all the others. The magic of Animal Crossing’s soundtrack is how Nintendo made each hour of gameplay feel like a new beginning.

All hours of the day have their own music, and the songs change just a little depending on the weather too. From the original on the Gamecube, to New Leaf on the 3DS, and the most recent New Horizons on the Switch, Animal Crossing music never fails to make me feel nostalgic.

Minecraft

Speaking of nostalgia, Minecraft’s soundtrack is one-of-a-kind. Both C418 and Lena Raine have contributed to the iconic music from Minecraft, from the calming piano tunes to the soft electronic sounds.

A little goes a long way with Minecraft’s music, and that’s all that’s needed. Nearly all songs are iconic in their own right, and many gamers like myself are taken back to beloved memories of playing this game when they hear its music.

Final Fantasy 16

It’s tough to pinpoint which Final Fantasy OSTs reign supreme, but with Final Fantasy 16 being a recent release I can’t help but point out how immaculate this soundtrack is.

Final Fantasy is always epic, and this soundtrack reflects that feeling. From the main title theme that introduces you to the incredible fantasy journey you’re about to head on, to the wild boss fight music that makes you want to pause the game and listen, Final Fantasy 16’s OST is one to remember.

God of War

Bear McCreary is now one of my favorite composers ever since I discovered him from the God of War soundtrack. Both God of War and its sequel Ragnarok help magnify the epic saga that God of War is and continues to be.

The iconic three notes that make up Kratos’ theme with the backdrop of the singers chanting are so memorable. If I ever hear those notes outside of God of War I’ll be taken back to the wild journey that was God of War. I also adore Eivør’s vocals that pull on my heartstrings.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3‘s OST has to be one of the most stunning music compositions. The one melody from “Down by the River” is stuck in my head after spending hours in character creation, and you’ll hear it threaded through their other songs as well.

From the powerful chants that create tension to the beautiful vocalist with a wonderful vibrato, I could listen to Baldur’s Gate 3’s OST for hours without getting tired of it. Although it’s a pretty recent release, BG3 music will go down in history as one of the best video game OSTS of all time.

Those were the 10 best video game OSTs of the modern era, and hopefully, you agreed with a lot of my picks. A lot of these games ended up being RPGs, and if you’re looking forward to more beautiful RPG OSTs the best RPGs of 2024 may get you hyped.