10 Games That Could Not Have Had More Perfect Soundtracks

Fallout 4

Tons of games nowadays have soundtracks that you’d be more than happy listening to over and over again. However, there are a handful of games whose soundtracks are not only toe-tappingly catchy, but perfectly encapsulate the atmosphere of the games. They add to the experience, either with music that reflects the nature of the actions being played out, or by providing an extra sort of layer to the lore. As such, here are 10 games that absolutely nail their soundtracks.

In reality, this could be just about any Fallout game. Not because the same tracks are used over and over again, though there are often some repeat entries, but because Bethesda’s curated list of songs from the early- mid 20th century enhance that idea that this world is very much stuck in the past. Wandering through the streets of Boston, shooting raiders outside of old American diners while Atom Bomb Baby by The Five Stars blares from your Pip-Boy just feels right.

It makes the wasteland feel more realistic. After all, you wouldn’t have deep thumping electronic songs after humanity just spent all that time locked away in the Vaults. Fallout 4’s soundtrack is imperative to the experience, and if you don’t believe us, try exploring the wasteland with the radio turned off next time. Unloading your Fat-Man into the face of a Super Mutant won’t be quite as satisfying, we’ll tell you now.

DOOM

DOOM was one of 2016’s surprise hits. Nobody quite expected it to be quite as satisfying as it turned out to be, with fluid controls, satisfying shooting, and a shed load of gore. As we sprinted around levels, crushing the skulls of demons with our bare hands and eliminating entire waves of enemies with one blast of the BFG, we were fueled. Inspired to deliver as much pain as humanly possible to these otherworldly creatures, and it was all thanks to its soundtrack.

Created by Mick Gordon, the DOOM original soundtrack consists of 31 tracks and over two hours of heavy metal goodness. Featuring a blend of heavy guitar riffs and pulsing electronica tones, there’s no possible better soundtrack to our gory battle against the forces of hell. Forget about getting you in the zone, DOOM’s soundtrack will get you so incredibly hyped and immersed in the experience you’ll spend hours at a time blasting your way through the hordes without a care in the world.

Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami was a pretty surreal experience in just the gameplay and the story itself. Players are thrust into an alternative 1989 Miami where they assume the role of a mysterious antihero who goes on a murderous rampage against the underworld that plagues the city.

But then you add in the soundtrack. A soundtrack that goes from something that sounds like the soundtrack to lying around on the beach all day, to a catchy upbeat futuristic track that sounds like something you’d hear in a spy movie. That’s what makes Hotline Miami’s music so damn good. It completely matches your character and their disjointed life. From the disoriented and frankly odd moments in their apartment, to the intense, fast-paced action that comes with dispatching a bunch of enemies on your murderous sprees. Just give it a listen, and you’ll instantly want to boot the game up.

Mafia III

Assuming the role of Lincoln Clay in Mafia III took us down a pretty dark road. A road to revenge against those that murdered your family, and one that would see a lot of bloodshed. Set in the 1960’s fictional setting of New Bordeaux, a recreation of New Orleans, the world captured the cultural tensions of the time.

It was the soundtrack that helped plunge us into this world the most. Composed by Jesse Harlin and Jim Bonney, Mafia III’s soundtrack contains all of the funky guitar riffs and heavy drum beats you need to really put you in the setting of the game. Mafia III may have struggled technically, but its soundtrack was in-sync with the action, and we wouldn’t change it for the world.

Life is Strange

Life is Strange is one of the most heartfelt and immersive games in recent years. Players assume the role of Max Caulfield, a photography senior who discovers she can rewind time and uses it to try and save her friend and uncover the mystery of a missing-persons case in her town. Life is Strange’s beautiful, yet troubled coming of age story was only enhanced by a soundtrack that made the whole feel ooze a cinematic vibe.

Whether it was the original soundtrack courtesy of Jonathan Morali that compliments general gameplay and exploration of the world, or the licensed soundtrack that manages to perfectly convey the emotions of a cutscene, Life is Strange was all the more memorable for it. I challenge all of you to not get choked up when Spanish Sahara by Foals plays over that final scene. Don’t lie, you know you did.

Journey

Journey wasn’t your ordinary video game experience. It didn’t go on for hours at a time, tasking players with blasting every alien or terrifying monster that popped up onto the screen. It just told the tale of a mostly silent character through shifting landscapes of desert dunes to subterranean caves and more. Embarking on this journey on your own was a lonely and daunting experience. Something that the Grammy Award-nominated soundtrack by Austin Wintory perfectly encapsulated.

The soundtrack evolves and transforms on the journey of the player. Beginning with soft, orchestral tracks, before descending into more intense electronic beats, and then finally coming around full-circle with a symphonic and heartfelt finale. Journey is a mesmerizing game to play, and a lot of this comes down to its amazing music.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a magical experience. Setting out as young Link unknowing of the time-traveling gargantuan quest that lay in wait, players took the first steps on one of the most memorable and critically-acclaimed adventures of all time. While its fantastic temples and sense of discovery will forever be deemed as a turning point for video games, it was Ocarina of Time’s stellar soundtrack that brought this world to life.

Lon Lon Ranch‘s soothing theme immediately conveys the peaceful tranquility of its surroundings. The Lost Woods were brought to life by the upbeat catchy notes of the Ocarina that gave an astonishing sense of the mystery and magic of around every corner. And the Spirit Temple’s eerie visuals are perfectly paired to a theme that leaves you with a bleak, overwhelming feeling of solitude.

Ocarina of Time didn’t need today’s stunning visuals to make its world immersive and believable. Every corner of the world oozed character thanks to some charming, albeit dated visuals, and a timeless masterpiece of a soundtrack by Koji Kondo.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Jumping into a Grand Theft Auto game and exploring its huge open-world for the first time is always pretty awe-inspiring. Rockstar does a great job bringing these environments to life, with NPCs going about their daily lives and tiny little details littered across the world. Vice City was different, though. Its world still had the same party town atmosphere that its inspiration, Miami, was so well-known for during the ’80s. Its Hawaiian shirt-clad public and stunning sunsets helped build Vice City’s character. Its soundtrack, however, was what really brought it home.

Vice City’s soundtrack was filled with classic ’80s tracks that took you all the way back to the epic decade for music. Rockstar’s curated list of licensed tracks felt relevant to the world, though. The selection exuded all of the classic trademarks of the ’80s, making it the perfect soundtrack to your chaotic escapades.

Skies of Arcadia

It’s not fair to say Skies of Arcadia is carried by its amazing soundtrack because there’s also a fantastic JRPG there alongside with it; but gee whiz is Skies of Arcadia’s soundtrack just perfect.

Few games paint a setting through music better than Skies of Arcadia. Each town, city, dungeon, etc. has a soundtrack that oozes personality. Whether it be a lost city in a rainforest, a desert kingdom, or a rusty town down on its luck, each locale is memorable thanks to its fantastic theme.

On top of that, Skies of Arcadia also has dynamic music that changes under certain conditions. For example, the various overworld themes change as you fly by different areas, and the boss battles change on the fly depending on how the fight is going. Did you get hit with a big attack that knocks out some of your party? The music suddenly becomes more bleak. Are you kicking ass? The music becomes more upbeat as you put a hurting on your enemy.

Few games have done it better than Skies of Arcadia when it comes to setting a mood.

Tales from the Borderlands

Tales from the Borderlands didn’t have an extensive soundtrack. At the beginning of each of the five episodes, players were treated to a licensed track. From James Blake’s moody Retrograde, to Jungle’s Busy Earnin’, Telltale Games managed to perfectly capture the fun, rag-tag adventures of Rhys, Fiona and co. in a six tracks.

Watching impending chaos play out before your eyes to Kiss the Sky by Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra was a particular highlight. Seriously, give it a watch and tell us that it doesn’t feel like the action is choreographed to the song. No matter what situation Tales’ characters found themselves in at the start of the episode, you can bet your bottom dollar that Telltale found the perfect backing track.