5 Best Video Game Soundtracks Of All Time, Ranked

As gaming grew more sophisticated in the 1980s, music became an increasingly integral part of the overall experience. Just like any other visually driven artform, music can elevate the emotions and sonically punctuate what’s unfolding on-screen. Some of the biggest gaming franchises of all time each have their own memorable soundtracks as recognizable as the level design or characters. We’re rounding up our personal favorite video game soundtracks, each evocative of the experience that they’re set to.

As you can imagine, it was tough to narrow down the best soundtracks from throughout gaming history. The Sega Genesis’ blast processing yielded delightfully crunchy tunes in games like “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Streets of Rage 2.” More modern fare like “Red Redemption” and “Baldur’s Gate III,” similarly have their own dreamy melodies. But these are the five best video game soundtracks of all time ranked, each standing the test of time in their own way.

5. Donkey Kong Country

1994’s “Donkey Kong Country” pushed the Super Nintendo hardware as far as it could go, with its eye-catching use of pre-rendered animation. But a major factor in the title becoming a video game that defined 16-bit gaming was its soundtrack composed by David Wise, Eveline Novakovic, and Robin Beanland. From the jazzy jungle japes that kicks off the game to its atmospheric underwater tunes, the game captures the different tonalities of Donkey Kong’s first 16-bit adventure. This culminates in the jaunty swashbuckling music during the game’s final battle against King K. Rool, something that would be carried over to subsequent titles in the series.

Rare often boasted some of the best soundtracks before Nintendo lost the studio to Microsoft in 2002. Wise went on to serve as the composer on “Diddy Kong Racing” for the Nintendo 64, which featured its own memorable soundtrack. But there’s something about Wise and his co-composers’ work on “Donkey Kong Country” that really excels in aural staying power. Just as the game itself took full advantage of Super Nintendo’s technical capabilities, “Donkey Kong Country” also used the console’s sound design in full with a stirring soundtrack.

4. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior

Capcom is another developer that usually pulls out all the stops for its musical scores, with “Resident Evil” and “Mega Man” among the series with stellar soundtracks. But the Capcom franchise that consistently stands above its counterparts, at least as far as its music, is “Street Fighter.” More specifically, 1991’s “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior” still marks a high point for the series that subsequent entries are still influenced by, right down to its music. Composed by Yoko Shimomura and Isao Abe, the game’s soundtrack reflects the different international settings for the fighting game’s stages and eclectic cast.

From the bolero-inspired dance halls in Spain to the industrial factory setting where players confront Zangief, “Street Fighter II” offers a thoroughly varied soundtrack. Later games would offer their own approach to this globe-spanning sound, with the acid jazz-infused “Street Fighter III: Third Strike” being a personal favorite, but Shimomura’s work is unmatched. “The World Warrior” soundtrack marks a massive step in the stunning transformation of “Street Fighter” and for fighting game music in general. At once an enduring feat of musical composition and evocative of its early ’90s era, “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior” looms large over Capcom’s sonic output.

3. Super Mario 64

Koji Kondo is one of the most celebrated composers in the gaming medium, particularly through his work developing music for the “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda” series. Apart from helping Nintendo make music history by creating the “Super Mario Bros.” theme, Kondo’s best work with the series is in “Super Mario 64.” Just as Mario made the leap to 3D, the game’s soundscape made its own leap forward with a full-bodied soundtrack showcasing the Nintendo 64’s sound capabilities. From the serene waters of Dire, Dire Docks to the brassy tunes of Bob-omb Battlefield, Mario’s first true 3D adventure got an equally impressive sound to boot.

“Super Mario 64” went on to become the best-selling N64 game of all time, meaning many console owners heard Kondo’s exquisite tunes. Decades later, Kondo continues to provide music for the “Super Mario” series, including the soaring orchestral score for “Super Mario Galaxy.” But there’s something about Kondo’s work for “Super Mario 64” that still looms large over the franchise. Providing a depth and variety that hasn’t been matched in the series since, it’s just banger after banger for “Super Mario 64.”

2. Final Fantasy VII

Outside of Koji Kondo, one of the most justifiably esteemed video game composers is Nobuo Uematsu. The original music composer for the “Final Fantasy” franchise, Uematsu also is the co-composer for “Chrono Trigger” and “Granblue Fantasy.” But Uematsu’s greatest work remains his soundtrack for the 1997 game “Final Fantasy VII” for the original PlayStation. Taking advantage of the PS1’s disc-based technology, as opposed to the cartridges he had previously been working with, Uematsu creates an immersive score for the game’s world.

“Final Fantasy VII” is easily one of the best “Final Fantasy” games of all time, and its music is an integral part of that celebrated status. Many of the game’s memorable regions, like Midgar and Junon, get their own epic themes, as do main characters like Aerith Gainsborough and Sephiroth. These musical moments help the game’s emotional moments connect, especially the tragic fate of some of protagonist Cloud Strife’s allies. The “Final Fantasy VII” remake trilogy wisely retained a lot of Uematsu’s work, underscoring the 1997 soundtrack’s legacy.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

One last Koji Kondo project to close out this list is the 1998 Nintendo 64 title “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” Just as “Super Mario 64” was the first 3D game in its series, “Ocarina of Time” was the first 3D “Legend of Zelda” title. Kondo similarly pulled out all the stops to make this revolutionary step forward to stick and created his sonic magnum opus in the process. Through his soundtrack, Kondo not only aurally illustrates the various environments within the realm of Hyrule but also elementally themed dungeons that Link must venture into.

While music had figured prominently in prior “Legend of Zelda” games, “Ocarina of Time” made it a focal point in its experience. Link learns music throughout the game to play through the titular magical instrument, each reflecting different settings and elements within the adventure. This fills out the sweeping soundscape and its dream-like qualities, crescendoing to match to change in tone, especially in the game’s darker second half. A stunning redefinition of what “The Legend of Zelda” can be, “Ocarina of Time” captures the full potential of its fantasy premise and its lush setting.