The Creative Game Life staff rounds up our favorite video game soundtracks (OST) including Undertale, Minecraft, A Hat in Time, FTL, Fez, and more.
I love music. I collect music, play music, create music.. it’s one of the biggest parts of my life. As a result I’m always trying to bond with my son through sounds. But at 12 he’s resistant to most of my musical suggestions, no matter how cool I try to be. Our middle ground has become video game soundtracks. I like them for the compositions and often electronic leaning palette. He usually likes them for the mood and references to the games he loves to play. Together we’ve been exploring the world of video game soundtracks over the past few years. Here’s a list of original soundtracks (OST) make the rotation on our turntable, CD player, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Celeste
The Celeste soundtrack, released in 2018, was composed by Lena Raine. The soundtrack is known for its blend of electronic and orchestral elements that creating feelings of motivation and empowerment. The soundtrack has received widespread critical acclaim and it won The Game Awards 2018 for the best score/music.
Celeste OST on Bandcamp
Celeste: Farewell on Bandcamp
Faster Than Light (FTL)
The FTL: Faster Than Light soundtrack is composed by Ben Prunty, an independent video game composer. The FTL OST features a blend of electronic and orchestral elements, creating a feeling of tension and drama. The soundtrack by using a combination of software synthesizers like Massive and FM8, as well as a number of live instruments like guitar, bass, and live drums. He also used a process of trial and error and experimentation to find the right sounds and melodies that matched the game’s atmosphere and gameplay. The soundtrack has received won several awards like the G.A.N.G. award for Best Sound Design.
Fez
The FEZ soundtrack was composed by Disasterpeace, pseudonym of American composer Richard Vreeland. The soundtrack was released in 2012, along with the game’s release. The FEZ OST is known for its blend of electronic and 8-bit elements, creating a feeling of nostalgia and longing. The soundtrack has won several awards like the Independent Games Festival Award for Excellence in Audio.
Undertale
The soundtrack for the game Undertale was composed by Toby Fox, also developer and creator of the game. Undertale’s original soundtrack (OST) is known for its versatile and varied style, with a mix of retro-style chiptune, orchestral, and rock. The music effectively sets the tone for the game’s different locations. The soundtrack is heavily influenced by classic RPGs such as Earthbound and Chrono Trigger. The music is designed to enhance the game’s emotional moments, with comedic themes as well as its darker and more serious moments. Many fans of the game have praised the soundtrack as one of the highlights of the game and it has amassed a large fanbase.
Deltarune
The Deltarune OST was also composed by Toby Fox. Released in 2018, the soundtrack is known for its blend of electronic and orchestral elements, creating a feeling of nostalgia and longing that complements the game’s story and setting. The music is designed to enhance the game’s emotional moments with a mix of atmospheric and melodic tracks that create an immersive experience. The Deltarune soundtrack has won several awards like The Game Awards 2018 for the best score/music. Lena Raine, composer of Celeste’s soundtrack, also worked on some songs on Deltarune Chapter Two.
Deltarune Chapter One OST
Deltarune Chapter Two OST
Minecraft
No list of video game music would be complete without Minecraft. This soundtrack is still played often in our house. I especially like the Beta version while my son prefers to find Lena Raine’s Minecraft contributions (usually on YouTube).
The Minecraft Alpha and Beta soundtracks were composed by German musician and composer Daniel Rosenfeld, also known as C418. The Alpha soundtrack was released during the early development phase of the game, from June 2009 to December 2010. The Beta soundtrack was released during the beta testing phase of the game, from December 2010 to November 2011.
The Alpha soundtrack features a minimalist electronic style, with a mix of ambient and chiptune elements, reflecting the game’s simple and blocky aesthetic. The soundtrack consists of 11 tracks and it was released as a free download. The Beta soundtrack features a more orchestral and melodic style, with a mix of electronic and classical elements.
Minecraft Alpha on Bandcamp
Minecraft Beta on Bandcamp
A Hat In Time
This is one of my son’s favorites so I needed to include it in the list. The “A Hat in Time” soundtrack was composed by Jonas Kjellberg and features a variety of musical styles, including jazz, funk, and orchestral sounds. The soundtrack was created using a combination of live instrumentation and electronic elements. Kjellberg recorded live instruments, such as piano, saxophone, and trumpet, and then used digital audio software to manipulate and blend the recordings with electronic sounds. He also drew inspiration from classic video game soundtracks and film scores to create the unique and memorable sound for the game.
Skyrim
This one is a personal favorite for both TTRPG sessions and for listening around the house. I’ve heard this soundtrack come on the local classical station more than once as well. The “Skyrim” soundtrack was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and was released in 2011. The soundtrack was composed by Jeremy Soule, who also composed the soundtracks for the previous games in the series. The soundtrack features a mix of orchestral and choral music, with a strong emphasis on Nordic and Viking-inspired melodies. Soule composed the music using a combination of traditional orchestral instruments and digital samples, which he then blended together to create the final score.
The “Skyrim” OST was nominated for several awards including the “Best Original Score” at the BAFTA Games Awards 2012. Soule’s score was also released commercially on several albums and is considered one of the best video game soundtracks.
