I’ve been looking for some more instrumental music to listen to while working, besides putting FF and Stardew on loop.
Obligatory Nier series music mention.
Surprised to not see FTL mentioned yet.
I’m loving the track Balatro has too. I wish that game had more music like the one song it has.
Chrono Trigger was fantastic. Look specifically for the instrumentals/orchestral on YouTube. 🤙
Thanks for commenting this so I didn’t have to!
Another vote for the Bastion soundtrack by Darren Korb.
Seconding Bastion! That soundtrack got me though so many grad school papers/ projects. I keep telling myself I’ll get around to actually playing that game, but I can’t shake the feeling that the second I hear “Build that wall” I’ma have some ptsd flashbacks.
Ori and the Blind Forest. Every song in the soundtrack is brilliant
I beat you to it, but not by much ;p
Cuphead is a banger if you like that kinda music.
Nier Automata as well. Very different, but hauntingly brilliant.
Also, fallout radio if you’re feeling that real classic sound.
Also, fallout radio if you’re feeling that real classic sound.
Gotta love the Ink Spots!
The Dustforce OST maybe? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB4108C5CB4E1DD6
Same artist who did the music for TUNIC. While its soundtrack isn’t great to listen to alone in my opinion, it is phenomenal in game. To the point where watching the trailer gives me goosebumps.
Also, I emailed the artist once to ask permission to use the Dustforce soundtrack in a YouTube video I was making. They gave me permission and I sent the video to them when it was posted and they said very nice things about it.
Terraria.
Rimworld has an amazing soundtrack
Thanks for the recommendation. Listening now. I’m a few tracks in. Gorgeous so far.
Anything Final Fantasy?
That was my first thought but they mentioned FF already.
Oh fuck, I should learn to finish sentences, I’m not sure I can blame this one on my unregulated adhd lmao
Super Meat Boy - Ballad of the burning squirrel
Super Meat Boy - Forest Funk
Super Meat Boy - Betus Blues
The composer for Super Meat Boy has done lots of great tracks for Binding of Isaac and Crypt of the Necrodancer too (Danny Baranowsky)
Enter the Gungeon - Abbey or Die
Enter the Gungeon - Behold the Boss Eater
Enter the Gungeon - Boss Battle Beating
Metal Gear solid theme
Nine Sols - Collage
Hades soundtrack (all of it) + if you search for the composer (Darren Korb) then you’ll find loads more great soundtracks he’s done (notably for Bastion).
Hollow Knight soundtrack (all of it + the piano cover version)
Street Fighter 6 - Viator (theme for Ryu + there’s a real cool metal cover that is on YouTube by an indie metal band)
Wipeout HD soundtrack (all of it)
Super Hexagon (all 3 tracks)
Hotline Miami soundtrack
Dead Cells
Lots of people have rightly mentioned FTL
Frank Kelpacki has done tons of great soundtracks across the whole Command and Conquer series and it’s worth searching through.
If you’re into chip tunes, then it is also worth checking out Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack.
In case you haven’t noticed, I’m really into video game instrumentals. If anyone else is interested, there’s a great podcast called Sound of Gaming by BBC radio 3 that is worth going through the back catalogue of episodes.
Super Meat Boy’s OST slaps. I decided to check it out after realizing it was from the same guy that made Crypt of the Necrodancers OST.
I then spent hours trying to figure out where I’ve heard “Hot Damned” before. It was Siivagunner.
Pokémon music. Especially the route themes and battle themes. If I had to list the bangers it would take hours
Maybe try soundtrack from Celeste, Transistor, Gris
I can provide some examples if you are looking for something specific but to list some games that haven’t been mentioned yet, there’s:
The Touhou games along with the remixes/covers and fan games like the two “Touhouvania” games.
Most of the Castlevania games.
Most of the Sonic games and fan games like Sonic After the Sequel and SRB2.
And to go with something really obscure, Chaos Legion.
Adding on to this to specifically recommend the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 soundtrack. Oscar Araujo did masterful work on this, so much so that I even went out and bought the album, even though it was almost impossible to get my hands on it. But you can listen to it on YouTube.
- NieR Series
- Outer Wilds
- Gris
- Death’s Door
- A Plague Tale: Innocence
- Kingdom: Two Crowns
