Top 20 Impressive Gaming Score Collections Ever Created
In the world of video games, music plays a crucial role in setting the tone, enhancing the atmosphere, and creating an immersive experience for players. Over the years, numerous composers have made their mark by creating iconic pieces that have become synonymous with their respective games. Here are some of the most notable composers and their groundbreaking works.
Christopher Tin's Civilization IV Theme (2005)
Christopher Tin made history as the first video game soundtrack composer to win a Grammy award for his theme from Civilization IV.
Greg Edmonson's Uncharted Music (Undated)
Greg Edmonson's music for the Uncharted series is cinematic and dynamic, perfectly complementing the action-packed adventure games.
Jessica Curry's Everybody's Gone to the Rapture Soundtrack (2015)
Jessica Curry's soundtrack for Everybody's Gone to the Rapture offers a hauntingly beautiful score that adds depth to the game's emotional narrative.
Bobby Krlic's Score for Returnal (2021)
Bobby Krlic's score for Returnal provides a gripping undercurrent to Selene's journey through an alien civilization, enhancing the game's tense and atmospheric environment.
Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy Music
Koji Kondo, a video game music legend, is best known for composing the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme, which is one of the most recognizable video game tracks ever. His music for Super Mario Galaxy also continues to delight players with its catchy melodies.
Todd Baker's Monument Valley 2 Music and Sound Design (2017)
Todd Baker's music and sound design for Monument Valley 2 reflect the game's elegant simplicity, enhancing the peaceful and contemplative gameplay experience.
Yasunori Mitsuda's Chrono Trigger Soundtrack
Yasunori Mitsuda's work on the soundtrack for Chrono Trigger was so meticulous that it led to his hospitalization. Despite the challenges, his efforts resulted in a timeless score that has been popular in concert halls.
Yoko Shimomura's Kingdom Hearts Music
Yoko Shimomura's music for Kingdom Hearts reworks melodies from previous Disney films, creating a unique and memorable soundtrack for the series.
Harry Gregson-Williams' Metal Gear Solid Music
Harry Gregson-Williams, a renowned film and TV composer, made his mark in the video game industry with his work on the Metal Gear Solid games.
Martin O'Donnell's Halo Soundtrack
Martin O'Donnell's soundtrack for Halo is blockbusting and best-selling, setting a powerful atmosphere for the popular franchise.
Simon Hale's LA Noire Soundtrack (2011)
Simon Hale's soundtrack for LA Noire won the 2012 recipient of the video game original music BAFTA, showcasing his talent for creating atmospheric and immersive music.
Bear McCreary's God of War Music (2018)
Bear McCreary's epic soundtrack for God of War includes contributions from an Icelandic choir and Nordic instruments, creating a powerful and immersive score.
Medal of Honor Main Theme
The Medal of Honor main theme is a blend of respectful anthem and militaristic march, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the game.
Tetris Theme: From Russian Folk Song to Video Game Classic
The Tetris theme started as a Russian folk song called Korobeiniki. Over time, it has become one of the most recognizable video game melodies in the world.
Jeremy Soule's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Soundtrack (2011)
Jeremy Soule's soundtrack for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is known as 'the John Williams of video game soundtracks', thanks to its grandeur and emotional impact.
Composers Renowned for Their Video Game Soundtracks
Composers such as Austin Wintory, Jessica Curry, and Nobuo Uematsu are renowned for their contributions to the world of video game music.
Russell Brower's World of Warcraft Music
Russell Brower appears as a main composer six times in the World of Warcraft series, contributing to the game's epic and immersive soundtrack.
Danish Composer Jesper Kyd's Hitman 2 Soundtrack (2002)
Danish composer Jesper Kyd's soundtrack for Hitman 2 could easily be mistaken for a Hollywood score, showcasing his talent for creating atmospheric and suspenseful music.
DanTDM's Video Game Music Series
DanTDM hosts a video game music series on Saturdays at 9pm, sharing his passion for video game music with a wider audience.
Nobuo Uematsu's Final Fantasy Music
Nobuo Uematsu, a famous Japanese video game composer, is best known for his work on the Final Fantasy series. His compositions, such as the "One-Winged Angel" battle theme from Final Fantasy VII, are iconic and widely regarded as some of the best in video game history.
Innovations in Video Game Music
These compositions represent landmark moments in video game music, showcasing innovations in interactivity, emotional impact, and cultural recognition. For example, Koji Kondo's "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" soundtrack integrated music interactively into gameplay, allowing players to learn melodies on an in-game ocarina that affected the game world.
Other groundbreaking works include Michael Land's adaptive and smooth music transitions in "Monkey Island II: LeChuck's Revenge," Akira Yamaoka's haunting, atmospheric compositions for the Silent Hill series, and Clint Mansell's emotionally stirring "Leaving Earth" from Mass Effect 3.
Symphony of the Goddesses is an orchestral symphony based on The Legend of Zelda music, further showcasing the cultural recognition and impact of video game music.
In conclusion, these composers and their works have shaped the landscape of video game music, pushing boundaries, and creating timeless melodies that continue to captivate and inspire players around the world.
Presenters such as DanTDM host video game music series, sharing their passion for the genre with a wider audience, appreciating the talents of composers like Christopher Tin, who made history by winning a Grammy award for his Civilization IV theme.
Bobby Krlic's score for Returnal and Jessica Curry's work on Everybody's Gone to the Rapture's soundtrack are modern examples of video game music that enhance the atmosphere and immersive experience of their respective games, following in the footsteps of legendary composers like Nobuo Uematsu, whose "One-Winged Angel" battle theme from Final Fantasy VII remains iconic in the world of video games.
