2025 has been one other stacked yr for online game releases and arguably one of many strongest for sport soundtracks in a very long time.
However with only a small handful of video video games dominating a lot of the discourse in 2025, there are positive to be loads of superb soundtracks which have flown beneath your radar.
To be sure you haven’t missed something particular then, VGC once more reached out to a small military of online game composers and requested them to decide on their favorite sport soundtracks from the yr.
The place potential, we’ve supplied hyperlinks to quite a lot of music streaming providers so you may help these composers in your platform of alternative. As a reminder, Bandcamp waives its income share on the primary Friday of each month for Bandcamp Friday, with the primary Bandcamp Friday of 2026 happening on February sixth.
Thanks to the entire composers who took outing of their busy schedules to supply considerate suggestions and large up their friends in what’s been an unbelievable yr for online game music.
Darren Korb
(Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, Hades, Hades 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Sword of the Sea by Austin Wintory
“My pal Austin Wintory made yet one more attractive soundtrack with Sword of the Sea! Any time Austin evokes Björk for me is a few of my favorite Austin music. The attractive, ethereal boys choir work right here is superior, and the synth textures, woodwinds, and every part else are giving me critical Björk vibes in one of the simplest ways. My favorite monitor is ‘From a Drop, a Flame.’”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Dale North
(Wizard of Legend, Desirescaper, Wargroove 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Earthion by Yuzo Koshiro
“I’m a sucker for FM synthesis, shmups, and naturally, Yuzo Koshiro has at all times been a musical hero to me. However even for those who take away all of that, this soundtrack has unbelievable writing and vibes. Greater than something, what actually will get me about it’s it has that uncommon energy to completely transport you — you will get completely misplaced on this soundtrack even exterior of taking part in the sport. Nostalgia and being an genuine Nineties soundtrack alone make it worthy of word, however the Earthion soundtrack is nice sufficient to vie for the crown of finest Megadrive shooter soundtrack ever!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Joel Corelitz
(Eastward, Halo Infinite, Gorogoa, Demise Stranding)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Demonschool by Kurt Feldman
“I’m an enormous fan of Kurt Feldman’s varied musical tasks—The Depreciation Guild, Ice Choir, and The Pains of Being Pure at Coronary heart—so his sport soundtracks are a must-listen for me. He has an unbelievable knack for mixing impeccable manufacturing, revolutionary chord progressions, and a strong emotional urgency into one thing that feels each nostalgic and fashionable. His newest effort, the soundtrack for Demonschool, continues that monitor file—it’s actually distinctive and particular. It’s robust to select a favorite, however I feel mine can be ‘Wednesday Battle (Motion).’”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp
Wilbert Roget, II
(Helldivers 2, Pacific Rim, Star Wars: Outlaws, Mortal Kombat 11)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Demise Stranding 2 by Ludvig Forssell and Woodkid
“For my preferences, I’d undoubtedly choose Demise Stranding 2. Ludvig Forssell as soon as once more created a novel vibe all through the rating with acoustic instrumentation and vocals utilized in tandem with nuanced synth textures, inventive microtuning and sonic manipulation, however this time with much more element within the dynamic music interactivity, and several other collaborations with Woodkid in addition to a number of different artists worldwide.
“Sarcastically, the theme of this sequel appears to be ‘new life’ moderately than loss of life like the primary sport, and so there’s a touch of positivity within the rating as properly – even in sorrowful character themes like ‘Neil Vana’ the dramatic monitor ‘Over The Dunes’, or the loadout theme ‘Terminals’. Different faves embrace the spectacular ending battle sequence ‘One Final Struggle’, the Ghost Mech interactive suite, and Woodkid’s ‘Tmrrw’ theme.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube
Clement Panchout
(Homicide Home, CloverPit, The Séance of Blake Manor)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Little Nightmares III by Hugo Lengthy, Tobias Lilja, Alistair Kerley, Frankie Harper, and Aidan Fitchett
“What I like about this soundtrack is the best way it performs with textures and its general natural really feel. It creaks, it rumbles, it feels alive. I additionally just like the emotional depth that typically characterises the soundtracks on this sequence, there’s at all times a contact of melancholy residing beneath the horror.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | Apple Music
Lena Raine
(Beastieball, Celeste, Minecraft, of the Satan Episode 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Angeline Period by Melos Han-Tani
“Angeline Period’s soundtrack suits completely into its pseudo-PS1 visible, design and sound aesthetics, capturing an period of sport music that actually let a composer discover. The world map background monitor titled A Sudajii’s Shade, Midday Sky Drifting By is a beautiful progressive 6 minute monitor designed to replicate the adventurous really feel of looking for secrets and techniques in plain sight.
“I additionally love One other Summer season On My Personal, drawing out these massive dreamy emotions of longing. When massive, costly sounds are probably the most prevalent issues to impress, it’s the bizarre smaller-scale productions the place I discover the best quantity of pleasure.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify
Alex Moukala
(Rift of the Necrodancer, Contra: Operation Galuga)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“My favourite soundtrack of the yr is certainly Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! To me, a terrific sport soundtrack is one that completely outlines the story and characters of the sport, one which contains a huge quantity of music that speaks to individuals even exterior of the sport, and one which introduces gamers to genres and kinds of music they might not have heard as typically earlier than in video games they like. Expedition 33 achieved full marks in all of these issues. On high of that, Lorien and Guillaume are such inventive gems and such a terrific instance of what a Music Composer <-> Recreation Director relationship ought to seem like.
“So, as a sport composer, I like to see tasks like Expedition 33 thrive. You may inform the individuals who labored on that sport actually celebrated one another’s inventive visions whereas creating the sport! I’d additionally like to present an honorable point out to Hades II and Sword of the Sea’s soundtracks, which I feel are phenomenal as properly.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Jim Fowler
(Cabernet, Blood & Fact, LittleBigPlanet)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Hole Knight: Silksong by Christopher Larkin
“I liked the riffy, aggressively frenetic strings and the smaller ensembles imply you may actually hear the bow contacting the strings. That provides the sound a grittier edge and connects the it to the particular person creating it. For me that at all times provides an additional emotional depth. I additionally thought it was nice to listen to solo traces rising out of the busier, aggressive tracks, not simply within the gentler cues; a person voice in amongst the motion.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Richard Jacques
(Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, James Bond: 007 Blood Stone, Overwatch 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Mario Kart: World by Maasa Miyoshi, Takuhiro Honda, Yutaro Takakuwa and Atsuko Asahi
“2025 gave us some very memorable online game soundtracks, from Ghost of Yotei to Demise Stranding 2: On The Seaside, and Hole Knight: Silksong to Hades II. All very noteworthy soundtracks which I loved very a lot. Nevertheless, I need to single out a soundtrack that I believed was arms down probably the most enjoyable.
“And that’s the soundtrack to Mario Kart World. Nintendo’s music crew, led by Atsuko Asahi, together with contributions from Maasa Miyoshi, Takuhiro Honda and Yutaro Takakuwa, actually delivered the enjoyable think about spades, one thing that we are able to typically neglect in world of darkish storylines, evil characters and chilling atmospheres (which aren’t that a lot completely different from the true world in the meanwhile).
“It was subsequently a pleasure to listen to their work on Mario Kart World, which contains a dynamic soundtrack masking a plethora of kinds, with some killer melodies, stunning preparations and top-notch manufacturing.
“It’s truthful to say that each players and composers alike could dismiss this sort of soundtrack for not being an orchestral rating from a AAA sport, but it’s simple to neglect that this sort of music isn’t simple to create to this extremely excessive diploma, one thing which Asahi, Miyoshi, Honda and Takakuwa obtain with ease. They actually have put the enjoyable again into online game music and it’s for that reason that that is my choose of 2025.”
Ashton Mills
(RuneScape Dragonwilds, RuneScape, Previous Faculty RuneScape)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Spirit of the North 2 by Pav Gekko
“Lovely melodic writing meets spellbinding orchestration that completely encapsulates the essence of winter. I don’t know if it’s intentional, however to me, it echoes the Björk album, Vespertine (my all-time favorite album). I like the principle theme, the place shimmering pads and crystalline pointillism set the scene for the evocative and expressive cello that serves because the ‘leit-timbre’ for the vulpine hero. The soundtrack breathes a lot life into the sport world, but in addition stands proudly by itself. “
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Direct
Jesse Zuretti
(2XKO)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: The Outer Worlds 2 by Oleksa Lozowchuk, Juliette Jones, Antonio Gradanti, Jim Bonney, Mason Lieberman
“The Outer Worlds 2 soundtrack and sound design goes feral in the very best methods. The synths roar beneath early mid-century fanfare power, giving it the vibe of somebody Frankenstein-ing classic space-age optimism with fashionable cinematic muscle, and it simply strikes.
“Each cue feels prefer it’s flexing, each sound impact lands with intention, and the entire thing ramps into this breathtaking, planet-shaking payoff that jogs my memory how highly effective nice music and sound design may be after they’re locked in good orbit. Oleksa and the Interleave crew completely crushed this soundtrack, and the sport was actually a pleasure I’d been anticipating for a few years now.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | Apple Music
Borislav Slavov
(Baldur’s Gate III, Divinity Authentic Sin, Crysis 3)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Sword of the Sea by Austin Wintory
“2025 was an unbelievable yr for online game music! It’s exhausting to explain the thrill that I felt whereas taking part in so many superb video games, all filled with high quality and well-produced music. The one which resonated probably the most with me was Sword of the Sea by Austin Wintory. Austin used such a lovely and various sound palette to create emotional compositions that absolutely resonate with the move of this superb sport. Extremely properly tailored for the interactive expertise, in addition to strongly sitting in my music participant as a standalone music album. A superb achievement!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Joshua Taipale
(Double Dragon Reload, Date The whole lot, Omega Strikers)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Pokémon Legends Z-A by Minako Adachi, Hiromitsu Maeba, Carlos Eiene, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, Takahiro Eguchi, Hitomi Sato, Shota Kageyama
“Pokémon Legends Z-A was a particular launch for me, with my first Pokémon sport being X/Y. It noticed not solely the return of my favorite Pokémon composer Shota Kageyama however an enormous shock in my outdated buddy and collaborator Carlos Eiene’s involvement. It’s clear to me that Recreation Freak has been allotted a a lot bigger music price range this time round, with the manufacturing worth stepping up considerably since their final titles. The plaza themes specifically infused life into town and it was great listening to KISEKI as soon as once more in any case these years.”
J.D. Spears
(League of Legends, Teamfight Techniques, Chivalry 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Future 2: The Fringe of Destiny by Brendon Williams, Rotem Moav, Josh Mosser, Pieter Schlosser, Michael Salvatori, Skye Lewin, Nolan Markey, Laryssa Okada
“In fact, I’ve to say Expedition 33. Nevertheless, I’m positive a lot can be mentioned about that on this record. So, The Fringe of Destiny was certainly one of my favorite soundtracks of the yr because it felt like a excessive level in an already storied franchise in the case of music. I liked listening to my former colleague Brendon Williams return to the franchise in a giant means, and I simply assume the composers all did a very nice job speaking the dimensions of the growth while sustaining the great thing about the world.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on the Bungie Retailer, YouTube and Spotify
Eddie Marianukroh
(Chained Echoes, Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant, Underneath the Island)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Quartet by Tyler Mire
“The Quartet (Official Soundtrack) by Tyler Mire isn’t solely a piece of brilliance, but in addition a labour of affection and dedication to the craft. Seven years of penning this unbelievable soundtrack that encompasses a lot of the spirit of the classics that we maintain so pricey, I can’t assist however be in awe by simply how properly Tyler completed this.
“The music is additional elevated by the unbelievable performances of the musicians employed for this soundtrack. Some tracks that I discovered myself stopping the sport and listening to have been ‘Quartet Fundamental Theme,’ ‘Alexandra’s Store,’ ‘Apokatastasis,’ ‘Lacking Her,’ ‘A Protected Refuge,’ and ‘Beneath the Earth.’ Although I record out these explicit tracks, I implore you to present the complete soundtrack a hear, as I feel each tune is totally unbelievable.
“This soundtrack actually deserves recognition for being a beautiful contribution to online game music. I very a lot respect Tyler’s abilities as a composer and can at all times stay up for the music he writes. I do hope you give each the sport and soundtrack your time, as it is vitally properly price it.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp,
Austin Wintory
(Sword of the Sea, Journey, Murderer’s Creed Syndicate, Stray Gods)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“My favorite rating is definitely Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard; I may go on and on, and I believe others will do too. So for that purpose, I’ll say the rating that shocked me most was Yasuhiro Nakashima’s music for the sport and Roger. I used to be so deeply moved by the sport and the rating is central to why; it’s alternatively delicate and boldly aggressive and suits the sport and message like a glove. An absolute gem to not overlook!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Mason Lieberman
(Overwatch 2, PUBG Cell, Apex Legends Cell, The Outer Worlds 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Ninja Gaiden 4 by Masahiro Miyauchi, Takumi Higuchi, Takashi Nakabeppu, Hong Jin, Rina Yugi, Seiji Hotta
“Am I the one one who has been completely jamming out to the Ninja Gaiden 4 soundtrack? Led by Masahiro Miyauchi and that includes legendary metallic and rock musicians like Masahiro Aoki and Victor Borba (amongst many different nice contributors), it has actually hit the spot for me in my ongoing longing for extra metalcore / djent affect within the gaming house. Tons of different superb scores deserve love, too; means too many to call. E33, Sword of the Sea, Hades II, Mario Kart World, Kirby Air Riders, and a zillion others all come to thoughts. This has been an outlandishly good yr for sport music!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube
James Landino
(Omega Strikers, No Straight Roads, Fortnite Rocket Racing, Cytus II)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Deltarune Chapters 3+4 by Toby Fox
“The music in Deltarune is so good that some individuals are extra excited for the soundtrack in a future chapter than the precise sport launch (however the sport is nice too!). Deltarune Chapters 3+4 specifically as soon as once more showcase Toby Fox’s skill to craft a various number of sturdy music and moods that you just received’t discover simply elsewhere in a single expertise. You must surprise if at this level Toby simply needs to write down a soundtrack that occurs to come back with a sport launch on the aspect.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
John Robert Matz
(Tchia, For The King 1 & 2, Ambition: A Minuet in Energy, Mythgard)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“Two scores dominated my musical gaming panorama this yr, one I anticipated, and one got here out of nowhere (for me) and caught me solely off guard. First, one which lots of my esteemed colleagues will undoubtedly gush over as a lot as I’ll: Lorien Testard and Alice Duport-Percier’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
“I used to be excited in regards to the sport months earlier than it launched, however had no expectations in any way for the rating, which juxtaposes intimate, chamber ensemble writing (string quartet, guitar, voices), with extra sweeping, virtually throwback (within the online game rating house, at the least) hybrid and orchestral parts. Additionally, the vocals are attractive.
“I’m an absolute mark for good songs in video video games, and these are a number of the finest ones I’ve heard in recent times, with stunning, emotional melodic motifs that crop up once more in new contexts elsewhere, the rating evolving together with the progress of the titular Expedition up till – properly, I received’t spoil something. A real surprising delight, and the tag-team work from Testard and Duport-Percier makes it one thing I’ll come again to time and time once more, lengthy after postgame content material is all wrapped up.
“My second rating, as I discussed earlier than, is a bit out of left subject – a darkish horse candidate, you would possibly say. The absurdly-conceived sports activities administration sport, Umamusume: Fairly Derby launched internationally in 2025, and, good lord, I didn’t count on to be floored by the rating in a wierd little cellular sport about coaching horse women to run quick. The whole lot in regards to the sport is, on the floor, easy, however the general polish, clever scoping, and artistic touches elevate the complete presentation.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Cody Matthew Johnson
Star Wars Outlaws, Trek to Yomi, Satan Might Cry 5, Bayonetta 3
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Doom: The Darkish Ages by Ending Transfer (Brian Lee White, Brian Trifon, Alex Klingle, Jay Wiltzen)
“In such a stacked yr of unbelievable sport soundtracks, one stands out to me above the remaining: a crossover between certainly one of my favorite sport franchises and a few of my favorite composers — DOOM: The Darkish Ages by Brian Lee White, Brian Trifon, Alex Klingle, and Jay Wiltzen (p/okay/a Ending Transfer, Inc.). Their fusion of commercial, metallic, and period-music parts is easy. The rating is a thrill as a standalone hear and an irreverent, propulsive power in-game, driving each second of ripping and tearing.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Jason Graves
(Nonetheless Wakes The Deep, Useless Area, Directive 8020)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Deltarune Chapters 3+4 by Toby Fox
“Toby Fox is such an excessive expertise. His music is a splendidly entertaining mixture of retro/chiptune synths and bitrate-crushed drums. I particularly benefit from the odd metered, super-hooky boss music. And the nonconformist use of music genres makes me really feel like I’m channel-surfing, in one of the simplest ways potential! ‘It’s TV Time!’ and ‘Black Knife’ are two glorious examples of the rollercoaster of musical kinds, themes, and feelings, all rooted within the genius and unbelievable lack of breadth in every chapter of Deltarune.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Fingerspit (Paula Ruiz)
(The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, The Pink Strings Membership, Gods Will Be Watching)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: The Rise of the Golden Idol: Golden Idol Investigations DLC by Paul Alexander and Kyle Misko
“I don’t perceive what units Golden Idol aside for me, however I at all times thought it was due to that bizarre, eerie paranormal vibe by which it depends so strongly. And one thing I at all times discovered myself considering and speaking about whereas taking part in each single case was the music.
“It’s at all times so genuinely attention-grabbing the way it tries to set the temper, to seek out that good steadiness between having sufficient character however not distract the participant, to have the ability to shine however know when to cover, to set sufficient stress and make you are feeling uneasy with what’s taking place, but in addition offer you house and encourage you to assume exterior the field. And with a sound design so good that matches the visuals, narrative, and lore of the sport so rattling properly.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp
Amos Roddy
(Citizen Sleeper, Kingdom, In Different Waters, The Wild at Coronary heart, Cloud Gardens.)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Many Nights a Whisper by Fingerspit
“In a yr stuffed with 100+ minute soundtrack epics, Fingerspit’s delicate and introspective rating to Many Nights a Whisper invokes an intimate spaciousness I’ve discovered myself returning to ever since I completed the sport. Fingerspit’s pretty use of ambient textures and repetitious piano preparations is as compelling as at all times, and the recurring although evolving motifs tie the sport’s narrative collectively fantastically.
“Typically understated scores may be simply as efficient as hovering, emotionally direct ones. Whereas a hard-hitting soundtrack would possibly lead an viewers ahead, a extra restrained rating can typically open a path and invite, although not demand, that we proceed. Fingerspit presents us with this selection and by giving us the chance to interact by our personal alternative, makes the expertise of Many Nights a Whisper all of the extra private.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify
Phill Boucher
(Fortnite, Civilization VI, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Orcs Should Die! 3)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Demise Stranding 2: On the Seaside by Ludvig Forrsell and Woodkid
“2025 was one other sturdy yr for sport scores, however Demise Stranding 2: On the Seaside stood out for me. Half ambient sound bathtub, half fashionable depth, and at all times retaining an natural high quality, the immersive soundscapes from Ludvig and Woodkid are endlessly compelling. Tracks like ‘A Heartfelt Apology’ present simply how a lot soul you may cram into a chunk of music.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube
Jukio
(Minit, Fall Guys: Final Knockout, Dave the Diver, Nuclear Throne)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Caves of Qud by Craig Hamilton
“Whereas technically launched on the finish of 2024 (and I’ve adopted the event of it for years) Caves of Qud music has been in my ears continuously all through 2025. It suits completely with its generally ominous, all-the-time stunning, revolutionary soundscapes for the sport’s huge post-human chrome jungles.
“Not solely that, I’ve been listening to it whereas engaged on non-music work on a regular basis. A kind of soundtracks that actually elevates the sport (and my life!) to new heights. A bonus honorable point out to Desires of One other soundtrack, for its fantastically melancholic textures and vibes. The artist Baiyon not solely composed the music but in addition DIRECTED the sport. Wonderful!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on itch.io
Belinda Coomes
(Malys, Ring Of Ache, As We Descend, Winnie’s Gap)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Frostpunk 2 by Piotr Musiał
“I’m such a fan of Piort’s music. I completely liked the music to Frostpunk 1 so I used to be anticipating the sequel. There’s one thing I actually admire about Piort’s skill to create stunning, memorable themes that may begin with a hauntingly wispy soundscape that then develop into giant highly effective preparations. In Frostpunk 2, Piort expands on the musical language of the primary sport.
“The gameplay in Frostpunk 2 is greater when it comes to administration model and scope so the music displays this by the preparations being grander however nonetheless with Frostpunk’s musical identification. Trying ahead to no matter Piort does subsequent!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube |
James Elsey
Past Hanwell, Evil Useless The Recreation, Beatstar/Chrome Valley Customs
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Tempest Rising by Michael Markie, Cory Richards, Sigurd Jøhnk-Jensen, Frank Klepacki, Adam Skorupa, Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz, and Michał Cielecki
“Heavy music followers have been spoilt for alternative this yr in Video games, however my favorite OST goes to Tempest Rising. To accompany the sport’s three playable Factions, there’s an enormous depth of musical kinds made potential by the distinctive contributions and traits of every composer.
“From the tight, low tuned guitar chugs on ‘Demise Squad’, to the anthemic choral chants on ‘By Our Blood’, the music delivers a massively satisfying mix of metallic, industrial, EDM and orchestral preparations that will get the blood pumping by way of the extreme RTS motion gameplay.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify |
Fats Bard (Patrick Crecelius and Zach Fendelman)
(Smite, Die within the Dungeon, Jet Lancer, Demon Turf)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Peak by Erik Skog
“Our favorite soundtrack of 2025 must be Peak, which could sound stunning contemplating how a lot of the sport is spent with out music of any type. One factor that Peak’s soundtrack does very properly is spotlight the important thing moments of gameplay. As a brand new day approaches, you start your ascent up a fully large mountain.
“The shortage of music general throughout gameplay makes these moments that rather more impactful. The soundtrack does a terrific job of realizing when to present room to sound design and 3D voice chat. It is aware of what the sport is about and what its personal position is, which is typically a uncommon factor. Simply since you CAN have music doesn’t at all times imply you need to, eh? The absence may be simply as highly effective.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube
Tomas Palazzi
(Bread & Fred, Outpath, Tsuki Journey 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Ender Magnolia by Milli
“There’s one thing particular when an artist exit of its normal work house to do one thing completely different, Mili is certainly one of my favourite Japanese bands and their singles are superb, however in addition they did certainly one of my favourite soundtracks ever for Ender Lilies, superb sport and superb music, and now on this religious sequel they ship much more, unbelievable piano writing and distinctive percussion/sound design, plus the beautiful voice of the band singer, is simply distinctive and particular!”
Hearken to the complete soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Masayoshi Soken
(Remaining Fantasy XIV, Remaining Fantasy XVI)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Ghost of Yōtei by Toma Otowa, Clare Uchima, Justin Johnson
“Since I’m Japanese, it’s solely pure that I’d count on to be assaulted with a complete load of icy, minor-key Japanese-style music, mixing the essence of Japan and snow within the case of a narrative that’s set round Mount Yōtei in Hokkaido. Nevertheless, for some unknown purpose, this sport has a mysterious mode known as Watanabe Mode. So, there I’m considering there’ll be one other model of the tune, when, to my shock, I’m greeted by a sudden lo-fi sound!
“I used to be astounded to seek out the fusion of the lo-fi sound, with its origins exterior of Japan – and the acquainted Japanese surroundings I can all too simply think of created a type of comforting chemical response. I spend my days in pursuit of a singular query: simply how properly does this music match the sport expertise? And so, this daring experiment, setting completely different kinds in opposition to one another like a Combined Martial Arts battle, very a lot aroused my curiosity.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | (Watanabe Mode) | Apple Music | (Watanabe Mode)
Chloe Kwok
Favorite sport soundtrack of 2025: Date The whole lot by Garrett Williamson, Adam Barrett Berry, Ray Chase, Max Mittelman, J. Michael Tatum, Stephen Hemstritch-Johnston, Chipper Hammond, Joshua Taipale.
“Date The whole lot is simply the soundtrack of my life in the meanwhile…not that I’m “courting every part” in actuality, however the music has been discovering itself on my repeat playlists, bringing a chill and cosy vibe. It’s simply good for moments the place you fancy one thing that doesn’t take itself too critically and places a slight skip in your step. I discover myself simply joyfully swaying when driving to this soundtrack, calming any moments of street rage!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Marcus Hedges
(Age of Ashes, Ary and the Secret of Seasons, Override 2: Tremendous Mech League)
Favorite sport soundtrack of 2025: Elden Ring: Nightreign by Shoi Miyazawa, Soma Tanizaki, Tai Tomisawa and Yuka Kitamura
“I sank some appreciable hours into this sport with mates and I continuously discovered myself considering, man, this music is actually elevating my expertise. The rating strikes so properly between extra haunting, intimate, magical textures to gigantic boss battles the place choirs are shouting, the orchestra is stabbing, the drums are smashing and you actually really feel prefer it’s all on the road. What’s extra, in a sport the place re-playability is at its core, the music at all times felt recent and fascinating and had me keen to listen to it once more.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Nicklas Hjertberg (Two Feathers)
(Metallic Hellsinger, Vampire: The Masquerade Justice, Aragami)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“This soundtrack is hitting all the fitting notes for me. I like the musical storytelling, the vocals, the memorable melodies, and all of the distinctive instrumental parts included in so some ways. Leaping between tracks like ‘Gustave’, ‘Spring Meadows – Dusk’, and ‘Gestral Market’ made the musical journey at all times really feel recent and thrilling when taking part in by way of the sport. An absolute 10/10 soundtrack that I maintain coming again to!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
José Ramón “Bibiki” García
(Arco, Alex Kidd In Miracle World DX, UnderDungeon)
Favorite sport soundtrack of 2025: Look Exterior by Eric Shumaker and Francis Coulombe
“Look Exterior is a retro-looking cosmic horror sport with a traditional turn-based RPG system that brings actually creepy, anxious and mysterious conditions to the participant. Whereas taking part in the sport, I used to be asking myself how I’d do music for this sort of sport myself, for the reason that sport is so bizarre and distinctive. The composers did an unbelievable job with this soundtrack, simply sending a continuing uneasy and nostalgic vibes from the second you get your self into the sport.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube
Mark Choi
(Empire of the Ants, Breezy Bay, Path of Kami)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 by Jan Valta and Adam Sporka
“As an enormous RPG lover, I’m going to keep away from my fast private alternative – because it’s already been sweeping awards left proper and centre and rightly being recognised for its excellence. As an alternative, I’m going for one more epic RPG with a lovely and various rating: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (Jan Valta and Adam Sporka). I like the way it leans closely into its medieval roots and replicates the texture of the period by way of alternative of instrumentation and orchestration.
“Name me a sucker for custom, however there’s something undeniably highly effective a few classical ensemble at full tilt, or human voices performing liturgical choral music (replete with suspended 4ths or open 5ths). That mentioned, it’s unafraid to department out harmonically into far more modern territory, which infuses the rating with originality and retains it recent. Honourable mentions to The Alters (Piotr Musiał) and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Amos Roddy) for thus brilliantly creating the right soundscapes for his or her respective video games!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Yuko Komiyama
(Monster Hunter sequence / Mega Man X7 / Contra: Operational Galuga)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Persona 5 MEGAMIX SOUNDTRACK by Atlus Sound Staff (Shoji Meguro, Toshiki Konishi, Kenichi Tsuchiya, and Atsushi Kitajoh)
“The music within the Persona sequence options quite a lot of devices like jazz, pop, and R&B, making it an album that’s gratifying simply to hearken to. Personally, I completely love the sequence’ matte drums, trendy electrical piano, and electrical guitar.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify
Richard Wilkinson
(Physician Who VR, Peaky Blinders VR)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Mario Kart: World by Maasa Miyoshi, Takuhiro Honda, Yutaro Takakuwa and Atsuko Asahi
“Any dialogue of 2025’s sport music will find yourself (rightly) orbiting the gravity of Clair Obscur’s phenomenal soundtrack. So leaving the apparent apart, I may have gone with any of a few dozen scores for my favorite – South of Midnight‘s fantastically dealt with American South-influenced rating from Olivier Deriviere, Dispatch‘s artfully woven thematic, smaller-scale sound, or the hypnotic chilled-out thriller of Blue Prince’s music.
“Possibly that’s as a result of I spent so lengthy taking part in the bloody factor it’s imprinted on my psyche. However the winner for me is (unusually) not one with meticulously crafted dynamic music, pitch-perfect transitions and a maddeningly complicated reactive music system – it’s the ‘flip every part as much as 11’ – musicianship, style, power, enjoyable, manufacturing’ soundtrack from Mario Kart World.
“It’s the type of sport the place you *may* have music that’s completely high quality, and competent, and chugs away fortunately within the background with out making an attempt to compete with the madcap power and hyper-vivid imagery. However does Mario Kart ever do this? In fact not. It’s completely furiously joyous music, and it’s such an ideal match for the sport. A celebration of music and musicians being daring and melodic and *enjoyable*. Not many different video games can get away with this a lot harmonica, and it’s all the higher for it.”
Andrew Prahlow
(Outer Wilds, Legend of Korra)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Desires of One other by Baiyon
“Popping out of the shadows after a few years of making a brand new interactive piece based mostly on music, sound, and visible artwork, the composer and sport director, Baiyon, launched a lovely sport known as Desires of One other. This visible audioscape combines surrealism and existentialism with poetry. An surprising ambiance touches on a long time of gaming, leaving you feeling like a contemporary character thrown into in a late 90s third particular person shooter slowly heading into the past, in a means that David Lynch can be happy with.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Apple Music
Barry Topping
(Paradise Killer, Thatcher’s Techbase, Birdcage)
“A few days after ending Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I used to be in massive Tesco listening to “Visages – Aria pour un Masque de Colère” and for a second, I may genuinely really feel what Alicia feels for Verso. All through the sport, the music is telling you its personal story, parallel to the one the characters are experiencing. ‘Déchire la Toile’ is one other piece that virtually begs you to cease and hearken to what it has to say. Hmmmmmmm, fairly good! Some months later (unrelated), I additionally skilled a strong emotional response to ‘It’s TV Time!’ from DELTARUNE Chapter 3.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Ending Transfer
(DOOM: The Darkish Ages, Borderlands 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle by Gordy Haab
“Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle must be high of our record for thus many causes. The nostalgia issue is simply pure pleasure, and the music hits each core reminiscence you’d ever need it to after which some. Second, so lots of our shut mates and collaborators labored on that rating, composer Gordy Haab in fact, but in addition Marco Valerio Antonini, ET Chen, and our favourite rating mixer Steve Kaplan. Add within the LSO and also you’ve received a real dream crew of expertise.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Music
Tee Lopes
(Streets of Rage 4, Shinobi: Artwork of Vengeance, Berserk Boy)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Mighty Morphin Energy Rangers: Rita’s Rewind by Sean Bialo
“As somebody who grew up within the ’90s, this soundtrack landed in a really particular means for me. Sean Bialo clearly understands the tone and pacing {that a} Energy Rangers beat ’em up wants, pulling from arcade brawler power with out overplaying nostalgia. The music stays centered on momentum and really feel, supporting the motion on display. It mixes rock and synth parts in an easy, practical means that feels applicable to each the IP and the style. It’s doing its job properly, which is precisely what this sort of sport wants.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube
Petri Alanko
(Alan Wake, Alan Wake 2, Management)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Ghost of Yotei by Toma Otowa, Clare Uchima, Justin Johnson
“I’ve to say Ghost Of Yotei takes my coronary heart each time: elegant, trendy, minimalistic, but undoubtedly lifts the story every time the music seems. There’s fragility and sweetness oozing from each word. Toma Otowa seems like somebody with whom I’d wish to have a beer with. Or a cup of tea, doesn’t matter. Simply pretty. It was my surprising heat shock of 2025.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | Apple Music
Andrew Arcadi
(Dispatch, Telltale’s The Strolling Useless, Stranger Issues)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Herdling by Joel Scotch
“Joel Schoch’s Herdling rating is a heat and subtly expansive expertise. By no means quick on melody and texture, it’s so evocative of the journey and expertise of the world. It performs deeply into my love for heat, darkish, woodwinds whereas incorporating an unbelievable mixture of attention-grabbing stringed and percussion devices. Merely mentioned, if mentioned in a means that solely is smart to me, the music is completely coloured to the world by which it’s based mostly and the journey on which it takes the listener.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Alpha Chrome Yayo
(Promise Mascot Company)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Iwakura Aria by Takeshi Abo
“2025 has been an unbelievable yr for video games, and for sport music. From the twisting taishōgoto tendrils of Silent Hill f’s Shōwa-era scorcher, to the comforting hellscape of not too long ago launched indie banger, Demonschool. As such, it’s ineffably troublesome to decide on a favorite.
“However one has been deeply lodged in my mind (and my stereo) since its launch again in August – Iwakura Aria. Mages’ swirling story of unlikely romance, class disparity and forbidden cult exercise is cloaked in an opulent rating by longtime collaborator, Takeshi Abo. It’s opulent but tender, saturated in lust however with a effervescent sense of unease. It’s passionate, unusual and utterly stunning. Perfection.
Sean Bialo
(Mighty Morphin Energy Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Penny’s Large Breakaway, Double Dragon Gaiden)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: The Royal Writ by Narek Papoyan
“This soundtrack hasn’t but gotten the quantity of consideration it deserves, so I’m thrilled to have a possibility to highlight it! Whereas this soundtrack undoubtedly hits the notes you’d count on from a medieval-themed deckbuilder, it goes so many locations past that, however with out veering to this point that it loses cohesion. Each monitor has a ridiculous stage of complexity, however it’s executed so tastefully that it’s nonetheless actually accessible to anybody!
“The general soundscape can also be unbelievable, with varied SFX and animal noises sprinkled all through, together with completely stellar violin performances from the composer himself, all of it feels so pure and energetic! I like to recommend this soundtrack to everybody, and I additionally suggest Narek Papoyan’s different work, he’s going to be one of many all-time greats!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube
Eli Rainsberry
(A Monster’s Expedition, Flock, Wilmot Works It Out, Wilmot’s Warehouse)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Many Nights a Whisper by Fingerspit
“Fingerspit is behind a couple of of my favorite soundtracks from over the previous few years (together with the Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood OST), and Many Nights A Whisper is not any exception to that. I like how the pianos, guitars and synths are layered over the course of listening, it seems like these textures are simply the fitting ones wanted to help the minimalist, meditative tempo of the sport.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify
Pav Gekko
(Spirit of the North 2, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, Doodle Bounce 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle by Gordy Haab
“My favorite sport soundtrack of the yr is Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle. It’s a masterclass in neo-romantic writing, and Gordy is phenomenal on this idiom. In case you are a fan of the symphonic Hollywood blockbuster custom of the Eighties and you might be ready for the subsequent music from John Williams, which doesn’t arrive typically, this rating must be subsequent in your playlist. Its wealthy harmonies and complicated orchestration revive a largely misplaced artwork, changing immediately’s easier sound design-driven tendencies with true symphonic storytelling. Because of Gordy’s mastery and this distinctive IP, we are able to expertise that iconic sound as soon as extra in its finest kind.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Spotify | YouTube | Apple Music
Gareth Coker
Absolum, Ark, Ori and the Blind Forest, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 by Jan Valta and Adam Sparka
“It’s a pleasure to see a soundtrack lean exhausting into the medieval aesthetic by way of not simply its writing but in addition its manufacturing high quality. I feel KCD2 can be probably the most neglected scores of the last decade, partially as a result of extremely sturdy yr it’s been launched in. It’s fabulously constant from begin to end and has a really clear identification all through.
“The compositions themselves are fairly superior from a technical standpoint, and the recording high quality is within the higher tier of the overwhelming majority of soundtracks launched in recent times. The rating takes me into the sport and doesn’t launch me from it till I press ‘stop’, I a lot want this to an method the place the sport generally turns into the car for the music (even nice music), but has little to no relationship to the setting – a private style alternative I’ll admit.
“I discover lack of consistency in sonics and composition immersion-breaking (others don’t, and that’s high quality!), and this sport is the other of that in one of the simplest ways. I feel increasingly individuals will come again to this sport because it has a Skyrim-esque high quality about it in having the ‘je ne sais quoi’ that retains you drawn in. The music is a big a part of that as a result of it’s distinctive, well-composed, completely immersive and constant.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Ludvig Forssell
(Metallic Gear Stable V: The Phantom Ache, Demise Stranding, Demise Stranding 2)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“In a AAA-gaming world that has increasingly delved into the depths of what’s technically potential when it comes to interactivity and layering and so on. I really feel like we’d have misplaced a few of what makes online game music stand out from Hollywood movie composition; moderately than making bangers to hearken to, focus has been increasingly on “not being fatiguing”.
“Lorien’s rating for E33 isn’t solely a breath of recent air with its vast number of genres and generally out-of-left-field selections in method, but in addition reveals that simply making music that slaps can nonetheless weave a powerful by way of line with significant themes that tie a sprawling story collectively.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify
Oscar Rydelius (Ratvader)
(Wunderling DX, Ultros, The Gunk)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: The Midnight Stroll by Joel Bille & Bortre Rymden
“Joel Bille and Bortre Rymden have created one thing genuinely soul-touching, all for the hand-built, scanned-clay world of The Midnight Stroll. With a texture of sound and melodies underrepresented in our online game world, Joel, with mates (Agnes Högberg – violin; Adrian Åsling Sellius – clarinet, alto saxophone, flute; Viktor Turegård – tuba, double bass), brings out one thing actually distinctive and heart-warming inside me. Like at all times along with his soundtracks, the music goes means out and past what the sport world is, and that’s at all times a testomony to one thing lovable and lasting for me.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify |
Joel Bille
(Fe, Ghost Big, Wavetale, The Midnight Stroll)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Herding, by Joel Schoch
“What I like about Joel Schoch’s soundtrack for Herdling is that it’s an bold piece of hand crafted music, composed, carried out and produced by human hand. The result’s a group of tangible, acoustic tracks imbued with each the composer’s and performers’ engaged presence. Masking a variety of atmospheres and paces, it retains a transparent, constant and private voice all through that’s simply acknowledged from Joel’s earlier work with the Far: Lone Sails video games. The music evokes a vivid sense of magnificence, of thriving within the nice outside, and on the identical time carrying a bittersweet melancholic tone.”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
Casey Edwards
(Satan Might Cry 5, Exoprimal)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Hades 2 by Darren Korb
“In true sport dev vogue, as soon as once more, I’ve been so busy with life, writing music, and dealing on video games that I’ve barely had an opportunity to get pleasure from them. That mentioned, I’ve been placing some hours into HADES 2 over the previous few weeks and have been immensely having fun with Darren’s return to this world.
“It has expanded uniquely in its personal technique to swimsuit this new journey we’re on whereas concurrently drawing from the earlier work with out feeling repetitive or redundant. It is a delicate steadiness to strike for persevering with IPs and I feel Darren and his collaborators have all knocked this one out of the park! Now, it’s time for me to go correctly end off Chronos and Typhon… SO MOTE IT BE!”
Hearken to the soundtrack on Bandcamp | Spotify
Tom Salta
(Deathloop, The Outlast Trials)
Favorite online game soundtrack of 2025: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Lorien Testard
“My choose this yr is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. What stood out to me wasn’t simply the great thing about the music, however the sheer ambition behind it. It’s uncommon to see a brand new IP swing this massive—melding French aptitude, JRPG influences, and a vocal-driven rating into one thing with an actual viewpoint. The soundtrack grew to become a cultural second, resonating far past the sport itself. I at all times admire when a crew refuses to play it secure, and this one completely earns that highlight.”
