The best game music of 2024, as chosen by composers

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth beat some tough competition to pick up The Game Award for Best Score and Music this year. But outside of this year’s exceptional TGA shortlist, what other game soundtracks deserve your attention?

To find out, we battered the inboxes of composers from all over the world and asked them to choose the best video game music from 2024. The rules are simple: composers could only have one top pick, and their choice had to be from a game OR official game soundtrack released in 2024. We’re cool with DLC, too (sorry, Awards police).

In addition to shining a spotlight on some fantastic soundtracks and composers, we hope this round-up encourages VGC readers to check out some games and soundtracks you might have missed otherwise. To help you do that, we’ve included links to the relevant platforms where you can listen to these soundtracks in full.

If you want to directly support these composers, Bandcamp waives its revenue share on the first Friday of every month (called Bandcamp Fridays) so an average of 93% of any purchases reach the artist/label. Indie composers stand to benefit from this the most, as 56% of indie composers retain copyright ownership of their music, according to the 2023 Game Audio Survey.

As always, thank you to all the composers who contributed to this. Let’s jump in!

Gordy Haab

(Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order + Survivor, Star Wars Battlefront, Indian Jones and the Great Circle)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Star Wars: Outlaws by Wilbert Roget, II, Jon Everist, Cody Matthew Johnson, Kazuma Jinnouchi

“As someone who is no stranger to the pressures of composing music for the world’s most beloved franchise, I am always appreciative of hearing a new perspective. I feel Wil brought an interesting perspective to this score with his inclusion of pulsing synths blended seamlessly with the orchestra.

“I feel it could have been easy to only lean on the modern synths and musical approaches, but found it nice to hear that he still honored the complexity of the orchestra. A great example of this is the track ‘Kay Vess, The Outlaw’ which opens the OST. The tone is set from the very opening. But the orchestra blossoms throughout and takes us to some very interesting and triumphant places, musically!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Spotify.

Stephen Barton

(1943: The Rise of Hydra, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Astro Bot by Kenny Young

“This soundtrack is just an absolute, top-drawer, top-notch banger. It’s the takes on the classic franchises it riffs on that get me; the “Bot of War” music is beyond brilliant. Infectious, clever, and gloriously silly, I couldn’t stop smiling while playing this. The extremely close-run second was m’colleague Gordy Haab’s phenomenal “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle”. But the singing bots have to take it…

Listen to the full soundtrack on Apple Music and Spotify.

Lena Raine

(Beastieball, Celeste 64, Minecraft: Tricky Trials)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Nine Sols by FFXX, Im Baek Hun, Troy Lin, Vincent Yang, and Collage.

“From minute one, Nine Sols’ music caught my attention and never let go. The absolute beauty of traditional Taiwanese instruments and vocals against the assault of chopped up vox and synths… Every single boss track is scored with emotional depth and elevates the experience so far beyond what is already incredibly engaging. I don’t have enough extremely verbose words to explain how much Nine Sols’ score affected me.

“Several moments stand out for me: the moment you go underground and discover the nature of the world in the track Beneath the Surface, introducing the industrial percussion & stutter-gated vocals. The house beats, gamelan and throat singing in Jaw of the Machine. The beautiful tragedy of the piano & chopped/screwed vocals in Smile at My Cursed Dream. The breakbeats against dissonant choral agony & gorgeous string writing in Long Awaited Death. And of course, Collage’s tearful scream of a song in the true ending’s credits sequence.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Steam.

John Famiglietti (AKA JOHNNY HEALTH)

(Max Payne 3, Grand Theft Auto Online: Arena War, Cyberpunk: 2077)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Balatro by Luis Clemente

“A 20-minute loop that is truly PERFECT. It is a perfect match for the gameplay, feel and vibe of Balatro. It also never gets old, and only gets filtered when you select a new card, new mode or any sort of menu. Balatro is a true classic and should come installed on every PC from now on, the music makes it truly iconic. OST and GOTY.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Steam.

Luis Clemente

(Balatro)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom by Masato Ohashi, Manaka Kataoka, Chisaki Hosaka, Reika Nakai, Yuri Goto, Ryotaro Yagi, Azusa Kato

“I love the minimalist chamber music style that builds upon Link’s Awakening; the musical motifs are equal parts elegant, catchy, and original, fitting the Nintendo formula perfectly. The reimagining of the classic Zelda melodies is done with great taste and fits right in with the rest of the Zelda series. I’d say the Hyrule Field theme stands out for me. Shoutout to the Silent Hill 2 and Pizza Tower DLC soundtracks as well!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on… Nintendo Music, at some point in the future, maybe?

Eddie Marianukroh

(Chained Echoes, Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant, Under the Island)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: 8-bit Adventures 2 by Sebastián Cruz

“Although 8-bit Adventures 2 technically was released in 2023, the game was ported and released on consoles this year, giving me a chance to play the game on the PlayStation. This game is filled to the brim with charm and very clearly crafted with love, including its wonderful soundtrack.

“Sebastián Cruz did a fantastic job composing the music for this game, as it very much embodies the reason why we fell in love with tunes from the classics; beautiful melodies and vibes that transports you into the game’s narrative. You can hear examples of this with the songs: ‘Over That Horizon,’ ‘A Reason to Fight!’, ‘A World of Adventure,’ ‘City Under Siege,’ and ‘The Burdens We Bear.’”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Bandcamp

Berlinist (Marco Marco Albano)

(Gris, Neva, Wordless)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Animal Well by Billy Basso

“The Animal Well soundtrack is a mesmerizing journey into sound. Its textures whisper secrets, evoking wonder and unease in equal measure. Minimalist and profound, it mirrors all the feelings you can experience in the game’s labyrinth. The audio landscape is a true triumph of atmospheric storytelling through music.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube.

Fingerspit (Paula Ruiz)

(The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood. The Red Strings Club. Gods Will Be Watching)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: 1000xResist by Drew Redman & Line Katcho

“Do you know when a game turns out to be a special, unique experience? A game that touches something deep inside of you and changes who you are at heart? You want to share it with those around you, even if they might not connect with it as strongly as you. 1000xResist made me laugh and cry—sometimes both at the same time. To this day, when I play its beautiful soundtrack, I still hold my tears with some of the tracks. 1000xResist was my game of the year, and its soundtrack played a really big part in that.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp

Wilbert Roget, II

(Helldivers 2, Pacific Rim, Star Wars: Outlaws, Mortal Kombat 11)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree by Tsukasa Saitoh, Yuka Kitamura, Shoi Miyazawa, Tai Tomisawa, Soma Tanizaki

“There were many fantastic soundtracks this year, and for me, the most thrilling were Shadow of the Erdtree and Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth. FromSoft continued its tradition of aggressive and relentlessly creative boss themes with this DLC expansion to Elden Ring, but the standout this time was a simple and heartbreakingly gorgeous character theme called “St. Trina.” Written by series veteran Yuka Kitamura, it’s a tear-jerking cello melody – an unexpectedly yet brilliant choice for the scene it accompanies.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Spotify.

Cody Matthew Johnson

(Resident Evil 2, Bayonetta, Trek to Yomi, AFK Journey, Star Wars: Outlaws)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Pacific Drive by Wilbert Roget, II

“In a year of upset in our industry, it feels like indie games, and particularly indie game soundtracks like Pacific Drive, composed by Wilbert Roget, II (feat. D’Anthoni Wooten and Sam Suggs), take the cake! Pacific Drive was such an unsuspecting score from Wilbert — for weeks on end it popped up on my VGM Radio and New in VGM playlists without knowing what the game was or who composed the soundtrack.

“When I sought out the soundtrack I learned to my chagrin my friend Wilbert Roget, II composed the OST. This led me to play the game — a service any good soundtrack should do: keep the passion for the game evergreen.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Spotify.

Salla Hakkola

(Clash of Clans, Merge Mansion, Angry Birds)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Silent Hill 2 by Akira Yamaoka

“In the current world situation, I found this soundtrack consoling, versus the many more epic and aggressive game soundtrack releases of 2024. Apart from the clearly different, upbeat first track, Yamaoka relies on hauntingly beautifully and intriguingly created sounds, both organic and electronic, in minimalist repetition and in ambivalent moods that leave space for personal interpretation. Silent Hill OST invites listeners to reflect one’s own emotions and the world with respect and compassion – something the world today is clearly lacking.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Peter McConnell

(Grim Fandango, Psychonauts 2, Hearthstone)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Beastieball by Lena Raine

“A real standout this year for me is Lena Raine’s score to Beastieball, just released in November. Available on Bandcamp, the electro-pop score ranges from gloriously free-wheeling fun to pointillistic sonic abstraction. It has a charm that brings to mind pop icons like Lara Shigihara, a wonderful sense of space and pacing, and it grooves hard.

The title track ‘Welcome to Beastieball’ is an uninhibited sensory delight held together by a simple yet catchy bass line. And tracks like ‘Trails of Amberstone’ are just straight-up fun, dishing up a retro song vibe loaded with ear candy. And ‘NOW THAT’S! BEASTIEBALL!!!’ is a harmonic and sonic tour de force. I rarely get to hear a score that delivers this much fun with this much depth.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and YouTube.

Barry Topping

(The Needs, Paradise Killer, Birdcage, Thatcher’s Tech Base)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth by Shotaro Shima, Shoya Sunakawa, Junnosuke Usui, Reo Uratani, Ryo Furukawa, Yoshitaka Suzuki, Yoshinori Nakamura, Tadayoshi Makino, Keiki Kobayashi, Nozomi Toki, Shingo Kataoka, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Ryo Yamazaki, Yuki Hirose, Nobuo Uematsu.

“Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a game that made me spend 20 minutes dragging around a feed clanger to lure a chicken back to its home, where the chicken was then killed and eaten. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is also a game with more than 9 hours of music written and arranged by more than 20 composers.

“There are so many stand-out tracks (Let’s Go Mt. Corel, Stamp Rebirth, Queen’s Blood, Hollow Skies – Midgar Region, Jungles of Gongaga, Subterranean Grind etc.) that the soundtrack is regularly bringing the game up to a level that makes you want to keep playing, feed clanger be damned. Also, the Beastieball soundtrack is extremely good.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Apple Music.

Obadiah Brown-Beach

(Arknights, Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch 2)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Star Wars: Outlaws by Wilbert Roget II, Jon Everist, Cody Matthew Johnson, Kazuma Jinnouchi

“The excellent themes coupled with orchestration and instrumentation that fits so well into the Star Wars universe, while also bringing something wholly new to the table is really impressive. The combination of traditional and modern sounds serve both the underscore and the new characters and plots so well. And to top it off, the mega eclectic, vibey cantina tunes are so fun.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Yuko Komiyama

(Monster Hunter series / Mega Man X7 / Contra: Operational Galuga)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Kirby and the Forgotten Land Sound Selection by Hirokazu Ando, Jun Ishikawa, Yuki Shimooka, Yuuta Ogasawara.

“As a Kirby lover, I was happy to see the release of the soundtrack. I enjoy watching my kids play it and playing it with them. I love this game because there are many cute characters such as Waddle Dee, Dedede, and Meta Knight. Kirby’s music has a great balance of tradition and newness. The renewed taste of music while retaining the Kirby style always makes me want to listen to more and immerse myself in Kirby. Again, the music for every scene was pop and Kirby-like, and there were many songs that I can still remember even after the game’s release.”

Listen to the full soundtrack by picking up the CD.

Motohiro Kawashima

(Streets of Rage 2/3/4, Oh, Deer!, Eye of the Beholder)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 6RR & 6RR Plus Original Sound Track by Yuzo Koshiro

“I worked with Yuzo Koshiro on Streets of Rage 2, 3, and 4. This was in 1993, 1994, and 2020. I thought that Koshiro was a very good composer who was able to compose songs of various genres. When I listen to the recent Wangan series, I think it sounds more like original game music of very high quality rather than club music. I think he’s got his own sound. From trance, EDM, disco, and eurobeat to EDM and hyperpop, old and new dance music has gracefully intersected to create a genre all its own. Personally, I like Koshiro’s thick synthesizer trance songs, but I also love the playful disco sounds at times.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Apple Music.

Goomin “Nauts” Nam

(Ragnarok Online / DJMAX / TalesWeaver)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Astro Bot by Kenny Young

“Astro Bot was the most memorable game soundtrack of 2024 for me. These days, it’s rare to find game music that is both so lively and has such a memorable melody. The Astro Bot soundtrack stands out track by track, while beautifully blending into the game’s emotional mood. I’m hoping that their next title will feature music as good as this.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

José Ramón “Bibiki” García

(Arco, Alex Kidd In Miracle World DX, UnderDungeon)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Eastward Octopia by Joel Corelitz

“Even with all the games I’ve played this year, this DLC that behaves as a completely new farming game with its own soundtrack stuck with me since the beginning. The unique instrument colours blend modern instruments with older soundfont styles, the chill mood throughout all the tracks, the cozy melodies… There are a lot of factors that make Eastward Octopia a unique soundtrack that continues to define Eastward’s rampant character while letting you escape real life’s duties for a while.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Masayoshi Soken

(FInal Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy XVI)

Favorite video game soundtrack from 2024: Fantasian: Neo Dimension by Nobuo Uematsu

“I’m the kind of person to listen to a wide range of genres with no particular limit, having rock, bossa nova and classical music as my pillars, but I’ve been listening to game soundtracks less and less recently. Huh? I think I wrote that phrase last year too… It seems a year has passed in the blink of an eye… Despite this, there is one game title that made me think ‘I should listen to this game’s soundtrack carefully’. That is FANTASIAN.

“Why? This is a big deal because Uematsu-san, a senior colleague whom I greatly respect, commented that ‘this will be the last time I’ll be in charge of a game’s music from start to finish on my own’. This work was released on Apple Arcade, but it has now been released on multiple platforms as FANTASIAN Neo Dimension, so you can pick it up easily as well. This game, which is packed with Uematsu-san’s all-out music, does of course have gameplay that should be cherished too, but I want to listen carefully to each and every piece of music that has been implemented in it!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on YouTube and Spotify.

Daniele Zandara

(Vampire Survivors)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom by Masato Ohashi, Manaka Kataoka, Chisaki Hosaka, Reika Nakai, Yuri Goto, Ryotaro Yagi, Azusa Kato

“The small ensemble harmonizes beautifully with the game’s art and visuals, delivering arrangements that are both polished and rich with nods to previous themes. A truly lovely example of state-of-the-art music that adds depth and emotion to the game’s world and narrative.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on…Nintendo Music, at some point in the future, probably… maybe?

Grant Kirkhope

(Mario + Rabbids, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Astro Bot by Kenny Young

“It has to be Astro Bot by Kenny Young. Hearing this OST was like a breath of fresh air, it was so great to hear a fun soundtrack again, lots of melody and bouncy as bouncy can be! We do tend to get a lot of big orchestral scores these days, which is great, but hearing this really put a smile on my face … brilliantly done Kenny!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Marcus Hedges

(Age of Ashes – Ary and the Secret of Seasons – Override 2: Super Mech League)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Helldivers 2 by Wilbert Roget, II and Ross Tregenza

“My favorite video game soundtrack release for 2024 is Helldivers 2. The first few times I heard it, it made me nostalgic about a game that I hadn’t even fully played yet. I’m a sucker for an earworm and I feel like Roget captured that ‘magic’ in the Helldivers theme making it incredibly catchy but also evergreen when it comes to hearing it over and over again. I find the whole thing very inspiring from the orchestration to layering of synths throughout.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Jesse Zuretti

(2XKO)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Penny’s Big Breakaway by Tee Lopes & Sean Bialo

“You see Tee Lopes’ name, you know the music is gonna bop. Penny’s Big Breakaway hit me right in the 90s/early 2000s console feels, complete with those juicy funk/house/techno meets jazz fusion/prog moments that make you change your entire wardrobe to match Ruby Rhod (Chris Tucker) from The Fifth Element.

“The trumpet moment in ‘Tutto Finisce a Tarallucci e Vino’ is worth the price of admission to experience this OST in game – which I have yet to do – that’s how good the OST is! I haven’t even played it. I just see: Tee is involved, listen to the music. I’d add all of his work in 2024 to this list if I could. That wouldn’t be fair – but I’d do it.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Jukio Kallio

(Minit, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Dave the Diver, Nuclear Throne)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Voidwrought by Jouni Valjakka

“The music has such a wide palette: from huge cinematic brass and aggressive metal riffs to ambient sci-fi fantasy vibes. It evokes beautiful but dangerous ancient histories for forbidden alien places. The Theme gives a great view of what’s to come and my favorite is ‘Old Waters’, a track that could easily be in a modern Castlevania. This soundtrack is one of those rare gems where just the music is making me want to play the game.

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Chloe Kwok

(Sea of Thieves, Everwild)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Hauntii by Michael Kirby Ward

“Even if you just listen to the title track, ‘Hauntii’, the instrumentation is relatively simple but effective, with a lot of emotion translated in that lovely melody line, which is so beautifully played by Gregory Orosz. There is a lot of breadth and depth in the musicality that runs through this soundtrack. For example ‘Rickety Ride to Wickland’, is very different from the title theme in terms of tone, but captivating nonetheless. Again on that track, amazing performance from Isabella Reyes on the violin.

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Tomoya Ohtani

(Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Forces, Sonic Colors)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Splatoon 3: Side Order by Toru Minegishi and Ryo Nagamatsu

“The Splatoon series is a game series that I really enjoy. This year, I had a lot of fun with the Grand Festival, as well as the Side Order DLC. They both had wonderful additional soundtracks. I particularly enjoyed the incredibly moving mashup track “Rainbow Color Incantation” by Now or Never Seven!”

Listen to the full soundtrack by grabbing the CD.

Shota Nakama

(Final Fantasy XV, No Straight Roads, God Eater 2)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Marvel Rivals by Masahiro Aoki, Netease Sound, H.K.H

“It is a big soundtrack my team worked on. We traveled all over the world to record the best musicians, trying to make the most organic, authentic, and incredible musical art that you can ever find from a video game. We delivered a spectacular result and had to mention it here because it literally is one of the best that came out this year.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Tomas Palazzi

(Bread & Fred, Outpath, Tsuki Adventure 2)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Arctic Eggs by Cameron Ginex

“Arctic Eggs is the weirdest and most fascinating game I’ve played this year, and the music is a big part of why it’s such a strange and unique experience, in the best possible way. Gritty but subtle psychedelic elements mixed with funky and jazzy touches, it’s the exact kind of score that I love and hope to hear more of in video games in the future. Special mention also to Metaphor: Refantazio, ATLUS Sound Team knocked it out of the park with an operatic score that I’ve never heard in another game to that level, their stuff is always top-notch but this one is really special”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Nicklas Hjertberg (Two Feathers)

(Metal: Hellsinger, Vampire: The Masquerade Justice, Aragami)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth by Shotaro Shima, Shoya Sunakawa, Junnosuke Usui, Reo Uratani, Ryo Furukawa, Yoshitaka Suzuki, Yoshinori Nakamura, Tadayoshi Makino, Keiki Kobayashi, Nozomi Toki, Shingo Kataoka, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Ryo Yamazaki, Yuki Hirose, Nobuo Uematsu.

“To me, It’s impossible to not choose this title. When the original released back in 1997, it already featured one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever made in my opinion. And this remake’s soundtrack is simply stunning. It offers beautiful new takes on the classic tracks we all know and love, while also introducing new compositions that together keep the musical journey feel fresh and unique in a wonderful way. It’s a soundtrack I keep coming back to months after finishing it, and something I’m sure I will do for a long time.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Apple Music.

Aivi and Surasshu (Aivi Tran and Steven “Surasshu” Velema)

(Cryptmaster, Ikenfell)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Surmount by quarkimo.

“Our favorite game soundtrack this year is Surmount by quarkimo! It has tremendous range, from intimate, catchy melodies reminiscent of Nintendo UI music, to huge, breathtaking textures that capture the feeling of ascending a mountain. Best of all is how effortlessly quarkimo weaves these sounds together. The soundtrack welcomed us in warmly, then surprised us with its thoughtful complexity.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Jon Everist

(Star Wars Outlaws, Destiny Rising, GRAFT, The Lamplighters League, Overwatch 2)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Helldivers 2 by Wilbert Roget, II.

“I may be biased because Will is a dear friend of mine – but I truly believe Helldivers 2 could not have achieved such intergalactic levels of success had it not been for Will’s superb score.

“Hearkening back to the golden era of truly iconic action movie scores from the 90’s and early 2000’s (with subtle nods to Basil Poledouris and Jerry Goldsmith), Will’s music and motifs are indelible, self-aware, and unflinchingly critical of the comedically extreme capitalistic jingoism on display, all while still making danger-close orbital napalm strikes feel really damn cool. A truly difficult task to nail this well as a composer. Favorite track ‘A Cup of Liber-Tea’”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

James Elsey

(Beyond Hanwell, Evil Dead The Game, Beatstar/Chrome Valley Customs)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Still Wakes The Deep by Jason Graves

“It’s tempting to pick one of my favorite OSTs of all time reimagined/rerecorded in Silent Hill 2, but I’m going to stick with something entirely original in 2024. Jason Graves is regarded as one of the best when it comes to horror and this is another example of why. He expertly places the score within the claustrophobic, frightening setting of the Oil Rig, through the use of a custom built Rig Sculpture that produces a variety of eerie textures and the low screeches of a Moog Model D Synthesizer.

“It’s the delicate use of small sections of strings and woodwinds however that set the score apart; connecting with the player on the deep emotional level required with the heavy narrative themes of human loss and isolation from family. The ending of the game stuck with me for a long time after the credits rolled and the music is a big reason why.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Amos Roddy

(Citizen Sleeper, Kingdom, In Other Waters, The Wild at Heart, Cloud Gardens.)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Flock by Eli Rainsberry

“This was a year of incredible soundtracks, but I think I have to pick Eli Rainsberry’s wonderful score to Flock as my favorite. The music is such a lovely companion to the game, imbued with so much curiosity and light, and this playful sense of being suspended in space. I love how ordered yet spontaneous the arrangements feel, as well as the combination of acoustic and synthetic timbres. It’s wonderful music for going on walks. Thanks for the beautiful OST, Eli!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Apple Music.

Borislav Slavov

(Baldur’s Gate III, Divinity Original Sin II, Crysis 3)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Tales of Kenzera: ZAU by Nainita Desai

“In a year packed with amazing video game music, nothing captured my heart quite like the soundtrack of Tales of Kenzera: ZAU by Nainita Desai. This is one of those soundtracks that are capable of telling me a story even if I close my eyes and let the music flow and emotions take me away. Beautifully crafted, imaginative, deep, and most importantly, music with a big soul.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

James Landino

(Omega Strikers, No Straight Roads, Fortnite Rocket Racing, Cytus II)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Tekken 8 by mifumei, HIROSHI OKUBO, AJURIKA, Yoshihito Yano, Go Shiina, sanodg, Rio Hamamoto, Sho Okada, Yuu Miyake, Shogo Nomura , Ayako Saso, Mitsuhiro Kitadani, Shinji Hosoe, Yoshinori Hirai, Qing Yan

“I’ve always felt fighting game soundtracks don’t get enough praise they deserve from the media for how stellar the music is, and Tekken 8’s music might be the very best yet. With music direction by mifumei, the music masterfully blends genres of electronic, dance, rock, metal, and orchestral into a seamless experience- and it just so happens to be one of the best fighting games in this modern era too.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Darren Korb

(Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, Hades, Hades 2)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle by Gordy Haab

“I am a total sucker for the original Indiana Jones movies, and in particular, the music. Gordy does an incredible job of capturing the essence of the original movie scores, and elaborating in a meaningful way, appropriate for the new interactive context. No easy feat! The execution is really wonderful, and makes me feel like I did seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time as a kid!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Joshua Taipale

(Omega Strikers, Date Everything, Apex Legends Mobile)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Persona 3 Reload by Atsushi Kitajoh, Yosuke Uda, Shoji Meguro

“Reload’s music left a great impact on me in 2024 — I haven’t even had the chance to play it but I own both the main and DLC soundtracks on CD! It’s the kind of soundtrack that can’t exist without passion and a certain courage. The subject matter has a depth that can only be expressed if the writer truly understands it. As a result, it speaks to the hearts of the wounded in a way that only those who understand can do. ‘How long it may last… How short it may last…’ To the wounded, venture life.’

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Austin Wintory

(Journey, ABZU, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Stray Gods)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Star Wars: Outlaws by Wilbert Roget II, Jon Everist, Cody Matthew Johnson, Kazuma Jinnouchi

“I can’t say I was shocked I loved Outlaws’ score, since Wil and co always do great work! They managed to fuse the John Williams aesthetic with something entirely new to Star Wars, and very few Star Wars projects have managed that successfully. Also likewise big love to Cody Matthew Johnson and the crew that did all the Cantina music. The entire thing was amazing. It deserves a big audience.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

David Housden

(Disney Illusion Island, Battletoads, Thomas Was Alone, Lost Words: Beyond the Page)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Silent Hill 2 by Akira Yamaoka

“The original Silent Hill 2 is one of my favorite games and scores of all time, so I had very high expectations for the remake and am thrilled to say that it met them with aplomb. A very tasteful blend of re-imagined tracks and new material, with fantastic production-value created something pleasantly nostalgic, yet fresh at the same time. Expanding upon the original material, Yamaoka-San draws the melancholy sadness of the underlying story and visceral nature of the horror to the fore in equal parts, bringing his signature juxtaposition of beauty and terror to a modern audience.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Fat Bard (Patrick Crecelius and Zach Fendelman)

(Smite, Jet Lancer, Demon Turf )

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Arco by José Ramón “Bibiki” García

“The soundtrack is incredibly lush, with some really inspired production and arrangement. It’s also massive, such a huge undertaking! Favorite track would have to be Ikigai; when the claps and lead nylon string guitar come in it really captures you. There’s also some great hard bangers like Dust Seekers and Red Company.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Eli Rainsberry

(A Monster’s Expedition, Flock, Wilmot Works It Out, Wilmot’s Warehouse)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Crow Country by Ockeroid

“So there’s not only one Crow Country soundtrack, but two! There’s a follow up that Ockeroid released called ‘Murder of Crows’, that I had a really good time listening to lately. I loved hearing the soundscape and sound design of the creatures (eg. ‘The Crypt Creature’) especially, how it feels like each creature’s calling or breathing is being emulated so close to you. You get bits of breathers with tracks such as ‘Rain’ and ‘Just Like I Remember’ on the main soundtrack too, but overall, both soundtracks really helped me get more engrossed into the game and set the mood of exploring Crow Country scarily well.

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Mason Lieberman

(Overwatch 2, PUBG Mobile, Apex Legends Mobile, RWBY)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Penny’s Big Breakaway by Tee Lopes & Sean Bialo

“Has Tee ever delivered anything less than peak? No? I didn’t think so. This soundtrack just HITS. Sean and Tee deliver my favorite platformer OST in recent memory (and in a year featuring the absolutely stellar Astrobot AND Sonic X Shadow Generations, no less!). This is everything I love about video game music; it’s colorful, wild, chaotic, and just such an absolute blast.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Phil Boucher

(Fortnite, Civilization VI, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Orcs Must Die! 3)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth by Shotaro Shima, Shoya Sunakawa, Junnosuke Usui, Reo Uratani, Ryo Furukawa, Yoshitaka Suzuki, Yoshinori Nakamura, Tadayoshi Makino, Keiki Kobayashi, Nozomi Toki, Shingo Kataoka, Tsuyoshi Sekito, Ryo Yamazaki, Yuki Hirose, Nobuo Uematsu

“I can’t think of a soundtrack that resonated with me as much this year as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The original’s music is deeply ingrained in me as a composer and hearing so many inventive reharmonizations and rearrangements of Nobuo Uematsu’s themes moved me deeply. The way themes get interwoven and refreshed in the game’s climax is a masterclass in musical development and orchestration.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Apple Music.

Maxo

(Rolling Hills, Eigengauge)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Egg Squeeze by FLOOR BABA, Adam Carey & pngsequence

“The great majority of the selections in the OST last about 10 seconds, but only a random amount of that runtime is safe to squeeze your egg for before it breaks. This leaves you fully reliant on your instincts, which are guided, either subtly or not-so-subtly, by tricks of expectation played on you by some of the best minds in game music, FLOOR BABA, Adam Carey & pngsequence.

“Will you be lulled into false security by an ambient drone, scared by a sudden style shift into releasing your squeeze, or hear 2 seconds of who-knows-what before you’re convinced it will curse your win streak? The soundtrack itself is the game, and its challenge for you is to listen to it.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp.

John Robert Matz

(Tchia, For The King 1 & 2, Ambition: A Minuet in Power, Mythgard, Gunpoint)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Helldivers 2 by Wilbert Roget, II

“An absolute tour de force from Wil that perfectly captures the 80’s-90’s sci-fi swashbuckling vibes you’d expect of an Alan Silvestri or Basil Poledouris-scored adventure film. The over-the-top gestures and incredibly effective thematic writing elevate what could be a more staid satire of our “democratic” human empire to something that sticks with you long after you log out of the game and return to civilian life. Extra points for flawless interactive implementation ensuring its sub-40 minute soundtrack runtime NEVER gets old – the drop from your Super Destroyer hits *every* single time. Bravo.”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Kenny Young

(Astro Bot, LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Wilmot Works It Out by Eli Rainsberry

“I shall eschew the AAA games and scores I’ve spent the most time with this year because I’m certain they will have been picked up by someone else, and take the opportunity to give a shout out to Eli Rainsberry’s lovely soundtrack to Wilmot Works It Out. It’s an unexpected blend of IDM and cutesy acoustic elements which brilliantly scores the game’s naïve, artsy aesthetic and its jigsaw puzzle mechanics. Bravo, Eli!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Bandcamp.

Robin Beanland

(Sea of Thieves, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Jet Force Gemini)

Favorite video game soundtrack of 2024: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle by Gordy Haab

“I think there’s been some truly outstanding video game soundtracks this year. But the one that clinched it for me at the final hour is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle by Gordy Haab. Not only does it have some truly epic moments, but it’s also has some wondrously delicate moments too. I love the way the arrangements work with the gameplay and it never feels like the music draws too much attention to itself or outstays its welcome while you’re exploring. The whole score is just beautifully composed, arranged and performed. Bravo!”

Listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify and Apple Music.

Thank you to all the composers who contributed to this list. See you next year!