With the main criterion not to mention the same franchise or composer twice, here is the greatest music composed for video games released between 1988 and 2023: some cult classics, some lesser known. A passionate and knowledgeable selection of beautiful and varied themes among thousands of listened game soundtracks! Check each track description for more information.

The 100 Best Video Game Music

Game: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (Nintendo, 2003, GCN)
ReMixer(s): DarkeSword
Composer(s): Hajime Wakai, Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi
Song(s): 'The Legendary Hero'
http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01079/

Zelda Wind Waker Ancient Hero

"Wistful"

Remix of six themes from the Legend of Zelda series:
Midna's Lament (TP)
Saria's Song (OoT)
Zelda's Lullaby (OoT)
Song of Storms (OoT)
Goddess Theme (SS)
Hyrule Field Theme (TP)

"Wistful" - remix of Midna's Lament from Twilight Princess

dPiano. Created in real time, no edits in the Dixon Annex Recital Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans LA.

Year of Music I

Year of Music: November 10, 2011

Twilight Symphony - Gerudo Desert

So this song is a remix of parting by xChiakiro. Im posting this song to add to my sleep video game OST playlist.  I dont own the rights to the original and all credit of this remix goes to xChiakiro

Parting (Orchrestral Remix) - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red - Blue Rescue Team

Link to the alternate / non marching version here:
https://soundcloud.com/cleffernotes/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-hyrule-castle-cover-no-marching

Original Composers: Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata - Nintendo EAD

Arrangement By: ClefferNotes

Thanks to all of you who provided some incredible feedback. I decided to remove the previous orchestration and work on the theme a bit more based on your feedback and polish it up a bit, I am a lot happier with this version now! Thank you all!!!

Here is an orchestration I created of the amazing Hyrule Castle theme. This theme took a lot of work as there are so many layers to identify and transcribe. I decided to give the theme a broad epic style to do this theme justice and this is how it turned out! This was all done by ear and interpretation so apologies for any wrong notes.

- Software and Libs Used -
Logic Pro X, Kontakt 5

Spitfire Audio: Symphonic Woodwinds, Chamber Strings, Symphonic Strings, Union Chapel Organ, HZ01, Percussion, Grand Piano, Symphonic Brass.

CineSamples: Hollywoodwinds, CineBrass Core / Pro, CineOrch.

Zelda Breath of the Wild: Hyrule Castle - Cover (Enemy March)

Original Music By - Koji Kondo - Nintendo EAD

Orchestral Arrangement By - ClefferNotes

Here is an orchestration of the well known Final Hours theme which appeared in Zelda: Majora's Mask. I decided to give this orchestration a dramatic emotional feel to reflect the sombre mood of the original track. Enjoy!

- Software Used -

Logic Pro X, Kontakt
Spitfire Audio: Soft Piano, Felt Piano, HZ01, Chamber Strings, eDNA Earth, Albion 1, One, 2, 3, V, Harp, Symphonic Brass, Symphonic Strings

Heavyocity: Gravity, Vocalise

Zelda: Majora's Mask- Final Hours - Orchestra / Epic Orchestral

01 - Ni no Kuni Main Theme

Final Fantasy VII Battle Theme (FFVII Melancholy mix)

Composer: Ilan Eshkeri (The Sims 4) / Other composer on the album: Shigeru Umebayashi

This theme can be heard in the menu and at the end of the prologue. Tsushima Island is all that stands between mainland Japan and the massive Mongol invasion fleet led by Khotun Khan. Jin, a traditional samurai, is one of the last members of his clan standing after the first wave of Mongolian attackers. Determined to protect his home and people, Jin must abandon the orthodox ways of the samurai taught to him by his father, and instead utilize other methods of warfare to overcome the Mongols, earning him the moniker "The Ghost".

This is a shortened version (original track length: 2'51).

Ghost of Tsushima OST

Ghost of Tsushima OST - Jin Sakai

Composers: Joris de Man (Killzone series, Horizon series), James Marsden

Sequel to Velocity (2012), this sci-fi shoot 'em-up/platformer is better in every way, including its soundtrack (which was already great).

This is a shortened version (original track length: 4'26).

Velocity 2X OST

Velocity 2X OST - Frontier

Composer: Gerard Marino (GoW series) / Other composers on the album: Mike Reagan, Cris Velasco, Ron Fish

The best track to represent the saga and its music, with its powerful choirs that follow both rhythm and melody, making the orchestrations even more dizzying and fitting in perfectly with the epic fate of Kratos, the Spartan warlord who became a Greek god. The making of music https://youtu.be/wRyVH927yLk

This is a shortened version (original track length: 2'55).

God of War II OST

God of War II OST - Main Titles

Composer: Joe Hisaishi (Tengai Makyō II, NnK II: Revenant Kingdom, and composer of Studio Ghibli’s films) / Performer: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Ni no Kuni was subtitled Dominion of the Dark Djinn on Nintendo DS (2010) then Wrath of the White Witch on PS3 in enhanced version (2011).
The making of music https://youtu.be/_Bcf0X7Vlh4

Ni no Kuni OST

Ni no Kuni OST - World Map

Composer: Nathan McCree (Tomb Raider II and III)

This theme, which uses a four-note motif, can be heard in the main menu and continues to appear through the game and series. In 1996, there was not enough space and budget for live orchestra recording, so the soundtrack was produced using synthesizers. To make the choir sound realistic, McCree inserted recordings of himself breathing at the right points.

This is a shortened version (original track length: 3'16).

Tomb Raider (1996) OST

Tomb Raider (1996) OST - Main Theme

Composer: David García Díaz (Deadlight, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Arise: A Simple Story)

This is a shortened version (original track length: 3'22).

RiME OST

RiME OST - The Island

Theme of Link when he awakens to the Master Sword. Enjoy!

The Knight Who Seals The Darkness - Hyrule Warriors Age Of Calamity OST

Short extracts of S-tier game soundtracks

RiME OST - The Island

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