Music often plays a significant role in video games. It can create an immersive atmosphere, convey the game's tone, and even affect gameplay. With that in mind, it's no surprise that some of the best video game music that comes out each year can be found in both triple-A and indie titles.
But what exactly makes for an excellent game soundtrack? Is it the catchiness of the melody? The way it compliments the game's visuals? Or simply the fact that it gets stuck in your head for days on end?
There's no one answer, but we can narrow it down to a few key characteristics.
The Best Video Game Music of 2022
First and foremost, excellent video game music is memorable. It's the kind of music you can't help but hum or sing along to, even when you're not playing the game.
It also needs to be well-suited to the game it's accompanying. A great soundtrack enhances the experience of playing by setting the perfect mood and atmosphere. And finally, it should be something you want to listen to outside of the game.
With all that in mind, here are some of the 2022 games with the best music.
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Stray
- OlliOlli World
- Teenage Mutant Ninja: Shredder's Revenge
- Elden Ring
- Halo Infinite
- Metal: Hellsinger
- Cult of the Lamb
1. Horizon Forbidden West
Composers: The Flight, Oleksa Lozowchuk, Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest
Horizon Forbidden West is a sequel to 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn. It is an open-world action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by animalistic machines. The game picks up where the first one left off, with Aloy, a skilled Nora hunter, leading a group of companions on an expedition to the Forbidden West, searching for answers about a deadly plague.
The game's score is just as sweeping and majestic as the first, with an added sense of urgency and excitement. It is also a perfect example of video game music that fills you with excitement and desire to play more and more.
2. Stray
Composers: Yann Van Der Cruyssen
Stray is a third-person stealth action game developed by BlueTwelve Studio and one of the best sci-fi games of 2022. Set in a future Tokyo, the game allows you to take control of a stray cat, who, after falling into a walled city full of robots, machines, and mutant bacteria, must return to the surface with the help of a drone companion.
Stray is a unique and atmospheric game whose music flawlessly complements the ethereal atmosphere. Characterized by an ambient, dreamlike quality, the game's music is both beautiful and terrifying.
3. OlliOlli World
Composers: various artists
OlliOlli World is a charming and colorful skateboarding game with an equally vibrant soundtrack. The game's music is one of its standout features, and it's hard to imagine the game without it.
With a mix of upbeat electronic tunes and more mellow, reflective tracks, the game's music perfectly sets the tone of the skateboarding adventure, and no doubt deserves a playlist of its own in your music library.
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja: Shredder's Revenge
Composers: Tee Lopes
If you're of a certain age, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a big part of your childhood with its music. The 1990s film is still fondly remembered by many, and the recent resurgence in popularity of the franchise has been accompanied by a new game, Teenage Mutant Ninja: Shredder's Revenge.
The side-scrolling beat ‘em up game is a love letter to the classic TMNT games of the '80s and '90s. And the game's score perfectly captures that feeling, with high-energy tracks that will get your blood pumping. There is no doubt that TMNT: Shredder's Revenge boasts some of the best video game music of the year.
5. Elden Ring
Composers: Yuka Kitamura, Tsukasa Saitoh, Shoi Miyazawa, Yoshimi Kudo, Tai Tomisawa
Many consider Elden Ring the best game of 2022, a dark and atmospheric action RPG set in a world of gods and mortals. The game follows the story of a character on a journey to repair the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord.
The music of the game perfectly matches its dark and brooding atmosphere. The game’s score is beautiful and inspiring and features a mix of orchestral and choral tracks that will send chills down your spine on more than one occasion.
6. Halo Infinite
Composers: This Will Destroy You, Joel Corelitz, Gareth Coker, Curtis Schweitzer
Halo Infinite is the long-awaited return of one of gaming's most iconic franchises, and its music does not disappoint. The game's score is nostalgic and fresh, with new takes on classic Halo themes. And it's unlikely that you will find a better opening score than Zeta Halo.
7. Metal: Hellsinger
Composers: Two Feathers
No video game music roundup would be complete without mentioning Metal: Hellsinger, the heavy-metal-themed rhythm game. The music is, of course, metal as hell and perfectly complements the game's fast-paced gameplay. The game's loud and aggressive music will get your head banging for a long time after you put down the controller.
8. Cult of the Lamb
Composers: Narayana Johnson
Cult of the Lamb is a dark and atmospheric game about a religious cult. Despite the eerie topic, the game's music is not too spooky. It features many catchy and upbeat tracks and atmospheric scores that keep you focused on the task, making it great music for coding or similar activities.
Final Words on the Best Video Game Music of the Year
So there you have it, some of the best video game music of the year. The year is not over, so maybe we will see some more excellent game soundtracks before it's done. But for now, these are my favorites. What are yours? Let me know in the comments.