Many songs from video games enter our minds and stay with us forever. Whenever someone mentions the Lost Woods in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I don’t think about the puzzling labyrinth inside; I think about the melodic jingle that loops over and over again as I explore the forest. Video game soundtracks can be as powerful and sometimes even more memorable than the gameplay experience itself. There’s a seemingly endless supply of wonderful video game soundtracks, and many of them are available to stream on services like Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited, and Apple Music. If you’re looking for some fun tunes to help pass the time inside, we’ve rounded up more than 35 of the best video game soundtracks you can stream right now.
We chose to only include original music, so no licensed soundtracks appear on this list–sorry Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but we still love the old you. Also, only one game from a single franchise was chosen, so The Legend of Zelda doesn’t appear a handful of times. Lastly, our picks are in no particular order.
Popular music-streaming services
If you’re unfamiliar with the various music-streaming services out there, here’s what you need to know. Spotify has a free version of its service that lets you listen to a bunch of video game soundtracks, but there are numerous benefits to signing up for the $10/month premium subscription. Premium members get ad-free listening, unlimited song skips, and the ability to download for offline listening. Though Amazon Music comes with a decent library with your Prime subscription, paying $8/month ($10/month if you aren’t a Prime member) for an Unlimited subscription grants access to a far bigger library, including the soundtracks listed below. Meanwhile, Apple Music costs $10/month. Both Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music support offline listening, too.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Every Zelda soundtrack is sublime, but if we had to pick one, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker‘s enchanting music stands out the most. The Wind Waker’s music, from its calming ocean theme to its upbeat remixes on beloved Zelda riffs, really helps elevate the high-seas adventure. The Dragon Roost Island tune is arguably the best song in series history–the 10-hour loop on YouTube has a whopping 1.3 million listens.
Chrono Trigger
Streaming on: Apple Music
One of the most beloved RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger has plenty to marvel at, including the original soundtrack that clocked in north of two and a half hours. Composed mainly by Yasunori Mitsuda, Chrono Trigger’s collection of upbeat tunes and melancholic themes perfectly complement the game’s quirky story, enhancing the power of the classic Square Enix title. Though the music of Chrono Trigger has been remixed numerous times since its debut on SNES, the original synth score remains the best.
Super Mario Odyssey
Streaming on: Apple Music
Super Mario Odyssey moved Mario music in a new direction, going so far as adding lyrics to a track for the first time in “Jump Up, Super Star,” the catchy big-band jazz theme that showcases just one of the many genres of music used in the Switch platformer. Filled with upbeat songs that match the environment and tone of each world, Super Mario Odyssey easily offers the most varied and consistently surprising soundtrack in franchise history. You can even watch a behind-the-scenes look of the making of some of Odyssey’s music.
Katamari Damacy
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Katamari Damacy is a simple game where you roll around and pick up any and all objects under the sun, gradually making your katamari larger and larger. It’s strangely satisfying, and a huge part of what makes it work is the eclectic soundtrack. The vocal-heavy Japanese pop music is injected with traditional electronic tunes, as well as other genres, including jazz and samba. It’s a whole lot of fun to listen to, whether you’re playing the game or not.
Final Fantasy VI
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VI‘s soundtrack is the best in a series well-known for having truly mesmerizing and beautiful scores. From its organ solo during the opening theme to its quiet string melodies in the overworld to the chaotic and relentless battle theme, Final Fantasy VI’s soundtrack tells an epic story in its own right, complementing the 16-bit adventure each step of the way. The piano riff in “Awakening” remains my favorite bit of music in Final Fantasy history.
Journey
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Without Austin Wintory’s composition, Thatgamecompany’s Journey wouldn’t have nearly the same impact. The music dynamically adapts to your actions, taking you on a ride that heightens the effect of the wordless but gripping story. Journey’s main theme cleverly runs through the emotional adventure, creeping in at poignant moments in the background and resonating in ways that perhaps go unnoticed unless you’re actively playing the game. The hour-long soundtrack is often highlighted by understated melodies, which is a testament to Wintory’s prowess in knowing when to let the ambient chords linger.
Cuphead
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Cuphead‘s 1930s-style cartoon animation is the first thing you notice when sitting down to play the tough-as-nails side-scroller. But the gorgeous animation wouldn’t work without the equally period-accurate music. Cuphead has nearly three hours of jazz, big-band, and ragtime tunes filled with wailing horns, snappy snares, and the fizzle of an old film reel crackling underneath it all. It transports you to a different time and is easily one of the most novel soundtracks in recent memory.
Doom (2016)
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
The 2016 reboot of Doom is one of the most relentless first-person shooters ever made. The fast-paced demon-shooting action really gets your adrenaline going, and the absolutely maniacal heavy metal soundtrack that pulsates in the background contributes to that energy. Doom’s score makes you feel like you’re in a mosh pit–a mosh pit full of demons you need to slay. The heavy metal jams help you keep up with the frenetic pace of the action, but the songs are also ridiculously entertaining in their own right.
God of War
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
It’s not super surprising that God of War‘s soundtrack is phenomenal. Composer Bear McCreary won an Emmy for his work on Da Vinci’s Demons, created the iconic Walking Dead theme, and has scored dozens of movies and TV shows. McCreary’s work on God of War pushed the franchise in a far more mature direction that fit with the evolved, emotional story about the bond between father and son. From the chant-filled, ominous title song to the beautifully arranged “The Summit” that caps off Kratos’ and Atreus’ symbolic journey, God of War’s soundtrack is among the best we’ve heard from a PS4 exclusive. For more on the creation of the music of God of War, check out our illuminating interview with McCreary.
Halo 3: ODST
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Even though the ubiquitous “Halo Theme” doesn’t appear in Halo 3: ODST, the soundtrack for the sometimes overlooked Xbox 360 spin-off–the first game to not star Master Chief–remains the most varied score in franchise history. It still features the ethereal sounds that are intrinsic to the identity of the iconic FPS series, but it also has an exciting mix of uptempo tracks and somber melodies that capture the spirit of the underrated campaign. The best Halo music builds into a crescendo, gradually adding layers over a steady beat, and ODST does this masterfully, especially in songs like “One Way Ride” and “The Menagerie.”
Red Dead Redemption 2
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
There’s a sequence in Red Dead Redemption 2 that poignantly demonstrates how integral the music is to the broader story. After Arthur returns from Guarma and heads off on horseback to Lemoyne, a scripted section plays with the lighting of the sprawling backwoods and comes at a crossroads in Arthur’s masterfully written personal arc. D’Angelo’s “Unshaken,” a soulful song with alluring harmonies and a powerful hook beautifully captures Arthur’s predicament. It’s just one of the many original songs that make Red Dead Redemption 2’s soundtrack so memorable. The sweeping soundtrack offers raw vocal tracks and twangy Western instrumentals, assisting in building the atmosphere of Rockstar’s wondrous open world with every bar.
Celeste
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Composed by Lena Raine, Celeste‘s soundtrack is both catchy and moving. During melancholic story moments, soft piano riffs stir an emotional response. But when the platforming sequences are at their most chaotic and dire, Celeste’s electronic music is appropriately bold and fast-paced. The injection of guitar and the synth mimicking the theremin takes you on a wild ride. All told, Celeste’s soundtrack is as beautiful as it is evocative.
Florence
Streaming on: Spotify, Apple Music
Florence tells an astounding love story with no words. It accomplishes this feat in large part due to its chamber music soundtrack. Florence’s part of the story is told through piano, while Krish’s is represented by the cello he plays in the game. This back and forth creates a conversational form of music that helps paint the picture of the entire arc of a relationship. The music is key, and the 40-minute soundtrack brilliantly works hand-in-hand with the graphic novel-style storytelling.
Bastion
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Supergiant Games’ composer Darren Korb describes Bastion‘s music as “acoustic frontier trip-hop.” In short, it’s definitely unique. Korb dropped acoustic guitar riffs over sampled beats, layering the hour-long score to create something that works quite well with the novel narrative design of Supergiant’s breakout 2011 game. Ashley Barrett accompanies the instrumentals with captivating vocals, especially on the game’s emotional closing song, “Setting Sail, Coming Home.”
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Sayonara Wild Hearts is an action game that heavily relies on its music. It’s essentially an interactive pop album filled with hypnotic vocals and electronic rhythms, and most of the songs are exceptional. Upbeat and extremely catchy, the soundtrack for the indie hit was one of the best of 2019.
Fez
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Composed by Richard Vreeland (aka Disasterpeace), Fez‘s soundtrack is an exceptional ode to chiptune music that also happens to have a heavy ’80s vibe. Fez’s electronic tracks rely on reverb and distortion and many of them move fairly slowly, allowing the notes to hang on during the inventive platforming adventure. The result is an incredibly memorable soundtrack that will forever be connected to one of the shining stars of the Xbox 360 indie boom.
ICO
Streaming on: Amazon Music
While overshadowed by Team Ico’s sophomore effort Shadow of the Colossus, ICO remains a cult classic from the PlayStation 2 era. You play as a young boy with horns who was banished to an abandoned fortress and must find his way out while escorting a princess and avoiding a shadow monster. It’s a minimalistic adventure with few words that uses its atmosphere to tell its somber, moving story. The roughly 25-minute soundtrack is filled with soft melodies created mainly by piano, acoustic guitar, and synths. Officially titled “Melodies in the Mist,” the soundtrack is a prime example of how powerful music doesn’t have to be complicated. A number of its best tracks use three-chord structures with ambient background noise that quickly sweep you up in their simplistic beauty.
Hotline Miami
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Nearly eight years have passed since Hotline Miami launched, but people still regularly discuss the breakout hit that seriously put Devolver Digital on the map. Its soundtrack perfectly aligns with the 1980s setting. Composed by nine artists, Hotline Miami’s tunes have an ’80s techno vibe that complements the frenetic and pulse-racing top-down action. What’s most interesting about Hotline Miami’s soundtrack is that it has a blend of fast and slow tracks, which move in step with the hybrid stealth-action gameplay.
Undertale
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Toby Fox’s Undertale overtook the gaming world when it released in 2015. The quirky and rather dark RPG harkens back to the 16-bit era all the way down to its synth music. If you listened to Undertale’s soundtrack without knowing when the game launched, you would probably think you were listening to a Super Nintendo game. Thankfully, it’s every bit as memorable and catchy as classic SNES music.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
The Donkey Kong Country series has featured stellar music from its debut on SNES all the way to the Wii U’s Tropical Freeze. You’d be hard-pressed to find a dud or even a tune that is a tad annoying when having to repeat tough platforming sequences. Mike Wise, a former Rare staffer with a prolific resume, consistently delivers. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest stands above the rest because of how varied it is throughout. Heavily percussion-based, Diddy’s Kong Quest mixes in environmental sounds and a delightful blend of wind instruments–most notably saxophone and flute. It’s a lighthearted soundtrack with a playful, comedic tone.
Crypt of the Necrodancer
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Danny Baranowsky’s (aka Danny B) work on Crypt of the Necrodancer is irreplaceable. The roguelike rhythm game is pretty unique, as it combines the dungeon crawling and item collecting of roguelike games with beat-matching gameplay. When moving, you must stick with the beat of the groovy electronic rock tracks. Danny B also created sublime remixes of classic Zelda songs for the 2019 spin-off Cadence of Hyrule.
Remember Me
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify
Prolific French composer Olivier Deriviere has created a number of great soundtracks, but his work on Dontnod Entertainment’s 2013 action game Remember Me is unforgettable. To be fair, Remember Me isn’t very memorable from a gameplay perspective, but Deriviere’s soundtrack is stunning. Inventive and wholly original, Remember Me moves from rather conventional orchestral sound to distorted electronic music throughout, creating an experimental and highly-engrossing audio experience.
West of Loathing
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Asymmetric Publications’ black-and-white RPG West of Loathing is a slapstick Western starring stick-figure characters. You should definitely play it if you’re in need of a little laughter. The twangy Western soundtrack is better than the vast majority featured in old Western films. The main theme in particular is top-notch, and unlike some other turn-based RPGs, the battle music never gets old.
Into the Breach
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Into the Breach‘s brilliant small-scale tactics missions have a dire urgency to them, and Ben Prunty’s soundtrack helps bolster said urgency. Rather than sticking with the slow, quiet music that normally plays in the background of turn-based strategy games, Into the Breach keeps the tempo up, with steadily increasing beats and layered string instruments, including violin, bass, cello, and muted guitar riffs that fill out the tone. Prunty’s work on FTL is also incredible.
Persona 4
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Longtime Shin Megami Tensei composer Shoji Meguro has a distinctive musical style that has become one of the standout components of each game, including the wildly popular Persona sub-series. Though mostly J-pop and J-rock, some of Persona 4‘s tracks–such as “A New World Fool”–also have hip-hop, rock, and electronica flavors. The nearly three-hour-long soundtrack features a great mix of vocal and instrumental tracks that, thankfully–given Persona 4’s lengthy story–never tire.
Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Apple Music
Ubisoft’s long-running Assassin’s Creed franchise has given us a number of seriously good listening experiences to accompany the stealth-action gameplay. With that said, it may come as a surprise that we favor the soundtrack from one of the lesser-known spin-offs, Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, which originally released on PlayStation Vita. But Winifred Phillips’ score, a sophisticated orchestral arrangement, is simply magnificent. Liberation’s protagonist Aveline is one of the most well-realized characters in series history, and her turmoil-laden backstory is represented in the affecting music that wraps you up in the emotions of the high-stakes tale.
Metroid Prime
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Metroid’s move to 3D on GameCube not only expanded the scale of Samus’ world but the sound, too. Longtime Nintendo musician Kenji Yamamoto really outdid himself on Prime, bringing the environmental music from the side-scrolling era into 3D while upping the intensity. Metroid Prime‘s score uses unconventional sounds like pipes clanging against one another. The beats are often more present than the distorted riffs that echo in and out, and the synthesizer work on Prime is next-level. Nothing sounds quite like Metroid Prime. It feels appropriately out of this world.
Double Dragon: Neon
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Double Dragon: Neon‘s soundtrack is a blast from the past. Neon’s music is thoroughly indebted to the tunes heard in old-school arcade beat ’em ups (like the original Double Dragon) and ’80s pop music, especially on vocal tracks that sound like they should be playing in a rollerskating rink. As a reboot of the franchise, Neon also remixes popular tracks from the 1987 arcade classic and other games in the series. “City Streets 1,” for instance, uses the very first mission in Double Dragon as its foundation, and it absolutely slaps.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Streaming on: Spotify (unofficial), YouTube
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes has a really nifty soundtrack that helps make the impressive fighting gameplay hum. It’s the type of background music that you can sometimes forget is there, but when it grabs you, you realize how impressive and stylistically varied it truly is. With bebop-style brass sections and funky swing rhythms, Marvel vs. Capcom 2’s soundtrack has a bit of everything jazz-adjacent.
Super Meat Boy
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Super Meat Boy‘s original soundtrack for PC and Xbox 360 was composed by the aforementioned Danny B (see Crypt of the Necrodancer), but the numerous ports for consoles like PS4 and Switch have different tunes because Team Meat couldn’t secure the license. The original soundtrack is king. The glorious chiptune mash-up of heavy metal, rock, and electronic music harkens back to ’90s side-scrollers while ratcheting up the intensity to fit the breakneck pace of the modern classic. It’s relentless in the best way possible.
Nier: Automata
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Apple Music
A combination of elements make Nier: Automata one of the very best action-RPGs in recent years, including the sweeping, poignant story, evocative world, satisfying combat, and the captivating soundtrack. Winner of the Best Soundtrack at The Game Awards 2017, Nier: Automata’s more than three hours of original music features alluring orchestral arrangements laced with affecting ambiance and dreamy vocal tracks. The soundtrack is dynamic, so it features vocal and instrumental versions of the same music with varying layers, from stripped down, slower ballads to adrenaline-spiking tunes that build and build.
Devil May Cry 5
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Devil May Cry 5‘s trio of protagonists allowed composers Cody Matthew Johnson and Casey and Ali Edwards to create a more varied soundtrack than in previous DMC games. The vocal tracks are a neat mix of pop-rock and electronica with tinges of heavy metal here and there. Nero’s battle theme “Devil Trigger” became incredibly popular even before the game launched. The soundtrack is really entertaining even if you aren’t playing the game, but when accompanied with the demon-slaying action, it reaches new heights. Certain parts of the high octane tracks only reveal themselves as you achieve better combat ratings. For more on the Devil May Cry 5 soundtrack, check out our interview with the game’s composers.
Bloodborne
Streaming on: Spotify, Apple Music
Bloodborne just celebrated its fifth anniversary, and it’s still fairly common to see people gushing about the FromSoftware action-RPG on social media. Yharnam, a gothic, Victorian-style city, is arguably the legendary studio’s most iconic setting. The atmosphere and inhabitants were inspired by Lovecraft and Bram Stoker, so it’s easy to understand why the haunting soundtrack is filled with chanting, suspenseful, building riffs, and a whole lot of ambiance. A collaborative effort, Bloodborne’s soundtrack utilizes a full orchestra and a large choir. The music of Bloodborne perfectly captures the eerie world and the tension of each daunting boss fight.
Destiny
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Destiny 2 improved on practically every aspect of the original–except for the soundtrack. Destiny‘s classic orchestra soundtrack is appropriately epic, fitting with the grandness of the space opera. It certainly harkens back to Bungie’s work on the Halo franchise with its ambient noises that creep in and out of the full-scale orchestra pieces. Bungie even enlisted the talents of Sir Paul McCartney to work on the soundtrack, and the former Beatles member contributed the song “Hope For the Future.” If you somehow haven’t watched the music video featuring McCartney as a hologram in the game world, you really should.
Rez Infinite
Streaming on: YouTube
An expanded, VR version of the classic musical rail shooter, Rez Infinite’s psychedelic techno music combines with the Tron-like visuals to create an almost overwhelming sensory experience. Though Rez Infinite isn’t a rhythm game, following along with the music is a critical part of the experience. Without the fast-paced electronic music, Rez Infinite probably wouldn’t be very much fun at all.
Kentucky Route Zero
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Kentucky Route Zero‘s story finally wrapped up with Act 5 earlier this year, but when it comes to the soundtrack, we’re still obsessed with some of the earlier music composed for the game back in 2013, specifically the bluegrass songs by the Bedquilt Ramblers. Composer Ben Babbitt linked up with singer Emily Cross and bassist Bob Buckstaff to form the Bedquilt Ramblers, delivering soulful, twangy tunes such as “Long Journey Home” and “You’ve Got To Walk.” The gaps between the vocal tracks are filled with ethereal electronic music influenced by the bluegrass songs. It’s an interesting dynamic that works extremely well.
Grim Fandango
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
It turns out the music that plays in the Land of the Dead is quite catchy. Classic LucasArts adventure game Grim Fandango features a jazz soundtrack that is indebted to noir films and South American folk music. It’s a mash-up of swing, big band, and bebop that still sounds novel more than 20 years after its release. Grim Fandango’s legacy has lived on in large part because of the songs that serve as the theme for its curious world.
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Streaming on: Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is a quiet narrative adventure set in a sleepy English village where everyone has randomly disappeared. As such, it’s a solitary experience, and the soundtrack composed by Jessica Curry only enhances the atmosphere. Though the melancholy string and woodwind arrangements are beautiful, it’s the choral music that gives Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture’s soundtrack weight. Two full choirs, the Metro Voices and London Voices, deliver bone-chilling vocals that feel appropriate to the place and situation. The chorus of voices singing as one oddly, but powerfully, reflects the predicament you’re in.
