10 Game Soundtracks That Shaped the Industry
For Gamer Day, IGN highlights ten influential video game soundtracks, from Chrono Trigger to Skyrim, that have left a lasting mark on the medium.
IGN has compiled a list of ten video game soundtracks that have profoundly shaped the industry. The list, published to mark Gamer Day on August 29, is based on critical consensus and features works from composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Gustavo Santaolalla.
Chrono Trigger
The soundtrack for the 16-bit RPG Chrono Trigger was composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu. It overcame the technical limitations of its era with over 60 tracks ranging from epic orchestrations to melancholic melodies, setting a foundation for modern role-playing game composition.
The Legend of Zelda Series
Koji Kondo, Manaka Kataoka, and Yasuaki Iwata are key composers for Nintendo's franchise. While Ocarina of Time is remembered for unforgettable melodic themes, Breath of the Wild revolutionized sound design by using minimalist piano notes to accentuate the isolation of its open world.
The Last of Us
Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla created the music for The Last of Us Part I and II. He used an intimate approach with dissonant chords, acoustic string instruments, and desolate melodies that perfectly reflect the games' post-apocalyptic setting and emotional weight.
Katamari Damacy
Composed by Yuu Miyake and various artists, the Katamari Damacy soundtrack was an unprecedented fusion of J-pop, jazz, samba, and electronic music. It demonstrates how catchy pop lyrics can elevate an extravagant game concept to absolute cult status.
Journey
Austin Wintory composed the score for Journey, which made history as the first video game soundtrack nominated for a Grammy Award. With the cello as its central instrument, the music reacts dynamically to player actions, creating a unique, emotive, and interactive experience.
**Final Fantasy Series**
Nobuo Uematsu's work on Final Fantasy VI and VII is unanimously praised by gaming audiophiles. The music propelled the use of complex operatic structures and choral hymns, like "One-Winged Angel," becoming a global reference for live orchestral performances.
**NieR: Automata**
Keiichi Okabe of MONACA composed the soundtrack for NieR: Automata. It features a language invented by vocalist Emi Evans to simulate a distant future, integrating epic choirs and acoustic instruments with industrial synthesizers to aptly accompany the game's philosophical themes.
**Doom Series**
The music for Doom is synonymous with pure adrenaline. The 1993 version by Bobby Prince was inspired by nineties heavy metal, while Mick Gordon's 2016 score featured an aggressive mix of eight-string guitars and analog synthesizers.
**Silent Hill 2**
Akira Yamaoka combined trip-hop, alternative rock, and noisy industrial sounds to create the psychological horror atmosphere of Silent Hill 2. His melancholic piano pieces contrast violently with passages of heavy distortion.
**Skyrim**
Jeremy Soule composed the soundtrack for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It is led by a main theme performed by a 30-voice male choir in a fictional dragon language, offering a complete orchestral immersion that defines the epic fantasy genre.
