Summary
The soundtrack of a gamecan either make or break the experiencefor players. Even when a player isn’t actively playing a game, many are likely to listen to the soundtracks of their most enjoyed experiences due to how catchy or relaxing the music was while playing.
From boss battles that can take countless hours to the music that plays in the background as a player explores, music can be found in both AAA titles and Indie games. Independent games are likely to use more underground artists, who have created some of the most phenomenal soundtracks that players have continued to remember.
Starting strong with a catchy classic indie title,Hotline Miamihas an assortment of songs from both the synthwave genre and from the 80s that fit perfectly with the arcade theme that makes up the shooter title,Hotline Miami. With each action-packed mission in this much-loved title having its own great music to play alongside it, players are sure to have picked out a favorite while playing.
Thesoundtrack of this shooterwas created by multiple artists who all follow a similar theme while adding their own personality to the soundtrack, as well as fitting each moment in the game perfectly, from flashbacks to fighting.
Outer Wildshas earned its place as one of the indie games with the best soundtracks due to the abundance of acoustic guitar songs that make up the background music of this amazing adventure title. With the touching story to be uncovered withinOuter Wilds, each song produced by Andrew Prahlow helps push the story along as well asbeing rather relaxingwhile traveling through space in a constant loop.
Thankfully, songs like Timber Hearth, which is the most popular song of the soundtrack on Spotify, is one of many songs that players have no complaints about having on repeat both in and out of the game due to how relaxing they are.
Innovating the gameplay of both roguelites with management titles,Cult of the Lambhas already interested those looking for the chance to start a cult of adorable animals while also facing various dangerous foes in the hopes of one day freeing their god. River Boy had to create a soundtrack that could fit both the intense battles ofCult of the Lamb, while also being able to make songs that relax players while they manage their cultists.
Thankfully, River Boy was able to produce a soundtrack that does this perfectly, that continues to follow a theme throughout. Out of all the songs in the soundtrack, Start a Cult is considered one of the most popular according to Spotify, with plenty of plays under its belt.
Celesteis an indie title that uses its music perfectly to make the player feel their emotions fully as they push themselves to the summit. Although this platformer can be quite a challenge, the music that accompanies the player’s adventure perfectly fits the struggle ofCeleste, both in gameplay and story.
Lena Raine has made great songs for games in the past, withCelestebeing no different. Those that have sat and listened to the soundtrack while playingCelestewould have noticed how the music progressesalongside the adventure, pulling themes from previous songs into later ones, with Resurrections being one of the most loved songs out of all of them.
Games with deep stories and adventures, such asBaldur’s Gate 3, have some of the best soundtracks available. Some players may be surprised to seeBG3, though Larian Studios is considered an indie company, andBaldur’s Gate 3boasts a soundtrack that could rival many AAA titles of the past and present.
Unsurprisingly, the most popular song of the soundtrack by Borislav Slavov is the song that has been stuck in every player’s head while exploring the world ofBaldur’s Gate 3, and that is Down by the River. Players will likely find themselves humming along to this song while playingBG3, and then continuing to listen to it on their favorite music streaming service when they don’t feel like playing the RPG.
Toby Fox proves that the best soundtrack a game could have doesn’t need to be fancy, as well as proves that thosecreating their own indie gamedon’t need to be a professional coder or musician to make an addictive title.Undertaleis the perfect example of an indie game with a brilliant soundtrack, as although the songs aren’t as detailed as some, each song perfectly fits each battle and location the player is likely to face.
The battles of this RPG are some of the most challenging, with boss music that perfectly fits the terror that comes with attempting to avoid the lethal attacks of characters like Sans. Even with the worry of beating a foe like Sans, Megalovania is a brilliant addition to the fight, with some players even enjoying it without the struggle of battling.
Theming the soundtrack around the time period of the game is one of the best ways a title can make a brilliant soundtrack. As is expected of the indie titleHades, the music, although it has modern twangs, is heavily based on Ancient Greece to combines the instruments that made up that period of history, while also mixing in electric guitar as well as other things to make the boss battles of this roguelite hit hard.
Darren Korb achieved this perfectly withHadesand continues to show great promise withHades 2as he once again creates the soundtrack for this incredible roguelite title. With plenty of great songs to listen to, one of the most popular ofHadeshas been In the Blood, with No Escape being a close second.
Out of all the indie games that have been released over the years, one of the games with the best soundtrack is the phenomenal RPG experience given to players byClair Obscur: Expedition 33. Not only did this title amaze players with its astounding story, but also for its unbelievable soundtrack too, which was produced by Lorien Testard.
Each song from Lorien forExpedition 33has truly captured the emotions of some ofthe most gut-wrenching momentsin the RPG, as well as the hilarious ones, too. With Lumiere being the most popular song of the soundtrack on Spotify, many players have continued to listen to this mesmerizing soundtrack even when they aren’t playing the game.
