7 Times Game Music Was Way Better Than It Needed to Be

Videogame composers put in countless hours of work to ensure that the music players hear while playing their games is as good as it possibly can be. But what about the videogame music that actually, most players aren’t going to hear? Surely you can ease up on those bits of music, right? Well, not these pieces of videogame music that absolutely didn’t need to be as good as they were. Enjoy, and let us know your picks on this topic in the comments.
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[@padamouse4]

Man, that Galaxy Map music (“Uncharted Worlds”) from Mass Effect has a permanent home on my “need to chill out” playlist. Along with “Vigil” (also Mass Effect) and “Deconstruction” from Destiny.

[@thegreatpineapple4425]

Uncharted Worlds is my ringtone!

[@pockylovingranger]

The version in Andromeda is also really good and it’s such a good meld of being calm and exciting at the same time

[@timothyoswald8618]

I'm trying to play the Mass Effect games only once per year, entries like this make it REALLY difficult.

[@nobodyfamousX]

Totally agree. The opening theme on the main menu in the first game was really good too.

[@nyperold7530]

It's so good, it got Mike to choose something other than a racing game for round 2 of 7 Times Music in Games Blew Our Minds.

[@emmettowl]

"Die Anywhere Else" from the bass-playing minigame in Night In The Woods is both an absolute banger and hits me hard in the feels. It has no business being that good.

[@Avriel_Mimiga]

tbh all the songs from that minigame are really great

[@AStandardSkrub]

“Serpent eating the Ground”, the final boss theme for bravely default, has to be one of the most epic final boss themes of all time, like what other songs just takes all of the game’s leitmotifs and just crammed into 1 single track and makes it work.

[@wiseone86]

Just wanna add to this, the song is absolutely bangers. But it's at it's best when you've played through the game. It's an inspirational, orchestral story with the motifs of the 4 playable characters themes added into it. After playing the game for 60+ hours you've associated these themes with the super moves of the characters in battle, hearing them all blended together just gets you so pumped beyond belief that the song is in a league of its own.

[@darthganon944]

Another great boss theme IMO is monk maz koshia's theme from the legend of Zelda BoTW. Its a great battle theme that gets you hyped and also perfectly matches the atmosphere of the boss fight.

[@victorvaquer94]

To be fair the entierety of Bravely Dafault's OST is absolutely amazing.

[@c.h9976]

One situational piece of music I really love is in BOTW when you're riding around on your horse at canter speed, following the road and not being attacked by anything. The music will switch to this really beautiful, chill piece that is slightly different at day and night time. Sometimes I randomly ride around in game to hear that music.

[@weneedaladder8384]

Every time I ride a horse in BotW music that sounds incredibly similar to the Guardian theme starts playing and I panic that something is attacking me. It doesnt help that this usually syncs up with a Kees swarm attacking, which I'm pretty sure is actually 100% unrelated.

[@penguingonemad]

Two suggestions: 1) The 2am theme in Animal Crossing New Horizons. Perfectly captures the sleepy energy of playing the game at that time of night 2) The True Millennium tower theme in Yakuza Like a Dragon. I feel like few players get to that final battle and boy howdy, does the game reward you with that theme if you attempt it

[@eleanorjayne323]

Completely agree with animal crossing, I wish the day time themes were that chilled!

[@Damnonii]

Acnh the shop right before it closes is soo chill, think it's my favourite piece of music in the game and you can only hear it for like 10 minutes

[@GioBorsel]

Number one is spot on.

[@penguingonemad]

@@eleanorjayne323 It is almost a persuasion to stay up late just to listen to it! My favourite is the abrupt shift when it hits 3am, where Nintendo essentially calls you a clown for staying up so late

[@penguingonemad]

@@Damnonii Yessss, great shout! Completely forgot about it

[@Gothshadow125]

One of my personal favorites is in Subnautica. Specifically when you're attacked by a leviathan and the Cyclops is going down, 'Red Alert' has no business being so good that I don't want to save my ship lol

[@ToastAndJellyfish]

Same for, well, Abandon Ship. Two songs that make you very, very much NOT want to save/abandon your vessel. Like, nah, I'm good.

[@thomasallen9974]

Sadly for me I kinda like my Cyclops and dont want it to go boom so I rush to fix it.

[@robertpaulson5095]

I am tempted to drive my cyclops to the void just so I can hear the song

[@Jetfox967]

A Cyber's World from Deltarune also stands out since it sounds amazing and the transition where you have to dodge attacks to the beat of the music is very unique.

[@kylebear8101]

And Big Shot too-

[@sans-real9473]

@@kylebear8101 Nows you're chance to be a [BIG SHOT!] Be a [BIG- Be a [BIG- A [BIG SHOT!]

[@Tyranicalroomba]

@@kylebear8101 big shot isn't really good for nothing the secret boss is expected to be amazing and pure gold when it comes to the game partially because of how difficult it is (without a tutorial) to find

[@braydenbanks4228]

Agreed

[@jerrjohnpresti]

I'd say field of hopes and dreams, I heard the don't forget leitmotif multiple times before, but that was the first time it really connected, also, when the name just blows in from the wind, I knew there was something beautiful coming. it doesn't directly quote hopes and dreams but wandering around the field of - i don't need to say it - with ralsei felt somber and nice. the song is also energetic much like hyrule fields, and that brass! chef's kiss

[@medea27]

It's crazy how many people don't realise how essential sound design & music are to video games.... and how excellent the music can be. GoldenEye was just spot-on for both the Bond franchise _and_ providing ambient music to accompany hours of battling your friends while sitting close enough to slap them for shooting you in the back 😎 And Undertale is such a classic that I've heard a version in just about every musical genre... from orchestral to electro swing to metal! 🎵🤘

[@Taracinablue]

A cover of "Still Alive" is literally the reason I discovered Portal.

[@Greycatuk]

Listening to Andy’s heartfelt description of the Robocop theme… all I could think of was ‘Has Luke somehow taken over Andy? Is this going to turn into more loving talk of KK Slider?’ 🤔

[@noirakita428]

Andy's a musician too, no wonder he's passionate about music he loves.

[@erikkornfeld785]

I hadn't gotten to that part when I read this comment, and I thought "What is this guy talking about?" Then I got there and now I couldn't agree more. He definitely was channeling Luke in that bit.

[@jonathandavies1716]

@@noirakita428 If Andy was a real musician he'd show more appreciation for KK.

[@dantronic1836]

What a lovely video. I think I got ASMR'ed by some of those descriptions

[@wovenowl7535]

Honestly Night in the Woods has an amazing soundtrack and if I had to choose a song to put on this list, it'd honestly be a tie between Rainy Day and Mrs. Santellos' Old Records

[@Eclipsed_Dream]

The entire Hollow Knight sound track is gold as well. I think my favorites are the Pure Vessel's theme when you fight him in the Pantheon and the Path of Pain.

[@rahulverma8774]

Yeah Even usual theme of hollow knight is great As soon i entered dirtmouth i knew i will hv experience of a lifetime

[@Melbeezo]

That and celeste have a great ost

[@evanolsen6925]

Nightmare King Grimm is my favorite...

[@Eclipsed_Dream]

@@evanolsen6925 Cool! I like it too ^^ I think I'd like it more if he hadn't kicked my butt so many times

[@roogy1622]

Persona 5 has a unique song for every shop. From the Velvet Rooms Hymn of the Soul to the Takemi's Butterfly Kiss. They went above and beyond by making each shops unique piece incredible. Shout-out to Layer Cake, an Airsoft shop has no right being that banging

[@blackvial]

Gentle Madman from Persona 5 Royal is so good.

[@jonhenri5625]

Sophie’s Shop in Strikers was pretty nice

[@shadowsilvertailsfan]

Layer cake is so good!

[@sjd83]

The fact that Persona 5 also had retro style music for the console games you can play in Joker's bedroom is nuts. And again, to go with the theme of this video, each one of them is great!

[@AgentMonochrome]

The Safe Room music "Have a Short Rest" is a breath of fresh air!

[@Rikunacho]

For me it's the kingdom hearts title screen from both the nostalgia and the memories of my childhood. I may be biased but I listen to it everyday and it still makes me bop my head somberly

[@SwordSaint892]

"Dearly Beloved" is a work of art that could've just been little chime noises instead, great choice.

[@spartythespart]

True kingdom hearts themes are top notch

[@majesticbbqsauce727]

Honestly, my nomination for a song that deserves all the praise it gets is "we all lift together" from warframe. Literally meant only to be played once when you entered it's respective hub. But it's so good, they added a button to play it again.

[@B4dr4bbit]

They also made a sea shanty

[@lucbrisson2]

@@B4dr4bbit Cold Below. Now I have the urge to listen to both of them again.

[@peacechan4500]

@@lucbrisson2 sister, bellow bellow

[@Nefrae]

"Dearly Beloved" from Kingdom Hearts is awesome too. In fact, a large percentage of the soundtracks from the series are amazing!

[@AkumaDayo]

Ok but in particular, the version from Melody of Memory Like? Jazzy Dearly Beloved?? Sign me tf up, I bow to you Yoko Shimomura

[@Nefrae]

@@AkumaDayo honestly both are fantastic. "Sanctuary" has a nice beat to it too!

[@guardianknight1985]

Stardew Valley has "A Stillness In The Rain" which is as beautiful as it is melancholic. That being said, you get to hear it once and only if you become friends with Abigail (though I assume many players do, it isn't required so you can still absolutely miss this wonderful piece of music).

[@h3adban60r]

I second this, had the same in mind. You can hear it via your jukebox too if I remember right. For that though you need to be friends with the innkeeper though^^

[@octokitty88]

I'd like to add the "Music Box Song" from Stardew as well, if I may.

[@guardianknight1985]

@@octokitty88 Fair. I'll allow it :)

[@MrYin90210]

"A Golden Star Is Born" is also legit

[@shavagreycastle]

I'll add the mermaid song. Sure, you have the chance to listen to it eveytime the boats come by, but I had to look it up to figure it out.

[@jeremyc4215]

The Mass Effect map screen music is so soothing and chill that I would sometimes fall asleep when playing any the ME games late at night. And it's happened a lot.

[@SK-my6gh]

‘Strike the earth’ in Shovel Knight was a great “kick down the door” start to the game. Really leaned into the graphics with the classic chiptune tones, but had a great complexity to it. ‘Dam top’ in Borderlands 2 during ‘A dam fine rescue’ added to the tension of a chaotic scene.

[@anthonywolf5158]

"If You Still Believe" from Legend of Dragoon, if your talking the push start button music this is my all time favorite. It's a fully composed and lyrical peace of art that was sadly put in a place that most people would only hear the beginning of the intro, and I think it definitely deserves to be on this list

[@AceAviations2]

"Epilogue" from the Dark Souls 3 soundtrack, this credits theme is so good that across all of my playthroughs that I've got to the ending of I haven't skipped the credits once. This is across 6 complete playthroughs where I didn't get stalled by dragging it out to stay in a PvP hotspot to invade others. It's a somber and powerful piece of music that is a beautiful piece of music to end the Dark Souls series on. It's one of the many reason why I consider the Dark Souls 3 soundtrack one of the best soundtracks out there. They didn't need to put that much effort into it, but it's one of the best tracks in the game, which given the previous statement is saying something.

[@knightmarehero]

and now i go to listen to that and "Nameless Song" from DS1 and prepare to cry

[@iainjames03]

AC4's sea shanties were not only damn good without really needing to be, they're also better than anything which cropped up in that brief craze for shanties that happened over lockdown

[@daviddaugherty2816]

I sometimes get "Fish in the Sea" stuck in my head. Damn it, it happened again. Thanks for that.

[@MelodicQuest]

The behind-the-scenes story make it even better. Apparently, that original singers were too good, so it didn't sound like a gang of pirates. So they added a bunch of guys around the office to make it sound more authentic.

[@Stargazeer]

Especially since most of them were optional collectibles

[@anthonyfernandez82]

Up she rises

[@iainjames03]

@@Stargazeer Exactly! They certainly made it way more tolerable to chase annoying bits of paper across the rooftops.

[@Paraludic]

Playing through the Mass Effect series for the first time (I know, I'm super late to this party) and I can conirm that the Galaxy Map music is a jam. Also want to throw out anything form Outer Wilds because the soundtrack is amazing and not enough people are talking about it.

[@ZoeBateman]

My personal favourite music in a game is Ludwig, The Accursed/Holy Blade from Bloodborne (although all of the music in Bloodborne is fantastic). The way it's uncomfortable and even slightly disturbing and menacing, to eventually becoming proud, powerful and triumphant, mirroring what happens in the actual fight itself is just so beautifully done.

[@ellathompson6052]

I will always say this: Prey 2017’s Semi Sacred Geometry. Not only did they write a whole song with lyrics that soundtracks one of the coolest fights in the game, but you can also completely miss it. I listen to it sometimes just to feel like a badass Typhon slayer lol

[@rickimaru915]

Plus ‘Everything Is Going To Be Ok’ from the opening as you’re flying across the city in a helicopter. One of the best game openings ever

[@mintyr9368]

Here's my pick: the Village Bridge theme in Pokemon Black & White. It's in a town that doesn't even have a Pokemon centre, so you're not really meant to hang around. But if you talk to four separate NPCs located around the town, you build up a really beautiful piece of music. I used to leave my trainer stood on that bridge just taking in the vibes.

[@bigdognuniff]

Oh my god yes. I spent hours just talking to different combinations of the npcs and just stand there listening to the music. Also like the town with the dragon gym, there's an npc playing an instrument and walking towards and away from them fades the instrument in and out of the background music.

[@RickachuCXVI]

Belive it or not, there are quite a few towns and cities you can find musicians that will play along with the current town theme

[@seanodom8891]

Ah! Pokemon. Lavender Town from Red and National Park from Sliver!

[@steffis9806]

The soundtrack when you visit the museum in Sapphire! So calming and beautiful

[@Lingate14]

Ressurections from Celeste's 2nd level is the most atmospheric thing I've played this year. The first section is brilliant but the way it develops from the mirror onwards is unreal. I found it on Spotify and played it on repeat all weekend after that.

[@GwenActually]

yessssss it is soooo good!!

[@alfredomaclaughlin3708]

This is one of my favorite videos from the Outside Xbox list, wonderfully done! I like that you took the time to listen to what the songs sound like, and commented on them on some detail. Keep 'em coming!

[@doryna_sira]

The Moon level from Ducktales. The music is beyond epic... and it's just one of the regular levels.

[@0ceanicify]

Featured in "I wanna be the Guy" amongst others

[@juunidesu12]

when the game remaster was announced, my first thought was "oooh, I wonder what the Moon music will sound like!"

[@ghegs]

And also used in the DuckTales 2017 TV series a few times, to great effect.

[@billthebodyguy]

I love it when Andy breaks into the office at the dead of night to make list videos! Also, "Seaside Vacation" from 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim slaps, and as a pop anthem really stands out from the rest of the subdued sci-fi soundtrack

[@MatthewAshworth]

Some which come to mind: - Streets of Rage - either the iconic story intro music or the 'choose your fighter' track, both are likely to be skipped and unnoticed by someone who is starting the game. - XCOM - squad deployment theme; they could've put something generic there, but they made a kickass tune that makes you want to spend more time in squad deployment screen before the mission begins - A number of different Castlevania tracks that play during optional parts that lead to the best endings, which can be easily missed by most players (inverted castle from SOTN anyone?)

[@natecunha2795]

"Gau's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI. In what was already one of the greatest video game soundtracks EVER, Nobuo Uematsu could have phoned in a single character intro song out of a dozen that most players were only going to hear once or twice, but instead came up with a sad, beautiful theme that perfectly captured the character.

[@XLacayo92]

“The Rain Formerly Known as Purple” from Risk of Rain 2. It plays in the second to last level of the game. The whole song adds to the already mysterious and outer-worldly level; it has an incredible crescendo that really gets the blood pumping in the heat of battle. It’s one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in a videogame.

[@princeapoopoo5787]

I've never played the game, but that song always takes my breath away.

[@lonesurvivor8828]

Ah a fellow survivor! "A glacier occasionally farts" is my personal favorite, and honestly probably should be on the List for how out of the way it is.

[@marhawkman303]

@@princeapoopoo5787 Also I'm guessing the name of the song is a Prince joke. :p

[@sol_ARG]

oh man, as a big fan of Risk of Rain i also have to plug the song from the original game's final level, Coalescence. one of the most songs of all time.

[@gabib.6190]

I know I spent about 50% of my playtime in any given Ace Attorney game (mostly duel destinies) just letting the prosecutor themes play, so I greatly relate to the fact that the soundtrack can sometimes distract from the main game :)

[@TheDriedfrogpills]

Came to the comments hoping someone else would mention how easily it is to fall into the music of ace attorney and was not disappointed. I always ended up tapping part of the 1st game's cornered theme with my stylus to the point that I got my brother doing it too.

[@Bane_Amesta]

I still love the first Pursuit - Cornered theme, there's a lot of newer versions out there, but the first one is by far my favorite

[@kassdiamond]

All of the music from Kingdom Hearts is just brilliant. Sora, Aqua, Roxas, and Xion's themes are my favorite. The way they can make your heart soar and feel ready for an adventure with Sora's theme, to the sorrow/ heartbreak you feel listening to Aqua, Roxas, and Xion's themes as you feel the longing for friendships separated by distance.

[@RiskierGoose340]

Alpha from Minecraft is a really good one. It only plays when you beat the game AND stick around for the end poem, which the vast majority of players will skip. For the players who stay though, Alpha fits the poem strangely well, and it’s also a very great track on it’s own. MGS1’s alert theme is really good too, to the point it’s commonly played in KZbin videos where someone’s trying to be sneaky, ironic since it only plays when you’re caught by an enemy soldier. You’ll only hear the theme a lot if you really bad at the game, so it’s definitely nice for the ears when it could have been a simple alarm sound. All original Wii music could probably fit here, and so could the DS shop music. Super, super satisfying even though you probably won’t hear it a lot as a child. In Mario Galaxy 1, you can read Rosalina’s color book that she reads to the Lumas. It’s surprisingly emotional and deep for a Mario game, and there’s a very sad moment there that has it’s own track to fit it, something you can’t find ANYWHERE else in the game. Definitely makes you want to cry.

[@2011multisam]

I'm not ashamed to say I was singing along to every single Yakuza song, best part of each game hands down

[@sandyk9300]

im glad im not the only one

[@abadenoughdude300]

I'm not a fan of rhythm games (mostly because I suck at them) but I will spends hours on karaoke in Yakuza. Great songs aside, the execution of the whole minigame is just so awesome.

[@madalice5134]

Sames.

[@TheGreatNaguth]

I don't know if this counts since there are other versions of it in the game, but the Nier Replicant Song of the Ancients Devola and Popola duet is incredible. The harmonies are so good! I sat and listened to it for so long in that game. And as far as I remember it only plays after you complete a single sidequest.

[@richardpage2082]

YES! Nier music is SO good! The Automata Circus theme... Holy S!

[@jamesgraham6492]

Favourite song has to be emil karma piano no vocals

[@KuueenKumi]

Dude! The NieR music is amazing. Way better than it needs to be. The Amusement Park theme from Automata and Kaine's theme just.... chef's kiss

[@hentaispyder]

I'm so happy someone said Nier 1. That entire sound track is so good.

[@Patricswift]

Either nier game has a legitimate claim to be the best video game music of all time

[@ianespeut4155]

Great list! I have to add my support for basically all the music in Night in the Woods. It's a beautiful soundtrack that adds so much to the game. I found myself just stopping playing at times to listen to the music from time to time. It just gave me all sorts of feels. Also, have to put out that the intro music for Commando for the Commodore 64 is an absolute belter.

[@sedovt]

The game probably wasn't out by the time you recorded this video, but Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel comes to mind. This is arguably a children's card game! Yet all the OSTs sound straight out of a Final Fantasy game or Octopath Traveller!

[@ce461]

Or track 4 sounding like the big boss fight in the anime.

[@peacechan4500]

And all that when your boss monster appears and low health, the best song to tune up in a comeback

[@tomthespeshy]

The Ace Combat series has music above and beyond what you'd expect from an arcade plane game. Tracks like "Zero" and "Daredevil" from Ace Combat Zero and Ace Combat 7 are just too good. To me they're some of the best bits of music ever written. Oh and the moon theme from NES Ducktales!

[@SeeE2ps]

That song that everyone sings in Ace Combat 5

[@LadyMiir]

Ace Combat has such good music! Seconding this one

[@princeapoopoo5787]

Zero is my favourite piece of video game music. 😍 And did you know that 7's release was delayed solely because of Kobayashi's perfectionism in writing Daredevil? iirc he threw out the original score he wrote and started over when it didn't meet his standards.

[@thatguybrody4819]

Ace combat is a crack filled lore but fantastic music pieces flight simulator.

[@Ceece20]

Nier and Nier Automata are just the stuff I will always remember and spend hours just to listen. Song of the Ancients, Weight of the World, Amusement Park theme, and all the Emil/Kaine songs.

[@ahmedqaisi99]

Really disappointed they didn't put it in

[@Ceece20]

@@ahmedqaisi99 I think they were going more for “instances where good music really wasn’t expected” instead of just “game music” in general. But I will say I spent many hours in Nier at the fountain or cafe just to listen to the Song of the Ancients.

[@dickysatria7268]

Every sales a win~

[@docette2015]

Oh, this was a good list -- I love surprise gems in video game music, and this did not disappoint. (Especially the "Robocop" theme! That was genuinely amazing! :D) One of my own favorite "most people probably don't hear this" bits is a piece of music you guys introduced me to -- the 2 AM theme from "Animal Crossing: New Horizons." Playing rather late for most casual players to hear (I assume), it's one of the most beautiful and relaxing bits of music I've ever heard, and I am so glad it came up as a question in one of your end-of-year quizzes. :)

[@spiritmuse]

I have some more. You already (rightly) mentioned the karaoke in the Yakuza series, but it has some absolute bangers in some of its menu screens, too. One example is The Dragon & Tiger in Yakuza 0. The screen where you send out agents to gather crafting materials plays "We're Long Hua Expediton", which is absolutely way better than it needs to be considering how little time you usually spend there. Another example is Club Sunshine, also in Yakuza 0. The menu where you prepare to open the club already has a very nice and elegant theme, but then when you go into the Makeover submenu it starts playing "As You Like", an utterly gorgeous song with full vocals and lyrics that has absolutely no business being in a submenu of a side activity.

[@darknesqw]

Literally the entirety of the Touhou series. The man who makes them, ZUN, literally had a job as a video game music designer, and made the original games to show off some unused music. The quality of the jams has only gotten better over the years, and when playing you'll probably be too focused on avoiding the screen full of bullet hell to really enjoy the bopping beats that he made for the games.

[@Lakhshamana]

Came this far for this specific rec. ZUN's music is good enough to prop _a whole indie scene._ You can't do that without a lot of bangers.

[@DerFauleHund]

Witcher 3's soundtrack was completly awesome. I love gaunter o'dim's theme and how it is sung by these children and himself. My all time favourite in video game music is the warthog run from the first three halo games.

[@davecoulson5396]

The opening music for Shadow of the beast on the amiga is by far the best music ever! It's what pulled me in instantly and made me NEED to play the game. That, coupled with the art style and I was hooked before I even got to control the character. Also, the nightclub music in Conkers Bad Fur Day was incredible too. I used to just let it play with the volume on full. At night with just the glow from the screen, you had your own little light show to go with it too. It was too good for a game about a squirrel with a hangover.

[@perpetualflow3650]

what about Abandon Ship from Subnautica? you’re busy trying to repair the cyclops you contributed precious resources to when you realize your head has been banging the whole time

[@lukesweeting1686]

Yugioh forbidden memories also has music that doesn't need to be good as it is like the game is a real oddity but the music is stellar

[@gruggerduggerhoose]

Free duel music is god tier. Good job too because you’ll be hearing it alot with the mega grindiness of the game

[@Law-and-Disorder]

The galaxy map music from ME2 was so good that the galaxy map unintentionally became my go-to pause screen when I needed to do something out of game for a bit. Its just so nice to listen to.

[@quelanathecrow]

I hope I'm not too late but I've got one for this!! The lucky number show in Pokemon Crystal/Gold/Silver is just one of multiple in-game radio stations (which is amazing) that you never actually need to listen to, and you could easily never even notice the radio on your pokegear, but the song is an absolute jam! The radio does come into the plot as one of several ways the game lets you know Team Rocket has taken over the radio tower, but if you tune in then you won't even hear the song, so there's no way it needed to be as good as it is. Love the channel, thanks for all the laughs!

[@RonnieRose2845]

A Hat in Time is a game that has so many good songs that do NOT need to bang as hard as they do. I’ll list a couple of examples: Your Contract Has Expired: I consider the boss themes for the first two chapters to be okay at best, so suddenly getting slapped in the face by this one was a welcome surprise. Such a good boss theme, probably the best of the base game ones. If only the boss fight wasn’t so short. Subcon Village remix: I genuinely didn’t think this was a part of the base game. I thought it came with a mod I had unknowingly downloaded, but no, it’s an official remix. Such a high-quality song that I highly doubt many people have heard since you don’t visit Subcon Village all that much in the base game. Killing Two Birds: This one. This one right here. This is my favorite boss theme, absolutely TOPPLES Your Contract Has Expired. Such an amazing song, for a fight not many people may get to experience thanks to it being a Death Wish. Absolutely worth it in the end in my opinion though, I cannot stress enough how incredible this boss theme is. It deserves to be the main boss theme for Seal the Deal (the actual Death Wish, not the DLC). Mustache Girl EX: Speaking of Death Wish boss themes, holy PECK. Since this one has a pretty high stamp count needed to unlock it, plus it being locked behind some of the most frustrating Death Wishes like Bird Sanctuary and Wound-up Windmill, this is another one I don’t think many, if any, casual players will get to hear. But again, I do think it might be worth all the trouble, absolutely incredible.

[@zacharyberreth2093]

You guys forgot the Dragon Age Inquisition title screen. That theme is so profoundly powerful that it makes me forget my problems when I hear it. The Dawn Will Come was also an amazing song that didn't have to go as hard as it did.

[@goofyfurball7311]

Absolutely "The Dawn Will Come". I sort of expected the title screen music

[@padamouse4]

Oh heck yeah. Breaks my heart every time the game opens. 😭🥰

[@mintyr9368]

Such a good shout! Whenever I fire up Inquisition I end up leaving the title screen idling for a few minutes while I listen to the theme. (Also, how about those tavern songs? Sera Was Never is a bop!)

[@TJBrumfield]

This list is specifically about moments other than title screens and main themes, about the background moments where people aren't paying as much attention to the music.

[@advancedlevelgaming]

That theme is honestly on my top 5 of video game tracks, its just stunningly beautiful

[@wnbetv]

"PotatOS Lament" from Portal 2! It's the main menu theme after you discover the old abandoned Aperture testing facilities. It's like a creepy ambient but hauntingly beautiful piece of music sung by GLaDOS who among other things is now stuck in a potato battery.

[@disco.theque]

All of Portal 2's soundtrack, especially the additive instruments when mucking about on gels.

[@quinnmarchese6313]

nothing beats the passive aggressive energy of Still Alive though

[@dr.krimson1010]

"Spike in a Rail" from Bastion. Such a great track that plays on only one map. I heard the song before I knew about the game. It sold me it.

[@ianroden9517]

I love almost all of the soundtrack to "Jet Set Radio Future." I still go out of my way to find it on KZbin and play it while doing chores.

[@hehasaspaceship4229]

For me the Gate themes from Pokémon Black & White and also in X & Y, music for places literally designed to be transitory and fleeting but they're both so gorgeous; the Black & Whie one has a whole second secton that you only hear if you hang out for a little while

[@kattaylor2919]

Mass Effect is one of my great loves, and the galaxy map theme just scratches a deep internal itch for me. Just so satisfying

[@Leawsome9]

The title screen of Metal Gear Solid is also a total banger just the soft start to to sudden operatic singing to random beeps and doots

[@azjugallo]

The Fairy Song Recital in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is only ever heard if you have the fairy Carabosse equipped when you sit at the piano; Something easy to miss partially because you only get the first chance to get Carabosse in that area. Not only is it hard to find, but both dubs of the song are wonderfully performed.

[@Veritos777]

As someone who has never even played Undertale, I can't count how many times I've jammed out to Megalovania

[@marieporter9488]

The only songs you can’t jam out to from Undertale are ones you aren’t meant to jam out to (“Home”, “Waterfall”, “Undertale”, “Memory”, etc). While I don’t jam out to them, I still listen to them when I chill. The ENTIRE soundtrack is a MASTERPIECE!

[@ShrimpGaslight]

ehh its ok - overrated af to me

[@sirtopoftheworldegg]

there are a bunch of soundtracks in UT better then megalovania, tbh.

[@1no1.]

You should be jamming out to long elevator

[@WolfysEyes]

World of Final Fantasy likely didn't get a lot of attention because FFXV took a lot of its thunder, but the game had a lot of great covers of classic FF tunes and great originals, including the theme for the shopkeeper Chocolatte. The composer could have made a bog standard store theme but instead elected to craft a bouncy, hoppy, delightful bossa nova tune accented with chocobo chirping.

[@ringosis]

I've got a bunch of these. The Carrier Command theme song on the Amiga. You only got a 45 seconds clip in game and in some versions it would only play if you selected the credits, if you actually wanted to listen to it it came on an tape separately...still maybe the best theme tune of the 80s. If Bowie wrote the Top Gun sound track. Another Rainbird one, the Star Glider 1 intro music for Atari ST, a bizarre bit of music from a time when recorded voice in a video game was quite a novelty to the point where it didn't seem weird to them to have the name of the dev studio sung into the title track...but it's ridiculously catchy. 3 decades later it still pops into my head. Hostile Water Antaeus Rising, the music that plays over the credits wouldn't feel out of place on the Portal 2 soundtrack. There's so much about the game that has no right to be as good as it is. The title music for Microprose Grand Prix on Amiga...starts off as a Fleetwood Mac rip off, and then takes a sharp right to throw off the copyright lawyers and still somehow manages to be great in its own right.

[@JD_the_fox]

4:34 and it also had another version for a cutscene "[S] Wake" for a webcomic named "Homestuck" made by Andrew Hussie, Toby fox was making music for that webcoming along with other people

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

That feeling you get when you beat Mass Effect for the first time and the Ending Song comes on: Bloody Epic! The track is so good that I put it on my playlist and it came on recently and my buddy heard it and was like, ''What a cool track! Who does it?'' I proceeded to explain to them it was a track in Mass Effect, they were flabbergasted LOL :P

[@JeedyJay]

*M4 Part II* by Faunts, for those interested. That said, I think an ending track is definitely one of the ones you want to make sure is good - it's instrumental to really sticking the landing.

[@michael_mcgowan]

"Shuffle or Boogie" from Final Fantasy VIII also only plays during an optional trading card game (Triple Triad) and is one of the best songs on an already fantastic soundtrack.

[@cooltrainervaultboy-39]

My pick would be Lord Gwyn's theme from Dark Souls. There is just a somber, haunting beauty to it. Like here is this once great king, and you're here to put the old boy down.

[@StormgemThunder]

What about Miitopia? For a relatively light-hearted game about miis fighting a dark lord who's stealing faces to put on monsters, the soundtrack really slaps. One of my favourite tracks is battle: skyscraper, but i honestly love all the tracks in the game.

[@Ashtarte3D]

Sad you didn't mention The Unseen Ones from Hades, aka ULTIMATE DAD BOSS MODE. Hades has so much outstanding music but if you're enough of a baller to beat the game enough times to finally get access to Extreme Measures 4, which cranks up every boss to 11 including Hades himself you can hear Darren Korb blow your f*ing mind. In a crazy hectic fight against Mega Dad the tune is so crazy over the top awesome Korb had to hire two Japanese guitar soloists because there is just THAT MUCH AWESOME going on. Seriously, go look up The Unseen Ones. Right now. Go. I'll wait.

[@TheLurkingWriter]

You could easily fill the entire video with songs from Darren Korb, and then probably several more after that.

[@trevorhegstrom2816]

Is that where the theme is from? I just knew it was on the soundtrack but I never heard it in the game.

[@spartythespart]

Idk I would've picked the song the dryad sings when you visit her, just because you only spend a few seconds there so that song has no right to be so good. You end up just standing around so you can keep listening

[@ZoanBlade90]

*One Listen Later* ..Well, holy crap. That is *awesome.*

[@trevorhegstrom2816]

@@spartythespart I'd disagree on that one, simply because everyone who plays is going to hear Good Riddance. And if you don't stop to listen to it, you have no soul.

[@D0cSwiss]

I feel like I gotta shout out my main man Tim Follin, who pretty much exclusively makes absolute bangers for games that really didn't need them. Some highlights include the title screen theme for Pictionary for the NES, the boss theme for Plok! from the SNES (which wouldn't sound out of place in Hotline Miami), and the title screen theme of Solstice for the NES (which, fun fact which is actually a lie, he is on the cover of).

[@oriolgonzalez9328]

I feel like this list needed the suffix (That Weren't Made By Tim Follin), because you could make this whole list again only with his songs

[@Ungantor]

Even moving past Tim Follin, there is really a whole hidden genre of "easily forgettable eurogames with excellent music", probably because of the demoscene and microcomputers losing popularity so rapidly. Chris Huelsbeck (Turrican/R-Type C64 version), Manfred Linzer (Idiron 3D), Hal Canon And Brad Fuller (Marble Madness)...

[@jordanhoughton1948]

Pictonary is the absolute definition of this videos title!

[@moodymoosh]

The song "song that might play when you fight sans" is considered to be sans' boss theme, but you're not fighting sans. He's fighting you. Megalovania is your theme.

[@stewartwatkins1443]

I'm late to the comment party, but I have to give a shout-out to the Secret Net theme from Mega Man Battle Network 3. It's a hidden area that can only be accessed in the post-game. Most people don't go there because they think the game is 100% over after beating the final boss. They miss out on one of my favorite songs in video games.

[@ronanmates7812]

Metal gear rising revengeance All of the music in it was amazing but they absolutely didn't need to have two versions of every song, they had instrumental mixes and mixes with full lyrics. Where this shinned best was the boss battle, you are listening to the instrumental for %70 of the fight but as soon as you get to the final phase the lyrics kick in. Also aĺ the boss themes lyrics reflect the character your fighting and their mentality genuinely a level of detail that wasn't necessary but very much appreciated

[@spartythespart]

True that first boss battle is so memorable just cause of the music. I didn't even really like the game and never finished it but sometimes I go back just to play that boss fight again

[@silversalamence10]

I remember when a gymnast used an arrangement of music from Zelda in her performance at the 2012 olympics, and for me that shows that the music from Ocarina of Time, like Hyrule Field is so good, especially for its time in the late 90.s

[@quinnmarchese6313]

Koji Kondo and Shoji Meguro deserve a place somewhere. Zelda's music is still some of the most instantly recognizable to this day and every piece of Persona overworld music just goes way harder than it needs too.

[@kiriuxeosa8716]

I can find many games I avoid don't like or even hate but even in those can I find beautiful music that stirs my soul and fills my heart with both joy and sorrow simultaneously. I honestly can't think of anything that applies so many different arts and requires so many varied levels of skill the way videogames do, it is truly one if not the greatest artform and were so lucky to have them its too bad so many people still haven't awoken to such brilliance and vast wonder

[@little-earth-star6]

The All Star Rest Areas in the Smash Bros series. The players might only spend about ten seconds in the area at a time, so they might not hear the absolute beauty of these tracks despite being very short. They are the songs that play when you're lost in a liminal space.

[@KyleMDorr]

The World Ends With You’s soundtrack is probs one of the strongest Square Enix has ever out out with variety ranging from rap, rock, Jpop, etc! Def one for the ages!

[@cipherreese8877]

Couldn’t agree more

[@Mikebumpful]

It needed to be good though, so not eligible for this list.

[@Gloomdrake]

@@Mikebumpful yeah, but, like, no one played it

[@megs1911]

I'd go with all the Megaman X series, especially the first one. Most of their songs are getting some covers by very talented sources, like Storm Eagle's zone, but for the category itself, i'd go for the title one, where in pretty much every Megaman X game u get more pumped up for playing than in any actual gameplay

[@Stanlex42]

There has to be a commenter edition of this list. And when there is, there has to be a mention of WH40K:Mechanicus. "Most Electronic music has a bass drop, Mechanicus has a pipe organ" ~ MandaloreGaming

[@robertdenniston5858]

Totally forgot the absolute jam that is the 007 pause menu music. This list has my interest.

[@jinpae6972]

Some of my favorite oxboxtra videos are the ones where the whole gang talks about their favorite pieces of video game music, e.g. Luke trying to defend KK Slider. Would love to see another one of those!

[@petesidtech4adventures415]

I feel like you missed at least one important contribution to videogame music, and that would be what Darren Korb from Supergiant Games does. Usually his music is so much more than these games require. At least the soundtrack from Bastion is worth mentioning, not only for it's unique blend of quasi hip-hop beats and folk music, but even more so for the whole concept behind two songs (for Zia and Zulf) that get beautifully intertwined in the ending music, reinforcing the game theme. Transistor OST follows this trend even more, and the ending song in Pyre has lyrics that change depending on players accomplishments in the game.

[@daanthedoctor]

The soundtrack I'm never going to be able to get out of my mind or not cry hearing even just a few seconds of is Outer Wilds'. Especially with the travellers' theme, being linked to the gameplay with the signal scope, where you can hear any of the instruments at any time, or even all together if you're lucky. A comforting reminder that you're never alone... And then there's the other time it's story-relevant..... many, many tears have been shed to that song.

[@calebsymkowick-rose3736]

There’s a theme in Xenoblade Chronicles called “Unfinished Battle” that’s one of the best pieces in the game, but only plays once in the main game, after Xord is defeated for the second time.

[@princeapoopoo5787]

I keep forgetting this because of how much this song is beloved.

[@jr637-1]

If you want a track that makes you think "How was this made on a GAMEBOY?!" you should look into the Japanese-only game X and its 'Tunnel Scene' track. It's gotten multiple remixes in Smash Bros. and one Smooth McGroove cover, but that original chiptune music is something else.

[@TheKingFerret]

I could say any Spore OST and it would work, but my personal favorite is "Timeline". A timeline that displays my hideous creations has no right having music that hits that hard.

[@Etopirynka]

For a long time one of the Gwent "songs" was my ringtone :D I spent wayyyy too much time in Gwent. Also ME Galaxy Map music is so soothing. Most of the music in W3 and ME1,2,3 (if not all) is astounding

[@maybevoldemort8995]

Hollow Knight better be on here. So, so, so good. The game wouldn’t have been nearly as good without that score. Even more impressive given the small team designing the game!

[@patheticplague9359]

Absolutely agree

[@perlundgren7797]

The soundtrack is all Christopher Larkin, though, so that's not really related to the size of Team Cherry. But a ridiculously well-made soundtrack indeed. Edit: For anyone interested in a theoretical analysis on how the music interplays with the game itself, I warmly recommend 8-Bit Music Theory's three videos on it.

[@DeemiGod]

The entire score of Hollow Knight could be a whole video

[@NappyPappy4life]

I think it's only here because people sort expect beautiful indie games to also have beautiful music

[@exploertm8738]

Two words: Grimm Troupe

[@MaybeMockingbird]

I saw the Final Fantasy orchestra show in Nashville a few years ago and it was INCREDIBLE, definitely worth seeing. I think Stardew Valley has an incredible OST, too. It's one of my favorites. I was also a big fan of the Far Cry 5 OST, I liked the gospel-esque songs and the variety in it, the mixture of country influence and video game necessities (battles/chase sequences, etc) was really good. They literally made like four individual albums worth of music for that dumb game and it’s got such a great variety to it.

[@gilded_lady]

I went to the one in Los Angeles where they debuted Advent One Winged Angel and holy shit minds were blown. Such a great time.

[@TurinAlexander]

I've been to Distant Worlds four times. Each time was a bit different, they are always adding new songs. If it weren't for this whole pandemic dealy, I would have gone to my fifth show last year. Sadly, it got canceled. If you anyone ever gets the chance, I highly recommend going, it's a great time.

[@michaelpino550]

Music from Mega Man 2 and 3, as well as Kirby's Adventure deserve to be the list. They're often covered and performed by many talented artists.

[@Iaurroswenaren]

I have always loved Mass Effect's galaxy map theme. When I was first playing through, I would wind down for bed after playing for a while by mining every planet I could get to, just chilling with that great music.

[@longerthanthirtycharacters]

The Far Cry 5 soundtrack is incredibly well done, and is in my opinion one of the best soundtracks of all time, video game or otherwise

[@theosaputra119]

The Assassin's Creed series also has great soundtracks.

[@danielkrejcar9104]

The entire soundtrack of Hollow knight is amazing. But, for the best song, I would have to say Nightmare king. One of the hardest bossfights in the game, Nightmare King Grimm is spectacular, and about half of the battle´s atmosphere is made by the song. Its so damn good.

[@Crovax]

but in Hollow Knight's case you expect good music, all metroidvania style games have amazing music, specially with the bosses, you expect great music in a boss room of any game, this list was about music you didn't expect to be good

[@Immafuggin182]

I just discovered “the Questionable Are” music in Psychonauts 2 and it’s become a huge favorite of mine. The clarinets and saxophone mixed with the banjo give off a very specific nostalgic 90s vibe for some reason. Just sends my imagination running. Great song and an awesome game

[@Kyrrial]

All of these are great. I'd also like to submit what I consider great music with FFXI's PlayOnline client music. Especially back in the days of dial-up, you heard that music a LOT, but there are several options you can change it to (I think only after logging in to the client, so it was only the default if there was a client update). Still, I remember that music more than anything else from that game.

[@robertmcdiarmid4921]

When OxBOX and Oxtra both drop videos at the same time I feel like it's just Luke and Andy testing the audience to see who they love most

[@garyfagan4091]

Made me genuinely happy to hear that Robocop theme song. Thought I was the only one that remembered that amazing tune!

[@dizzym9554]

So glad you included the galaxy map music from Mass Effect. Thought I was the only one who loved that music enough to just sit on the map for ages listening to it

[@owenlewis6294]

'The City Must Survive' from Frostpunk needs to be on a Commenter Edition of this video. When I heard I thought "hang on, what's boss fight music doing in my steampunk city management game?". It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of desperate tenacity as you put everything you've got into surviving the plummeting temperature.