My Favourite Musical Moments of the 2010s

To celebrate the closing out of the decade, I wanted to highlight some of my favourite moments in game music. It was extremely tough to narrow the list down to fit in a video of appropriate length, but it was also really fun to look back at all the great games that have come out in the last 10 years. I intentionally left off any games that I have any intention of covering in a future video, so if my picks seem odd to you that might be why!
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#BestoftheDecade #videogamemusic #musictheory

[@GMTK]

Me watching every 8-bit Music Theory video: "Yes... I understand... completely..."

[@handpancakeman]

Totally how I felt at first. I told myself if I kept watching the videos I'd start to understand and... well, I'm not perfect but I can at least follow now, haha!

[@voidbow9964]

I have litterally no idea what he's talking about, I don't even know the basic keys Still watch his videos tho

[@petemagnuson7357]

After watching this and several other music theory channels I get like, 80% of the terminology and 60% of the ideas conveyed. But to be honest, the main reason I watch them is so I can hear the pretty sounds.

[@petemagnuson7357]

@@voidbow9964 here, have a summary from someone only slightly less lost than you. (Sorry if it's hard to follow, I'm typing on my phone) keys are built out of a root and a pattern, where the root specifies what note to start on and the pattern tells you what other notes are in the key relative to the root. In the case of D Major, D is the root and Major is the pattern. In terms of how things sound, the pattern is probably the most important part since it tells you how chords are supposed to relate to each other. If you hear someone talk about the three (or III) chord, for example, it means the chord built off of the 3rd note in the key and it tends to play a certain role. In general, chords built on the 1st (aka toot or tonic) note are very stable and comfortable, chords built on the 3rd and 5th are still kinda stable, and the rest of the chords just want to resolve and go back to the 1 chord A side effect of this is that the same chords or notes can mean different things depending on what key the section is in. Most of this is above my head, but the simplest takeaway is that Major is happy and Minor is sad. Other terms like Phrygian or Lydian are other pattern names and they have their own uses and stuff. Anyway, I'm out of my depth with this. If you want another music theory channel that makes slightly more approachable content, check out "12 Tone" on KZbin. Cheers!

[@jacksonbarker7594]

@@petemagnuson7357 12 tone is great! Some more complex stuff than this I think though, he talks about alternative tuning systems and exotic scales a lot. He has a great basics series too!

[@ari6448]

I was very much caught off guard when he said "nostalgia nipples"

[@g1day]

I had to scroll to the comments just to see if anyone mentioned it, and yours was the first one I saw. 🤣

[@acrophis]

same

[@goodninji8]

I'm going to make sure I use this term at least once when I start Harmony II this semester.

[@khoowhy]

I was watching this at work... good thing nobody heard that part

[@Stop.Arguing]

This guy is Cr1TiKaL's long lost musical brother and no one noticed until now.

[@tobyk5091]

“So try not to get annoyed while leaving off your favorite game score” *Shows Hollow Knight* I sense a disturbance in the force

[@Manas-co8wl]

an orange force

[@shiningarmor2838]

We had our three episode special, give him a break.

[@tobyk5091]

Shining Armor Yes yes f course... we have been thouroughly spoiled

[@redpepper74]

(unrelated but I love your pfp ^ ^)

[@NintendoCapriSun]

For me, the entirety of the "boss fight" in Celeste was one of the most mind-blowingly, pants-shittingly magnificent moments I've had in a video game in years.

[@chrishandy1090]

"...give a big purple nurple to my nostalgia nipples" Wow English really just be out here lettin us say this.

[@PanzerMan332]

English is cancelled in 2020. From now on we speakin in unga bunga speak.

[@JadeJuno]

@@PanzerMan332 ooga booga bigga nigga

[@aaronmyers6686]

I feel like that was intentionally done to be double-taken.

[@recklesflam1ngo968]

@@PanzerMan332 TOSS A COIN TO YOUR WITCHER

[@catatonic_clownlover3189]

Gølder06 unga bunga waluigi says don’t say that or you gay

[@andrewc.4471]

The last think I expected to be associated with Snipperclips was John friggin Coltrane

[@nwcr_]

This part killed me lmao

[@pellaeon1877]

My favorite musical moment of the decade is when, after standing atop a snowy mountain in BotW, you hear the short, sweet trill of a flute. Such a magical moment.

[@8aemr]

when "Jump Up, Superstar" kicks in during Metro Kingdom's last moments on Super Mario Odyssey, with the 2d/pixel art gameplay, after 30 years playing Super Mario games. Nostalgia hit me harder than ever.

[@benjaminhelton4597]

Did you know that one of the main riffs from that song is from the original 5-note lick from the original Donkey Kong?

[@silas123781]

9:16 alright 8bit, what bet did you lose to put that line in?

[@reynoldskynaston9529]

I’m guessing he did it for the alliteration

[@SPAMurnz]

I read your comment first while watching the video and forgot about it until he said that. Laughter ensued.

[@aidztube8928]

"Imagine a world before snap to enemy combat systems" Me: *Sitting there knowing Arkham asylum came out in 2009

[@SoFarSoGoodSoWhat14]

Ocarina of Time was 1997 yo

[@GT6SuzukaTimeTrials]

@@SoFarSoGoodSoWhat14 1998

[@Richard_Nickerson]

And Assassin's Creed was 2007.

[@walterventura9091]

@@SoFarSoGoodSoWhat14 That's lock on, not snap.

[@cinnamonnoir2487]

"Imagine a world where every game *isn't* trying to be Dark Souls." Demon's Souls (2009) is just sitting in the corner shedding a single tear.

[@nintendork64]

"Imagine a world where people still play Rock Band" I literally had a Guitar Hero controller in my hand as you said that. I'm not sure if I should feel insulted or not.

[@DarkNia64]

Do any of your friends still play those games?

[@nintendork64]

@@DarkNia64 Sadly, no.

[@orgith54]

nintendork64 I recently got gh and I’ve been rocking fkn hard

[@Changanator]

I have two guitars a drum set in my room at all times, use em pretty often

[@tree363]

I have one next to my computer. I was just like "ouch."

[@Seth_M-T]

HIGHLIGHTS: - Riding into Mexico for the first time in Red Dead Redemption. - Talking to Theo by the campfire in Celeste. - 'Yours Forever' from Tetris Effect, where the music dynamically reacts to your inputs. - The final scene in Portal 2. - THAT scene with THAT animal in The Last of Us. - Reading from the pun book in the Last of Us DLC. - Sand surfing in Journey, and the entire ending as well. - Stepping out into the world for the first time in Breath of the Wild. - Sitting by the campfire in Shovel Knight. - New Donk City Festival from Super Mario Odyssey. - The ending to The Walking Dead: Season One. - THAT scene from Doki Doki Literature Club... - The menu music from Dark Souls. - 'Moonlight' and 'May I Stand Unshaken' from Red Dead Redemption 2. - 'The Fields of Ard Skellig' from The Witcher 3. - 'Peace and Tranquility' from A Hat in Time. - 'Task Force Neuron' from Astral Chain. - 'Lullaby of the Giants' and the main theme from God of War. - 'Follow Fi' and 'Lanayru Sand Sea' from Skyward Sword. - 'BFG Division' and 'Rip and Tear' from DOOM. Not to mention ALL of: - Undertale. - Minecraft. - Skyrim. - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. - Monument Valley II. - Life is Strange. - Life is Strange: Before the Storm. - To the Moon. - Gris. - Cuphead. - Eufloria. - Hotline Miami 2. - Furi. - Poker Night 2. - Heavy Rain. - Firewatch. - The Beginner's Guide. - Mario Kart 8. - Super Mario Galaxy 2. - Ori and the Blind Forest. The most underappreciated soundtrack of this decade is definitely Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. It's absolutely beautiful, and yet I've never seen it mentioned anywhere. My favourite soundtrack of the decade though was Skyrim.

[@Someone-sq8im]

Hollow Knight

[@1uncertaint955]

Hear me out- untitled goose game

[@acario100]

@@1uncertaint955 Untitled Goose Game uses music REALLY impressively!

[@paulollarsabaiii9824]

I’m personally partial to the climax of Rules Of Nature in Metal Gear Rising. That bit where the music just cuts out for a singer solo then just explodes.

[@pegasusboots3594]

Untitled Goose Game’s OST was entirely Debussy Préludes but it fit so well for some reason

[@Diricos]

One of my favorite musical moments is from Persona 5. You exclusively hear the instrumental version of Beneath the Mask for the first X weeks of the game until you complete the first palace. Then, the night when the game allows you to leave Yongen-Jaya, the theme becomes the vocal version. It's such a simple move, but it felt like the "unlocking" of the vocal version of Beneath the Mask mimicked the unlocking of a major piece of content - as if to say, "Now the game begins."

[@peepunderscore]

Diricos oh my gosh i was thinking exactly that as i clicked on this lol! it’s one of my favourite small details about p5.

[@hamishmacdonald8593]

Diricos I came to prefer the instrumental version way more, but I don’t think that about any of the other songs

[@BBQ_Ch1cken]

Something similar also happens with “Rivers in the Desert.” The vocal version only starts when the boss (avoiding spoilers) gets into his final form.

[@Error-4O4]

Best game soundtrack easy

[@hamishmacdonald8593]

its fucking great

[@emmbeesea]

GIANT STEPS. VGM is amazing. Here's to many more musical moments in the 2020's!

[@RobsethTaas]

So early in the video and I absolutely lost it

[@drex5242]

Like wtf I had no idea that snipperclippers music is so complex

[@supahstarclod]

shoutouts to coltrane changes

[@sandgaijin]

Before you even said Coltrane changes, I heard that Giant Steps progression. So good

[@anachronismic]

@@sandgaijin didn't hear it but i felt it lol

[@traftonstakes1553]

My favorite moment was hearing that heart wrenching “pling plang plong” in the 2nd phase of the fight against Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls 3. Such a beautiful way to end a wonderful series.

[@Ivan_1791]

That was really epic. But I prefer the original music against Gwyn, it is more honest and elegant.

[@alexsturrock9602]

I perfer that as "Plin plin plon"

[@Walamonga1313]

And then Gael provided an alternate, but just as beautiful way to end. Iirc the credits music was also changed

[@thekiss2083]

"Jump Up, Super Star" made me genuinely cry from happiness in that first E3 trailer. What an absolute surprise and they nailed the spirit of Super Mario so perfectly it felt like the series had always used vocalists. Ditto for the bonus song in the game's ending

[@thekiss2083]

Also getting a surprise Village People-style song at the end of Mighty Switch Force 2. I'm still smiling about it

[@MiguelPereira-yw8rg]

My favourite moment had to be, in Hollow Knight, when you arrive at the City of Tears and the theme starts playing, while the rain pours, and then sitting at the bench with Quirrel. Such an immersive moment.

[@Lugodu87]

I'm litteraly getting chills just reading this.

[@McBehrer]

City of Tears is such a great location. The music is ambient and comfy sounding, there are fun NPCs, and the visuals are really distinct from any of the other locations

[@prizmoturtle2651]

Branching off of that, I love the cue that plays when you enter the Soul Sanctum. Something about those sudden notes catches me off guard in a really good way. (I also love how the Soul Sanctum uses a darker version of the City of Tears melody)

[@andresperezpauliniberri4347]

i think im gonna cry rn

[@salgen1319]

@@Lugodu87 Me as well

[@actualizedanimal]

Lots of people have talked about how great Undertale's entire soundtrack is, which is true, but there is one particular moment that has always stuck with me, from "Home", the song that plays when you're in Toriel's house near the beginning of the game. There's a part in the second half of the song where it uses this IV-V-#v°-vi chord progression, which is one of my favorite progressions because of how incredibly bittersweet it can be, and then right afterwards it lands on this absolutely haunting Asus4/D chord. It's not an incredibly complex or long tune, but it manages to pack in so many emotions, even before the story gets that emotional. It sort of hints at the tragedy that happened in the Underground's history, and listening to it now I can't help but get a lump in my throat.

[@IcyPwnage94]

I mentioned PMD in my comment, but Undertale's "Home" has the same feeling and got me to tear up with emotion too when I got to that point.

[@Temulgeh]

I think my favorite music moment in Undertale is Small Shock, I love how with two chords we can get chills

[@mistersympa15]

I mean, literally every piece on that soundtrack hits emotionally, but the song "Undertale" hit the hardest my first time through. At least until "His Theme" came through and destroyed whatever was left of me. I could fill books with how that soundtrack makes me feel.

[@andrew_cunningham]

It still has nothing on "Long Elevator".

@@mistersympa15 I began to tear up after like 10 seconds of the guitar playing, and then by the point it showed the story describing the kids and the tragedy I was literally sobbing in shambles.

[@MuteMusicalMorgan]

The moment that comes to mind for me is when the "choir" comes in on the final version of Weight of the World in NieR: Automata. Honestly the whole soundtrack gets my pick for best of the decade. But I also wanna give a shoutout to my favorite moment from the Skyrim soundtrack. In the beginning of Far Horizons, when the flute and strings join the French horn in the sweeping melody. Gives me goosebumps every time.

[@olivermisbach2454]

My favorite bit of video game music this decade was from Breath of the Wild's Hyrule Castle piece. Combining various pieces from Zelda history and giving them all a heroic and yet melancholic feel was very striking and felt so right. The moment when it starts playing the main theme of the series always gets me.

[@jumbopaulo]

the New Donk Festival in Super Mario Odyssey has to be one of my favorite musical moments of the decade. it's just perfect the way the song and game speak to each other.

[@Remenschneider]

- Octopath Traveler's character specific intros changing into boss battle themes - Land of Morytha and The Abandoned City themes from XC2 in their specific context - The build up to finding City of Tears in Hollow Knight - Final zone theme in Final Fantasy 14 Shadowbringers, when you realize whose motif it is later on and how it's tied into the story (Full Fathom Five -> Near Dark Waters -> Mortal Instants)

[@extragarb]

Hell yeah! I love to see some Xenoblade 2 rep! The land of Morytha theme is so great. I love how well it contrasts with the ruins and violent storms in Morytha

[@thekiss2083]

Guuuhh Xenoblade 2's music was so good. Hearing that first vocal theme in the Indoline Praetorium

[@Someone-sq8im]

Hitting a shot in XCOM

[@bwminich]

For me, two come to mind. 1. The final boss battle of Splatoon 2, where they start the boss fight with a remixed version of Callie’s solo song, since she’s fighting you as a brainwashed member of DJ Octavio’s army. Giving way to the next phase of the song, which is a remix of Marie’s solo song competing with Callie’s solo song, mixing together in a way that makes sense, as at this point, Marie has joined the battle on your side, and as you fight the boss with Splatoon weapons, Marie and Callie are fighting each other with song. Finally, we get Callie back, and they transition into a remix of the killer Calimari Inkantation, which is the song from the last phase of this boss fight in the last game. 2. The Long Road from Fire Emblem Three Houses. That whole soundtrack is awesome, but The Long Road plays as you reach the end of your campaign, in the last few missions. By this point, the war has become a slog, you have probably encountered students on the other side on the field, and sometimes been forced to kill them. And the piece de resistance is when the song recapitulates the motif from the monastery’s exploration theme, a motif you haven’t heard since the academy days, when you were with your students. It’s a symbolic statement of the fact that the only place you can now interact with all the students is on the battlefield (the monastery’s exploration theme has been changed for the war phases of the game). The piece in general has this slow, sad vibe to it, the most heroic sounding part of the song being that sad sounding restatement of the school exploration theme. It’s meant to feel like “this war has just been going on too long, and I wish it would end”, which I think it does really well.

[@baronvonbeandip]

My musical moments of the decade were: The Spine from Transistor "The Ringed City Final Boss" Theme from the Dark Souls 3 (no spoilers) Your Reality from Doki Doki Literature Club Hopes & Dreams/Save The World from Undertale Inkwell Isle from Cuphead Climbing the Ginso Tree/Restoring the Light, Facing the Dark from Ori and the Blind Forest ... Silver For Monsters from Witcher 3 EDIT: I watched this again with a little more context and, if I was to add some others, it would be Zulf's Theme/Setting Sail, Coming Home from Bastion, Apotheosis from Journey, and Cleric Beast from Bloodborne.

[@thekiss2083]

Ooooh Your Reality yes. Getting a full-fledged vocal song in a tiny indie was amazing

[@Bombedrumbum]

What about the Plin Plin Plon for the final boss of the Dark Souls 3?

[@willowpets]

Damn you hit pretty much everything I would have said, except for “Mother I’m Here” from the ending of Bastion and “Moonlight” from Iconoclasts - the flat 7 (F natural) in the whole note melody. That last one probably isn’t as impressive from a theory standpoint but that one note hits the precise emotional notes for the two moments Moonlight plays in the story, similar to the Shovel Knight example. It just has that perfect “determined but doomed” vibe.

[@triisart1721]

your reality was amazing.

[@Rhaegar19]

The battle at Crookback Bog in the Witcher 3 was an awesome use of the soundtrack. I think that's the track you're talking about.

[@olivermpereira1999]

My favourite moment has to be how in breath of the wild the theme that plays when riding a horse at night builds into the legend of zelda theme played by a solo piano then fades just really builds the atmosphere the game was presenting

[@HEADSHOTPROLOL]

This ^^^

[@rachelglennie5667]

This is one of my favourite musical pieces too!

[@pedrogomezid]

it’s always a very melancholic moment

[@hamwheel8449]

My favorite was the moment you first walk into the city of tears in hollow knight, how it slowly builds up and then you hit the vocals when you walk outside, one of the only times when the games atmosphere alone hit my feels

[@vaughnyboy8]

One of my favorite VGM moments is in Hateno Village when the house theme is quoted. Makes me smile every time

[@saturnine.]

Literally everybody who is talking about the games of the recent decade is talking about Breath of the Wild. That game did so much right. Jeez.

[@shelbyherring92]

I agree. Yeah, I mean I personally put it at a 9/10, but I can easily understand why some would put it at a 7 or 8. Still a solid game through and through.

[@ZiggyMandarr]

I dont remember who, it was some guest reviewing BOTW on GameXplain, but he said something to the effect of "you will remember where you were in life and what you were doing when BOTW came out." Kt was that good, and he is 100% correct.

[@setesh1294]

@@ZiggyMandarr for me it wasn't when it came out, but when I first played it, which was while I was waiting for my mother to get out of knee surgery.

[@couchpotato6179]

@@ZiggyMandarr yeah this might sound dumb or like a joke but this game sorta kinda changed me in a way :) everything about it was such a positive force in my life, especially the music, i’ve heard it so much it’s all memorized

[@nikkoa.3639]

@@ZiggyMandarr That was July 9, 2019 for me. The moment I got my switch and everything just didn't matter but that game

[@terdragontra8900]

Among Mario Kart 8's other stellar tracks, I'd completely forgotten about that Donut Plains remix. Excellent

[@HandleDisliker]

wait... how is your comment a day older than the others?

[@bigstam1234567890]

Dolphin soals sax licc as well

[@AxolottieVT]

@@HandleDisliker one of 8bit's Patreon rewards is early access to his videos

[@coastersplus]

The F-Zero ones are my favorites because I wouldn't have thought it could possibly work but... it does! I've never heard jazz instrumentation rock quite that hard.

[@k-leb4671]

To be honest, the Donut Plains music is one of my least favourite from the original game and Mario Kart 8's version does little to change my mind. In fact, I might like SMK's version more when taking into consideration the limitations of the SNES.

[@zrneely]

What a great collection. I've never actually played Ocarina of Time so I completely missed the callback in Breath of the Wild, but the added perspective really makes that moment something special. Now I have an excuse to go listen to the OOT soundtrack!

[@Nickball97]

There's a remastered version, so there is no excuse not to play it. For some reason I forgot about it so I played the original, and even that has aged extremely well

[@jackson-md2gh]

My first play through was in 3DS, and gotta say, it put a smile on my face every time I recognized a track that was sitting in front of me the whole game.

[@reynoldskynaston9529]

It’s worth playing it man. It’s surprisingly good for a 21 year old game.

[@nadiascurfield4466]

Ocarina of time is so nostalgic for me! I never played the game, but I always watched my brother play! I would tune in each day to see what would happen next! The plots of the LoZ series have always captured my heart!

[@L4Vo5]

Hmm, some of my favorite moments were: - Undertale, the entirety of the Photoshop Flowey fight really, but mostly the beggining and Finale. Also Fallen Down reprise, Reunited (the way it plays in-game, a bit slowed down), And Undertale, really got to me. What a great game. - Celeste, when Reach for The Summit's last loop plays when you reach the very top section. HYPE. - Not a game from the 10's but that's when i played it. Touhou 7, the Stage 4 theme. When it loops after what feels like the longest stage ever and goes back to the calm beggining. - Wandersong. "Message From Mom". Nuff said. - Hollow Knight, the Greenpath song. When I first heard the part with the bassoon I think I fell in love. - Probably cheating because there are several factors making me love it, but Portal 2, the ending cutscene, after you wake up. - Shout out to DDLC, the Natsuki version of "Okay, Everyone!"

[@very_tired_child]

L4Vo5 OOF, I completely forgot about Message From Mom! I gotta replay Wandersong now

[@holyflutterofgod]

YES, somebody else who's still obsessed with the bassoon part from Greenpath. _Specifically_ that part!

[@L4Vo5]

@@holyflutterofgod Oh god I can't believe I'm not alone

[@ConvincingPeople]

L4Vo5 With Undertale, as noted elsewhere, my favourite moment is actually the New Home sequence-the way the deafening silence of the Capital is broken when the "Memory" theme returns with the start of the title track, the way the motifs from the opening sequence are weaved in as one proceeds, and the final return to crushing silence with the last lines of the monsters' story before the Hall of Judgement. That said, Omega Flowey has some remarkably clever use of synthetic timbres in how it goes about its theme and variation structure and how it culminates in the reintroduction of a bunch of pertinent and telling musical materials from other pieces (the "Memory" motif included) in the final stretch.

[@usaskjock]

Yes!! Celeste summit hype!

[@Roflo13east]

Everyone here is talking music theory and I just like Rip and Tear from Doom 2016 cause it's an absolute hype beast of a track.

[@cloudparter]

BFG Division mate.

[@martinhendry2683]

@@cloudparter AAAAAAAMEN!

[@TheInvisibleSundial]

Wow !!! that LA Noire piece at 5:30 has STRONG taxi driver theme energy. Even the Dm(maj9) feels like something Bernard Herrmann would put in a twilight zone episode. So cool.

[@calebangell77]

@@catwpants patreon gets videos early

[@EmanueleVaccari]

Now I understand how I knew the song without playing the game, you are spot on!

[@lasrrr2675]

9:19 Huh, that one caught me off guard.

[@jessegordon9726]

My favorite musical moments of the 2010's started with celeste. I know it came late in the decade, but I didn't play a lot of games until then. And the games I did play had more atmospheric music than memorable tunes. The entire soundtrack captivated me so much that it became the 2nd time I've ever paid money for a video game soundtrack. The next came from undertale (I played it later in 2018 after celeste). The music was extremely impressive to me. It was a great blend of retro sounding music mixed with more modern music, and I loved the fact that the soundtrack and the rest of the game were basically made by 1 person. That was the third soundtrack I purchased. The next one is a little odd, but it's the theme played in the resident evil 2 remake when you're being hunted by Mr x. I don't think any theme has given me more anxiety than that. The last was celeste chapter 9 dlc. I was worried that the music on this wouldn't live up to the music of the base game, but boy was I wrong. I was delighted that the music was up to par with the rest of the soundtrack. Especially that last section that got more intense the farther you got (which happened a lot in the base game but not so much in chapter 9). Of course I had to purchase this one as well. Honorable mention goes to final fantasy 15 for letting us play music from previous games, as well as have some epic fight music on its own.

[@Seabass20329]

My fav musical moment: The entire Night In The Woods soundtrack is amazing, but I specifically appreciate how instruments are voiced differently at different points in the game. The background music is often lush, well produced, and the instruments have a lot of depth and modulation. However there's a mini game where you play with your old rock band from high school, and during these scenes the music sounds like it was made in Guitar Pro 5. For real, the instruments sound tinny, thin, and with zero modulation or anything. I think the composer did this as a nod to being young and working in Guitar Pro or Finale Notepad or other entry level composing software that uses only the simplest of VSTs, trying to write songs with your friends. During these band practice scenes in the game, the vocal line is even "sung" by a generic synth piano plugin, which is an experience anyone will be familiar with who didn't know anyone growing up who could actually sing. Also bonus points for naming these tracks things like "Back to the Holler" and "The Husker Bee Ballroom". There's no mention of a "holler" in the game as far as I know, and there is no such thing as a "husker bee", but these are the most Pennsylvanian sounding titles I've ever heard and I love it.

[@oliviapg]

Great list! My personal favorite moment is in Hollow Knight when in the (spoilers) “final boss fight” the music shifts from an epic battle tune to a sad strings piece as the boss starts helping you by stabbing itself. It really forces the player to reconsider the story and their part in it.

[@ShadowPancake117]

samesies

[@tobyk5091]

Ÿëš

[@TRASHLEVIATHAN]

my favorite musical moments from the 2010's are - when the vocals kick in during "Rivers in the Desert" from Persona 5 - Lady Maria's Theme from Bloodborne - the opening to " Battle Against a Tue Hero" from Undertale -"He's My Dad" from Lisa: the Joyful always my heart hurt

[@yellowskycreations4542]

same with the undertale one

[@arostelurio3153]

Beautiful list! I'm sad every time i talk about BoTW's soundscape with friends. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one to deeply appreciate it! Personally, the moment that had me in tears was riding my horse and hearing the notes of Zelda's lullaby. To me, these sparsely delivered, harmonically seasoned throwbacks are a perfect fit for the game's theme of memory and loss.

[@Vampirolol]

Snipperclips' soundtrack finally getting the respect it deserves!

[@gavadar8497]

Shovel Knight as a whole has an incredible soundtrack. My personal favorites are the Iron Whale (both the Shovel and Specter Knight arrangements), the Flying Machine (again, both the Shovel and Specter Knight arrangements), and Hitting Close to Home (Specter Knight Tower of Fate). Every single song in that soundtrack is magnificently crafted and Jake Kaufmann certainly knows what he's doing.

[@harrylane4]

Iron Whale wasnt composed by Kauffman, it was composed by Manami Matsume, the woman who composed the original Mega Man games! She also did the Explodatorium music.

[@gavadar8497]

@@harrylane4 Huh, I actually didn't know that. Props to both of them then for making such an incredible soundtrack! No wonder those songs are great - Mega Man is known for its fantastic music as well.

[@jasonshaw6800]

The fucking hub theme from Specter Knight (The Magic Mirror) just makes me piss and shit every single time I hear it; it’s sooooo good

[@GreatUncleJulio]

To me, the melody that struck the most emotional resonance to me was definitely the in game version of His Theme from Undertale during the true final boss battle in the True Pacifist route, the reasons for it, what lead up to it, its build up in tone and the pay off for it really made it my favorite video game moment of the decade and from a game that really changed my life for the better.

[@mistersympa15]

That song combined with the dialogue had me sobbing so hard.

[@Guayabaman305]

I can't believe I just discovered your channel. I'm now binging all your videos. I'm straight up emotional right now. Such beautiful work.

[@caseys2698]

The buildup to the boss music in Octopath Traveler is some of the coolest shit I’ve ever heard in a video game, and it’s thanks to your video that I thought about what a master work it actually was to make that work!

[@bradleywindham4927]

My absolute favorite of the decade is ASGORE. That was the most incredible use of leitmotif I’ve ever heard in my life

[@pedrogomezid]

more like leitmotif-s. There’s like 5 of them used masterfully

[@Littleha]

The Dremurr family in Undertale has amazing themes.

[@xenomaster7263]

Kirby 42 everyone has dope themes

[@Littleha]

Xenomaster Alien true

[@andrewprahst2529]

You are filled with D E T U R M I N A T I O N

[@levishawback1218]

Man, for me, the ending track from nier automata hits harder than just about any other video composition I've ever heard. It's so good 😁

[@MasterGunnerOO1]

Such a great video! I appreciate the detail to recording the notation and explaining each of the chord progressions. The amount of effort you put into your videos is clear. Thank you!

[@GameDevYal]

I'm gonna be a hipster and say Anodyne 2's soundtrack had some of my favorite 2010s musical moments... I've studied a bunch of music theory (hey, that's why I watch your channel, right?) but I was completely blown away by how that game's soundtrack uses non-conventional sound samples to great effect. Lo-fi synths, weird percussion, the standard MIDI soundfont, professional vocalists... it's got a little bit of everything! Almost every track has a sample of a seashore, but usually it's so subtle you don't consciously notice it, and I think it's a big part on why most of the soundtrack is so relaxing to listen to.

[@rumelismorende8177]

Aaah I forgot about Anodyne 2! The first time you drive onto a highway and the music shifts was a wonderful surprise!

[@tursqa]

There's a few moments that stuck to my mind specifically because of the music: Discovering Ash Lake in Dark Souls Riding into the sunset as Far Away starts playing when you get to Mexico in Red Dead Redemption The way the Intoners' songs transition into their battle themes in Drakengard 3 Hollow Knight had several but exploring Greenpath for the first time takes the cake

[@KeWDu]

Man the trip to Mexico in RDR was so unexpected but rewarding for putting in the effort to get there.

[@gavinwightman4038]

Ash Lake is so amazing. I really wish the area had more to do in the game, even as a hidden area

[@samheppner1291]

Exploring Greenpath was such a mystical and magical experience with its music shifting around

[@Harshhaze]

Some of my recommendations: _Becalmed_ from Sea of Thieves _Snowdin Town_ from Undertale _Hornet's Theme_ from Hallow Knight These are just the highlights. There are many more songs that I keep near and dear to my heart such as To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X, Dearly Beloved from Kingdom Hearts, and Reminiscence from Dark Cloud. There's also the gamer's anthem: Halo Theme, a kick-ass soundtrack from Yakuza, Street Fighter's character themes like Ken and Guile, as well as Big Sonic Blast from Guilty Gear (people don't take that last one serious). Though, these aren't all from the '10s, they have left an impression on my childhood and continue to influence my life well past the game

[@andrew_cunningham]

You already have what you want! This very channel has already done analyses of Hornet's theme in "Storytelling through Music in Hollow Knight" and Undertale's _Snowy_ theme in the "What is a Chordoid" video, which is very similar to and, if anything, a more complex version of the Snowdin Town theme. Now you can think of two new recommendations to replace the redundant ones!

[@ChrisHarringtonMinneapolis]

*Hollow

[@pika4668]

Hornet's theme while you're getting beat up over and over makes it all so epic my goodness I love it

[@rowanmiller7062]

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Hornet. However, nothing hits the feels quite like Sealed Vessel. Nothing’s quite like that tragic realization that the Hollow Knight is still in there, suffering. It knows it must die. So it tries to help you whenever it can wrest control of its mind away from the Radiance. The song changes from a bombastic boss fight to a sad eulogy for the once great Hollow Knight. Good stuff.

[@SapphireSolstice67]

Rowan Miller I completely agree

[@radish3976]

I really like the switch from fly Octo fly to ebb and flow in the final boss battle of splatoon 2’s octo expansion. I know it isn’t really much but it makes me tear up sometimes.

[@itsguidry8125]

A musical moment that has always stuck with me is the Delta Rune intro theme where it turns into a full band around half way through. It's just a very emotional moment.

[@beni9214]

There's too many to name really, but in particular I love all the moments presented in the Touhou games. Every stage is like a mini musical with enemies appearing in time with the music, then the music builds up for a huge payoff with a miniboss appearing that throws some crazy attack patterns at you. I just love it when the music and gameplay really comes together to create such cathartic moments.

[@mistersympa15]

Touhou music is so LEGIT.

[@compucocina5567]

How about you having a monthly section where you give us a game scenario to make music that we think fits. Then you choose the ones you like most for a showcase with a "micro" analysis (maybe). I think it will be fun to see and motivational for a lot of us.

[@enelhawk7544]

I would love that for sure :)

[@AgentOttsel]

Awesome idea! :D

[@Kieselwyrm]

Yes please!

[@DreamzAnimation]

I agree!

[@nyoukki]

That would probably motivate me to actually learn making music!

[@ShermanKyle]

Ah bro this is great!! I love your videos, and this idea of looking back at (jazzy) musical moments from the decade was a perfect serving of nostalgia.

[@yufnihaenisch2164]

One of my favorite moments was quite recent, while playing Fire Emblem Three Houses. The game is full of bangers, especially the final boss theme from the Golden Deer route, "God Shattering Star". But my favorite moment is... (Spoilers) When Jeralt dies and you go back to the monastery. You're at your room and the main happy theme changes to an empty piano and strings version of the theme. It really hurt, cause Byleth being just an avatar and seeing him be like this, was very heartbraking. He looks down opossed to looking like he's planning what to do this month. You can clearly see how he just doesn't want to do anything else now. Even when you explore the monastery, the song keeps playing. Everyone giving you their condolences: Sothis telling you that it's okay to weep and you do, the gatekeeper not so happy anymore, guards trying to understand how someone that they had trained with recently wasn't there anymore, kids not having a clue why everyone is so gloomy... It's such a heartbreaking moment and yet... When you get to the marketplace the music changes to the usual happy and moved market theme. At first I thought that that was a horrible move from the game's part, that they should've also changed that theme for the sad and empty one, but it actually leaves an even bigger impact. The outside world doesn't care if you're going through a hard time. You might not feel like you are, but time keeps on moving, and thinking about Byleth being in the middle of the market place putting up a smile hurts me even more. This was definitely a huge musical moment for me. Let's hope we get many more!

[@LouisR56]

One of my favourite musical moment of the decade (and there's so many) is actually the main segment of Wild Woods theme from Mario Kart 8: not only the main motif is incredibly catchy, but the 5/4, the accidentals and that very surprising modulation (I'm totally unable to understand to which key it switches though) at the end of the phrase get me everytime.

[@azyrroth8164]

Journey, BOTW, Nier: Automata, Undertale, Outer Wilds

[@johnpicone1621]

And Abzu!

[@salgen1319]

Finally someone aknowledges Outer Wilds!

[@beefs0ck911]

Dude you make all of this stuff sooo much easier to understand. Thank you so much for making these kinds of videos, in this format.

[@octaviom7618]

Excelent video!! I would like to add that in 11:06 the use of chords formed by 4ths is very common in Japanese-Chinese music, and can be used to produce a ancient/mysterious atmosphere, for example, these chords are frequently found in Spirited Away.

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

Those were all really solid musical picks, and I especially loved the shout-out to Snipperclips (which was such a fun game) and L.A. Noire (despite its narrative missteps and occasionally buggy gameplay, the music is incredible and helps make what would otherwise be a mediocre game become so much more).

[@caydengarvey657]

I can't believe I never figured out Temple of Time was Gregorian Chant! Thats wild

[@aloysiuskurnia7643]

Holy heck I learned a lot of harmonization technique from this video alone! Thanks for being such an inspiration!

[@Unusualguy17]

I love octopath travelers riffs before boss fights that lead straight into the boss fight music. So good!

[@blackmaskly3585]

Not necessarily a "moment" per se, but my favorite OST of the decade was Persona 5; A far and away magnificent, jazz like soundtrack that practically never gets old. (Also timing that AOA to the drop in Last Surprise or the final hit to the final boss when the track goes quiet still gives me chills). 2nd place was probably Undertale, with leitmotifs that perfectly encapsulate which characters they represent, and the most recognizable boss music in what feels like forever. And then there was Hollow Knight, which was the perfect mix of atmosphere and epicness. The late 2010s just in general were perfect for video game OSTs

[@richard.francisco]

honestly, the bridge (I think that's what it's called at 3:41 of that song) for Rivers in the Desert still gets me to this day. P5 has such a solid soundtrack

[@isaacbeynon533]

"A big purple nurple to my nostalgia nipples" Where has this phrase been all my life??

[@faet37]

Seriously enjoy your content. You're the only channel I constantly check in to see if I missed a video.

[@Soundole]

This is such a lovely selection, made more impactful by your explanations. Great list mate!

[@ZeroXDarkBlossom]

Regicide from Destiny sets a perfect tone for what The Taken King is gonna be.

[@user-xu3ud4fl2e]

The entire FTL soundtrack has been my favourite thing to listen to since it came out in 2012.

[@linkcidspiritcid1672]

8-Bit. You don't know how much I love you. Thank you for the great video!

[@evka9469]

YOOOO why did i only saw this channel now???????? This is breathtaking, eye-opening and plain very entertaining to watch.

[@Camo_bomb]

Favorite musical moment: Literally everything in persona 5

[@lamywater]

One of my favorites was in Nier: Automata when you're fighting alongside Devola and Popola, trying to outlast the waves of enemies while breaking into the tower and you get to hear the duet version of Song of the Ancients

[@blankface911]

You should post a part 2! I love hearing these little bits that really enrich my listening experience. Seriously because of this channel, Hollow Knight OST was my 3rd most listened to Album last year on Spotify. Keep up the hard work my dude!

[@adriantween584]

Earned my subscription in one video! Thanks for highlighting the cool music. Makes me want to play these games again. Alas another time...

[@MH_Binky]

One of the moments that stands out for me is in Captain Toad: Treasure tracker. When fighting the final boss, when you pull out the last turnip feed to Wingo, the music very briefly switches from the tense battle music to an upbeat victory jingle. It's not exactly a complex musical moment, but the fact that it doesn't happen any of the previous times you pull up turnips (including all three times during the first Wingo fight), and especially because it happens just before you deliver the final hit of the game rather than after (as most victory jingles do), the last throw of the turnip feels really satisfying and unexpectedly conclusive.

[@buwumet]

The entire DOOM 2016 Soundtrack is a top musical moment in itself. I know, it's not very interesting from a theoretical point of view but BFG Division and Rip and Tear get me every time.

[@crazykey217]

This is my favorite youtube channel! Your videos are so well put together! I am a music student graduate as well as a gamer so i really appreciate all the effort being put into every video!

[@Rheologist]

Absolutely gorgeous pieces. Thank you so much for giving attention to them

[@ForeverStrange101]

Me sipping my grape juice like wine: "ah yes, clear and artistic breakdown. I understand completely" *understands nothing, but still agrees*

[@JimmyCones37]

I loved the title sequence for "The Last of Us." It not only was a beautiful melody; it combined with the voice over to serve the story by transitioning the player from an emotional high to expectation for what's next. I also love hearing the main menu theme from "Destiny." It's just so majestic.

[@Draconis_Eltanin]

I'd say the ending part of the knight's introspection in Hollow knight is one very powerful musical moment. The build up and the recurring theme bring me shivers and a tear every time I hear it!

[@kirbymia6209]

Can't believe these musical moments would have passed unnoticed to me if you hadn't made this video. Especially that shovel knight stuff. Amazing!

[@SherlockHyde]

It's a toss up for me between the first time "Tables Turn" starts playing in Wonderful 101 and the last time "Never to Return" starts in Pyre. I say that, but then I remember how pumped I got *every* time the lyrics kicked in in a Revengeance boss fight.

[@FinalDragoon]

One of my favorite moments in music happened in the tail end of the decade. FF14 in general has amazing music, but Shadowbringers did something unique with their last area of the story. So you hit the last area and this acoustic guitar focused track(Full Fathom Five) fills your ears with this eerie, yet hopeful optimism. About halfway through the zone a cutscene triggers a massive reveal and the music switches to the incredibly somber piano remix of the previous song(Neath Dark Waters). I'm trying to not spoil things, but it was an absolutely beautiful twist that proves Masayoshi Soken is very much the successor to Nobuo Uematsu when it comes to Final Fantasy scores.

[@mistersympa15]

I keep hearing how amazing Shadowbringers is and dammit! I'm not there in the story yet!

[@lucarubinstein3907]

Yesss XIV has an incredible soundtrack! My current favorite moment from it is the brief Eternal Wind reference in the Shadowbringers main theme.

[@J4NkEnJ0Y3R]

man, i did not even know this genre of youtube videos existed... 3 days in i subbed on patreon. the FIRST person i have ever subbed to. Thnks for the hrd work.

[@lxLucky13xl]

I love your videos so much 8BMT! I was surprised to hear you were at Magfest this past year even though it makes perfect sense you would be there. I'm sad that I missed you but I'll be on the lookout from now on. Couldn't help but notice your inclusion of Journey at the end; I would love nothing more than to see you do an analysis on that soundtrack! Journey is one of my favorite games because of how beautiful and coherent the soundtrack is as a whole, and seeing it live at Mag made me appreciate it that much more. Anyway, great work as always! I'm looking forward to your next video!

[@VeritabIlIti]

The first moment in Doom 2016 where the music jumped out for a glory kill was one of the most addicting sound design choices in an already masterfully designed soundtrack

[@Whiskeyjack_]

My favourite moment has to be when the synths enter in the second part of the Farewell track in the Celeste DLC chapter.

[@donkeyfacekilla1]

What an excellent video! Thanks so much for your great content! we learn so much from your channel!

[@jexthegamer]

Such a fun, adventurous list! Loved it

[@bryal7811]

When you survive a long, terrifying night in *Darkwood* The sting up to the song "Morning" is so memorable.

[@hoodiereviews6003]

My favorite 2010’s music moment in video games is the original Gen 3 Pokémon soundtracks for the second decade in a row. Never heard the Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby remake soundtracks, but maybe they’re just as good.

[@thekiss2083]

I found them to sound a little synthy and hollow. Like Pokemon X and Y. But Fortree and Mauville Cities got very nice remixes!

[@Roxfox]

The decade started with one of its highest points for me with VVVVVV. There's not much to analyze about it, but after being introduced to the game's mechanics and aesthetics to a gentler version of a certain song in the tutorial area, then exploring the mostly benevolent overworld and perhaps finding a few other challenges along the way, when you finally reach The Tower and suddenly get treated to the full scale reprise of that leitmotif; the constantly climbing climax that is "Positive Force", as the game takes charge and makes you play on its terms, precise flip after precise flip on autoscroll, each screen so much more challenging than the last with chords and colors flashing by at their own pace (for the first time in the game, the damn thing doesn't even reveal that it can *scroll* before then!) as your eyes, mind and fingers race to match the sudden shift in tempo that the rest of the game did nothing to prepare you for... I clearly have trouble putting into words just how that song made me feel at that moment. Triumph.

[@Nathan55411]

My favorite musical moment of the decade definitely has to be His Theme from Undertale. The main motif of this song is played a fair few times throughout the game. There's even an optional puzzle that requires you to memorize 8 notes from the motif. This game wants you to know this motif and it never really attributes it to anything in particular, at least not that you can tell on your first playthrough. Then, when His Theme finally plays, when you finally have so many questions from the story answered, when you have the great realization as per why Asriel was doing what he was doing, the realization that it wasn't even you in the intro, and not to mention the intense surge of emotions that courses through him at this moment, combine all of that with this song that has a brief build up before playing loud and proud the very motif that finally has a meaning... I don't know how to describe it as anything other than incredible. I don't have words for it.

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

5:55 I feel like I would appreciate this LA Noir cue a little more if it weren't so derivative of the opening of Bernard Herrmann's theme for Taxi Driver. The crescendoing brass chords combined with the the increasing rhythm and snare, building to a sustain with a gong hit. The harmony is reorganized, but considering Taxi Driver has perhaps the most iconic noir score ever written, it seems unfortunate that they didn't write something more original. Taxi Driver Theme: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKmXkn5jjtiDm7c

[@llamaking1071]

I was hoping someone pointed that out

[@TobiasTheGiant]

2:14 What version of Giant Steps is playing under that explanation, hella mellow!

[@MisterAppleEsq]

I think 8BMT made that himself? He does that sometimes.

[@meowisol]

The chorus during the end credits of Nier Automata gives me chills just thinking about it. Maybe not of the whole decade but the Ashtray Maze sequence in Control

[@link1628]

Great job! Every moment is super interesting on its own. I'm pretty sure that showing this video to any music enthusiast would make him instantly interested into VGM.