A great game isn’t defined solely by its gameplay, but by other aspects such as visual and audio design. Speaking of audio, have you ever played a game with a soundtrack you found yourself compelled to listen to, even when you weren’t playing the game? For us, this has become a common occurrence.
What helps is how 2019 was full of incredible games with equally incredible soundtracks. While we wish we could spotlight them all, we felt like whittling things down to a “Top 10 Gaming Soundtracks of 2019” was more fitting. So, without further ado, here are our picks for the best gaming soundtracks of 2019!
Best gaming soundtracks of 2019
© Brace Yourself Games
Cadence of Hyrule
Cadence of Hyrule is not only notable for successfully building upon concepts introduced via its predecessor, Crypt of the NecroDancer, but also for its soundtrack and how it remixes popular tracks from The Legend of Zelda.
The amount of work put in to make the songs not only feel like a Legend of Zelda game, but also honor Crypt of the NecroDancer, is out of this world. Mad respect to the crew at Brace Yourself Games as the Cadence of Hyrule soundtrack was an easy pick for our “best of 2019” list!
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Playing Sayonara Wild Hearts is like playing through an interactive pop album, and we couldn’t praise this experience highly enough. The music is phenomenal, and the levels make you feel as if you’re actually part of the colorful, vibrant world that flies past you and pulses to the beat.
Everything flows together seamlessly not only from one level to the next, but also from song to song. If you’re a huge fan of pop, you definitely owe it to yourself to play Sayonara Wild Hearts!
Pokemon Sword & Shield
Love or hate Pokemon Sword & Shield, one thing you can’t deny is that its soundtrack was absolutely amazing. Seriously, we can’t get the Gym Battle Theme out of our heads! As a franchise, Pokemon has always had incredible, iconic music and Sword & Shield is no different.
In fact, you’ll find a lot of updated staples in Pokemon Sword & Shield – including the Pokemon Center Theme – but modernized and tailored to the Galar region. A Pokemon game wouldn’t be complete without a stellar soundtrack, and Pokemon Sword & Shield most definitely delivers when it comes to tunes.
Devil May Cry 5
As a series, Devil May Cry has always had fantastic music, and Devil May Cry 5 certainly follows in the shoes of games that came before it. It’s hard saying that Devil May Cry 5 beat out DmC: Devil May Cry for “best Devil May Cry” soundtrack but it’s true (no matter how much we love Throat Full of Glass).
The moment we heard Devil Trigger, we were hooked and it’s something we bump in our car on the daily. Another cool aspect to the music is that the better you perform in battle, the more the soundtrack amps up around you. It’s truly headbang worthy. There are also surprise tracks in other genres like Nico’s Theme that help round everything out in terms of genre and tone, and come as a nice surprise overall.
Heaven’s Vault
Heaven’s Vault is a 2019 game that didn’t get nearly as much love as it deserved. While we could talk about its incredible gameplay and story all day long, we also have to take a moment to praise its glorious soundtrack because... WOW! The melodies are complex, but also delicate. Orchestral, but also adventurous and free-spirited.
We smiled, cried, and had to take a moment to collect ourselves thanks to the tracks that accompanied our journey in Heaven’s Vault. If you want to experience the piano and violin in a magical new way, be sure to take a moment to swoon over the Heaven’s Vault OST like we did!
Katana ZERO
We adore the retro, 80s aesthetic featured in Katana ZERO. Not only do the visuals offer a nice blast from the past, but the music does as well. It’s bumping, thumping, gritty, and sets the tone and pace for the entire game perfectly.
It’s another soundtrack we play in the car to amp us up for the day ahead, though it’s also great for activities like working out at the gym. The soundtrack for Katana ZERO is just that versatile and expertly composed. Don’t believe us? Give it a listen for yourself!
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars fans were spoiled in 2019 with shows like The Mandalorian and incredible games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. From the beginning, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order works to make you feel like you’re in the Star Wars universe from characters and world design, to the soundtrack itself.
Every song feels reminiscent of the classic Star Wars films, though they also have their own modern twist to them to give the game its own standalone vibe.
Kingdom Hearts 3
While the story of Kingdom Hearts is undoubtedly convoluted and hard to follow, the music was kind enough to be simple and easy to understand. It pulled us in and kept us going, even in moments where we found ourselves having to look things up because it’d be so long since we’d played a Kingdom Hearts title.
Looking back, the game may not have been our favorite experience this year, but the soundtrack is too good to not be mentioned on this list.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus released early in 2019 and people breezed past it a little too quickly due, in large part, to the sheer scale of amazing games that released throughout the year. Despite the time that’s passed, the soundtrack for Metro Exodus stands out as a strong contender for the best soundtrack of the year.
It’s moody, atmospheric, and fits the events of Metro Exodus perfectly in every way. Even listening to the OST on its own, it’s hard to not feel haunted by the story it tells. If you missed out on Metro Exodus, we highly recommend playing the game and paying close attention to its soundtrack because it’s fantastic.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Last, but certainly not least, we have Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The music in Fire Emblem: Three Houses isn’t particularly complex, but it finds a way to be grand and epic all the same. In battle, you feel supported and encouraged by the music. While exploring as Byleth, you feel relaxed and inquisitive.
The game’s soundtrack fits perfectly and can be enjoyed whether you’re actively playing the game, or putting the OST on in the background to help you study.
Now that we’ve listed off our favorite video game soundtracks of 2019, we’re eager to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with our picks? Did we miss anything? In the comments below, list your favorite video game OSTs from 2019 and which one you feel deserves the “best soundtrack of 2019” award!