Themes you still hum decades later: music is an integral part of video games. This Top 100 gathers the retro games with the most memorable soundtracks, from 8-bit sound chips to CD orchestrations, based on RomWize's reassessed scores. For each title: its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"Signed by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, the music revives the Wild West with distant guitars, harmonica and dusty strings in a vibrant homage to the western. The overwhelming "Far Away" accompanies the ride with a twilit melancholy. This sonic identity, visceral and authentic, remains a peak of the genre."
"Alongside the bubbly themes comes a mischievous touch: the talking flowers that pepper the adventure with little melodies and chirps, as if the scenery were singing with you. Bouncing tunes, playful percussion, sonic transformations with each power-up: everything sparkles with whimsy. That inventive lightness rekindles the pure joy of the Mario platformer and leaves you humming afterward."
"Signed by Jeremy Soule, the music culminates in the thunderous, Nordic-choir "Dragonborn", an anthem that became instantly legendary. From the snowy plains to the dragon battles, the orchestra embraces the epic grandeur of Skyrim. This symphonic breadth, sumptuous and iconic, remains one of the most beloved in video games."
"Blending an adventurous orchestra and ethnic accents, the music raises Nathan Drake's journeys to the scale of a great action film. The unforgettable "Nate's Theme" and epic flights accompany every stunt with flair. This cinematic breadth, generous and exhilarating, is the whole sweep of the saga."
"Signed by Garry Schyman, the music weaves dissonant, harrowing strings, mixed with the licensed 1940s songs that haunt the underwater city of Rapture. This chilling contrast between nostalgia and terror embraces the decadent atmosphere of the game. This unique soundscape, of rare intelligence, remains inseparable from its universe."
"Tense and cinematic, the music blends orchestra, electro and spy themes to embrace the intensity of the infiltration. The famous Metal Gear theme, heroic and melancholy, hovers over the whole adventure. This sonic breadth, worthy of a Hollywood thriller, elevates every moment of tension in the game."
"Signed by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, the music revives the Wild West with distant guitars, harmonica and dusty strings in a vibrant homage to the western. The overwhelming "Far Away" accompanies the ride with a twilit melancholy. This sonic identity, visceral and authentic, remains a peak of the genre."
"Between chilling laboratory electro and ingenious sonic tinkering, Aperture Science's music accompanies the puzzles with a deadpan intelligence. Jonathan Coulton's brilliant "Want You Gone" crowns the adventure with a touch of cult humour. This sonic identity, minimal and brilliant, makes the whole singularity of the game."
"Signed by Jeremy Soule, the music culminates in the thunderous, Nordic-choir "Dragonborn", an anthem that became instantly legendary. From the snowy plains to the dragon battles, the orchestra embraces the epic grandeur of Skyrim. This symphonic breadth, sumptuous and iconic, remains one of the most beloved in video games."
"Still signed by Garry Schyman, the music surprises with its anachronistic covers of modern hits arranged in 1912 style, from gospel to barbershop. This temporal vertigo, disturbing and brilliant, bathes Columbia in a fascinating strangeness. This sonic daring, unique of its kind, remains one of the most memorable of the medium."
"Signed by Gustavo Santaolalla, the music reduces the orchestra to the essential: a bare guitar, scattered strings, heavy silences. This overwhelming restraint embraces the solitude and the fragile tenderness of Joel and Ellie. This sonic identity, minimal and heart-rending, remains one of the most beautiful achievements of the medium."
"A return to medieval roots, Nobuo Uematsu's score wraps Zidane's adventure in a warm nostalgia, from the tender "Melodies of Life" to the most intimate themes. Each village breathes a rare gentleness and melancholy. This melodic elegance, often cited as the composer's own favourite, still moves the heart."
"With Hans Zimmer at the helm, the soundtrack raises the military shooter to Hollywood blockbuster status: crushing orchestral scope, menacing brass and end-of-the-world tension carry every mission. The Modern Warfare 2 theme, dark and memorable, distills this cinematic excess pushed even further than before. A peak of film scoring applied to the FPS."
"The switch to live recording transfigured the series: funk guitars on Mute City, a driving big band, drums that push the throttle down. Every track has its instrumental colour, tuned to speed and drifting. That organic energy galvanises both solo races and nights with friends, turning every restart into a sonic party you never tire of chaining."
"Jack Wall's soundtrack matches the game's near-future setting with cold electronic and industrial textures. The coup: Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) wrote the main theme, lending it a taut darkness and a sound unlike anything else in the series. That collaboration sets the score apart, balancing martial rigor with a modern, throbbing pulse."
"Broadcast across a multitude of radio stations, the music weaves the cosmopolitan soul of Liberty City, from rock to Eastern European through rap. Michael Hunter's main theme, dark and Slavic, signs the game's identity. This musical generosity, polished and immersive, turns the slightest drive into a tailor-made soundtrack."
"A few notes of the ocarina are enough to summon a whole world: Zelda's Lullaby or the Song of Time are etched into collective memory. Koji Kondo's compositions, woven into the gameplay, turn music into a genuine tool of adventure. This melodic magic, intact on 3DS, remains an absolute benchmark."
"Ever more colossal, the music combines unleashed choirs and a titanic orchestra to magnify Kratos's revenge. Each titan confrontation rises into a sonic deluge of unheard-of power. This epic breadth, overwhelming and grandiose, remains one of the peaks of action music on the machine."
"Eclectic and warm, the soundtrack blends jazz, world, electro and licensed tracks in a joyful patchwork of irresistible whimsy. Each world has its own sonic colour, underlining the handmade, good-natured spirit of the game. This musical generosity, creative and sunny, instantly lifts the mood."
"Blending an adventurous orchestra and ethnic accents, the music raises Nathan Drake's journeys to the scale of a great action film. The unforgettable "Nate's Theme" and epic flights accompany every stunt with flair. This cinematic breadth, generous and exhilarating, is the whole sweep of the saga."
