As a gamer, I’ve always believed that the music in a game is as important as the storyline or the gameplay itself. Some soundtracks are so rich, atmospheric, and moving that they can transform an experience and stay with you long after the credits roll. While some beloved video game scores have made it to the concert hall, many haven’t yet had the recognition they deserve. Here’s a list of 14 incredible video game soundtracks that are practically begging for their own live orchestral performance. Let’s give these soundtracks the audience they deserve!
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than just an open-world game; it’s a storytelling masterpiece set in the dying days of the American frontier. The soundtrack, composed by Woody Jackson, is a haunting mix of folk, blues, and atmospheric pieces. With heartfelt ballads like “That’s the Way It Is” and the emotional “Cruel World,” this game deserves a live concert that brings out the sweeping loneliness and rugged beauty of the Wild West.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The dark, Slavic-inspired music of The Witcher 3 is unforgettable. Marcin Przybyłowicz and Mikolai Stroinski created a score that feels both ancient and otherworldly. The haunting vocals of “Lullaby of Woe” or the fiery intensity of “Silver for Monsters” demand to be performed live. Imagine a full orchestra and choir delivering that deep, brooding atmosphere to a concert hall—breathtaking!
3. Journey
Austin Wintory’s score for Journey is a sublime experience. The music shifts in tune with the player’s exploration of vast deserts and ancient ruins. It’s minimalistic yet profoundly emotional, making it one of the most critically acclaimed soundtracks in gaming history. A live performance of Journey’s score would be an ethereal, moving experience that could easily captivate an audience.
4. Hollow Knight
Christopher Larkin’s music for Hollow Knight is haunting and atmospheric, full of melancholic melodies that perfectly suit the game’s eerie, underground setting. Its strings-heavy sound evokes a sense of mystery and wonder. A live orchestra playing pieces like “City of Tears” or “Sealed Vessel” would capture the game’s dark beauty and could make for an unforgettable concert.
5. Ori and the Blind Forest
Composed by Gareth Coker, Ori and the Blind Forest has a soundtrack that is as enchanting as its art. With delicate piano melodies and sweeping orchestral pieces, the music brings a sense of beauty and heartbreak to Ori’s journey. Tracks like “Light of Nibel” and “The Spirit Tree” would be spellbinding to hear live, especially with a full symphony bringing those lush soundscapes to life.
6. Nier: Automata
Keiichi Okabe’s score for Nier: Automata is unique, emotional, and futuristic. Blending orchestral elements with electronic sounds, the music shifts between peaceful and intense, often mirroring the game’s themes of existentialism. Tracks like “Weight of the World” and “The Sound of the End” are perfect for a concert that combines classical instruments with modern, electronic elements.
7. Bloodborne
The gothic and foreboding soundtrack of Bloodborne, composed by Tsukasa Saitoh, is perfect for a dark, atmospheric concert. The game’s orchestral score captures the terror and grandeur of its Lovecraftian horror world. Hearing “The First Hunter” or “Ludwig, The Holy Blade” performed by a live orchestra would amplify the spine-chilling experience of Yharnam’s twisted beauty.
8. Celeste
Lena Raine’s music for Celeste is a perfect blend of emotional, uplifting, and rhythmic beats that guide the player through the game’s tough but rewarding climb. With piano-led pieces like “Resurrections” and the intense, synth-driven “Reach for the Summit,” this soundtrack deserves to be experienced live, where its emotional highs and lows can resonate with the audience in real time.
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Few video game soundtracks are as iconic as Jeremy Soule’s score for Skyrim. From the epic “Dragonborn” theme to the peaceful “Far Horizons,” the music of Skyrim makes the world feel both grand and intimate. A live performance of this soundtrack, complete with choir and orchestra, would be an exhilarating journey through Tamriel’s northern lands.
10. Final Fantasy XV
Yoko Shimomura’s music for Final Fantasy XV is full of grandeur and emotion. The sweeping orchestral pieces, like “Somnus” and “Apocalypsis Noctis,” are dramatic, melancholic, and sometimes uplifting, perfectly capturing the story’s emotional depth. A live concert would bring this breathtaking score to life in the best way possible.
11. Shadow of the Colossus
Kow Otani’s music for Shadow of the Colossus is grand, tragic, and awe-inspiring. It enhances the feeling of taking down gigantic, ancient creatures while maintaining a deep sense of loneliness and melancholy. Pieces like “The Opened Way” would sound incredible in a live setting, with the power of an orchestra behind them.
12. Control
The eerie, atmospheric soundtrack of Control, composed by Petri Alanko and Martin Stig Andersen, is an essential part of the game’s unsettling and mysterious atmosphere. The music enhances the game’s supernatural tone, with tracks like “Threshold” creating an immersive and suspenseful experience. A concert would highlight the game’s unique blend of electronic and orchestral sounds.
13. Xenoblade Chronicles
The Xenoblade Chronicles series is known for its expansive worlds and equally vast soundtracks. Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and ACE+, the music is energetic, cinematic, and awe-inspiring. With tracks like “Engage the Enemy” and “You Will Know Our Names,” a live concert could capture the adventurous spirit of the game with a full orchestra.
14. Cuphead
The jazz-inspired, big band soundtrack of Cuphead is one of the most unique in gaming. Composed by Kristofer Maddigan, the score is bursting with life, full of swing, ragtime, and early jazz influences. A live performance of tracks like “Floral Fury” or “Die House” would be an upbeat, toe-tapping experience, complete with brass, drums, and strings that would bring Cuphead’s lively world to life.
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The megalodon, a massive predator that once ruled the seas, has been extinct for millions of years. Its scientific name, Otodus megalodon, means “giant tooth,” reflecting the enormous size of its teeth, which are far larger than those of today’s great white sharks. The discovery of these teeth has given us valuable information about the megalodon’s life and extinction.
Ellen has been obsessed with logic puzzles, jigsaws, and cryptograms since she was a kid. After learning she was taught how to play chess wrong by a family friend (so they could win), she joined her school chess club and the rest is history.
