As.a form of entertainment, one of the many things that players look forward to with future game releases is what the music and soundtrack will be like. With the right music to go behind important moments in fans' playthroughs, almost any event in a game can be made into something to remember forever. This could be something as common as cutting down a regular enemy to a climactic boss fight against foes like Malenia over forty hours into an adventure.
Between the songs that get stuck in players' heads hours after it played in the game and even the quiet ambiance of more open world games, some game soundtracks go above and beyond to be incredible pieces of art in and of themselves. The best video game music and soundtracks of 2022, listed below in NO particular order, do just that.
Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger is part rhythm game, part first-person shooter, and it decided to choose to focus on metal music and run with it as it takes the identity of the genre and makes an entire game around it. Players are thrown into the role of a demon only known as the Unknown who's had her voice taken from her. In the quest to get it back, she enlists the help of a skull known as Paz to break through all the realms of Hell. The guitar, drums, and screaming of metal music accent her conquest the entire way through, even in cutscenes.
The game asks players to shoot enemies to the beat, but where most rhythm games make the song come to a stop or fall apart if players miss a note or two, Metal: Hellsinger keeps the beat going. It instead uses an intricate dynamic music system that relies on players' "fury" combo multiplier to expand upon the song. It makes the already great music found in the game even more memorable to fans as the lengthiest combos reward players with vocals to make every fight feel powerful.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
One of the most ambitious Kirby titles to date, Kirby and the Forgotten Land's soundtrack is just as vibrant and full of possibilities as the new world the pink puffball finds himself in. The theme of Northeast Frost Street, for example, helps tell the melancholy story of the old-fashioned town among winter chills, and The Wondaria Dream Parade level is made especially wondrous and nostalgic as the accompanying music harkens back to its inspiration from Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade.
Of course, like many of the other Kirby games that came before it, its bosses are given thrilling and exciting songs to go with them. Many series fans enjoy the wild and dramatic remix of Masked Dedede's theme when facing Forgo Dedede, and the music of Kirby and the Forgotten Land's final boss stands out as the game's magnum opus. Even the game's main theme is sung in a gibberish, alien language to make players feel like they're on a foreign planet, with the singer remaining anonymous in real life to keep the feeling alive. Forgotten Land's music is stunning and detailed, which helps it stand out in 2022.
Bayonetta 3
While Bayonetta 3 was subject to some rather messy controversy before launch, the game stands on its own merits just fine. Its soundtrack, much like the titles that came before it, is an emblem of its style, flare, and characters. One song that showcases what it aims for is "Ghost," the song that plays when fans battle Viola. As the new witch makes an appearance, fans take the song as a rebel anthem, but the song's meaning changes to an unapologetic, confident ballad once fans know Viola just a bit more.
Bayonetta 3's soundtrack is brimming with detail that gives its multiverse aspects its due. Fans have praised the extra steps PlatinumGames has taken to give these extra worlds life, such as using the traditional Egyptian duduk instrument for its "Red and Black 3rd Climax" remix and how QT J's theme is a reference to both Cutie Honey Flash and Viewtiful Joe. While Bayonetta 3 has had a mixed response from many of its fans, most would agree the music is as great as always.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon: Forbidden West may simply stick to traditional woodwinds and futuristic synth to create a specific sound, but it masters what it brings out to create something beautiful, memorable, and true to the game. The music found in Horizon Forbidden West elevates both the gameplay and its narrative during important moments, such as when players fly on their first Sunwing or when Aloy's theme finds its way in certain boss motifs during a time when she turns things around.
Plenty of motifs can be found throughout the soundtrack that add weight to what fans do throughout the game, such as when pieces "Whatever Comes" plays in "A Promise to Uphold" as fans reach the top of a Tallneck and look out into the world. It can be easily said that Horizon Forbidden West excels at using its powerful music to bring out feelings in their players. Combined with the incredible vocals of guest singers such as Ariana Gills and Julie Elven, vocalizations and perfectly crafted lyrics heighten the experience to greater heights on top of an already stunning and emotional adventure.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge marks a return to classic arcade beat-em-ups like TMNT: Turtles in Time which has been praised as a fan-favorite for decades. Due to this, the game most notably had to be nostalgic yet fresh, hence a pixel art style as well as a soundtrack that is emblematic of its "what's old is new again." The music found in Shredder's Revenge uses samples that sound like remastered Sega Genesis found fonts while also bringing on iconic performers as guests to give the music a bit of a surprising kick.
With Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania fame spearheading the soundtrack, every level is accompanied by background themes that sound like they've come straight from the '90s, yet couldn't be fully realized with the limited technological capabilities at the time. Some fans are of the opinion that the music Lopes created feels like it came out of a Mega Man X game while claiming they feel like they've gone back in time. Ultimately, the OST found in Shredder's Revenge is part of the reason why it does its job well in bringing back such retro favorites decades later.
Elden Ring
While a majority of Elden Ring's soundtrack is ambiance, it not only helps bring the Lands Between alive, but also helps keep many of the areas it offers fresh in players' memories. Stormveil Castle is one prime example, as the theme that plays within its halls has made players stay there far longer than they've needed to. Some have even been moved by the music in the character creation menu, illustrating just how strong Elden Ring's soundtrack really is.
Important boss fights have their own dramatic themes that add power to the moment after most of the game has been relatively quiet. It helps add to the tension as players are already aware that Elden Ring is a rather difficult game, and one mistake could cost them the battle. "The Final Battle" composed by Tsukasa Saitoh has been praised in particular by many as a work of art in its own right, perfect for the fight against the Elden Beast after hours upon hours of playtime.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
From the very outset with the game's main theme, A Plague Tale: Requiem pulls players into the hard struggles of the de Rune family as they try to fight for their freedom from the curses in their lives with a powerful and fitting soundtrack. As the story of the title speaks of survival and the importance of telling loved ones that they matter, the use of midlevel strings, violins, and powerful choirs fit the game's settings as well as the emotions it tries to elicit.
As far as pulling on players' heartstrings, the game manages to do just that no doubt thanks to songs such as "Up There" that hit hard once they reach A Plague Tale: Requiem's endgame. Due to the emotional journey Focus Entertainment takes fans on, a powerful soundtrack is to be expected, and it hits all the right places when it needs to.
Sifu
In order to fit how Sifu is a modern game focused on the traditions of martial arts, the soundtrack was composed by Howie Lee, a composer based in Beijing, China who could be trusted to make a unique sound that merged the two ideals. The combination and talent Lee brings to the soundtrack is stunning as the music in Sifu encompasses hip-hop beats, plucked strings, and more in just the right way to make the game's depiction of China come alive.
Many players have been praising the soundtrack for just how it immerses them and keeps them moving in critical moments, such as when "Flames of War" plays in the fight against Sean. The careful use of electronic beats most likely helps encourage this, as said beats are associated with dance, helping keep players on their toes throughout their high-stakes journey in Sifu.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
While tons of Xenoblade fans were sure that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 wasn't going to win the Game of the Year award, they were still enthusiastic at the fact that just the nomination meant that the Game Awards Orchestra would play a piece of the game's score live on stage. This isn't without merit, as XC3 has been recognized by fans, critics, and even the Game Awards' jury for having an incredible soundtrack.
From the theme of the Isis Network to the "Where We Belong" vocal theme at the very end of the game, the music found in Chronicles 3 delivers on the game's climactic presentation and story. Fans of the series have grown to look forward to the music found in each game for the sheer strength of the trilogy's soundtrack, and XC3 didn't disappoint this series tradition, earning its spot among the Best Score nominees at the Game Awards, as well.
God of War Ragnarok
God of War: Ragnarok brings fans back to the world of the series with a welcoming bang, backed up by powerful themes for characters and bosses that help emphasize just how much each of its cast has grown over the course of the series thus far. The story found in Ragnarok is one of the best 2022 has to offer, and it has the musical presence to back all of its most prominent moments with the power they deserve.
The OST of God of War: Ragnarok is no doubt theatrical and true to its god-like themes with plenty of vocalizations and intense orchestrations. To top it all off, the composer of the game is featured in it as a delightful Easter Egg for fans to find. Despite how long fans had to wait for Ragnarok after the 2018 game, the soundtrack is emblematic of the care that was put into the game to make it into one epic title once it was ready.