From sweeping orchestral scores to retro mash-ups that trigger memories of fusty arcades, music can make the difference between a great game and an amazing one. It helps set the tone and carry the narrative, and although each of the five games shortlisted here takes a different approach to its audio, one thing is consistent – every soundtrack is a banger.
Here are the nominees for Best Video Game Music in 2022; be sure to come back next week when the winner is announced.
Elden Ring
There are five credited composers on the Elden Ring soundtrack, which shows that this gargantuan task required a team of talented musicians to execute. One listen to the expansive soundtrack (which clocks in at over 60 tracks) and you can hear a wide expanse of classical styles, from somber ballads to ginormous orchestrations. Regardless of which track you’re listening to, you can see the composers working hard towards creating the biggest, full-scale video game soundtrack of 2022. Just listen to the opening song, which begins with just a few notes before exploding into a massive, powerful theme. A feeling mimicked by the player as they first step into the Lands Between.
God of War Ragnarok
The main melodic line of the new God of War games is simple: Three chords up, and three chords down, often sung by a choir. This simplicity belies an unseen complexity, an attribute that it shares with the series’s main character, Kratos. Nordic battle tunes, mournful dirges, triumphant brass lines, and more hurdy gurdy than I’ve ever heard in one place before all combine to offer a score that both accompanies Ragnarok’s emotional beats perfectly, and is still great to listen to on its own. One standout is the end credits theme, Blood Upon the Snow, sung by Hozier and offering an inner monologue for Kratos that both accompanies the game’s themes and stands alone as a beautiful and haunting piece of music.
Splatoon 3
Growing bigger and even more robust with every installment, the music of Splatoon 3 could easily be considered its own genre. From the instantly recognizable warbling of idol-like singers over synth to the growing dirge of cello strings heralding the arrival of never-ending waves of salmonids, Splatoon’s soundtrack contains a little bit of everything without ever becoming too familiar. The fusion of its different musical genres defy what should be possible in a team-based shooter, and somehow comes together each and every match with an assortment of catchy, wacky, and thrilling tunes to goad you towards victory. It goes beyond just background dressing — Splatoon 3’s music is part of the very vibrant culture that the series has expanded on, where its fictional group of musical artists all have a distinct style, and feel just as welcome as the clothing brands you can dress your characters in. Regardless of what you make of it, the music made here is a vital and entirely unique part of Splatoon 3’s DNA.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge takes the best of what we’ve loved when playing as Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo in the past and brings it to the modern age. As we mentioned in our review, many of its levels are very much arranged like a remixed “greatest hits” of previous games, and that word choice is very apt as the soundtrack is just as much of a reason why this game shines as bright as any other part of Shredder’s Revenge. The 90s nostalgia is very much alive in each song, and it features an eclectic mix of remixes of beloved, familiar songs and new songs that can stand just as tall amongst the rest of them. Throw in the added bonus of having some of these songs come from artists like Ghostface Killa and Mega Ran, and you have something worthy of our favorite pizza-loving turtles.
Tunic
Tunic’s world is a beautiful and mysterious place to explore, and a major part of the joy of the adventure is discovering the secrets held within the game that honor classics like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening alongside forging its own path. Much of the beginning of the game leaves you in the dark as you don’t understand the world’s language and aren’t given a ton of info, but the music is an immediate friend and warm light you can always take with you. The serene soundtrack that effortlessly flows and adapts with the happier and more melancholic moments elevates an already wonderful journey into something even more. If that wasn’t enough, it’s melody also hides an actual musical language that serves as a cipher to reward players who can learn it with many of the game’s secrets.
All IGN Best of Games 2022 Categories
Best Game of 2022Best Action Game of 2022Best Action-Adventure Game of 2022Best Video Game Music of 2022Best Video Game Art of 2022Best Console Exclusive of 2022Best Ongoing Game of 2022Best Performance in a Game in 2022Best Puzzle Game of 2022Best Racing Game of 2022Best RPG Game of 2022Best Shooter Game of 2022Best Game Story of 2022Best Strategy Game of 2022Noteworthy Advancement in Game Accessibility in 2022Best Gaming Hardware of 2022
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