I recently rediscovered the theme song for Civilization 4, via a cover by the Stellenbosch Choir and I've come to realise that's really the most beautiful video game song I've ever heard.
Another one that I always enjoy listening to is the end credits theme for Super Mario World, but in a totally different way.
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[Halo theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGCa2kyHFpM), hands down.
Subnautica – Abandon Ship
Morrowind.
Re7 intro song
to zanarkand
Battlefield 1942
Somnus from FFXV, what a voice man!
Lady ethereal from nine sols (and beneath the surface). The way human vocals are used and mixed to create a cyberpunk sound tickles my brain in a good way
Morrowind, Halo, and Civ IV is on my list as well, as with you. Still my favorite Civ as well, honestly. (Well… maybe tied with 2.)
Title music for Dragon Age Origins
Outer Wilds title theme
Halo has to be the best surely there is no comparison let’s be real.
As far as only songs are involved, i have a couple in mind at the moment:
Ending Note (The Guided Fate Paradox videogame)
Aria of the Soul/Poem for Everyone’s Soul (Persona)
[Tallon Overworld from Metroid Prime](https://youtu.be/mziw3FQkZYg)!
Darkstone
[https://youtube.com/watch?v=fSyfO_j9AD0&si=D6hwSQM8qqsTSzPU](https://youtube.com/watch?v=fSyfO_j9AD0&si=D6hwSQM8qqsTSzPU)
Kagatsuchi theme pre-transformation from SMT:3
what a bop. shoji meguro doesn’t miss
Outer Wilds – End Times
Theme of Laura – Silent Hill 2 (original)
‘War has never been so much fun’ from cannon fodder on the Amiga
I’m probably the only one, but [Star Wars the Old Republic’s login screen](https://youtu.be/Wgq5D1IeHcI?si=LSdpyjJun1R5DjLt) is the one. Such a masterpiece of a soundtrack for such a mediocre MMO.
Still Alive from Portal
[Liberi Fatali](https://youtu.be/XyBensMp_MA)
Majula in DS2.
Those who know know.
The song that plays during the suikoden 3 opening cinematic.
https://youtu.be/26yYnRnmtME?si=J8vrH9xE-7VjuJiC
Rain World has a great main theme that appears in many of its songs. It’s called Sundown.
Random Gods -> at around 1 minute in you’ll hear it.
Come and Go
The Last of Us theme song by Gustavo Santaolalla
Now .. expedition 33
Divinity original sin 2 title theme
I have a few:
Title sing for Final Fantasy 7
One Winged Angel from FF7
Elder Scrolls: Morrowind Theme
Battlefield 1942 Theme
[The Extreme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFjHWw_w91Q)
Max Payne 3 airport song – Tears
There’s so many games with excellent music, but if I had to pick absolutely anything it would be Snow in Summer from Nier Replicant.
To Zanarkand. Those Who Fight. Weight of the World (ff14 arrangement). Whatever the Binding Coil of Bahamut’s boss theme is. Dancing Mad (Black Mages arrangement). Maria and Draco (Distant Worlds arrangement). Distant Worlds. Answers.
To Faraway Times. Epilogue (Milennial Faire vocal arrangement)
Dearly Beloved.
Marin’s Theme, Fi’s Theme (in particular, any arrangements from the Symphony of the Goddesses tours, which I got to sing in, so I’m kinda biased)
Dragonborn Theme.
Asgore boss theme. Don’t Forget – vocal arrangement.
Monster Hunter…. everything. But let’s say the Diva’s songs.
Razgriz. Angus Dei. Zero with its godly Flamenco.
Last Surprise, shoutout to the cover by Casey Lee Williams.
Sonic Heroes. What I’m Made Of. Undefeatable.
Azhdaha boss suite as it moves through phases
Bury the Light.
I, uh… need to go listen to some jams now.
Still Alive from Mirror’s Edge
https://youtu.be/SUXyoyuJZ8Y?si=lllUv46F0gGPfOeQ
Assassins Creed III main theme. Absolutely incredible.
https://youtu.be/8iHsXqfcLig?si=ecqNHNpIO06yU7CF
Tricky question this for me.
I always feel like listing all the tracks I love, and each era/genre seems to have it’s own theme.
If I was going to go for 16 bit themes that made me sit up and take note… Fear Of The Heavens in Secret of Mana.
Not sure if I can say it’s definitely the best, as I feel the Zeal theme from Chrono Trigger (if not the whole Chrono Trigger OST) is a great competitor.
Melodies of Life – Final Fantasy IX
Tomb raider theme song. And all music from first trilogy
Both Ori games have beautiful main themes
Ark Aberration Theme Song
Ezio’s Family – Assassin’s Creed 2
The main theme from Morrowind
So maybe I’m wrong but I take this question as meaning the opening theme we hear as we load into a game rather than anything else (for example, a character theme), so that’s how I’m answering.
Some people have already mentioned Final Fantasy VIII (both opening theme and other tracks) so I’ll go with:
Fallout theme, especially Fallout 4 but any really. There’s a section near the end that raises the hair on my arms every time.
Ocarina Of Time comes to mind as well, of course. Epona galloping across Hyrule Field with that piano will never not be absolute bliss.
If it isn’t just opening themes and can be any option then shout out to Elemental Stars from Golden Sun, too.
inFamous 2 had such an amazing soundtrack, nothing can ever top it for me.
Metal Gear Solid 2 Main Theme.
I like a bunch of what the others said more, but just to throw in two that I haven’t seen yet:
Dishonored Drunken Whaler
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=urV8MIcLDFk&pp=ygUZZHJ1bmtlbiBzYWlsb3IgZGlzaG9ub3JlZNIHCQnNCQGHKiGM7w%3D%3D
Dark Souls 1 Gwyn’s Theme
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lMrvw6m4SAc
They’re not necessarily theme songs, but they’re great. One is from a trailer, and the other is boss music.
The goosebumps theme.
Jokes aside, Perfect Dark has some great picks for “haunting tracks”. Not the main theme, but probably the skedar ruins theme or one of the others that play during mp.
Triage at Dawn from HL2 is also a good one.
The unsung war from AC05. You just had to play it and reach that point to get it.
That VNV Nation song at the end of Hellblade: Senuas sacrifice