Video Game Music in 2024

Every year, video game music continues adding to its library of classics. And this year, in particular, has amazing standouts across several genres.

Join me and my fellow Editors, Lords, and Scribes as we break down our favorite music tracks of 2024!

Lord Sonic’s Choices

I have several highlights this year, some more obvious than others, so let’s rock out!

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis – Don’t

It was tough picking between this and the equally amazing ‘It’s Going Down Now’. But I had to pick the battle theme from Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis called ‘Don’t’.

The battle theme is special, using the grief Aigis and the S.E.E.S. team feel after the events of base Persona 3 Reload and transforming it into one of the most catchy themes of 2024. The lyrics do a fantastic job of painting the picture of where Aigis herself is in the story.

She’s someone who had a purpose and with that being ripped away from her… How do you move on? How do you fight when there isn’t anything left to fight for? But she’s now in a situation where she has to step up in the shoes someone she deeply treasured once wore. She must use that grief, sadness, and silent rage, to help her friends.

Sonic X Shadow Generations – Kingdom Valley Act 2

Adapting six new zones for the Sonic Generations experience doesn’t just include those iconic zones into the Modern Boost formula. It also means taking their legendary themes and giving them a new lease on life.

The original Sonic Generations had an outstanding score and while Shadow Generations doesn’t always match those highs, I loved several tracks during my time with the adventure.

One track was Sonic 06’s Kingdom Valley Act 2, using the core ‘Wind’ theme from the original level and adding a level of tension I never expected for the zone. It always sounded magical, almost as if SEGA adapted a Zelda location into the Sonic style. But this remix of Kingdom Valley takes the beautiful melody and speeds it up.

You can feel the tension as the violin is faster, the drums hit harder, and the hauntingly beautiful section where the beat drops and they let that tension linger as Shadow boosts his way through the 2D Act.

Beserk Boy – Frost Song (Frozen Temple 3)

One of the best platformers I’ve played in 2024 was Beserk Boy Games’ Beserk Boy. The Mega Man X and Sonic-inspired adventure featured fantastic level design and a killer soundtrack composed by Tee Lopes of Sonic Mania and Penny’s Big Breakaway fame.

One of my favorite themes when listening to this score again is ‘Frost Song (Frozen Temple 3)’. It’s a super catchy track that channels the energy from my favorite Mega Man X titles. Those games had amazing scores that pushed you to keep moving forward, which is something Beserk Boy nails with its entire score.

But this track has this feeling of emotion, expressed by the ‘softer’ beats the others lack. It’s almost as if the location is the one time in Kai’s adventure that he enjoys the sights and sounds while going berserk on his foes.

Decline’s Drops – Petroleum Port (Theme 2)

Among the many fantastic indie titles released in 2024, one stand out was Decline’s Drops. This title blends combat inspired by Kirby and Super Smash Brothers alongside a striking art style evoking Yoshi’s Island.

The soundtrack, however, isn’t inspired by those titles. Instead, its score is filled with softer, more emotional pieces. And one piece I heard early in my playthrough was ‘Petroleum Port (Theme 2)’.

Early in the game, the music had a chill and tranquil vibe, but this specific track amps the emotion. A soft guitar strums joined alongside soothing female vocals in the background, complement the level nicely. I’m still playing through this title as of this writing, so I look forward to hearing more of this game’s fantastic score.

Astro Bot – Crash Site

What makes a platformer special isn’t just tight-level design, freedom of player expression via character movement controls, and colorful worlds. Its musical score plays a key factor in many of the platforming greats. My favorite franchises, like Sonic or Donkey Kong Country, speak for themselves in this regard.

But Team Asobi’s Astro Bot series has very charming music and with the studio’s latest installment, it continues offering charming tracks to jump with.

It would’ve been easy to pick the remixes of the ‘Hero Levels’, but one of the original music themes that stuck with me was ‘Crash Site’. You return to this location often throughout your adventure, with it dynamically changing as you save your Bot companions and restore your PS5 Ship.

It evokes an adventurous spirit, supported by the music using Western-inspired elements and having a great sense of ‘you can do it’ energy.

Stellar Blade – Silent Street (Battle)

Released earlier in the year, Shift Up’s Stellar Blade surprised many. A mobile studio is known for its successful Goddess of Victory: Nikke, but applying that success and translating it into the AAA space is daunting.

Thankfully, Stellar Blade amazed many with its amazing visuals, strong technical performance for modern AAA release, and striking character design evoking memories of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden.

One aspect of the game that struck me, was its musical score. The entire soundtrack is filled with varied musical genres but when the game leans into its Nier: Automata inspiration, that’s when the soundtrack sings, pun intended.

Maintaining the somber melody from its non-battle theme, the Battle variant of ‘Silent Street’ is one of the first things you hear when playing Stellar Blade. Using lyrics preaching to someone to ‘help’ them through a trying time, all the while a powerful mixture of violin and techno almost dancing together, creating a haunting battle theme that sticks with you.

It’s difficult to capture the energy NieR masters with its haunting and emotional scores, but when a game does, you know it’s a special experience in the making.

Marvel Rivals – Rivals ‘Till The End

I did not expect this to make the cut, as I only recently started playing NetEase and Marvel Games’ Marvels Rivals. But the game’s theme song is such a bop, that I couldn’t help myself. When you think of Marvel you think of bombastic, heroic themes matching the action and adventure accompanying our favorite heroes and villains.

But Marvel Rivals channels energy from some of anime’s best Opening Themes, with the original opening for Sword Art Online coming to mind with ‘Rivals ‘Till the End’. Powerful female vocals, a fantastic mixture of rock and orchestral, and lyrics explaining literal game mechanics. It’s an amazing introduction to one of 2024’s biggest surprises.

Lord Cognito’s Top Tracks of 2024 – CEO of Lords of Gaming

My favorite game soundtrack of 2024. Most of ya’ll thought Tekken 8 had it sown up, honorable mentions to ‘Twilight Party Cruse’ and ‘Decisive Blow’ (when they introduce the characters). Both versions of Twilight Party Cruse are club bangers, so shout out to Tekken. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but Tekken got overthrown by Metaphor: ReFantazio. Oh my god, wow. I know who that monk is but he killed it. The main battle themes, ‘Warriors of Valor‘ and ‘Warriors in Arms‘ are some of the many tracks in Metaphor presenting it as an orchestral and epic experience.

Shoutout to a later theme for The Gauntlet Runner, having a passionate female solo, and is simply beautiful stuff. Another song, ‘Face of the Palace‘, has the chief monk getting all his bars off. ‘Wings of Freedom’, ‘Rival Candidates’, and many other tracks are also standouts in an amazing score. Metaphor ReFantazio’s score is simply, a character itself. It cements the Atlus RPG epic as one of this year’s best scores.

Mahmood Ghaffar – Editor-in-Chief of Lords of Gaming

Fighting games always have phenomenal soundtracks and the Tekken 8 OST is no different. The game fuses a lot of ripping drum and bass/techno beats that are designed to pump you up immediately. In particular, the opening title track, ‘My Last Stand’ takes epic to a whole new level and will have you pumped within seconds. But my personal favorite is the Baroque Attack (Climax) track that truly stands out from the pack. The track fuses a classical string ensemble accompanied by a hardcore drum and bass beat.

CUnit aka Lord Chris – Community Manager of Lords of Gaming

I didn’t have the chance to play as many games as normal because of my crazy work schedule however I will name two soundtracks of note. While there were a bunch of amazing soundtracks, Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth and Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes stand out of what I played this year. Like A Dragonn Infinite Wealth’s soundtrack was great and the music can get you pumped up for the fights ahead or maybe even evoke a little emotion.

But Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes stands out even more than that for me. From the opening theme song “Flags of Brave” through everything else the soundtrack was amazing from beginning to end. When Flags of Brave hits it feels like a weight has been lifted off of Suikoden fans as this is the spiritual successor. It’s like the team and game is saying here it is everyone we see you and we hear you. Now go and save Alraan! Every piece of music had an impact and I’ll be thinking about it for long time to come. Unicorn Overlord, Metaphor, and Final Fantasy Rebirth also had great soundtracks and music, but didn’t include them becuase I didn’t really get to play them enough yet.