Every year, video game music continues adding to its library of classics. And this year, in particular, has amazing standouts across several genres.
Join LogNet as we break down our favorite music tracks of 2025!
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
Kicking the list off is none other than the Blue Blur’s latest racing adventure, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. As a franchise infamous for amazing music tracks, Sonic’s dimensional racing grand prix comes with some of the franchise’s best musical offerings, ranging from original tracks that could fit alongside the mainline games and remixes that tug at the heartstrings.
Aqua Forest
Being one of the new original locations Sonic Team created for the game, the Aqua Forest track is one of my favorites. Featuring the Sonic series’ infectious guitar, catchy female vocals, and fantastic usage of additional instruments, it is a track that features awesome energy in the wild waterfall racing course.
Kronos Island
I’ve made it no secret that Sonic Frontiers is one of my favorite Sonic games, here at Lords of Gaming. So when a course inspired by that game’s Starfall Islands was included in CrossWorlds, I was hyped.
Seeing the course in action was one thing, as it honored the Kronos Island location perfectly with its visuals and set-pieces that players raced across. However, the music remix for the course is one of my favorite pieces of music in the entire Sonic series.
It perfectly captures the heavy tone that Sonic Frontiers presented with Kronos Island, while adding a fantastic beat to the mix. When racing through the Kronos Island track, I couldn’t help but tear up a little. In many ways, it’s what a Kronos Island level in Shadow Generations would’ve sounded like if that location had been picked for the game.
Blizzard Valley
Remember Sonic Adventure’s Ice Cap level? And how Sonic rode down the mountain, and this bop played while streaming down snowy hills and ramps?
This track screams that energy, in many ways, feeling like a modern-day version of ‘Be Wild, Be Cool, Be Groovy’. A fantastic rock beat, with strong vocals and a killer piano beat, takes the frost-covered mines of Blizzard Valley and makes it the most memorable original location in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds.
Ninja Gaiden 4 – Raven
When beginning my adventure in Ninja Gaiden 4, I expected a fun action game. I knew Platinum Games had a hand in making this experience, but I thought their influence would be more give-and-take. Meaning, the DNA from Team Ninja would power the more over-the-top elements of Platinum’s usual output.
But when this track played after fighting the first major boss encounter, I knew I was in for a treat. ‘Raven’, in many ways, is a successor, alongside other vocal tracks from composer Masahiro Miyauchi with lyrics by Victor Borba and Trevor McCarley, to the amazing vocal themes present in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.
This track was just a taste of the hype-inducing levels of music the full Ninja Gaiden 4 experience has to offer.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
As a series primed for players to get lost in beautiful, haunting areas, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond continues the series tradition of having powerful music to get you in the right mood. Here are some of the standout tracks from Samus’ latest adventure.
Fury Green
As one of the first major biomes that Samus explores in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, it’s important to capture the spirit from past Prime titles, and I feel this track does so, effortlessly.
It’s haunting, with forboding chants and an emotional piano beat, keeping you on your toes as the familiar Prime alien sound lingers in the background, keeping Samus on edge despite the alien beauty around her. This is only one of the many powerful music tracks present in Samus’ latest adventure, but one that stuck with me during my early hours with the game.
Donkey Kong Bananaza
Being a series known for powerful scores that hit a wide spectrum of emotions, Donkey Kong Bananza has a powerful jungle beat to share with the world. While the game’s core level themes fit each of their environments, there are key moments during the adventure where the game’s music hits a crescendo.
Kong Bananza
As the first of the game’s many fantastic Bananza themes, the Kong Bananza is a rock-induced power fantasy vocalized for all to enjoy.
DK becomes a giant gorilla that would make his inspiration proud, having the strength to punch through steel and nearly anything in his path. With Pauline’s Splatoon-inspired vocals, it feels like a celebration of DK’s power. The pop-rock theme keeps you energized as you punch and smash your way through everything.
In many cases, I liked using Kong Bananza to hear this theme for a little while when exploring the game’s massive biomes. And this is only the first one. The other Bananza themes are equally awesome.
Heart of Gold
When you finish an adventure, you reflect on your experience. And what better way to do so than with Pauline’s song? Following up the fantastic ‘Jump Up, Super Star’ from Super Mario Odyssey is hard, but man, they did it.
Channelling the spirit present in the strongest scores of the 90’s era-Disney films, Pauline sings about her adventure with DK. It reflects her struggles, conflicts, and fears. But it also celebrates the powerful, positive influence DK had on her, cementing the powerful bond they created with each other, and by extension, the player.
The most powerful part of the song is its final stretch, where you hear the Donkey Kong Country opening theme and Kong Bananza’s melodies woven into the song as Paluine’s vocals hit their crescendo. In many ways, this song cements Donkey Kong Bananza as a game that will forever stick with me.
Gangplank Galleon Remix
The last track I want to highlight from Bananza is the fantastic remix of Gangplank Galleon. Originating from Donkey Kong Country, the track is King K. Rool’s theme. It’s a jaunty pirate beat, with a slight rock edge. This remix takes that rock edge and blares it in full force.
While the King of Rot appeared in Smash Bros. Ultimate with a remix of this theme, the remix present in Bananza represents a completely different emotion. This remix is to make it clear the KING is back and will not stand down for anything; meanwhile, the Smash Bros remix was more of a grand celebration of his comeback.
It was a fantastic way to spearhead the bombastic conclusion to what was one of my favorite games of 2025.
Kirby Air Riders
Following up on the original Kirby Air Ride was a tall order. Not just for updating and modernizing its trifecta of game modes (City Trial, Air Ride, Top Ride), but recapturing the vibes of the original’s soundtrack. Thankfully, Shogo Sakai and Noriyuki Iwadare, composers who worked on the original, return for Air Riders and offer some fantastic tunes to race to.
Mount Amberfalls
Out of all the new tracks, one of the largest is Mount Amberfalls. Racing down this mountain feels like a roller coaster, and the music track is a great reflection. It has its high-energy guitars, some orchestral flair in the middle, and everything loops back together with its catchy melody. Many tracks in Air Riders original score stand out, but this was a highlight for me.
Fountain of Dreams
One of the most iconic music themes in the entire Kirby series is Gorment Race. Starting as a track that played against fighting Kirby’s at-the-time big bad, the track continues to be a key part of the series.
Seeing the track return in Air Riders with a new remix is amazing. Similar to the Gangplank Galleon remix in Bananza, this track has a version in Super Smash Bros. This variation of the track has a different energy, leaning less on pure orchestra and adding a variety of other instruments into the mix, making the melody even more powerful.
And most impressive, it lasts a full five minutes, meaning you can listen to this epic track as an option for your City Trial adventures.
Lumines Arise
I would be remiss not to highlight one of the best soundtracks of the year, being Lumines Arise. It’s a game that focuses on music and how it interweaves with puzzle-matching gameplay. Instead of highlighting one track, I want to highlight the entire score, which you can listen to here.
From the fantastic ‘Arise’ to the emotionally powerful ‘Only Human’, every track is a musical adventure that every fan of music in general should give a listen.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Flying Waters
As of this writing, Expedition 33 is firmly deep in my personal backlog, but my early hours with the game had many tracks that stood out to me.
The one that hit the hardest has to be ‘Flying Waters’. The track plays during the water biome and has so much emotion, which is fitting considering where it takes place in the game’s narrative. The haunting NieR-esque female vocals beautifully support the powerful melody and sonar-like echoes.
Genokids – Slash Shred Solo on You
While a sizable amount of the Genokids Act 1 musical score was present in the Kickstarter, the strongest new theme in the Act 1 release was ‘Slash Shred Solo on You’. It’s Blue’s theme song, conveying how she matches the high-energy of her bandmate Red but has a more ‘grounded, focused’ perspective on things.
As one of the game’s battle themes, it gets the blood pumping and supports the awesome action combat that Genokids offers.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance – Boss Theme
Tee Lopes is no stranger to being on these lists, as his fantastic work on Beserker Boy stood out to me in 2024. And this year’s Shinboi: Art of Vengeance was no exception. Honoring the soundscape of the Genesis and Arcade originals, alongside adding his own flair into the mix, his score was fantastic across the board.
My favorite track from the game is the Boss Theme, which keeps you focused through its killer beat and almost heroic superhero vibes. When some of the bosses, more so as the adventure continues, keep you on your toes, a killer boss theme goes a long way in making those challenges feel amazing to overcome.
Mario Kart World
Offering a treasure trove of music tracks to enjoy across the entire Mario series, Mario Kart World‘s soundtrack is one of the year’s best. Below are just some of my personal favorites, but make no mistake, if you grew up with Mario and his friends, there’s something in the score you will enjoy.
Dire, Dire Docks Remix
When I was driving around the vast open world of Mario Kart World, and this started playing, I stopped driving and listened. And soon after, man tears came down my eyes, reminding me of the days back in 2005 playing Super Mario 64 DS.
The soft opening, luring you into a deep, profound jazzy take on the iconic Mario 64 level, is a powerful feeling. And as the song continues, it’s easy to lose yourself in the musical waves, as if you are Mario himself swimming through dangerous waters.
Yoshi’s Island Opening Melody Remix
One of the strongest memories of my earliest experiences with Nintendo was playing Yoshi’s Island on the Game Boy Advance. When I eventually played the SNES original, I grew to love the score from that title. It’s iconic and emotionally powerful.
This remix evokes feelings of being a kid and going on wonderful adventures with Yoshi and Baby Mario. Similar to the Dire, Dire Docks remix, I just felt a wave of childhood emotions come over me when listening to this remix.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
To wrap up my selection of 2025’s musical highlights, it is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. This action title offers a great mixture of original compositions and remixes of tunes heard throughout the Breath of the Wild–era Zelda games. Two tracks stood out to me from the game’s enjoyable soundtrack.
The Soaring Construct
This is the theme of the Knight Construct, an original character created for Age of Imprisonment. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to Link, this warrior’s theme evokes heavy emotion. Featuring BotW’s familiar piano keys, and despite sounding heroic, it’s somber.
In BotW’s lore, Zonai Constructs are dangerous weapons when in the wrong hands. So when one actively stands alongside Zelda and the other heroes, many are unsure what to make of it. But the Knight’s character consistently has some of the best moments in Age of Imprisonment, all the way to the game’s climactic conclusion.
I genuinely got emotional when this theme started playing towards the final hours.
Battle for the Snowfield
If anyone enjoyed The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker back in the day, then the theme of Dragon Roost Island is nostalgic. Being a land of bird-like people, the Rito race carried on into the BotW series of games, as did their theme.
To fit the Warriors’ gameplay style, the iconic theme has additional layers, making the memorable theme stand out even more. I particularly enjoy the final phase of the song.
Words from the Lords, Writers, and Scribes on LogNet
This year was amazing in music, and to conclude this list, I have both Lord Chris and Lord Flame sharing their video game musical highlights of 2025.
CUnit, aka Lord Chris
When it comes to the best gaming soundtrack of 2025, a few standout contenders immediately rise to the top. For me, it’s an incredibly close race between Expedition 33 and the Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remasters. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it’s the timeless composition, but Suikoden ultimately edges out the competition. Both soundtracks know how to draw out genuine emotion, but Suikoden 2 still hits me just as hard today as it did the first time I played it.
These remastered tracks can lift you up with bright, cheerful melodies, then turn around and underscore the weight of a scene with heartbreaking precision. Every moment feels enhanced because the music understands exactly what the story needs. Expedition 33 deserves recognition as well—its soundtrack delivers a powerful atmosphere all its own. But at the end of the day, Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remasters take the crown for my favorite soundtrack of 2025.
Lord Flame
While a standout for me in the music space this year was, of course, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, I would not be honest with myself to not bring up the golden child of music this year, Octopath Traveler 0. For those who have not yet listened to the soundtracks from any of the series entries, just know, they’re on a whole different level.
Some of the new music added, like “Decisive Battle 0” and, of course, “Wishvale” is just the tip of the iceberg for this game and setting the tone. Mixing serenity, action, and honor all interwoven into just a few tracks for the rest of the journey to come… 2025 had killer soundtracks, and Square Enix did not leave gamers empty-handed; it would not be like them to be forgotten in a conversation surrounding music, after all.
