Sure, Grand Theft Auto 6 didn’t come out this year – but 2025 was still a great 12 months in gaming. From ambitious indies to huge blockbusters, there have been some unmissable titles to get stuck into. And where would the great games be without their stellar soundtracks, setting the ideal audio backdrops for every bit of action on-screen. Below, we’ve rounded up our favourite scores from a vintage year. Go on, have a listen.
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’
Composer: The Flight
Shadows takes the Assassin’s Creed franchise to 16th century Japan and gives players control of two very different heroes – agile ninja Naoe and hulking samurai Yasuke. The game was praised for its historical accuracy and while composer duo The Flight (Joe Henson and Alexis Smith) toyed around with classic instruments to steep the music in history, they also took influence from avant garde pop, Western films and hip-hop.
For fans of: Wu-Tang Clan, The Flaming Lips
‘Blue Prince’
Composer: Trigg & Gusset
Blue Prince blends mystery, strategy and puzzle mechanics to create a mind-boggling game that never repeats itself. The two-hour soundtrack from jazz duo Trigg & Gusset is just as mesmerising as the on-screen activities. Most of the slow-burning score is delicately done and adds to the spooky story’s haunting atmosphere, but there are occasional themes such as ‘Westwardly Winds’ which provide some louder, more frenetic moments.
‘Borderlands ‘4
Composer: various
Borderlands is a loud, brash game about an anarchic gang of treasure hunters who tear through alien wastelands in pursuit of their next big score. The fourth entry in this beloved series is bigger and more eclectic than anything that’s come before – and it’s got a chaotic soundtrack to match. From the electro violence of Finishing Move’s contributions to Des Rocs’ rock & roll anthem ‘This Land’, the music is all about energy and unpredictability. Cris Velasco and Joshua Carro provide moments of lush serenity too, while the in-game radio is made up of tracks created by Borderlands 4’s own development team.
For fans of: Yungblud, Rage Against The Machine
‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’
Composer: Lorien Testard
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a sweeping, story-driven epic and the gorgeous soundtrack from Lorien Testard dials up the drama time and time again. Inspired by Final Fantasy, The Legend Of Zelda and Studio Ghibli scores, the music is powerful, commanding and does an excellent joy of transporting you elsewhere. No wonder it topped the Billboard Classical Albums chart when it came out in April and has already spawned a sold-out tour. More than one person has called it the greatest video game soundtrack of all time – and we’re not here to argue.
For fans of: good music
‘Death Stranding 2: On The Beach’
Composer: Woodkid, Ludvig Forssell
With this sequel, original composer Ludvig Forssell returns to the world of Death Stranding for another powerhouse orchestral score – joined by newcomer Woodkid, who delivers an album of alt-pop gems inspired by drum & bass, heavy metal and goth bangers. It might sound like a strange pairing but it’s the perfect accompaniment to this dystopian tale of connection, isolation and doing things your own way.
For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Billie Eilish
‘Donkey Kong Bananza’
Composer: various
Donkey Kong has always been the funkiest of Nintendo’s heroes and 3D platformer Bananza celebrates his rhythmical abilities in style. Throughout this enjoyable smash-‘em-up, DK can unlock special Bananza powers that are triggered by his pop star-in-the-making pal Pauline flexing her vocal chords. With a handful of remixed classics and plenty of fresh, percussive cuts, the accompanying soundtrack is a groove-driven masterpiece that’ll get lodged in your head for hours.
‘Doom: The Dark Ages’
Composer: Finishing Move
The Dark Ages takes the ferocious Doom Slayer back in time to a cyberpunk viking hellscape to tear through waves of snarling demons. It only seems right that the pulsating score from Finishing Move takes heavy inspiration from the greatest metal bands in the world. Metallica, Black Sabbath and Nine Inch Nails all influenced the mosh-pit ready music alongside progressive newcomers such as Spiritbox and Bring Me The Horizon. Have fun ripping Satan’s hellspawn apart while headbanging.
For fans of: Metallica, Spiritbox
‘Hades 2’
Composer: Darren Korb
For the original Hades, Darren Korb created his own genre – Mediterranean-prog-rock-Halloween. This mash-up of flamboyant rock and roll and Greek mythology was the perfect accompaniment to a game that sees you plotting your escape from the underworld. The music for the sequel is just as over-the-top. Cronos is the God Of Time so his themes feature a ticking clock that adds to the genuine sense of urgency while in-game band Scylla And The Sirens return for more devilishly infectious pop-rock bangers.
For fans of: Ghost, Evanescence
‘Hollow Knight: Silksong’
Composer: Christopher Larkin
It was an agonising eight-year wait for Hollow Knight sequel Silksong but the latest twisting adventure across Pharloom’s devastated landscape lived up to our loftiest of expectations. Just like the original, Silksong is a fiendishly difficult game to master but the incredible soundtrack from Christopher Larkin took the sting out of repeated visits to tackle big bad bosses Lost Lace and Skarrsinger Karmelita. Tender one moment, harsh the next, it’s an enthralling listen.
For fans of: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, The Cure
‘Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’
Composer: Jan Valta
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is as authentic as video games get. The massive open-world title forces you to scrub up before you can talk to noblemen and if you haven’t managed to barter a bed for the night, you can’t save your progress. That’s before we get to the real-life historical events that inspired the medieval civil war you get caught up in. Composer Jan Valta was more influenced by Steven Spielberg blockbusters than lute-based ditties though, which gave the gritty adventure through 14th century Bohemia a real sense of majesty.
For fans of: Florence And The Machine, The Last Dinner Party
‘Mario Kart World’
Composer: various
For 40 years, Nintendo has been cooking up stone cold bangers to accompany Mario’s heroic exploits in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario Kart World celebrated that legacy with remixed classics alongside some inspired new tracks. We never knew how badly we needed to hear a Flamenco reimagining of the creepy ‘Underground’ theme or a Ska-inspired take on the classic ‘Overworld’ song until this year.
For fans of: Now! That’s What I Call Music, Madness
‘Silent Hill f’
Composer: Kensuke Inage, Akira Yamaoka
There’s a constant sense of dread which infuses Silent Hill f. Surviving the deserted Japanese town of Ebisugaoka is scary enough, but the bizarre, alternative reality of the Dark Shrine and creeping Fox Mask who exists there is pure nightmare fuel. Making the psychological horror even more intense is a soundtrack that’s as beautiful as it is grotesque. Lush, sweeping melodies give way to bursts of vicious industrial metal while haunting, atmospheric soundscapes add to the persistent unease you’ll feel.
For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Portishead
‘Skate’
Composer: various
The ever-changing soundtrack is a celebration of skate culture. Since it launched earlier this year, Skate’s featured snotty hardcore anthems (Scowl’s ‘B.A.B.E.’) viral hyperpop bangers (2hollis’ ‘Destroy Me’), tender emo tunes (Feeble Little Horse’s ‘Chores’) and hip-hop classics (Public Enemy’s ‘Public Enemy No. 1’). With new music added every season, this alt-sports sensation has quickly become one of the best ways to discover new music.
For fans of: Turnstile, Blink-182
‘South Of Midnight’
Composer: Olivier Derivière
A cross between The Witcher and Sinners, South Of Midnight makes for a fantastical, fiery adventure inspired by folklore of the American South. Wanting to build out the world, Olivier Derivière’s soundtrack uses local musicians and traditional instruments to create a gorgeous blend of soulful blues, lively honky-tonk and searing rock and roll. There’s a swagger to the whole thing that’s perfect for slaying giant crocodiles to, or giving your day-to-day life a much-needed boost.
For fans of: Doechii, James Brown
‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4’
Composer: Various
Perhaps the most controversial soundtrack of the year. This remastered collection of noughties hits Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 only included a handful of OG skateboarding anthems with Hawk himself wanting this game to offer the same sense of discovery that the originals had – but for a new generation. Sure, there’s no AC/DC or Alien Ant Farm but tracks from Turnstile, 100 gecs, Idles, Danny Brown and more are worthy replacements. Avoiding pure nostalgia, this soundtrack is as vital and influential as anything from Pro Skater’s impressive legacy.
For fans of: CKY, Idles
‘Sword Of The Sea’
Composer: Austin Wintory
Sword Of The Sea, a giddy surfboard adventure that brings together the best bits of The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker and classic snowboarding simulator SSX, was one of this year’s hidden gems. There’s an intriguing plot about restoring a lost ocean, the sprawling world looks utterly gorgeous and the gameplay is a thrilling rollercoaster ride. The whole thing is tied together by another powerful Austin Wintory score. Featuring loads of piano, a surprising amount of woodwind and an inescapable feeling of wanderlust, it’s been described as “a mellifluous musical adventure” but put more simply, it’s pure magic.
For fans of: Stevie Wonder, Rosalia
‘Wanderstop’
Composer: C418
C418, the mastermind behind a raft of iconic Minecraft songs, is among the most influential video game composers working today. His soundtrack to cosy tea-based game Wanderstop is the perfect example of why. Yes, his music is minimalist but the composer packs each delicate song with bags of emotion. The sweeping title track is as majestic as they come, ‘The Fighter’ is a moment of pure melancholy and ‘Dusk Rush’ is a twinkling, upbeat banger.
For fans of: Aphex Twin, Brian Eno
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