3. The Banner Saga (Stoic / Austin Wintory)
There were so many games in with a shout for a place in this top three, such is the level of quality currently available within the sphere of video game soundtracks. The Banner Saga gets the nod in third place, and Austin Wintory's wonderful score really does deserve its podium finish.
The game is full of thought-provoking decisions, and there's the constant threat that a reckless choice might cost you the life of a trusted and essential member of your party. This tension is reflected wonderfully in the OST, through pulsating drum beats, enchanting choral arrangements, and with the quieter moments accentuated by wind instruments and the gentle rolling strings of the violin.
Folk themes are woven into the score frequently, tying the music to the fantasy-themed setting. Simply put, the soundtrack is superb, and it's up there with Wintory's finest work (which also includes Journey and Monaco: What's Yours is Mine). While the Disney-esque cartoon graphics are wonderfully done and really set the scene, the soundtrack is just as much the beating heart of the The Banner Saga.
2. Transistor (Supergiant Games / Darren Korb)
A game where the player steps into the shoes of a singer (Red) who has lost her voice clearly needs a great score and Transistor definitely delivers in this department. Much like Bastion before it, Transistor offers a soundscape that both fits perfectly with the onscreen action and stands out as something different and unique within gaming.
The music manages to stay very consistent in spite of mirroring the artificial nature of the game's corruption as well reflecting the humanity and organic side of Red. Largely offering electronica that ranges from what we might describe as indie-rock or even post-rock, to the power ballads featuring the talents of Ashley Barrett and the weird elevator music of the Backdoor area.
Few games manage to offer a soundtrack that contributes this much to the narrative and as we listen to it while typing up these words, images of scenes from the game flash in our mind's eye. That, if anything, is testament to the impact of Darren Korb's work.
1. Destiny (Bungie / Michael Salvatori, C Paul Johnson, Martin O'Donnell & Paul McCartney)
There's a cloud hanging over what we consider to be the best video game soundtrack of the year. It's a complicated story, but in a nutshell, long-serving composer Martin O'Donnell was sacked by Bungie earlier this year.
The reason behind the Halo-composer's departure remains unclear even to this day, but it was far from a happy split, with the two parties having to settle their differences in a court of law (O'Donnell won, and Bungie had to pay him money owed and reinstate his founder's shares).
Legal squabbling, however, doesn't overshadow the quality of Destiny's stunning soundtrack. O'Donnel, who along with contributions from Michael Salvatori, C Paul Johnson, and perhaps most notably, Paul McCartney (who provided the official theme tune), crafted a masterpiece. Their collaborative effort yielded staggering results, with musical arrangements to suit all encounters, and with bespoke compositions that channeled the energies of the various sandbox environments created by Bungie.
There's a huge range of styles present in the 44-track OST, including signature themes and haunting scene-setters. Musically it lurches from serene strings to gritty guitar riffs, and every one of them oozes with quality. Stunning stuff.
Honourable mentions