Gaming Soundtracks Hitting the High Score: Undertale Tops Chart of Best-Rated Game Music
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Remember when video game tracks were just fun background noise? Those days are long gone. Now, they’re designed to pull you into the game, amp up your emotions, and keep you totally hooked.
Game soundtracks have come a long way since those old 8-bit tunes. Today, we’re getting full orchestral scores and even collaborations with famous musicians, creating tracks that stick in your head long after you’ve rage-quit that impossible boss fight.
A fun new study by U4GM, a gaming goods marketplace, has revealed the top 10 gaming soundtracks. They looked at some of the best rated game soundtracks and the number of Spotify listens to find out which game music fans love the most around the world.
Top 10 Gaming Soundtracks
Here’s the rundown of the Top 10 Game Soundtracks according to U4GM, using data from IMDB, IGN, and Spotify plays. Plus, what makes each one unforgettable:
- Undertale (2015) – Toby Fox
Spotify Plays: 1.57 billion
Why it’s great: This soundtrack is a perfect mix of nostalgia and emotion. Tracks like “Megalovania” have become legendary, pulling you right into the quirky, heartfelt world of Undertale. It’s simple yet so powerful, sticking with you long after you’ve finished playing. - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) – Jeremy Soule
Spotify Plays: 841 million
Why it’s great: Skyrim’s sweeping orchestral score, especially tracks like “Dragonborn,” makes you feel like you’re part of an epic fantasy adventure. The music is as immersive as the game’s massive open world, giving you chills as you battle dragons and explore ancient ruins. - Persona 5 (2017) – Shoji Meguro
Spotify Plays: 438 million
Why it’s great: Persona 5’s soundtrack is pure style. With its mix of jazz, funk, and rock, it sets the perfect tone for pulling off heists and navigating teenage drama. Tracks like “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There” are so catchy, they’ll be stuck in your head long after the credits roll. - Hollow Knight (2017) – Christopher Larkin
Spotify Plays: 257 million
Why it’s great: The hauntingly beautiful music of Hollow Knight matches the eerie, melancholic atmosphere of the game. Christopher Larkin’s orchestral score perfectly enhances the emotional depth of exploring this dark, mysterious world. - Halo 2 (2004) – Martin O’Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Steve Vai, Breaking Benjamin, Incubus
Spotify Plays: 189 million
Why it’s great: Halo 2’s soundtrack is pure energy. Combining rock and orchestral music, tracks like “Mjolnir Mix” crank up the intensity of every battle. It’s an iconic soundtrack that set a new standard for gaming scores. - Red Dead Redemption II (2018) – Woody Jackson, Daniel Lanois
Spotify Plays: 180 million
Why it’s great: This soundtrack beautifully blends folk, rock, and orchestral pieces. Songs like “Unshaken” perfectly capture the rugged and emotional journey through the Wild West, making it feel like you’re living inside an epic western film. - Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) – Marcin Przybyłowicz, P.T. Adamczyk, Paul Leonard-Morgan
Spotify Plays: 137 million
Why it’s great: With its futuristic, synth-heavy score, Cyberpunk 2077’s soundtrack feels as electric as the neon-lit world it accompanies. Tracks like “Never Fade Away” add to the chaotic, high-energy vibe that makes you feel fully immersed in Night City. - God of War (2018) – Bear McCreary
Spotify Plays: 133 million
Why it’s great: This powerful, Norse-inspired score is epic yet deeply emotional, much like the game itself. “Memories of Mother” is one of those tracks that perfectly complements the game’s storyline, making every moment feel larger than life. - Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) – Square Enix Music
Spotify Plays: 116 million
Why it’s great: The Final Fantasy VII Remake soundtrack brings back beloved themes with a modern twist, blending nostalgia with a fresh orchestral sound. The battle themes, in particular, bring the perfect level of hype to every encounter. - Cuphead (2017) – Kristofer Maddigan
Spotify Plays: 113 million
Why it’s great: This soundtrack is a love letter to 1930s jazz, big band, and ragtime. Tracks like “Floral Fury” are playful yet intense, perfectly matching the vintage cartoon aesthetic of Cuphead and making every boss fight feel like a dance.
Table 1: Top 10 Game Soundtracks ranked by Spotify plays
| TOP 10 GAME SOUNDTRACKS | ||||
| Ranking | Game | Title Track | Rating | Number of plays – Spotify |
| 1 | Undertale | Undertale Soundtrack | 10 | 1,576,300,198 |
| 2 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 9 | 841,271,406 |
| 3 | Persona 5 | Persona 5 Original Soundtrack | 9.7 | 438,815,786 |
| 4 | Hollow Knight | Hollow Knight: Original Soundtrack | 9.4 | 257,337,625 |
| 5 | Halo 2 | Halo 2 Original Soundtrack | 9.8 | 189,630,320 |
| 6 | Red Dead Redemption II | The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2 (Original Soundtrack) | 9.7 | 180,953,053 |
| 7 | Cyberpunk 2077 | Cyberpunk 2077 – Original Score | 9 | 137,043,650 |
| 8 | God of War | God of War (Audio) | 9.2 | 133,231,226 |
| 9 | Final Fantasy VII Remake | Final Fantasy VII Remake (Original Soundtrack) | 8 | 116,535,644 |
| 10 | Cuphead | Cuphead (Original Soundtrack) | 8.8 | 113,301,575 |
Wai-Fai Cou, spokesperson for U4GM, commented on the study:
“Video game music has evolved so much over the years. These soundtracks create emotional connections with players, whether it’s the nostalgia of an 8-bit melody or the epic rush of a full orchestral score.
“Gamers are listening to these soundtracks during the game and then they’re adding them to their playlists, working out to them, and even using them to relax and unwind for sleep. It’s no surprise that games like Undertale and Skyrim have soundtracks that are streamed millions, even billions, of times. They’ve become part of pop culture in their own right, and players just can’t get enough of them.”
