What more could you ask for whilst travelling a mini planet with a hoard of tiny minions, but a cosy, relaxing soundtrack to go with? The music in Pikmin is incredibly comfy and numerous tracks are a great addition to your ‘Wake Up With Coffee’ playlists. The score, composed by Hajime Wakai and Kazumi Totaka (and others later), is both incredibly cute and immersive. It transports you to another planet and makes you feel as though you are Olimar, collecting the pieces of your ship to make your way home. On top of this, a new element is added to the music with each piece of the S.S. Dolphin that you retrieve, making for a unique gaming experience.
Best tracks:
- The Forest of Hope—Pikmin
- The Forest Navel—Pikmin
- Perplexing Pool — Pikmin 2
- Garden of Hope—Pikmin 3
- Groovy Long Legs—Pikmin 4
Ai no Uta by Strawberry Flower is also a special addition to the series, though it does not appear during gameplay.
Also, here is an adorable video of the Pikmin singing the Water Wraith theme.
Absolutely nothing beats playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf at 2 AM, hiding under your bed covers, knowing you’re supposed to be asleep because you have school tomorrow morning. Kazumi Totaka is a true artisan when it comes to composing songs that you can slip into your daily life. Luckily, this game has a tune for each hour of the day—yes, including the wee hours of the morning—meaning you never have to go a moment without listening to music-box-esque tunes. YouTube has a multitude of playlists dedicated to the New Leaf soundtrack, including the popular 10-hour videos.
Best tracks:
- 8 P.M.
- 2 A.M.
- 1 P.M
- 10 A.M.
- We’ll Be Closing Shortly…
A special shout-out to Resetti’s theme for making thousands of us sob out of fear.
It’s no wonder this indie game blew up the way that it did with the wonderful score created by ConcernedApe. Each track was created based on his intuition, developing the sound based on how the seasons felt. The soundtrack is so adored by fans that there is an official orchestral concert: Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons. This concert has been played globally, showing how truly loved the soundtrack is—a true feat for someone with no formal background in musical training.
Best tracks:
- Dance of the Moonlight Jellies
- Fall (Ghost Synth)
- Spirit’s Eve Festival
- Winter (Nocturne of Ice)
- Mines (Visitor to the Unknown)
There doesn’t seem to anything more motivating in life than a hale and hearty group of Norsemen singing at the top of their lungs about a mighty warrior. So Skyrim makes the list. If you want your blood to boil and your heart to beat more than is medically advisable, then listen to the opening track and prepare yourself.
Best tracks:
- Dragonborn
- Unbroken Road
- The Bannered Mare
As an odd rule, if your game is difficult your game must have a banging soundtrack to at least compliment the suffering players feel. It’s a rule that From Software has followed to the letter and has been a point of both pleasure and pain. Nothing quite beats having your ass handed to you by The Gaping Dragon while music of determination and strife plays in the background. Overall the soundtrack is one of the best parts of the game and will haunt most people in their sleep.
Best tracks:
- Gaping Dragon
- Great Grey Wolf Sif
- Gwyn Lord of Cinder
- Knight Artorias