I’ve long had an affection for video game music and feel content to live in an age where I can actually obtain it and listen to it without having to plug in my SNES, beat Chrono Trigger, and sit there to croon along with the sweet end credits theme. So like some of you, I also enjoy really well-done MMO music, especially when it’s available in great quantities.
Today I’m challenging myself to make a list of what I consider to be the top 10 MMO soundtracks, focusing on original music (sorry, Star Wars Galaxies), the quality/quantity ratio, and how beloved it is beyond that particular game’s community. I’m also going to limit this list to one title per franchise to spread the love. Ready? Crank up those speakers and let’s get to it!
World of Warcraft
Say what you will about the evolving design of this MMO, but Blizzard has never skimped on the art and the music. World of Warcraft is a treasure trove of amazing and legendary tunes on a whole another level, and it’s a pleasure to swim through its hundreds of tracks to revisit old favorites and find new ones. And hey, what about that The War Within OST? Good stuff there!
RuneScape
To my knowledge, no other MMO has more music tracks in the game than then long-running RuneScape. And the good news is that most of this is wonderfully done, especially the classic old MIDI themes remastered for modern ears. There’s also a great playfulness that runs through a lot of these pieces that encourage the player to simply have fun.
Final Fantasy XIV
Of course, if you argue that FFXIV is the greatest MMO soundtrack of all time, I’m not going to stand in your way. It’s certainly a tremendous body of beautifully crafted work that both pulls from previous Final Fantasy titles and covers plenty of new ground. Much of it is pretty in-your-face and quirky, but fans of this title tend to love that.
Guild Wars 2
While the first game’s OST is tremendous, I put the sequel above it for several reasons. There’s simply more of it, for starters, and it’s the product of several different composers with different ears. There’s a loveliness to this game’s score that you don’t often hear in MMOs, and I love to bask in it.
Lime Odyssey
I’m going with a bit of an odd entry here, but I can’t overlook the excellence of Lime Odyssey’s soundtrack, especially since it was scored by legendary composer Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and so many more). This OST punches far above its weight as a result.
WildStar
It’s such a testament to composer Jeff Kurtenacker’s score that people who don’t usually follow game music recognized and adored this soundtrack for its across-the-board mastery. There are so many bangers throughout the 280-odd tracks, and I only wish that there had been a full physical media release of these. One of my all-time favorites.
Lord of the Rings Online
This MMO wouldn’t be half as cozy or thematic as it is if it wasn’t for the splendid soundtrack undergirding it. With works by several composers over the nearly two decades of this title’s lifespan, LOTRO’s OST is a wealth of memories, journeys, and triumphs.
Elder Scrolls Online
I really feel that poor Elder Scrolls Online gets overlooked in any discussion of great MMO soundtracks, and I want to rectify that here. There are so many top-notch album releases over this game’s lifespan, and each has plenty of tracks that enhance the mystery and history of this world. It’s definitely a score I’d encourage players to leave on while they adventure.
Vanguard
I’m probably going to upset some people by going with this dark horse rather than music from one of the EverQuest titles, but I’ve got to go with my gut on this one. I’ve long since been in love with Vanguard’s score and champion it as one of the better old school OSTs from a dead title. Check it out and see for yourself!
Aion
Aion is one of those magical soundtracks where you keep discovering new amazing tracks after you thought you found them all. The studio pumped so much effort and talent into procuring great composers and musicians for this game, and it definitely paid off.
Everyone likes a good list, and we are no different! Perfect Ten takes an MMO topic and divvies it up into 10 delicious, entertaining, and often informative segments for your snacking pleasure. Got a good idea for a list? Email us at justin@massivelyop.com or eliot@massivelyop.com with the subject line “Perfect Ten.”
