Created by some exceptionally talented composers from around the world, we’re here to highlight 20 of the very best indie game soundtracks.

You can find most of this music in full on YouTube with a quick search. Or you can buy the complete soundtracks online to support the composers directly. Up to you, but above all just enjoy those sounds.

Headphones on, Please, for the Best Indie Game Music

It’s not difficult to find indie games with good soundtracks. The difficulty was narrowing it down to just 20, but we do believe the below are the very best examples of independent game musicians at their best.

20. World of Goo: Kyle Gabler

Right, World of Goo (2008) was one of the first indie games we played. Kyle Gabler handled a vast amount of the game’s development, including the soundtrack.

He used clever techniques to get a few of his friends to provide choral backing vocals, then amplify it to make it sound like a whole batch of singers were there.

An early example of indie game soundtracks getting it bang on.

19. Tunic: Janice Kwan and Lifeformed

An instant classic, Tunic (2022) launched and we swooned for the thing—even though it’s tough as nails.

The music ranges from soothing and chillaxed vibes to more full on drama. But we love Memories of Memories above for its reflective nature.

Full credit to Janice Kwan and Lifeformed, though, as this electronic music is to an exceptional standard across all 60 compositions for the soundtrack.

18. A Highland Song: Laurence Chapman

Laurance Chapman’s score to A Highland Song is inspired by Scotland’s mountainous region. The result is gorgeous folk music, with support from the Scottish musicians Talisk and Fourth Moon.

Alongside the game’s incredible visual style, this is a perfect match. Swoon worthy as you take in the sights, hear those strings, and buy the soundtrack on demand.

17. Dead Cells: Yoann Laulan

Motion Twin’s Dead Cells (2017) is an epic roguelike Metroidvania. It’s fast-paced and frantic, with Yoann Laulan’s managing to compose itself between relaxing numbers alongside a sense of urgency.

Our favourite piece is still The Merchant, a moment of downtime amongst all the frantic carnage of the main levels.

There are nods to Medieval music throughout (the game is set in a castle, after all) and every single number has something unique to offer.

16. Runner2: Matthew Harwood

For us, the endless runner Runner2 (2013) is a perfect game. It’s addictive and moreish, pelted along with a life-affirming and glorious batch of music.

It’s about repetition, rhythm, timing, and perseverance.

All to the tune of some seriously catchy electronic dance numbers that propel you along and make you rather happy. Hurray, we say.

15. Momodora Moonlit Farewell: Notorious Knave

The cult favourite platformer series ended with Momodora: Moonlit Farewell (2024). An amazing Metroidvania series, this is the best of the lot.

And the enigmatic composer Notorious Knave is at their best here. Moonlit Farewell’s music is a neoclassical wall of sound drenched in piano, synth, and orchestral swells, it’s a glorious piece of work.

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14. Hoa: Johannes Johansson

Lots of Studio Ghibli influences here! Hoa (2021) is a short platformer, but magnificent to look at and backed by a full orchestra.

The soundtrack is powerful stuff. Whilst all of it is brilliant, the Hello Rocks track remains a particular favourite of ours. Full of memorable piano hooks, swelling orchestral backing, and full on emoting this is definitely a thing of beauty.

13. Ghost Song: Grant Graham

Scottish composer Grant Graham created the excellent soundtrack to the equally excellent Metroidvania title Ghost Song (2022).

It’s a deeply melancholic work, which sits very well with the eerie sci-fi setting of the game’s labyrinth mazes.

You’ll find atmospherics, electric guitars, ’80s synth, and piano. It’s all heartfelt and promotes the sense of lonely solitude on the moon of Lorian.

12. Norco: Gewgawly I and Thou

A remarkable game Norco (2022) most definitely is, the music is integral. It’s a collaborative effort between metal band Thou and Geography of Robot’s composer Gewgawly I.

There’s a lot of synth here to match the post-industrial world you inhabit.

Add in wells of ambiance and lots of ’80s and ’90s feels and you’ve got a sense of alienation and experimentation. In other words, it’s epic.

11. FAR: Lone Sails: Joel Schoch

Egads, the whole FAR: Lone Sails experience is beautiful enough as it is. Stark, desolate landscapes and a sense of solitude.

Throw in Joel Schoch’s gorgeous soundtrack and it’s a perfect match.

There’s a lot of contemplative brooding going on with the pieces, leaving you to gawp at the silvery landscapes and enjoy some timely introspection.

10. Pilgrims: Floex

The first Floex (Tomáš Dvořák) entry on this list and it’s for Amanita Design’s Pilgrims (2019). Although a short game, the composer nevertheless created a magical time of it.

The soundtrack is only 21 minutes as the adventure game is short.

But in that timeframe the clarinettist, composer, and multimedia artist goes off on one with a mixture of accordions, guitar, mandolin, drums, and clarinet. It’s a joy to listen to and peaks with the final piece—Pilgrims Samsara.

9. Papetura: Floex

The adventure game Papetura (2021) features arguably Floex’s best soundtrack. The Czech composer worked his magic again here in dramatic style.

Across nine tracks there’s a mixture of violin work alongside electronic music, the latter of which we’ve grown to appreciate a great deal more thanks to indie games.

Piano features heavily and everything ramps up to add considerable clout to one of our favourite indie games.

8. Teslagrad: Bear and Cat

The first Teslgrad (2013) has a Eastern European vibe throughout, with a Chopin-esque tinge of classical music.

Jørn Lavoll and Linn Kathrin Taklo (Bear and Cat) are superb across the whole soundtrack, which has so many peaks it’s ridiculous. But we must choose the violin-driven Dad is Dead as emblematic for the quality of work across the whole game.

7. Celeste: Lena Raine

2018’s Celeste from Maddy Makes Games is a masterpiece of 2D platforming and the outstanding music makes it all the more memorable.

This is world-class soundtrack to go with one of the best modern 2D platformers. Lena Raine’s music mixes synth with a dynamic sense of urgency, all hinging around the game’s narrative of mental health battles and accomplishments.

6. SPACEPLAN: Logan Gabriel

The music across addictive clicker game SPACEPLAN (2017) has some invigorating electronic beats, as with our favourite Launch above.

But other tracks, such as Contagion, maintain a sparse quality to capture the empty, unfathomable beauty of deep space. There was also a new set of SPACEPLAN tracks a few years ago, with the pulsating Muo being a big highlight.

There are deep bass rhythms merged with quiet atmospherics and it adds an often thrilling, even chilling, edge to SPACEPLAN’s berserk clicker gameplay pace.

5. Hollow Knight Silksong: Christopher Larkin

Whilst we had reservations about the contrived difficulty of Team Cherry’s long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, the score doesn’t disappoint.

Christopher Larkin returns as composer following the original 2017 outing and is on spectacular form. There’s a mournful, classical approach to the music that’s constantly evolving and delivers endless memorable pieces.

4. Spiritfarer: Max LL

Our love for the magical and inspiring Spiritfarer (2020) is very real. Although dealing with death, the game handles the concept intelligently.

Max LL’s beautiful Spiritfarer music backs that up, ranging from dramatic orchestral sweeps to actionable, upbeat numbers to propel you along. It’s in turns energetic, relaxing, but always inspiring. At every turn it’s always captivating and has a kind of neoclassical feel to it.

In October 2025, we were also very privileged to see Spiritfarer in concert at Cadogan Hall. Quite the experience.

3. Owlboy: Johnathan Geer

When we revisit Owlboy (2016) at least once a year to enjoy its brilliance. Also, the music! It’s top level stuff and one of our favourite game soundtracks.

It’s an emotional and bittersweet game, essentially a coming-of-age story for a mute, shy owl in a tiny airborne community.

Jonathan Geer’s orchestral Owlboy score has a sense of youthful, innocent wonder. All very elegant and an ideal complement to an all-time favourite game of ours.

2. Samorost 3: Floex

Along with the individual at No. 1 further below, we do think Floex is one of the world’s best game composers. The work he’s producing for Amanita Design is relentlessly fantastic.

The whole soundtrack to surrealist gem Samorost 3 (2016) is fascinating and weird. It’s a quirky game and the music reflects that, proffering up dreamy, otherworldly ambiance and all that jazz. Mighty stuff.

1. Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Gareth Coker

There’s never been any doubt for us Coker’s work on the two Ori games is the absolute peak of indie game music.

The British composer is on one very high level, which isn’t to say the other composers here are lacking. They’re outstandingly good. Coker just has something extra special going on. His music across Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020) is off the charts excellent.