10 Best Original Songs Created for Video Games

Among all the crucial aspects that make a video game memorable, music may rank right up there at the top of the list. The emotion that good music can elicit in a narrative is truly remarkable, and video game soundtracks have proven themselves capable of routinely outclassing their rivals in film and television.

A good way to make a video game soundtrack memorable is an original song. An original piece constructed specifically for a game can elevate the project's soundtrack into something more, as it shows just how much effort has been put into the audio production. As something of a soundtrack obsessive, I'm always on the hunt for great video game songs.

Orchestral music is always a delight, but sometimes a good vocal track is the one piece that will stand out the most in a video game soundtrack. These songs were played at the exact right time, creating instant impressions that are still being felt all these years later.

10 Still Alive

Portal

If any song describes the surreal, offbeat humor of Portal, it's Still Alive. This original song was also performed by EllenMcClain, who lent her voice to the sinister AI known as GLaDOS.

It plays over the end credits, and is performed from the POV of GLaDOS, detailing her narcissistic personality and refusal to admit defeat. It is genuinely hilarious, yet also feels rather sad in some places. The way she still passionately hates Chell comes through pretty clearly, still roasting her even after being beaten.

Still Alive also makes direct references to the wider Half-Life universe. This was during the beginning of Valve's attempt to connect the two universes, and the shout-out to Black Mesa is one of the key reasons the worlds of Half-Life and Portal remain intertwined.

9 Herald of Darkness

Alan Wake 2

It's been three years since Alan Wake 2 finally found its way into our hearts, and I've still not found a game that captures the same feeling as the musical number from the game. It is genuinely one of the greatest gaming moments of the past decade.

The biggest contribution to that is the song, Herald of Darkness, which was performed by the real-life band Poets of the Fall as their fictional counterparts, the Old Gods of Asgard. Every member of this band is immensely talented, and that shines through in the song.

It's also thematically tied into every action you're doing in such a profound way. Herald of Darkness comments both on the absurdity of the situation, and further deepens the mythological, almost operatic, complexity of Alan Wake 2.

8 Devil Trigger

Devil May Cry 5

Among the many fabulous things that Devil May Cry 5 contributed to the series, one known for its original songs, Devil Trigger by Casey Edwards remains one of the best. It is a song that feels so much of its era, with just enough of that classic DMC edge and just being a genuinely great rock song.

Devil Trigger was written by Casey Edwards, but performed largely by his wife Ali, along with Cliff Lloret. It's safe to say that Ali's contributions are part of the song's signature, however, as she is the main attraction in the song.

It acts as the main battle theme for Nero, and it's one of the best songs in DMC history. The phrase "pull my Devil Trigger" has become iconic for the series, and this outstanding original song is non-stop hype.

7 Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater made a lot of big changes to the franchise. It eliminated the traditional radar system, introduced new combat mechanics and was the first to not feature Solid Snake as the playable character. It marked a pretty radical shift.

One thing it didn't skip, however, was commitment to breathtaking original songs. Snake Eater isn't just an original song, it's one that is woven so intricately into the fabric of the game's DNA. In its quest to solidify its identity as a swinging 60s spy thriller, Snake Eater is the James Bond opening theme equivalent that makes it all happen.

Performed by the absolutely remarkable Cyntha Harrel, Snake Eater has all the raw, bombastic aura of the Bond themes. There may not be a more confident, immediately impactful opening song in the history of video games.

6 Escape from the City

Sonic Adventure 2

If any video game franchise has a healthy relationship with music, it's Sonic the Hedgehog. Even the early games were strong contenders for greatest video game soundtracks of all time, but with Sonic Adventure 2, the team really went all out.

In all honesty, you could pick any of the songs in Sonic Adventure 2 for this list, and you'd probably be correct. But Escape from the City isn't just a fantastic song, it also accompanies one of the greatest moments in the entire game.

On its own, it's a fun song, but within the context of boarding down a city street as Sonic with the military after you, it elevates into something legendary. There are a lot of great songs in Sonic, but very few of them hit as hard as this one.

5 Everything or Nothing

James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

James Bond has been a mainstay in video games since the 1980s, but very few of them have been able to capture the cinematic magic of the films. Several have come close, including vintage titles like Agent Under Fire and Nightfire, but none have done it as well as James Bod 007: Everything or Nothing.

The key ingredient to this is the opening, which starts with the trademark gun barrel scene and an explosive action scene, finishing up with a Bond-style intro that feels like it could come right out of a movie. The song, Everything or Nothing, is also perfection when it comes to capturing that spirit.

Performed by the stupendously underrated Mya, who lends her smooth voice to the song, Everything or Nothing feels like such a proper Bond theme for the era. The catchy chorus is addictive, and the entire track is just outstanding.

4 Rules of Nature

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The relationship between Metal Gear and music is incredibly strong. There's an entire catalog of excellent Metal Gear songs, and one of the best makes its debut in the franchise's most bizarre outing. That's saying a lot considering just how unhinged the series is, but Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is still the most unusual entry in the entire series.

Rules of Nature has lyrics that tie directly into the game, acting as a boss theme for Metal Gear RAY. The entirety of Rising depicts something of a deranged animal kingdom, with Raiden going up against all manner of beasts and nature in the form of bosses.

The gnashing, crunchy guitars of Rules of Nature collide with electronic synthesized elements wonderfully. In a game based around surviving the harsh realities of a world gone mad, Rules of Nature fits like the proverbial cyborg glove.

3 Eyes on Me

Final Fantasy 8

Love stories happen quite often in Final Fantasy, but none have ever reached the narrative and fan frenzy quite like the one between Squall and Rinoa. Any good fictional couple also needs a good love theme, and when longtime franchise composer Nobuo Uematsu teamed up with the wonderful Faye Wong, they got the tune they needed.

Eyes on Me is one of the most important songs in Final Fantasy 8. This lush, endlessly romantic song plays a key role in the events of FF8. The lyrics are lovely, and Faye Wong's endearing voice just brings the entire track together.

There are a lot of great songs in Final Fantasy, but Eyes on Me is just an absolute triumph. When it plays during Squall and Rinoa's most tender moments, it's easy to figure out how this game became an absolute obsession with teenagers of the day.

2 No Promises to Keep

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy has a long, storied history with original songs. It has been the beneficiary of some truly incredible original songs over the years, and recently, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth saw one of the greatest original songs in franchise history close out its incredibly emotional ending.

No Promises to Keep is played during Rebirth's devastating finale, which sees Cloud and the gang attempt to move on from the tragic death of Aerith. It's a song bursting with emotional resonance and powerful lyrics, musing on the whims of fate and whether people are brought together by the guiding hands of the universe or their own choices.

The song was written by longtime franchise composer Kazushige Nojima, and performed by Loren Allred. It is positively beautiful in every single way, and its contribution to Rebirth's moving final moments.

1 The Best is Yet to Come

Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear songs are special. From iconic hits Snake Eater to underrated gems like Calling to the Night, the series is well-versed in original songs. None of them, however, come close to The Best is Yet to Come.

Featured heavily in Metal Gear Solid on the PS1, The Best is Yet to Come was written by Rika Muranaka, who has produced some of the franchise's best songs. It was performed by Aoife Ni'Fhearraigh, who absolutely crushes the song in every way.

The soft, gentle sound of her voice is so beautiful to listen to. The actual melody itself is also incorporated into the game multiple times, acting as a sort of secondary main theme to accompany the story's most emotional moments. It is without a doubt the greatest original song ever recorded for a video game.