Recommended video game music: compelling masterpieces and popular tracks you’ll want to listen to.

You Were ThereŌshima Michiru

You Were There (Original Mix)

A gem of a vocal piece by Michiru Oshima that graces the ending of the PlayStation 2 masterpiece action-adventure ICO.

Released in February 2002 as part of the official soundtrack “ICO: Melody in the Mist,” the song is distinguished by the pure, translucent voices of members from the British boys’ choir Libera.

Its lyrics, evoking fantastical landscapes like a solitary island and mist-shrouded hills while quietly revisiting memories of an irreplaceable presence, resonate deeply with the brief yet intense journey shared by the boy and girl in the game.

In stark contrast to the main game’s largely minimal, ambient soundscape, the orchestral arrangement and boy soprano that swell during the ending leave a profound afterglow in the player’s heart.

Beloved even after many years—ranking 11th in the PlayStation Game Music Awards 2018—this is a track recommended for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a tranquil world or is seeking a melody that truly touches the soul.

Evergreen WindUematsu Nobuo

Everlasting Wind

Characterized by the light, buoyant rhythms and warm melodies typical of Celtic music, this piece is beloved as BGM that plays on in-game shop screens and the like.

The refreshing sound woven by folk instruments such as tin whistle, fiddle, and accordion wonderfully captures the bustle and lived-in feel of a port town in a skybound world.

Included on the album “GRANBLUE FANTASY ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK” and later performed live, it has become one of Granblue’s signature popular tracks.

It’s perfect music for taking a breather in the midst of an adventure.

Metal Gear Solid Main ThemeIwasetappe

Metal Gear Solid Main Theme

A masterpiece that brought out new possibilities for the “stealth game,” this is a track from Metal Gear Solid.

It’s famous as the theme song of the Metal Gear series, which is still being released, and I think it’s a piece remembered by many people.

7/8Umegaki Runa

[BGM] Choro Q 3 – Summer is Night [12/44]

“7/8” is a track from Choro Q3, produced by Tamsoft.

It’s used on the in-game course “Summer is Night,” and even among the highly acclaimed soundtrack of this title, it stands out as one of the most popular pieces.

This feeling…sugiyama kouichi

These feelings... Dragon Quest VIII

A beautiful melody that seems to give voice to the characters’ unspoken feelings in a pivotal scene from Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King.

It opens with a plaintive harp line, then gradually adds strings and woodwinds to delicately portray subtle shifts in emotion, building to a grand orchestration at the climax.

Even without lyrics, you can sense the complex emotions—deep sorrow, poignancy, and the strong will that lies beneath.

It’s a perfect piece for a quiet night when you want to calm your mind and drift into contemplation.

The hero sets forthsugiyama kouichi

[15-Minute Endurance] The Hero Sets Forth - Dragon Quest XI (BGM)

This is the field BGM from Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.

After a gentle introduction, a hopeful brass fanfare brightly proclaims the beginning of the adventure.

The soaring string melody that follows evokes both anticipation for the grand journey ahead and a sense of resolve toward the mission at hand.

You can almost picture the hero pressing forward, step by step across the land.

Included on the album Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest XI” Echoes of an Elusive Age, released in January 2018.

Heavenly Prayersugiyama kouichi

Heavenly Prayer: Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest IX

A sacred piece from Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, released in July 2009, that’s sure to move any fan.

Composed as the BGM for the Celestrians’ realm where players spend much of the early story, it unfolds from a harp prelude into a majestic yet somehow poignant melody.

It seems to carry the tenderness and sorrow of the angels watching over the world, and every listen tightens my chest.

The piece was later used at key moments in Dragon Quest X as well, moving many fans all over again.