Summary
- Music evolves with seasons in Stardew Valley, providing a unique atmosphere.
- ABZU offers ethereal orchestration that syncs beautifully with player movement.
- Eastshade's soft strings and melodies enhance exploration in a calming way.
Sometimes, a game is made by the impressive soundtrack that it is paired with. Music plays a crucial role in shaping a game’s atmosphere, and for players seeking calm or chill, a certain video game soundtrack can allow for a tranquil, immersive overall experience.
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The games on this list stand out, not just for the visuals that they pair with the music, but the way that the music can almost soothe the player, and becomes a vital part of the entire operation, not just a background character. Whether players prefer lo-fi or orchestral, the following titles offer something for everyone.
10 Stardew Valley
Changes With The Seasons
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
- Music evolves with seasons
- Memorable tracks with seamless loops
- A unique atmosphere
Stardew Valley’s soundtrack changes with the seasons, which affect the game's visuals, making every part of the year feel new and invigorating. This only reinforces the cozy vibes that this farmlife simulator can bring, making sure that with time, there is something distinctive to remember it by.
The music is memorable and has even been turned into its own performances around the world. There are no stutters in the loops, so no matter how long in the season players play for, their immersion will not be broken.
9 ABZU
Ethereal, Flowing Music With Oceans
Abzu
- Released
- August 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Ethereal orchestration
- Music syncs beautifully with player movement
- A cinematic underwater escape
The score that is offered to players in ABZU mirrors the ocean water story and the emotions that surround it. Every movement that a player makes underwater almost feels orchestrated by its own personal musician, like if the score was a movie production made just for the player.
Blending the music with the serene sounds of the oceans and sea life that inhabit it, the game offers something relaxing and tranquil to players, and music that they will be desperate to come back to.
8 Eastshade
Soft Strings & Dreams
Eastshade
- Released
- February 13, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Open-World
- Soft strings and melodies
- Abstract yet peaceful
- Score enhances exploration
Eastshade allows players to be a traveling painter, and the scenic world they explore is set to a score that is as abstract and pleasing as the visuals are. The calm melodies guide the explorations players do, making every step into this world and every sketch almost meditative, and something that will not be lost with time.
Music that is able to match with the overall vibe of a game is something that is overlooked sometimes, even though it is needed in games that focus on relaxing the player and taking them on a journey.
7 Coffee Talk
Chillhop Meets Cafe
Coffee Talk
- Released
- January 31, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Cozy, late-night setting
- Rainy-day ambience
- Ideal for relaxed gameplay
Coffee Talk is a game where players are in a late-night coffee shop that features lo-fi and jazz beats to help the game come across as the equivalent of a rainy Sunday evening. If players are looking for something to enjoy even when they are not playing, Coffee Talk’s soundtrack is very appealing in general.
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Lo-fi and jazz music is something that has seen a rise in popularity, and with this in mind, players get to experience it all in this game. It's the type of game where players can wrap themselves in a blanket and escape into a world where coffee and jazz are the only things to worry about.
6 Spiritfarer
Bittersweet Melodies
Spiritfarer
- Released
- August 18, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Language, Use of Tobacco, Violent References
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Indie Games, Simulation
- Bittersweet melodies
- Acoustic and orchestral tracks
- Music elevates cathartic experiences
Spiritfarer offers a tender and comforting soundtrack that is needed to accompany the emotional weight of the story in the game. Whether players are looking for acoustics or orchestras, the soundtrack offers players comfort, even when the hardest topic in the game comes up and can often feel unbearable.
While the game offers players a heavier storyline than most, the music is there to remind them of all the good the world can do, and how their help to spirits in the game is never anything else but uplifting and comforting.
5 Journey
Seamless Transitions
Journey
- Released
- March 13, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Dynamic, string-based score
- Minimalist narrative
- Music leads emotional storytelling
Journey’s score responds to player movement and interactions dynamically, allowing players to be fully immersed in the world and the evolving musical experience it offers. The music is string-based, making the themes of the game feel even more intimate, and the idea is for a reflective playthrough.
With minimal visual cues for narration and story direction, Journey relies heavily on music to help tell the story instead. But music is not there just to accompany what is happening, it is there to lead the players on with their adventure.
4 GRIS
Cinematic, Emotional, And Uplifting
GRIS
- Released
- December 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Adventure, Indie Games, Puzzle
- Cinematic orchestral soundtrack
- Emphasizes reflective storytelling
- Music supports themes of hope
GRIS combines orchestral music with stunning watercolor visuals that help to move the narrative in any direction it is going. The music is the soundtrack to the journey of the game itself, offering players time to reflect in stillness, hope, and healing that may stay with them much longer than just at the game's completion.
GRIS is a poem to games, and the music is there to offer a cinematic and uplifting soundtrack that any player would want to get immersed in.
3 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Minimalist Piano & Nature Sounds
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Ambient piano
- Meditative gameplay atmosphere
- Balances silence and notes
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild’s score is a masterclass into ambient music in game storytelling. The music is subtle, but profound. The world is vast, which is mirrored by the soundtrack that lets notes appear when they are needed and fade away when not needed.
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The intertwining of music and silence is a meditative experience for players and allows them to soak in the atmosphere that is laid out for them and have some breathing room between the battles they face.
2 Celeste
Piano & Synth Mix
Celeste
- Released
- January 25, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Piano and ambient synth
- Calm music balances
- Emotional focus and immersive depth
Celeste’s score offers many different track variants, including layers of pianos and ambient synths that help to immerse the player in the storyline. Players will be able to enjoy the delicate balance of gameplay and soundtrack here.
Celeste is one of the more challenging games on the list, but its soundtrack offers a calm beat to make up for it. Even in the more difficult sections of the game, the music offers players a sense of focus and emotional depth.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Ambient Tracks That Evolve With Time
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Comic Mischief
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Hourly evolving soundtrack
- Ambient background
- Enhances daily routine
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has to take top spot due to its hourly music changes, which are even dependent on the weather. The soundtrack stays strong but subtle in the background, ranging from morning uplifting pop to mellow evening jazz.
With so much to do in the game, players can enjoy a soundtrack to their digital life here. Every part of the player’s routine is supported by the ongoing comfort of the music behind them, willing them into their next adventure or task.
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