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Sound Byte: Best of 2010

Come listen to some of the best soundtracks of 2010 as well as the ones that you may have overlooked.

GameSpot Sound ByteIf you haven't seen by now, we have announced our nominees for the best of 2010, so get in there and vote for your favorite games of the year! This has been another great year for video game music--in the games themselves and outside of the gaming experience. Video Games Live, Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy, Play! A Video Game Symphony, Symphonic Game Music are just some of the live concerts that perform some of the most memorable tunes from your favorite video games. If you've ever been moved by video game music, then listening to it being performed live by a full orchestra and choir is an incredible and emotional experience.

Now even though our nominees of the year for best original music include DJ Hero 2, Nier, Red Dead Redemption, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Super Meat Boy, that doesn't mean there weren't other soundtracks worth your attention. It's always hard to narrow down the top five, or even 20, and music is always so subjective. So I've compiled a list that encompasses a wide range of games (as well as individual albums) across different genres that I feel are worth a listen. This is by no means complete, but I had to stop somewhere. Even if you didn't play some of the games, which all did an excellent job of enhancing the experience, there are soundtracks in this list that hold up very well on their own. Check out our video below (courtesy of Tyler Winegarner) to get a taste of what's on the albums, and click on the individual links further down to find out more.

Want a bunch of awesome music all in one place? Click here!

Some highlights from 2010, in no particular order.

Alan Wake by Petri Alanko
Halo: Reach by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood by Jesper Kyd
Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata
Mass Effect 2 by Jack Wall
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West by Nitin Sawhney
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon by Riei Saito
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories by Akira Yamaoka
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony by Noriyuki Iwadare
Red Dead Redemption by Woody Jackson and Bill Elm
Final Fantasy XIII by Masashi Hamauzu
Final Fantasy XIV by Nobuo Uematsu
Nier by Keiichi Okabe, Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi and Takafumi Nishimura
Mafia II by Matus Siroky
Super Mario Galaxy 2 by Koji Kondo, Mahito Yokota, and Ryo Nagamatsu
Bayonetta by Rei Kondoh
Super Meat Boy by Danny Baranowsky
3D Dot Game Heroes by 3D Dot, SuperSweep Co., Ltd

Other album compilations to check out that were released this year: Distant Worlds Music From Final Fantasy
Symphonic Fantasies
Benyamin Nuss Plays Uematsu
Video Games Live: Level 2
And for funsies to put you in the holiday mood: X'mas Collections: Music from Square Enix

My personal favorites include Alan Wake, Nier, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Meat Boy. What are yours? Hope you guys enjoyed the Sound Byte features this year. I'll be back in January so keep looking out for my posts around the site. I will have interviews from the composer of Dead Space 2, Fable 3 and more, so have a safe and happy new year and see you all in 2011!

Sound Byte is GameSpot's game music blog, which covers every aspect of music in games, including interviews with top game music composers and discussions of new and classic game soundtracks. Have a question or suggestion? Leave us a comment below. For a list of previous Sound Byte features, click here.

224 Comments

  • Redlion993

    Posted Feb 9, 2011 3:24 am GMT

    All of these are crap compared to Uncharted theme...

  • leetsniped33

    Posted Feb 3, 2011 6:47 pm GMT

    red dead had one of the best sound tracks in any game, i dont usually care for sound tracks, but this was awsome

  • lopp3

    Posted Feb 2, 2011 10:41 am GMT

    persona 3 portable anyone? I realize it technically was composed in 2007 but still...

  • stomponyahead

    Posted Feb 2, 2011 8:27 am GMT

    Umm, BLAZBLUE: CONTIUUM SHIFT? WHERE IS IT?

  • mahboi

    Posted Feb 1, 2011 1:29 pm GMT

    Disappointed at lack of Birth By Sleep.

  • Arquebuses

    Posted Feb 1, 2011 12:24 am GMT

    NieR

    such a crap gameplay
    but incredibly amazing soundtrack...

  • Woodstock504

    Posted Jan 16, 2011 5:28 pm GMT

    @ Sophia, I guess I looked past the fact that this is about 2010 games. Thanx for stating that. but still, u have to agree that MACHINARIUM is a masterpeice.

  • rht992

    Posted Jan 14, 2011 9:53 am GMT

    @Kendojin i have to admit i was pretty amazed the other day when i saw the hallo soundtrack in hmv! i only this means more are to come

  • JoshB48

    Posted Jan 5, 2011 10:53 pm GMT

    awesome music, Gamespot. really good with the final fantasies, assasin's creed brotherhood, and silent hill. what about the orange box for xbox 360, ps3, and pc?

  • Gandoclaus

    Posted Jan 5, 2011 2:43 am GMT

    Glaring omission of anamanaguchi's soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs the World, absolute standout this year.

  • Kendojin

    Posted Jan 3, 2011 5:27 pm GMT

    @rht992 I know what you mean but you can actually find the Halo and Mass Effect soundtracks on iTunes or in stores. I have the Halo 2 soundtrack and I'm looking to get Halo Reach soon, as well as several others on this list like Mass Effect 2, and maybe Assassins Creed.

  • tennis12master

    Posted Jan 3, 2011 3:40 pm GMT

    Nice list, Gamespot. But where is God of War 3? I enjoyed that game's soundtrack immensely. Ah well, I suppose not every game can be mentioned.

  • Sophia

    Posted Jan 3, 2011 10:48 am GMT

    @Woodstock504 - I have Machinarium on my must play list, but the game actually came out in 2009.

  • Woodstock504

    Posted Jan 2, 2011 7:36 pm GMT

    I think MACHINARIUM is about 10 bucks, and WELL worth it.

  • Woodstock504

    Posted Jan 2, 2011 7:35 pm GMT

    Very Nice list. I'd have to say Assassins creed tops those listed, but, I'm kinda disappointed not to see MACHINARIUM in there somewhere though. Beautiful game, Matching Soundtrack. Actually I think the music was half the fun in this title. Check it out. The composer is a genius if you ask me. I'd suggest playing the game though, The music is beautiful by itself but tops all in-game. you'll find yourself stuck, listening as time passes and wondering how brilliant this is. (trust me)

  • GSMosiro

    Posted Jan 2, 2011 10:49 am GMT

    Glad to see Nier get mentioned, I think this game has one of the best soundtracks ever created, let alone just 2010. The game itself may not have been incredible but the music certainly was.

  • alert0

    Posted Jan 2, 2011 6:35 am GMT

    I have a newfound respect for Soundbyte. It is now officially awesome.

  • mentalkid

    Posted Jan 1, 2011 4:16 pm GMT

    ff13 and bayonetta had some awesome soundtracks, albeit for very different reasons. FF13 had a very epic sountrack, "Saber's Edge" and "Barthandalus". Bayonetta was so quirky. There were lots of other games as well.

  • MauricetheRPGer

    Posted Dec 31, 2010 7:24 pm GMT

    Mafia ll has a good theme, Cant wait to get the game

  • dann64

    Posted Dec 31, 2010 1:54 pm GMT

    That's a fantastic list, I've only recently begun taking in video game soundtracks in their entirety. I've stumbled upon a goldmine.

  • hsmgaye

    Posted Dec 31, 2010 3:41 am GMT

    Bring all these game to pc,ps3 and xbox 360.

  • XtremeDude09

    Posted Dec 30, 2010 1:53 pm GMT

    Mass Effect 2 had some of the best music I have ever heard. Really improved an already near perfect atmosphere.

  • NColdhardt

    Posted Dec 29, 2010 11:12 am GMT

    Lunar really hit home. I'm so plugging in the PSX and replaying that game!

  • -Unreal-

    Posted Dec 29, 2010 3:35 am GMT

    No SC2 and no Cata. Seems they don't want to give Blizz too many awards.

  • Kitsuryou

    Posted Dec 29, 2010 1:07 am GMT

    Nice to see that Fragile Dreams got a mention, that soundtrack was truly wonderful and perfect for the game. All the music in this video was nice, even from games I'm not familiar with.

  • lonegardian

    Posted Dec 28, 2010 8:56 pm GMT

    Missed out the best, check Medal of Honor soundtrack.. Super awesome!!!

  • Warlord_Irochi

    Posted Dec 28, 2010 8:08 am GMT

    Nice selection indeed!, thanks for this compilation gamespot

  • wigwam2

    Posted Dec 28, 2010 6:53 am GMT

    those were the best 14 minutes of my life.... great soundtracks from saddening to exciting game soundtracks have evolved since boop boop boop

  • afgad

    Posted Dec 28, 2010 6:26 am GMT

    I'm genuinely surprised and a bit disappointed that they didn't even mention Starcraft II...

  • Jmcgraghan

    Posted Dec 28, 2010 3:34 am GMT

    scott pilgrim vs the world has a great soundtrack

  • ValorNomad

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 7:41 pm GMT

    All brilliant soundtracks!! Even with some of the games that i don't know!

  • hotdiddykong

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 7:32 pm GMT

    @Brilliant_R
    Nah, the original SMG used the same song in Super Mario 64. i guess everyone has their opinions, it doesnt have to be your favorite.

  • Brilliant_R

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 6:54 pm GMT

    @hotdiddykong
    Eh I guess you're right... but I personally think that the Slider remix, Whomp's Fortress Remix, and SMW remixes were better than Koopa's Road. Idk. Also I'm pretty sure that same Koopa's Road remix was in the original SMG (unless they changed the song even more from then in ways I didn't notice). Lol maybe it's just me.

    And hi Tera.

  • icetone

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 2:32 pm GMT

    WOW THE MUSIC OF THESE FEATURED SOUNDTRACKS ROCK! but I also like some of GOW3's music

  • zodiacmeteor

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 9:57 am GMT

    I'm surprised Monster Hunter Tri isn't on the list.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQXMflSDcY

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l2QsuQvdWg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-dqMa1CwRc

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5MuGs_im8

    Also, got the wrong Bayonetta song.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV6E13xODyA

  • rht992

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 9:18 am GMT

    i love the soundtracks to games but i hate how its hard to buy them unless its a collectors edition. i'd like to buy them the way i can buy film soundtracks.

  • ali_manslayer

    Posted Dec 27, 2010 2:48 am GMT

    heavy rain ost is also brilliant

  • Teranova310

    Posted Dec 26, 2010 8:04 pm GMT

    hi brilliant

  • hotdiddykong

    Posted Dec 26, 2010 6:50 pm GMT

    @Brilliant_R
    True but Koopa Road's Remix is one of the most popular tunes in Galaxy 2, they perfected it from the original and is one of the best sounding ones. I still love the original tracks too, Melty Monster, Fluffy Bluff, Puzzle Plank, their all Beautiful and epic. As far as the remake tracks go, Koopa road was the best

  • rwnummelin

    Posted Dec 26, 2010 4:22 pm GMT

    I missed Castlevania: Lords of Shadow..

  • Brilliant_R

    Posted Dec 26, 2010 8:51 am GMT

    Super Mario Galaxy 2 had some good retro remixes, but... imo, they should have used one of the mind-blowing ORIGINAL tracks from the game instead of the SM64 remix.

    Also, I didn't watch the whole video, so if there was any sort of original SMG2 content that I missed, then my mistake.

    I love the Sky Station themes, the Fluffy Bluff/Cloudy Court theme, the final level theme, and most of all the credits theme...

  • 12111995

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 11:29 pm GMT

    every FFXIII music owns most other music.
    Has anyone heard Sephiroth's theme song?
    It's awesome!

  • biotyrant

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 9:35 pm GMT

    Starcraft 2 please....

  • speedylomeli

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 9:13 pm GMT

    @pikmin08 hey buddy if you actually watch the whole video you would see that red dead redemption is mentioned last. you fail.

  • teeskoowared

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 9:08 pm GMT

    Game music is so not what it used to be....Uematsu will always be the best. I miss the days when there were memorable character themes and intertwining melodies that would remind you of specific moments in the game. That doesn't really happen anymore...though I have to admit that piece from Nier was quite enjoyable.

  • zell1

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 8:12 pm GMT

    Final Fantasy 13 main theme owns. It should have been played.

  • paul-2112

    Posted Dec 25, 2010 2:49 pm GMT

    I really like Gamespots picks for both game awards and this list, but I feel like the have some kind of bias against God of War III. That game had an amazing soundtrack, I'd argue better then the majority of soundtracks on this list, for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JWCUuhnrzU . Also where is VVVVVV on this list, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5ajx7d54ZA . Overall though a good list.

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