Obligatory Nier series music mention.

Surprised to not see FTL mentioned yet.

I’m loving the track Balatro has too. I wish that game had more music like the one song it has.

Chrono Trigger was fantastic. Look specifically for the instrumentals/orchestral on YouTube. 🤙

Cuphead is a banger if you like that kinda music.

Nier Automata as well. Very different, but hauntingly brilliant.

Also, fallout radio if you’re feeling that real classic sound.

Rimworld has an amazing soundtrack

Ori and the Blind Forest. Every song in the soundtrack is brilliant

Terraria.

Another vote for the Bastion soundtrack by Darren Korb.

The Dustforce OST maybe? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB4108C5CB4E1DD6

Gothic 2! Full soundtrack, or a compilation of just ambient tracks

Maybe try soundtrack from Celeste, Transistor, Gris

Super Meat Boy - Ballad of the burning squirrel

Super Meat Boy - Forest Funk

Super Meat Boy - Betus Blues

The composer for Super Meat Boy has done lots of great tracks for Binding of Isaac and Crypt of the Necrodancer too (Danny Baranowsky)

Enter the Gungeon - Abbey or Die

Enter the Gungeon - Behold the Boss Eater

Enter the Gungeon - Boss Battle Beating

Metal Gear solid theme

Nine Sols - Collage

Hades soundtrack (all of it) + if you search for the composer (Darren Korb) then you’ll find loads more great soundtracks he’s done (notably for Bastion).

Hollow Knight soundtrack (all of it + the piano cover version)

Street Fighter 6 - Viator (theme for Ryu + there’s a real cool metal cover that is on YouTube by an indie metal band)

Wipeout HD soundtrack (all of it)

Super Hexagon (all 3 tracks)

Hotline Miami soundtrack

Lots of people have rightly mentioned FTL

Frank Kelpacki has done tons of great soundtracks across the whole Command and Conquer series and it’s worth searching through.

If you’re into chip tunes, then it is also worth checking out Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m really into video game instrumentals. If anyone else is interested, there’s a great podcast called Sound of Gaming by BBC radio 3 that is worth going through the back catalogue of episodes.

Donkey Kong Country, especially 2. From the original, I recommend Aquatic Ambience. But for DKC2, honestly let the OST play. There’s so many greats.

Stellaris is great sci-fi future ambient music to focus to.

oh man i have a spotify folder full of playlists, including

• talos principle

• sherlock holmes chapter one

• deadbolt

• murder by numbers

• baldurs gate 3

• witcher 3

but it’s missing metroid prime (esp. chozo ruins and phendrana drifts) and professor layton (any of the puzzle themes).