2016 was a tough year, for sure. However, even with the loss of such musical icons like David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael (and many others, as well), there is still a tremendous amount to celebrate.
This year saw some the largest and most diverse video games released to date, all featuring amazing soundtracks by dozens of talented artists and composers. Both indie and triple-A games alike featured a vast selection of music spanning electronic, metal, orchestral, retro, chiptune, hip-hop, or even a mixture of these genres.
If you’re looking for some musical diversity in video games, look no farther than 2016’s remarkable selection. If this was a down year for you, then let this be a glimmer of hope that the future is very, very bright.
Please enjoy Game Music Fan’s list of the best video game music of 2016:
DOOM
Composer/Artist: Mick Gordon
Listen: Spotify, iTunes
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Furi
Composer/Artist: Carpenter Brut, Danger, The Toxic Avenger, Lorn, Scattle, Waveshaper, Kn1ght
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify
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Firewatch
Composer/Artist: Chris Remo
Listen: Bandcamp
***
Clustertruck
Composer/Artist: Karl Flodin
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
***
Battlefield 1
Composer/Artist: Johan Söderqvist, Patrik Andrén
Listen: Spotify, iTunes, Amazon MP3
***
Civilization 6
Composer/Artist: Geoff Knorr
Listen: iTunes
***
Klang
Composer/Artist: bLiNd
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify
***
No Man’s Sky
Composer/Artist: 65daysofstatic
Listen: Spotify, iTunes
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Brigador
Composer/Artist: Makeup and Vanity Set
Listen: Bandcamp
***
Destiny: Rise of Iron
Composer/Artist: Michael Salvatori, Skye Lewin, C Paul Johnson, Rotem Moav
Listen: iTunes, Bungie
***
Trials of the Blood Dragon
Composer/Artist: Power Glove
Listen: iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
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Quantum Break
Composer/Artist: Petri Alanko
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
***
Hyper Light Drifter
Composer/Artist: Disasterpeace
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify
***
Oxenfree
Composer/Artist: scntfc
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes
***
The Division
Composer/Artist: Ola Strandh
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
***
Abzu
Composer/Artist: Austin Wintory
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes
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Necropolis
Composer/Artist: Jon Everist
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes
***
Recore
Composer/Artist: Chad Seiter
Listen: iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
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Dark Souls 3
Composer/Artist: Motoi Sakuraba
Listen: Spotify
***
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Composer/Artist: Michael McCann, Sascha Dikiciyan, Ed Harrison
Listen: Sumthing, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon
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Enter the Gungeon
Composer/Artist: doseone
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify
***
Mafia 3
Composer/Artist: Jesse Harlin, Jim Bonney
Listen: iTunes
***
Banner Saga 2
Composer/Artist: Austin Wintory
Listen: iTunes, Bandcamp
***
Overwatch
Composer/Artist: Derek Duke, Neal Acree, Sam Cardon, Cris Velasco, Adam Burgess
Listen: iTunes
***
Dying Light: The Following
Composer/Artist: Pawel Blaszczak
Listen: iTunes
***
Tharsis
Composer/Artist: Weval
Listen: iTunes
***
Headlander
Composer/Artist: David Earl
Listen: Steam
***
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Composer/Artist: Solar Fields
Listen: iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
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VA-11 Hall-A
Composer/Artist: Garoad
Listen: Bandcamp
***
World of Warcraft: Legion
Composer/Artist: Russell Brower, Neal Acree, Clint Bajakian, Sam Cardon, Glenn Stafford
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
***
The Last Guardian
Composer/Artist: Takeshi Furukawa
Listen: iam8bit
***
XCOM 2
Composer/Artist: Tim Wynn
Listen: iTunes, Amazon
***
Bound
Composer/Artist: Heinali
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
***
Thumper
Composer/Artist: Brian Gibson
Listen: Bandcamp
***
Killer Instinct: Season 3
Composer/Artist: Celldweller, Atlas Plug
Listen: Spotify, iTunes, Amazon
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Obduction
Composer/Artist: Robyn Miller
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon
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Dead Rising 4
Composer/Artist: Various artists
Listen: iTunes, Sumthing
***
Owlboy
Composer/Artist: Jonathan Geer
Listen: Bandcamp
***
Dishonored 2
Composer/Artist: Daniel Licht
Listen: Amazon, iTunes
***
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human
Composer/Artist: Karl Flodin
Listen: Bandcamp, Spotify
***
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Composer/Artist: Sarah Schachner
Listen: iTunes
***
Salt and Sanctuary
Composer/Artist: Ska Studios
Listen: Bandcamp
***
Watch Dogs 2
Composer/Artist: Hudson Mohawke
Listen: Spotify, iTunes
***
Virginia
Composer/Artist: Lyndon Holland
Listen: PlayStation Store, Steam
***
Poly Bridge
Composer/Artist: Adrian Talens
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
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Okhlos
Composer/Artist: A Shell in the Pit
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes,
***
Samorost 3
Composer/Artist: Tomáš Dvořák aka Floex
Listen: Bandcamp, iTunes
***
Final Fantasy XV
Composer/Artist: Yoko Shimomura
Listen: iTunes
***
REZ Infinite
Composer/Artist: Hydelic
Listen: iam8bit
***
Gears of War 4
Composer/Artist: Ramin Djawadi
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
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I Am Setsuna
Composer/Artist: Tomoki Miyoshi
Listen: iTunes, Spotify
***
Unravel
Composer/Artist: Frida Johansson, Henrik Oja
Listen: iTunes, Amazon, Spotify
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Far Cry Primal
Composer/Artist: Jason Graves
Listen: Sumthing, iTunes, Spotify
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Uncharted 4
Composer/Artist: Henry Jackman
Listen: iTunes, Spotify, Amazon
