10 Best Video Game Soundtracks Of 2016
1. Dark Souls 3
The Souls series has always been known for its stunning music, and the soundtrack to Dark Souls 3 is absolutely no exception. What's great about music in the Souls series is how its used so deliberately. In general, there's absolutely no music during regular level exploration - the player has nothing to listen to but their own footsteps and the unsettling sounds of whatever beasts might be waiting around the next corner.
But then you stumble into a notable location like Firelink Shrine, and the music that accompanies it gently leads the player to associate that place with safety and home.
The other time music plays is during boss fights, and this is when it's at its most striking. Boss music in Dark Souls sets the tone for the fight, providing context without using a single word. Take the Soul of Cinder music, for example, which comes during the boss fight of the same name. Starting loud and epic, it soon transitions into Gwyn's theme from the first game in the series, letting players know exactly who they're fighting without any cheesy cut scenes or irritating sections of exposition.
And that's just one fight. The music throughout the entirety of Dark Souls 3 - composed by Yuka Kitamura and Motoi Sakuraba - is absolutely outstanding.
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What's your favourite soundtrack of 2016? Let us know in the comments!