10 Breathtaking Video Game Soundtracks You Need To Hear

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

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Rockstar

It's already been stated countless times since its release and it's likely to be said a lot more in the future: Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece.

Despite having a '2' in its title, this game was set more than a decade prior to the events of the first game. Instead of the grizzled John Marston, players took on the role of the even-more-grizzled Arthur Morgan as we witnessed the downfall of the fabled Van der Linde gang. Offering a staggeringly beautiful wilderness to explore as we worked our way through the character-driven story, this game allowed us to live out our wildest western fantasies, with a large part of this being down to the magnificent score by Woody Jackson (who also scored Red Dead Redemption).

From mournful strings of 'The Wheel' to bombastic wailing guitars and driving rhythms of 'American Venom' reminiscent of Ennio Morricone's Spaghetti Westerns, the score heavily romanticises its western setting.

Also featuring collaborations with legendary musicians such as Willie Nelson ('Cruel World'), D'Angelo ('Unshaken'), Rhiannon Giddens ('Mountain Hymn') and Hereditary composer Colin Stetson ('Welcome To The New World'), this award-winning soundtrack is as varied as it is stunning.

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Glasgow-based cinephile who earned a Masters degree in film studies to spend their time writing about cinema, video games, and horror.