9. Risk Of Rain (2013)
Composer(s): Chris Christodoulou Like the game, the music of Risk of Rain follows a pattern of tension and relief - it develops slowly, building from a more atmospheric calm to a lively climax before fading back into a more wistful dreamy melody. The game however, has very few quieter moments that allow the player to appreciate this unpredictable state of emotional and tonal variation. You spend most of your playtime being pursued by something or multiple somethings intent on your untimely annihilation, and that philosophy seems at odds with the composers intentions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ypzpl02Rps The soundtrack itself is dark, often melancholic. Though theres a good amount of variety, the tracks themselves are nearly always plaintive and disparagingwhich might discourage some people from giving it a listen. However, thats the beauty of the soundtrack; its miserable, but its the kind of misery that makes rainy days in an office environment that much more bearable. Further Listening: If youre looking for something similarly atmospheric, the soundtrack to Monument Valley (2014) might suffice, though it lacks the same science-fiction influences. Chris Christodoulous other album Hexadecimal (2013) is also a winner.