Music inspires us both to take certain actions and to feel a certain way. Which is why, at least for some, the difference between an animated scene and a faded scene in a piece of media is the music that accompanies it. With this in mind, the soundtrack of any RPG game is of paramount importance to immerse you in the story of its characters.
JRPGs are kind of known for their willingness to pull all the stops when it comes to an excellent soundtrack. Some of the best soundtracks in video games as a whole come from or inspired by JRPGs, with some distinguished composers putting their best work into a game to entice long-term audiences. It only makes sense that we come back to celebrate some of the most impactful soundtracks every now and then to remember what makes it great and the game it was made for.
10/10 Xenogears
Starting with perfect listening, Xenogears are an extraordinary thing to listen to. If you have played or remember any JRPG from Playstation, you must experience the magic that Xenogears’ OST is.
Yasunori Mitsuda captures the spirit of every RPG of that time period with his work at Xenogears. You can hear the influence from Squaresoft’s other projects at the time, including the Final Fantasy project as well as the game that started his legendary career, Chrono Trigger.
9/10 The Legend of Legaya
Slightly less well known compared to the other games on this list, Legend of Legaia is still a great game with a great soundtrack that shouldn’t be questioned. Michiru Oshima is a well-known composer with an orchestral style that can be heard in a number of games and anime, including the PS1 JRPG.
This game, in particular, features a lot of tribal/shamanistic vibes, and the OST reflects the best in its outside world and paths. However, the battle themes are creative in a way that only a game from the late ’90s/early 2000s can capture and quickly transform the atmosphere from fog-shrouded forests to frenetic battle scenes to get you ready to beat things up. If you are a fan of drums of any kind, then this soundtrack will definitely fulfill all your needs.
8/10 Shin Megami Tensei V
Shin Megami Tensei is a great series, and the long-awaited fifth installment of Atlus does not disappoint its players. It’s a long ride, and its soundtrack is similarly long, providing an interesting atmosphere throughout the game.
All songs, even small ones, are full of mood and feeling. Even the quieter songs have a certain intensity that matches the theme of the game. Even if you experience lighter moments in the game, the soundtrack never lets you forget the importance of what you do. The twists and turns can be felt as well as heard on every track in a way that is characteristic of SMT to distinguish it from other JRPG perks.
7/10 The world ends with you
The World Ends With You is a unique journey that will captivate you with an unforgettable OST. As far as the soundtracks go, this mostly plays like an album rather than a JRPG high score like many others. However, it works in its favour, as the game’s environment has a more contemporary feel to being young in the big city, similar to Persona.
Every song is great to listen to outside of the game, mainly because it’s a handheld game, but also because every song is dancing and full of so much energy. There are pop, rock, and hip-hop songs – all with vocals – as well as electronic-style songs that capture the unique flavor of JRPG.
6/10 Legend of Mana
A game made up of an industrial legend, Legend of Mana is just one of the many great games in the Mana series. Each of Yoko Shimomura’s work cannot be understated, but an impressive OST sets the Legend of Mana apart from most of its brethren.
Even if you haven’t played the game yet, the introduction and accompanying song are sure to evoke some sense of nostalgia or longing within you. Then, you’ll be hard-pressed not to blow while listening to the many otherworldly and main battle themes that immerse you in the heat of the fight.
5/10 Final Fantasy VI
Nobuo Uematsu is another name you should already be familiar with, as he authored the majority of Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy VI, in particular, is sometimes considered art in video game form, and a great deal of this can of course be attributed to Nobuo’s contributions.
While many games of that era have amazing soundtracks, most of the songs that Nobuo composed are on a whole other level, especially back then. Just like the previous game, the intro song of this game will definitely leave you with chills. The rest of the game is filled with songs of fantasy and technology blended into the SNES sound chip mixer to create an experience on its own.
4/10 Final Fantasy VII
A continuation of Nobuo Uematsu’s further work, Final Fantasy VII was revolutionary at the time, and its music was amazing. The music in this game was better than that of FFVI as Nobuo took advantage of the upgrade in technology. While both are amazing, the main difference between the FFVI and FFVII soundtracks lies in the scope of the games. Filled with an intimate story of characters going through hard times, VII is a grand adventure where every moment is essential to the overarching goal of saving the planet.
In the end, it’s up to the listener to derive their meaning from the experience, and this mindset makes FFVII’s soundtrack so much praiseworthy. Everyone remembers the resonant battle themes that tempt you as you fight massive battles. There are meaningful songs elegantly composed and help tell the tale only through sound alone.
3/10 Chrono playback device
Chrono Trigger is a legendary game with more legendary music. If you’re a fan of classic JRPGs, you’ll likely hear Corridors of Time playing in your head right now. Right about that, because it is Yasunori Mitsuda’s best work.
The soundtrack in its entirety is amazing, but avid listeners who have played Final Fantasy VI may be able to pick up some similarities in some of the songs. This will be because Nobuo Uematsu actually helped Yasunori finish the soundtrack as the latter fell ill while composing the soundtrack. Together, they made one of the best soundtracks on SNES.
2/10 ground
Most people would agree that Nintendo had some processors among their sound design teams during the early ages of gaming. No games exemplify that spirit more than the Earthbound and Mother series. Each song was ingeniously designed and still holds up today despite the technological limitations of the NES and SNES as well as GBA when they were made.
It’s an emblematic game between Earthbound and Mother 3, for which the game’s soundtrack is better, but Earthbound wins simply because its music touches the soul. Where Mother 3’s soundtrack is technically great with how it blends in with combat, Earthbound’s is emotionally brilliant and nostalgic.
1/10 yoke: automatic
Nier: Automata has captivated RPG, JRPG, and ARPG fans alike. The theme of the game and its visuals come together to evoke the right kinds of feelings for a story-based game. Of course, since video games are the culmination of so many different aspects, no one can forget the soundtrack that ties them together.
Every moment in Nier: Automata is filled with emotion, and that has a lot to do with the epic soundtrack that accompanies each scene. The sense of scale in the music is amazing and makes every scene poignant while being an art in itself, even without the game.
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