This week, the crew takes out some crystal balls (and the Wikipedia page for 2026 in video games) to take a peek into the future. So join us as we discuss the 2026 edition of our yearly list of games we're most excited about when it comes to music.You can check known songs, trailers, or related music for the games discussed on this episode by checking the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #95Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.socialAnd on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGUProduction credits:Hosts:Galen "The SoundGuy" FirestoneRanakelEdie AlexsanderAudio producer:Galen "The SoundGuy" FirestoneExecutive producer:RanakelWriting and publishing:Edie AlexsanderArt and design:Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew decides to fix what isn't broken by shouting out the best soundtracks that the Game Awards didn't already beat us to it.

Will it be as varied as last year's? Probably. Will we showcase more indies than the actual awards shows? Sure thing. Will Rana make sure we never forget he got his TGA prediction right? You bet.

You can sample the soundtracks we recommended today via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 94

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Time stamps:

#3 block:

Hell Clock by Thommaz Kauffmann

Battle Suit Aces by Carlos Eiene

DOOM: The Dark Ages by Finishing Move

#2 block:

Tempest Rising by Michael Markie, Cory Richards, Sigurd Jøhnk-Jensen, Frank Klepacki, and Music Imaginary

Dynasty Warriors: Origins by Masato Koike, Yosuke Kinoshita, Gota Masuoka, Hiromu Akaba, et al.

Absolum by Gareth Coker, feat. Mick Gordon, Rachel Hardy, Yuka Kitamura, and Motoi Sakuraba

Honorable mentions and #1 block:

Honorable mention: Blue Prince by Trigg & Gusset

Honorable mention: Assassin's Creed: Shadows by The Flight, TEKE::TEKE, and Thunderdrum, feat. Tiggs Da Author

#1: Skate Story by Blood Cultures

Honorable mention: Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- by Shinji Hosoe and Ayako Saso

Honorable mention: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves by unconformed composers

Honorable mention: Monster Train 2 by Jordan Chin

Honorable mention: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds by Takahiro Kai, Kanon Oguni, Jun Senoue, Kenichi Tokoi, et al.

#1: Mario Kart World by Maasa Miyoshi, Takuhiro Honda, Yutaro Takakuwa, et al.

Honorable mention: Final Fantasy XVI by Masayoshi Soken, Takafumi Imamura, Daiki Ishikawa, Saya Yasaki, and Justin Frieden

Honorable mention: Dispatch by Andrew Arcadi, Skyler Barto, et al.

#1: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - The Arcadion by Masayoshi Soken, Chrissy Costanza, Jason Charles Miller, Tom Morello, et al.

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Art and design:

Alex Hadzaman

This week, it's awards season and the crew is ready to look at the Game Awards (and bash the Grammys).

So, what did the crew think of the nominated soundtracks? Did we guess the winners? Could anyone other than Rana pronounce French names correctly? There's only one way to find out!

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Full list of nominees and composers:

The Game Awards

Hollow Knight: Silksong (by Christopher Larkin)

Hades II (by Darren Korb)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (by Lorien Testard and Alice Duport-Percier)

Ghost of Yōtei (by Toma Otowa)

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (by Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell)

The Grammy Awards

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spire (by Pinar Toprak)

Helldivers 2 (by Wilbert Roget, II and Ross Tregenza)

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle (by Gordy Haab)

Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune (by Cody Matthew Johnson and Wilbert Roget, II)

Sword of the Sea (by Austin Wintory)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

This week, things get tense (but not really) as the crew tackles tension in gaming.

Yes, our line-up does include the obvious horror with Signalis and the dread of the final day of Majora's Mask, but did you know Project Wingman had a really good, tense song for a boss fight? We didn't!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 92

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Fire Emblem: Awakening - "Let's Prepare for Battle Here" (aka: "We'd best prepare for combat, just to be safe") by Hiroki Morishita

Hitman: Blood Money - "Hunter" by Jesper Kyd

Tales of the Abyss - "Crimson Pride" by Motoi Sakuraba

Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War - "Ambience 5" (unconfirmed title) by Dan Wentz

Signalis - "Matryoshka" by 1000 Eyes

Project Wingman - "Kings" by Jose Pavli

Final Fantasy VIII - "The Landing" by Nobuo Uematsu

Mega Man Zero - "X, The Legend" by Ippo Yamada (cover by Krzysztof Met Słowikowski)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - "Lorule Castle" by Ryo Nagamatsu, Koji Kondo, Akito Nakatsuka, and Hajime Wakai

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - "Final Hours" (aka: "Last Day") by Koji Kondo

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

This week, the crew pays homage to the late Tomonobu Itagaki.

So join us in remembering and understanding the unique stylistic directions for the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden franchises - in music form.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist in our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 91

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion)

Ninja Gaiden (2004) - "Stand in the Way" and "Lord of the Greater Fiends" by Wakana Hara, and "Revival of the Dead" by Ryo Koike

Ninja Gaiden (NES) - "The Amazing Ryu" by Keiji Yamagishi, and Warriors Orochi 3 - "Ryu's Determination -DW SW MIX- –Ryu Hayabusa–" by Keiji Yamagishi (arr. by Masato Koike)

Ninja Gaiden II - "Battle 6" (unofficial title) by an unconfirmed composer (full composing team: Hiroyuki Akiyama, Ryo Koike, and Takumi Saito)

Ninja Gaiden 3 - "A Hero Unmasked" by an unconfirmed composer (full composing team: Takumi Saito, Ryo Koike, Hiroaki Takahashi, and Riichiro Kuwabara)

Ninja Gaiden 4 - "D.D.O. Proto-Goliath" and "Ryu" (unconfirmed titles) by unknown composers

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound - "Ragebound" by Keiji Yamagichi, and "Super Express to Hell" by Sergio de Prado

Dead or Alive - "Show Down (Character Select BGM)" by Hideyuki Suzuki

Dead or Alive Ultimate - "Hitohira - reminiscent of ketsui no toki -" by Hideyuki Suzuki, and Warriors Orochi 3: Ultimate - "Hitohira -DW SW MIX- –Kasumi–" by Hideyuki Suzuki (arr. by Ayako Toyoda)

Dead or Alive 2 - "YES or YES", and "Blazed up Melpomene " by unconfirmed composers (full composing team: Shigekiyo Okuda and Makoto Hosoi)

Dead or Alive 4 - "Vigaku Remix" and "Zany Zapper" by Makoto Hosoi, Takafumi Inamaori, Ryo Koike, Hiroyuki Akiyama, and Takumi Saito

Dead or Alive 5 - "Knock You Down" and "Tiger's Family" by unconfirmed composers (full composing team: Yojiro Yoshimatsu, Ayako Toyoda, Masako Otsuka, and Hiroaki Takahashi)

Dead or Alive 6 - "Headliners" and "with the Goddess" by unconfirmed composers (full composing team: Hiromu Akaba and Yosuke Kinoshita)

Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball - "How Craze Are You?" by Meja, and "Brazilian Sugar" by George Duke

Dead or Alive: Venus Vacation - "Let's Get Addicted" by Hiroaki Takahashi

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

This week, the mask slips - or, rather, we put back the G in ghosts - as the crew reveals their ghostly nature just in time for Halloween (all while sharing very appropriate songs).

Come with us as we find ghosts in Elden Ring, Castlevania, Vampire Survivors, and even... Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, because why not?

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist available on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #90

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Jet Force Gemini - "Spacestation: Abandoned Wreck" by Robin Beanland (unconfirmed)

Shadow Hearts - "Birth "Steel Soul - tanjou" by Yasunori Mitsuda

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - "Wandering Ghosts" by Michiru Yamane

Vampire Survivors - "When the Clouds Drown" by Daniele Zandara

Final Fantasy X - "Auron's Theme" by Nobuo Uematsu

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - "Forest Temple" by Koji Kondo

Elden Ring - "Morgott, the Omen King" by Tsukasa Saitoh

Hades II - "Lost Souls" by Darren Korb

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - "Pumpkin Mansion" by Tae Fujimoto

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

This week, we spin the Wheel of Instruments and, for the first time, land on something that is not an instrument: female-led choirs.

Either way, we dive into some interesting choral pieces, including the heavenly tones from Hollow Knight: Silksong, the apocalyptic vibes of Final Fantasy XV, the tribal energy of Killer Instinct, and so much more.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 89

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Hollow Knight: Silksong - "Choral Chambers" by Christopher Larkin

Final Fantasy XV - "Apocalypsis Aquarius" by Yoko Shimomura

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - "Unrestrained Struggle" by Motoi Sakuraba

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - "Silvermoon City" by Russel Brower

NieR Automata - "Bipolar Nightmare" by Keigo Hoashi

Genshin Impact - "Nod-Krai" by Yang Li, feat. AURORA

NieR Automata - "Possessed by Disease" by Keiichi Okabe

"Kaval Sviri" by Peter Lyondev

Halo 4 - "Legacy" by Neil Davidge

Lost Judgment - "Unwavering Belief" by Chihiro Aoki

Killer Instinct: Season 2 - "Temperance & Vengeance" by Mick Gordon (feat. Ali Edwards)

Super Metroid - "Brinstar (Underground Depths)" by Kenji Yamamoto

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

Sam "Zeral"

This week, off-season winds of tomfoolery bring friend of the podcast Sam "Zeral" for a surprise visit, so we may as well embrace the vibe.

But joke games are too low-hanging for the crew, so we instead explore Street Fighter's almost equally-obvious joke character, Final Fantasy VII's almost equally-obvious joke minigames, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's almost equally-obvious joke character-based minigames. Wait a minute...

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 88

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Hollow Knight: Gods & Nightmares - "Truth, Beauty and Hatred" by Christopher Larkin

Xenoblade Chronicles - "Riki the Legendary Heropon" by ACE+

Street Fighter Alpha 3 - "Performance (Dan's Theme)" by Takayuki Iwai, Yuki Iwai, Isao Abe, Hideki Okugawa, and Tetsuya Shibata

Pokémon: Colosseum - "Mirror B" (unconfirmed title) by Tsukasa Tawada

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - "Gestral Beach - Is It a Gestral or a Volleyball?" by Lorien Testard

Chained Echoes - "Turtle Race Song" by ZILF

Deltarune - "Lancer" and "Vs. Lancer" by Toby Fox

Undertale - "Tem Shop" and "Dogsong" by Toby Fox

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth - "It's Hard to Stand on Two Feet" by an unconfirmed composer

Double Dragon: Neon - "End Credits (Dared to Dream)" by Jake Kaufman and Kazunaka Yamane

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Sam "Zeral"

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

This week, while Galen returns to his comfort zone in LA (just ignore the screams), the rest of the crew talk about their gaming comfort zones.

Which, if you stopped to count who's left, you might have noticed that, yes, this is going to mean a lot of Destiny and Hoyoverse talk, this time with a side serving of lore dumps.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 87

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Destiny 2: Beyond Light - "Frigid Tomb" by Michael Sechrist, Skye Lewin, and Michael Salvatori

Genshin Impact - "Natlan" by Dimeng Yuan, and "Anthem of the Savannah" by Yuxi Wang

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen - "Lucent World" by Skye Lewin, Michael Salvatori, Josh Mosser, and Michael Sechrist

Honkai: Star Rail - "Roses and Revolvers" medley by an unknown arranger (based on "Chivalric Romances" by TSAR; "A Gentleman's Fantasy" by Laetus.L and Fan; and "Cowboy's Got Business ~ Roses and Revolvers" by Vinchi)

Honkai: Star Rail - "NAME==Mythos" and "NAME==Logos" by unconfirmed composers

Destiny 2: Lightfall - "All That Matters" by Michael Sechrist, Skye Lewin, Michael Salvatori, and Josh Mosser

Zenless Zone Zero - "TKO" (unconfirmed title) by an unknown composer; "Fearless" by Zhou Bin and YMIR; "Yijang" (unofficial title) by an unknown composer

Destiny - "The Warmind" by Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, and C. Paul Johnson

Destiny 2: Warmind - "A God on Mars" by C. Paul Johnson, Skye Lewin, and Michael Salvatori

Production credits:

Hosts:

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander

This week, the crew takes a moment to embrace the feeling of relief - and the music that comes with it.

We feel the relief of concluding a 10-year-old saga in Destiny 2: The Final Shape, the relief of being done with the grind in Dinal Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, and the relief of completing a hard challenge in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music Arcade #86

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're also on Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music credits (in order of discussion):

Destiny 2: The Final Shape - "After All This Time" by Michael Salvatori, Skye Lewn, Josh Mosser, and Michael Sechrist

Yakuza: Like a Dragon - "Receive You The Hyperactive" by Hidenori Shoji

Final Fantasy X - "The Blitzers" (aka "Man Staked on Blitz") by Nobuo Uematsu

Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles - "Daybreak" (aka "The Dawn") by an unconfirmed composer (arr. by Yasuhiro Ichihashi)

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers - "The Faerie Ring" by Masayoshi Soken (arr. by Keiko)

Skies of Arcadia - "Boss Battle (Crisis, Opportunity)" by Yutaka Minobe

Zenless Zone Zero - "Battle Trials: Glory" (unconfirmed title) by YMIR and Hoyo-MiX

Age of Mythology: Retold - "If You Can Use a Doorknob" by Stephen Rippy and Kevin McMullan (arr. by Tilman Sillescu)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - "We Lost" by Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier, and Victor Borba

Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - "Won the Case! - First Victory - English Turnabout Mix" by Masakazu Sugimori (arr. by Yasumasa Kitagawa)

Production credits:

Hosts:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Ranakel

Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:

Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:

Ranakel

Writing and publishing:

Edie Alexsander