Welcome back to the second year of our new Music of the Year format! Last year, we decided to bring readers a general, site-wide list of the year's top music as well as individual editors' choices. It's an absolute pleasure to present 2019's general list, which is the result of deliberation, staff voting, and the combined effort of several staff members. There was a strong showing of official arrangement albums for high-profile RPGs in 2019, but you'll also find some quality commentary on original soundtrack releases as well as a few indie projects. While the nature of music is such that it speaks to the listener on a personal level, it's always a lot of fun to read collective opinions and comments on what makes this past year's work special. We hope you enjoy!

Intro by Hilary Andreff

RoboRob's album of Kingdom Hearts remixes is unlike others. Embracing electronica and dance, Kingdom Heartbeats is a bopping album that evokes some of the most poignant moments from the series and makes you want to dance to them! There's a wonderful range of tracks, from toe-tapping, chill beats to pumping dance anthems, that prove any genre of music can be used to reinterpret the themes of a beloved series. And the vocals from TOFUKU are just wonderful; she does Hikaru Utada proud. There's no other album like this on our list, and that's why it's a must-listen.

Writeup by Alana Hagues

Many consider Octopath Traveler to be a successful melding of old and new RPG elements, visually and otherwise. This album proves that by translating some of the game's beautiful instrumental score back into 16-bit goodness. And it sounds amazing that way, like it was meant to be. Noriyuki Kamikura shows some true mastery of the 16-bit form here, creating versions of each song that would be welcomed and probably raved about had they shown up in a soundtrack during the 16-bit era. Little vibrancy from the original Octopath soundtrack is lost, and that alone is very impressive. It's also a neat experience to hear the variation within songs — the different sections — in this format.

Writeup by Hilary Andreff

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Our Album Review

Whether or not you've played Octopath Traveler, the soundtrack stands as one of the best in recent years. While the music is best listened to within the context of enjoying the game, Break & Boost offers some exciting new arrangements that stand well enough on their own for listeners to enjoy. The clever naming of the album, based on Octopath's core battle mechanics, catches the eye immediately, but the artists on this album use these two concepts as the basis to enhance the various pieces arranged here. The "Break" side adds further embellishment with fresh chamber-arranged takes on the selected pieces, allowing listeners to discover different aspects of each track. For a massive change of pace, the "Boost" side treats each song to a heavy, hardcore rockout that also makes for an interesting perspective. The whole album, from concept to execution, is a fantastic listen that any fan of Nishiki's formative work on Octopath Traveler will likely enjoy.

Writeup by Greg Delmage

Also Read:
Our Album Review

Released following the Octopath Traveler Break, Boost and Beyond concert in Japan this past August, Extend includes all of the new arrangements that debuted at the concert. With the same musical split as the first album, Extend starts off strong with an epic character medley and ends with a vocal version of the main theme. With new music from the upcoming mobile game included, Extend is an excellent companion to the first Break & Boost album, especially for those who couldn't attend the concert.

Writeup by Alana Hagues

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Our Game Review

Oni no Naku Kuni, aka Oninaki, is the latest Tokyo RPG Factory release (under Square Enix), with music from an unlikely pair. Shunsuke Tsuchiya has been composing game music for some time, with work including Luminous Arc, Black Wolves Saga, and Another Eden. Mariam Abounnasr has been creating brilliant orchestral arrangements with Square Enix for the past few years — her work is found on the NieR and Chrono orchestral box sets, for example — but this is her first significant work as far as original composition goes. What makes Oninaki's soundtrack work so well is the synergy Tsuchiya and Abounnasr have managed to achieve in creating a smooth listening experience with equal contributions from each composer across the two-disc set of music.

Writeup by Patrick Gann

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Our Game Review

Not only is Shadowbringers often considered Final Fantasy XIV's best expansion, but its soundtrack also ranks highly among the MMO's many fans. Masayoshi Soken's dynamic score stays true to Shadowbringers' edgier central theme when needed, while providing some beautiful overworld and "quieter moment" tracks. For music lovers who like to collect 'em all, fear not: Shadowbringers' OST includes songs from the later Stormblood content, such as key MSQ tracks and themes from the popular Ivalice-themed raid. Last but not least, it wouldn't be a Soken soundtrack without his energetic battle themes complete with catchy vocals.

Writeup by Liz Maas

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Our Game Review

A surprise rerelease this year, Skies of Arcadia Eternal from Wayo Records gives the music from Sega's beloved Dreamcast RPG the respect it deserves. This rerelease includes two new piano medleys from pianist Ramon van Engelenhoven, and the album has been launched in three formats: CD, vinyl and one with a gorgeous limited edition music box that plays the "Main Theme." Whatever version you choose to buy, all of them are worth your time for showcasing the wonderful, swashbuckling tunes that accompany you on your journey through Arcadia.

Writeup by Alana Hagues

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Our Album Review

If you just want to relax and chill with some familiar tunes, then The World is Square will hit the spot. Mustin's take on some of Square Enix's classics is just the kind of thing listeners could expect to hear in a bar lounge. The arrangements and instrumentation are executed brilliantly, with clear nods to the source material but featuring enough innovation to make them uniquely Mustin's own. The World is Square was a labour of love for Mustin for over 16 years, and he continued building the album with some gifted collaborators until its 2019 release. It is a fantastic album that can be listened to while relaxing or studying and will be enjoyable either way.

Writeup by Greg Delmage

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Our Album Review

When Ys SEVEN came and went without its own arranged album, series fans began to worry that the tradition of the Super Arrange Version had come to an end. With Ys VIII, Falcom apparently saw fit to take things a step further by going from Super Arrange to SUPER ULTIMATE! Though this arranged album stays generally upbeat, it takes a significant turn towards synth-heavy, electronic music, as opposed to the intense melodic rock of earlier Ys arrangements. A wild mix of both conventional and unconventional instrumentation and genres — including a handful of vocal tracks — makes this one of the best listens Falcom offered up in 2019.

Writeup by Patrick Gann

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Our Game Review

Falcom Sound Team jdk are consistently excellent at producing exciting and electric soundtracks. Ys IX - Monstrum NOX- is no different. While it is their heaviest and darkest soundtrack yet, which is fitting considering the game's themes, it's also very different in parts. There's something for long-time fans and newcomers, with blood-pumping battle and exploration themes aplenty, as well as foreboding and slower tunes for quieter moments. Whether you're a fan of early Falcom Sound Team or their more recent work, Ys IX's soundtrack is sure to please.

Writeup by Alana Hagues