Feature: 2014's Most Memorable PlayStation Music

The music that we hear in games plays an integral part in our enjoyment of the experience. While this is by no means exclusive to the medium, the interactive nature of games means that the memories linked with certain musical cues can carry more potency than in other types of media. Last year was a hell of a year for game soundtracks, and our 2013 list was jam packed with some incredible music, but Gustavo Santaolalla's The Last of Us work came out on top. Because of that fact, we decided to keep any titles that previously released on PlayStation platforms off this list, so that means no repetition. But don't fret; we have plenty of amazing music to show off as we count down the top ten soundtracks of 2014...

#10 - Hohokum

While Hohokum may have been a touch disappointing in the gameplay department, one of the areas commonly commended in this release was its audio. Developer Honeyslug worked with label Ghostly International to craft a soundtrack of fitting pre-existing tracks, as well as some brand new music for the game. What results is a very happy, floaty soundtrack, which complements the title's bright, colourful visuals perfectly.

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#9 - Entwined

During its E3 press conference this year, Sony surprised many by releasing Pixelopus' Entwined that very night. While not everyone loved the game, one of the title's strongest aspects was its soundtrack courtesy of Sam Marshall. Each of the levels had a very distinct sound to it, and offered a marvellously relaxing experience.

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#8 - Child of Light

If the visual splendour and rhyming dialogue wasn't already enough for you to fall in love with Child of Light, then perhaps Cœur de Pirate's music is what did the trick. The soundtrack is a lovely accompaniment to Aurora's fantastical journey, but the credits track, 'Off to Sleep', just might be the package's peak.

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#7 - Alien: Isolation

It's been some time since fans of one of the most iconic sci-fi series of all time have been given something to cheer about when it comes to gaming. The Creative Assembly delivered in spades with this year's Alien: Isolation, however, with a horrifying and polished experience. The game teamed tense, terrifying gameplay with a combination of new music, and a re-recording of Jerry Goldsmith's masterpiece soundtrack from the Ridley Scott film.

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#6 - Destiny

Ah, Destiny. Many of us love it; others love to hate it. If there is one area that we can all agree on, though, it should be the soundtrack. With Martin O'Donnell in charge of the music, there was never really any doubt that the audio would be sublime. Unfortunately, as many of you are probably aware, the composer left developer Bungie a few months before the game's release, meaning that some of the music sticks out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, the tracks that he did contribute are enough to help the game chart highly in our top ten.

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#5 - The Swapper

Next up on the list is a game that first debuted on PlayStation platforms this year: The Swapper. While the Facepalm Games developed title suffered several delays before finally releasing in August, this puzzle platformer was worth the wait. Balancing calming ambience with unnerving horror-esque environments, the outing delivered an oppressive, unique story in conjunction with one of the most hauntingly beautiful scores in recent years. Relying largely on piano and synth, Carlo Castellano's score is nothing short of immaculate.

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#4 - Metro 2033 Redux

Another title that previously released on non-PlayStation platforms, Metro 2033 Redux marked the first time that 4A Games' debut title hit Sony hardware. The dark oppressive world of post-apocalyptic Moscow comes to life in this game, due in large part to Alexey Omelchuk's absolutely incredible soundtrack. Being both one of this writer's favourite games and favourite soundtracks of all time, the music in Metro 2033 is as much a part of the world as the characters and locales. Using a lot of acoustic guitar – and oftentimes, nothing more than that – the title offers one of the most unique game soundtracks in recent memory. While the Redux version of the game changes a few of the cues (not for the better), the fact remains that even with these changes, this is a truly remarkable soundtrack.

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#3 - Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition marked a return to form for BioWare's beloved fantasy RPG series. While the game may have its issues, the music is great. In particular, Inquisition has a slew of tavern songs courtesy of composer Trevor Morris and vocalist Maryden Halywell that are exquisite. With some twelve tavern songs, as well as a full score to accompany them, this game has an awful lot of music on offer. Plus, one of the tavern songs has the same progression as Seal's 'Kiss from a Rose'. What's not to like?

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#2 - Wolfenstein: The New Order

While Wolfenstein is a series that primarily revolves around the ridiculous, MachineGames' stab at the series offered a more grisly approach to the property. Alongside gorgeous presentation, frantic shooting action, and a surprisingly potent narrative was an unprecedented level of world building, particularly in regards to the music. Alongside a suitably heavy score by Mick Gordon were several reinterpretations of famous bands if they had made music under the rule of the Nazi Empire. The results are amazing, adding weight to the title's alternate history timeline.

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#1 - Transistor

Wolfenstein's soundtrack may have been immaculate, but it was bettered by Supergiant Games' second title, Transistor. For this game, the studio teamed up with Bastion composer Darren Korb. However, while his previous work received tons of attention, his audio here seemed to fly under the radar a little, and we can't for the life of us figure out why. How many other games have a button dedicated to making your character hum along to the in-game tunes? This was not only a novel addition, but it effectively doubles the music in the game, as the tracks are drastically different when Red's humming along.

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So, there it is – our list of the best PlayStation soundtracks of 2014. While a lot of games may have had disappointing launches this year, the music was definitely not an area where the industry was lacking this time around. It was quite the challenge just picking ten, and this is after we kept re-releases out of the running, too. Do you agree with our selections? Hum your responses in the comments section below.