Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight's orchestral score is a masterclass in atmospheric worldbuilding, using just music to evoke the game's desolate beauty. Composer Christopher Larkin wove 50 distinct tracks across the kingdom of Hallownest, with the string-dominant "City of Tears" standing out with over 2 million streams on Spotify. This score creates a more intimate, subterranean tension than #6 Red Dead Redemption 2's frontier melancholy, building mood through subtle dynamic shifts rather than sweeping western orchestration. The track's layered piano and cello motifs generate a palpable sense of isolation, outperforming many RPG giants in making empty corridors feel emotionally charged. With a 96% positive user rating on video game music forums, Larkin's work proves that less can be more when each note serves the story.