Video Game Villain OSTs That Strike Fear Into Your Heart Like Nothing Else

Video game music has been inspiring and entertaining for a long time now, but there are certain titles out there that outclass others when it comes down to their soundtracks. I mean sure, the quality is pretty high on its own, but it’s their placement that elevates the whole experience to another level. Over time, I’ve come across a few games that handle their villain OSTs like nothing else, and if you’ve missed out on these, I’d like to nudge you toward them, because they’re that worth it. 

To look at the matter from a broader lens here, more and more developers are starting to realize the essence of good video game music. Take Alan Wake 2 and Remedy, for instance; the way that the dev has managed to interweave music with narrative action is pure art. With no further ado, let’s get into the write-up right away.    

Talk About A Mesmerizing Yet Petrifying Atmosphere 

Make sure to post a comment down below in case you have a suggestion to make to the listicle. 

1. Resident Evil 2 – Mr. X

Right off the bat is Capcom’s fairly high-quality remake of Resident Evil 2—the zombie survival icon from 1998 that left no stone unturned in terms of winning over the hearts of players and critics. The developer’s faithful reimagining of the third-person shooter has also given us an overly menacing iteration of Tyrant, now known as Mr. X, and it’s not just his appearance that intimidates players straight away. 

But the accompanying theme and music make the giant adversary more terrifying than you think, and those who’ve played the third-person shooter already know what I’m on about here. No wonder Resident Evil 2 is currently the highest-selling title in the franchise, selling 12 million copies following its release in 2019. 

2. Baldur’s Gate 3 – Raphael’s Final Act  

When you get to the end of Raphael’s act in the House of Hope, you’re met with a tremendous boss fight, with this banger of a song playing in the backdrop. You know the fight is a different type of beast when it’s got its own theme song, and that’s the case with Raphael here, not to mention the quality of the entire Baldur’s Gate 3 campaign, which practically leaves you at a loss for words.

And the soundtrack is genuinely fitting as well. The most arrogant, pompous villain in Baldur’s Gate 3 deserves this form of grand send-off. The thing about this game is, it’s filled to the brim with moments that make you go, “Wow.” eXputer reviewed the high-flying RPG, rating it 5/5, with author Huzaifah Durrani remarking, 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and a testament to the talent of developer Larian Studios.” 

3. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl – Champion Cynthia 

Nothing but chills down your spine with this one, I can assure you of that. The piano notes aren’t just fear-inducing, but super cool to listen to, really doing a great job at elevating the tension in the room as Cynthia comes up to you in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl. And the setting of the fight too takes you aback. You walk into a regular beach house, and this music starts playing. 

You very well know at that moment something is about to go down, and it does. Brings back a lot of memories from my early years, happier ones. 

4. Streets Of Rage 2 – Mr. X 

The 1992, Genesis-released icon, or in other words, Streets of Rage 2, made quite a killing back in the day for being the definitive beat-’em-up experience. Remaining a best-seller for months on end, the title featured an epic final boss fight with Mr. X, where everything from the music down to the character design and setting just worked tremendously in the game’s favor. 

That slow-mo death of the antagonist, followed by the victory music kicking in—just fabulous. And the attention to detail is nothing but noteworthy. I really like how Mr.X tries to get back up after getting beat but is unable to do so. 

5. Halo – The Flood

Lastly, I couldn’t help but talk about what is the most frightening moment I’ve ever felt in all my playing years. Those who have been on the Halo franchise for a while now know what it was like back in the day to have The Flood come up in Halo for the first time. You could reckon it was the sound of death itself. If you haven’t the foggiest of what I’m on about, check out the following video by Gamer’s Little Playground, where Master Chief is seen coming face-to-face with The Flood. 

That was when Halo went from a first-person shooter to straight-up horror.”