A friend once said that soundtracks are the new classical music. I agree wholeheartedly. The influence of composers like Rachmaninoff and Beethoven bubbles in songs from Star Trek, ET and more.

Videogame soundtracks have found their own niche and slowly but surely got the recognition they need. From the eerie drones of Eric Brosius compositions from Thief the dark project and the midi arrangements from Ultima, music has come a long way from Sid chips and LM 555s.

Absolum is a terrific roguelike from 2025 with a soundtrack that fits every single stage just right. Cathedral canyon plays at a later level with high difficulty and strong emotional weights. It’s a short track that borrows heavily from Bach. Chilling, masterful in its grandiosity, and a cue to walk into the unknown.

-Sam J Valdés López