Memorable Music in Gaming - January Genre - Puzzle / Casual

Puzzle Games. Who doesn't love them? I know I'm a big fan and so are my fellow authors here at Chalgyr's Game Room. In today's collective, which is also the first of this year, we feature memorable music from puzzle / casual games. These games help you relax, or keep your mind sharp for the next puzzle game to come out. I swear the composers for the music of this genre really nailed it. From the opening notes of the first track, to the meat of a section of the game, the transitions, they all draw you along throughout the game. It's also good to be able to have some of the music for regular life where it can soothe your raging frustration at day to day life. Enjoy! 

 

Nick

Austin Wintory – Journey (2012)

Journey is one of those titles that I was somewhat late to when it was released in 2012, but once I began to play it, I fell in love with it. Something about the simple yet elegant visuals, play-at-your-pace style that mixed exploration with light platforming and puzzle elements made it a game that I felt like I was experiencing rather than just playing. However, despite all of those above elements coming together to help create such a memorable experience, the music was probably the standout aspect for many people. There is a reason it was nominated for a Grammy in 2013 for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. Even though Journey didn’t come away with the hardware, it was notable because this was the first time a video game had been nominated for this particular award.

Austin Wintory was the composer, and he has a long list of credits both in the film/TV and video game industry. His first credit dates back to 2002 and his most recent work was as recently as this year (probably most notably as a co-composer with the recently released and critically acclaimed Hades 2). 

Journey is a game about mystery, discovery and exploration with moments that can be whimsical but also at times a bit tense throughout the adventure. There’s so many great songs on this soundtrack, with Apotheosis ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypNgvc6c6Cc ) being a standout entry, but The Crossing being another memorable track in a collection filled with songs that stuck with me well after my journey had ended.

Susan N.

Peter Gabriel - Myst IV: Revelation (2004)

As you are all aware by now, I love puzzle games. Although, rarely does the music in a puzzle game captivate me as much as many songs from the Myst series. I’ve previously mentioned enjoying Catherine’s Theme from Riven, but I haven’t talked about some of my other favorites and why they resonate so much. Out of the whole series the order of my favorite titles goes Myst IV: Revelation, Myst III: Exile, Riven, Myst, and End of Ages. Songs that I adore include: The Theme from Amateria ( https://youtu.be/B0yjqq4ZWOw ) and Going Home ( https://youtu.be/HBPKsYsLuBc?list=PL1E2F81F280184A96 ). Both are from Myst III: Exile and are quite different to each other. Amateria is an age full of crystals and sparkling atmosphere which is why I like it so much whereas Going Home is only heard when you reach a specific ending - a good one too! Unlike Riven or Myst before it, Exile had multiple endings which made it my favorite at the time. Then Myst IV topped my list and really stepped up its storytelling and gameplay. Like Exile, the game allowed us to choose different endings but didn’t have as many cutscenes that pushed the narrative forward without requiring pages of information and a copious amount of notetaking to extrapolate puzzle solutions. The series developed quality of life features that made puzzle solving easier for video game players and that is one of the defining reasons for the series’ reputation.

Where Myst and Riven’s music was composed by Robyn Miller, Myst III: Exile switched it up with compositions by Jack Wall. I can recall listening to the intro song on repeat and it has burned a permanent place in my skull as one of my favorite game themes next to Baba Yetu from Civilization. However, it is not the one that destroys all other puzzle game tracks. When Myst IV: Revelation released there was one song that Jack Wall didn’t do. 

As you fall asleep to enter Dream, a beautiful cutscene plays with a song composed by Peter Gabriel titled Curtains. It is the most iconic song for me and it is only heard the first time you enter Dream, which is honestly a tragedy because the song is spectacular and quite surreal. I remember being so entranced by it and I am not sure I can explain why. (For reference Peter Gabriel composed Solsbury Hill which is one of his many iconic songs that you can hear here: https://youtu.be/_OO2PuGz-H8 ) Curtains could only be heard in Myst IV: Revelation and was not released until 2019 on the album titled ‘Flotsam and Jetsam’ which is a collection of previously unreleased and rare B-Side tracks. I know this because I went looking for the song back then, only to discover that it was an exclusive track. Anyways, part of why this song sticks out in my mind is because it manages to put people into a zen state of mind, which is good because in this new ethereal and abstract place known as Dream you must complete an irritating and simple color puzzle that I felt made the color marble puzzle from Riven look like child’s play - at the time. Anyways, that song leading into Dream resonated with me so much that Curtains by Peter Gabriel sticks out in my mind as THE most memorable song in gaming history partly due to its inclusion in my favorite Myst game of all time and partly due to its affiliation with one of the most surreal sections in any video game I’ve ever played. There is nothing that has captured a sense of awe and wonder quite like the Myst series as a whole - at least, nothing I can recall. So, without further ado, I present to you Curtains by Peter Gabriel: https://youtu.be/dpXCpmk5xdo. 

Honestly, Myst IV: Revelation changed the gaming landscape by using cutscenes to drive a story forward. The physical acting was spectacular and brought the story to life. It is part of the reason the Myst series became a benchmark for puzzle games and kicked off the genre in a big way. Plus, they were some of the first games to have multiple endings. Needless to say, the Myst series is responsible for my addiction to puzzle games and I’m not ashamed to say it. The music helped create that healthy addiction I have…

Richard

Tomohito Nishiura - Professor Layton (2007-2017)

Mmm, this is a real tough choice for me, because I do like me some puzzle games. Even tougher because there’s a lot of cross genre games that may not really settle nicely in this category. Take La Mulana for example. I’d call it a brutal puzzle game, but it’s probably more action platformer. Tetris? A true classic, but everyone knows Tetris. Maybe something like Phoenix Wright or Misao? Great games, but they’re more Visual Novel with puzzle elements. There are also plenty of Puzzle games with fitting ambient soundtracks that aren’t really memorable, much to my chagrin. The Super Solvers games for instance I loved the music for, I remember that, but I can’t remember the actual soundtracks anymore.

There is, however, a game I played almost 20 years ago now that I still remember a lot of the soundtrack to: Professor Layton and the Curious Village. This series in general is a great puzzle game series that incorporates a lot of small brain teaser type puzzles into a large overarching game with an interesting plotline, tied together by a usually soothing soundtrack you can solve puzzles to. Tomohito Nishiura has been the composer for Dark Cloud, Rogue Galaxy, and the Layton series for ten years. While there are other puzzle games I may rate higher than the Layton games, the soundtrack is certainly one of the most memorable for me. It definitely starts off strong right from the main theme of The Curious Village (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYlpoteRT6o&list=RDGYlpoteRT6o&start_radio=1)

Valerie

Trigg and Gusset - Blue Prince

There is nothing like a puzzle game to keep one's mind on their toes and their imagination floating away in the music of that game. While writing this up for our memorable music collective I came across an interview of the duo Trigg and Gusset. In it they featured two of the sound tracks that keep me opening the next door and then the next. However, I am hard-pressed to choose just one as they all are the body of the game.

If I must choose a couple, then Stairways & Steam and Under the Black Bridge. Throughout all of the pieces you get the sense of things hiding, things disappearing and reappearing, nooks and crannies to discover, the people that live there, and all manner of atmosphere of a house that has a story to tell. If you haven't played this awesome game by now, I say go get it. 

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GotY 2025 - Game of the Year

Here we are - 2025's Game of the Year according to our team here at Chalgyr's Game Room. We've talked about so many elements that make gaming worthwhile from memorable moments, to finding hidden gems we didn't expect to and showing our deep appreciation for visuals, music, characters and stories that touched us. It's an incredibly subjective thing, when you're talking about a Game of the Year, because we all interact with this media in our own unique ways. Still, when you're talking about the best of the best, there tend to be some common threads and excellence can be found in every team member's entry here. 

Thank you, our readers, for being a part of our video game journey in 2025. Here at CGR, we look forward to sharing our thoughts about this medium we all love next year in 2026 as well, and welcome any thoughts you've had about our entries this year in the comments section. We hope that you agree that it's been a fun ride in 2025, and we're appreciative that you made us a part of it. 

Nick: Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I mean, this game is probably my favorite in years. Years and years. The visual style is stunning, the music is beyond fantastic (the soundtrack has been a frequent flyer in my Spotify playlists and I have a reservation for the vinyl record release in early 2026) and the characters and narrative made me feel all sorts of things along the way. Also, and perhaps most importantly – the game was just a lot of fun to play. The mix of turn-based combat and timing combined with a rich world filled with reasons to explore, and this right here is my perfect mix for a Game of the Year. It's impressive really, that Clair Obscur is still landing in my social feeds this late in the year, given that it came out quite early in 2025. However, it's emotional impact and brilliant creativity can't be denied, which is why I believe no video game did it better in 2025. 

PY: Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I don’t think by this point there is anyone who hasn’t heard of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

This was an odd one for me personally. Having seen the game cover alone I pre-ordered it. Life being life, I cancelled it for the time being regretting it more because of FOMO than anything else. Then my brother messaged me saying PLAY THIS NOW. My brother plus single player games doesn’t happen often, so I booted it up out of Steam Family Share and promptly bought it on the PS5.

Is it perfect? No, but it could damn near be considered as such. The exploration gameplay is smooth and while mechanically is nothing new, each area comes with its own visuals, exploration music AND battle music. Lorien Testard deserves a memorable music article to him alone.

Then there was the actual combat that keeps you engaged like The Legend of Dragoon and Lost Odyssey where you have to hit at the right times to make a difference in your attack power. Upping the mechanics to not just be another feather in that cap, you also need to dodge, parry or jump to avoid or block enemy attacks. 

Finally there was the writing and the supporting voice acting that just sold the entire experience. Never taking the easy way out and being “cheesy”, everything felt just right alongside the music in which both live rent free in my head.

Susan: Blue Prince

Unlike everyone else on the planet, I didn't get a chance to play Clair Obscur and likely won't be able to do so until 2026. (Don't worry, I will play it!) Anyways, I made a rule a long time ago that I would only list games that I have actually played on my annual GOTY list. This year's game is 100,000,000% Blue Prince (which is interesting because it's also the game Alanah Pearce chose for GOTY :D ). 

So, we all know how much I love puzzle games and how they will always make it to the top of my list depending on what it does. Blue Prince knocked it out of the park and over the water into another continent. There are so many layers to this game that don't become obvious until you get into certain rooms or see something you didn't catch the first time. The amount of times someone said something so completely innocuous that tipped off another player to a solution is WILD. Imagine the phrase, "there are numbers" giving someone the push they need to solving a puzzle. Trust me, this game is just fantastic. And right from the start I knew there was something with the pictures in every room and I wasn't wrong. With each day you can uncover more and more information about what happened. I especially love the puzzle within the puzzle within the puzzle. 

Blue Prince floored me in so many ways. At first you think the game is just like an updated 7th Guest where there are puzzles to each room, but overall they don't seem to fit together. They are puzzles that are meant to be solved which leads to a key for another puzzle, but that's all they are - puzzles for the sake of being puzzles. In Blue Prince, each piece of information you find leads you to uncovering the story being told. People are missing, but why? You see? So many questions to be answered! I live for this kind of game.

Anyways, I have finished the game in terms of reaching the elusive room, but I still have a ton of puzzles to solve! The amount of gameplay time you get without staring at one puzzle for 6 hours is fantastic. (Although, I did stare at one puzzle for many hours. To heck with that damn room!) Anyways, each day is a new challenge and you can work on puzzles at your own pace.

What I'm saying is, this is hands down one of the most brilliant puzzle games next to Antichamber or The Witness or Talos Principle. All of them make you rethink your puzzle solving approach, and I love it. So, I can't talk about this game enough and yet I don't want to so that I don't accidently spoil anything! Do yourselves a favor and play Blue Prince. Trust me, it's worth it if you are a puzzle aficionado. 

Valerie: Blue Prince

Blue Prince made my GotY because of many factors and also many thanks to the friend who gifted it to me! You've heard above that it is reminiscent of 7th Guest, but the similarities definitely stop there. This game tops the list of puzzle games for the many factors of puzzles within puzzles, red herrings, obvious shots, and many 'back rooms' LOL (pun intended!).

I have yet to find that elusive 46th room, but everytime I pop back into the game a new clue presents itself. I have definitely invested tons of time in the screenshot taking just to keep a clue for the next time I run into a puzzle I have yet to solve. So many and sometimes so little time to play. I will keep coming back and I will up my count of puzzles solved as the new year rolls around!

The story in this game is slowly being revealed as I go along and I can't wait to get all the information needed to discover it all! 

If you love puzzle games as much as I do, get this one! You won't regret it! 

Richard: Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

Sequel to Ender Lilies and a hell of a good metroidvania title, Ender Magnolia was a pleasure to play from start to 100% finish. I loved the gameplay, the art style, the soundtrack, the characters. Beautifully well done, and out of the titles I’ve reviewed so far this year, Ender Magnolia definitely takes it. Check out my review here!

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GotY 2025 - Most Memorable

One of our team's favorite things about video games is not just playing them in the moment, but the lasting memories they make. We talk about these traits in several of our recurring articles such as Memorable Music in Gaming or Retro Reflections. What makes a game memorable? It comes down to the person and their experience. It can be a catchy song, a particularly poignant moment in the story or just the fan had experiencing the game with a friend or family member who was along the ride. It's not a binary criteria, but we know it when we see it and there were plenty of games in 2025 that might not have been true contenders for Game of the Year in our minds, but still became memorable in our hearts. 

Nick: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

What I found most interesting about this title when I reviewed it, was how this title was an all-new story and a brand-new game, and yet somehow almost immediately familiar and comfortable to me at the same time. Kudos to the audio in particular, with Troy Baker’s take on Indian Jones having been fantastic and music that knew the right moments to swell or to take a back seat to more subtle sound effects. There were times this felt a bit like an older first-person Fallout game, while having newer mechanics like the whip adding agility and platforming to the well-established formula. As someone who grew up on the Indiana Jones movies, this video game felt like a better successor than some of the more recent movies. 

PY: Cronos: The New Dawn

The Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn has pretty much lived in my head rent free beside Clair Obscur. The treatment of the landscapes and the small bits of information in this dystopian post apocalyptic hell that you find yourself in was damned near flawless.

The general vibe was tension making me grip my controller tighter than I should have just to be ready when the music, or lack of music, shifted. With the only complaint being that monsters took too much ammo to take out at times, the rest of this horror-like adventure has me planning on coming back to it as I would love to play against knowing what I know now.

Susan: Escape Simulator 2

My significant other and I had a chance to play Escape Simulator 2 recently and it was a blast. We went through many of the levels together and it was fun to see how each level changes based on if the game is a solo one or a multiplayer one. We played this together because we played through the entirety of the first one and we had a blast with it. 

What makes Escape Simulator 2 the most memorable of the games I played this year is the fact that the solutions to a few of the puzzles were much harder to solve. One puzzle in the crypt of Dracula's Castle took me for a ride and while I knew roughly what needed to be done, I struggled so much on it. Another thing that made the game memorable is the delivery of the hints - if you use them. The game doesn't give you the answer, it gives you a cute little picture with a nudge in the right direction. And you can't get all of the hints right off the bat, you have to wait time before you can request for another.

I'm impressed by how much of a step up Escape Simulator 2 is from the original version. Though it only has three main level sets to begin with, players can try escape rooms that others in the community have designed. The graphics in this game have improved but it's difficult to explain how or why. There's something about being able to walk around a space but looking like you're in an augmented reality that stunned me. Some of the levels were incredibly fascinating and some of the puzzles were visually spectacular. And with the fact that Escape Simulator 1 has come a long way from where it started, I expect that Escape Simulator 2 will do the same and expand over time. Besides, this game also has several puzzles that can be completed in the main lobby area which is quite fun. Just be careful, some of the hardmode puzzles are brutal. Trust me.

Valerie: Blue Prince

Ah Blue Prince. From the first opening cinematic, to all the rooms one moves into, you have me in your clutches. This game reminds me of Botany Manor, but with oh so much more to it! A mystery to solve, many puzzles to complete, lots of nooks and crannies to discover, Blue Prince has it all. 

 

The music added that final touch to the experience and had me smiling when I would discover something new.  

Richard: Shuten Order

Good god the plot bombs were more tactical plot nukes. While the gameplay felt a little incomplete, I’m gonna remember the plot reveals for a long time to come.

 

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