Turn based strategy (or tactics) games with actually good music

[Nutmeg]

Over the past week I have been trying out various newer TBS games (made after the year 2006), and out of the five I tried, only one had good music -- BBC Battle Academy. Sadly it was also the least immediately interesting game I tried of the five (though it's not necessarily a bad game, in fact it seems very good, just very conservatively designed).

When I look back, Civilization 4, Into the Breach and the much older Sega CD game Dark Wizard are the only other TBS games where I remember enjoying the music.

I know a lot of codexers enjoy the Chaos Gate and Fantasy General soundtracks, and I agree they're good, though I've not spent the longest amount of time with either game, and truth be told that type of music is not wholly my cup of tea (though I am more than happy for this kind of music to be mentioned ITT, as long as you like the music, please just call it out).

So, it seems to me the genre has a dearth of good music. Most games have simple, short and repetitive marches on loop, which are at best ignorable and at worst grating. So what are some TBS games which are exceptions to the rule, where the music is both good and enjoyable and in the context of playing the game?

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Here's some that worked for me.

 

[Nutmeg]

I still haven't gotten around to playing Heroes 5. Heroes 2 and 3 had good soundtracks too. I was going to mention them in the OP, I remember now but then in the middle of typing I forgot about them.

 

[tindrli]

also there was a song that one song in civilisation V i think.. when you enter modern era or something. It was jazz music.. could listen it for days

 

[ERYFKRAD]

 

[spectre]

Fucking Heroes of Might and Magic, man. In particular 2, but 3 gives me nostalgia.


I actually downloaded Mechanicus OST for personal use.


The Total War Soundtracks are at least listen-worthy.
The Medieval 2 menu theme is particularly awesome with chorus and organ.

Rome 2 main theme also sets that "the glory of Rome is eternal" mood.

Also, as much as I hate Civ6, the main menu theme is an earworm.
Then I try to actually play it and... gaaah.

Bonus:

 

[Maxie]

Fucking Heroes of Might and Magic, man. In particular 2, but 3 gives me nostalgia.


I actually downloaded Mechanicus OST for personal use.


The Total War Soundtracks are at least listen-worthy.
The Medieval 2 menu theme is particularly awesome with chorus and organ.

Rome 2 main theme also sets that "the glory of Rome is eternal" mood.

Also, as much as I hate Civ6, the main menu theme is an earworm.
Then I try to actually play it and... gaaah.

Bonus:

you should apologize for including paradox crap.
endless 4x games have very cute osts and so does sengoku rance

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

I think the way music in Invisible Inc intensifies when alert level goes up deserves a mention.

 

[Silva]

RoTK and Nobunga's Ambition series have consistently great music throughout it's 30 or so entries.

 

[catfood]

Age of Wonders

 

[catfood]

Lord of Magic

 

[catfood]

Imperialism 2

 

[catfood]

Warhammer 40K Final Liberation

 

[JarlFrank]

 

[tindrli]

Not exactly a TBS but god damn

 

[Trithne]

Link to the full playlist.

 

[dehimos]

 

[Galdred]

Hah, I was about to mention the lack of Chaos Gate soundtrack, but you covered it in the OC. Nevertheless, here are some parts of it :







What I really liked about it was that it genuinely felt like music they would play in universe.

 

[Falksi]

The Langrisser games (Warsong + Langrisser 2) on the SEGA Megadrive have some belting tunes...










Both great games themselves too.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

I still haven't gotten around to playing Heroes 5.

I think this mod makes it a lot better.

 

[Dr Skeleton]

Eador Genesis has a nice, chill soundtrack:

 

[Dr Skeleton]

HoMM4 might not be the best in the series, but the music was 10/10






Warlords 3

 

[Great Deceiver]

 

[Ladonna]

Go listen to the other tracks from the game too.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Especially Winter -theme.