I’m a firm believer that the music of Final Fantasy XIV is among its biggest selling points and you don’t even need to play the game to appreciate just how good it is. The, frankly genius, Sound Director and Composer Masayoshi Soken is someone who I have endless respect and praise for, but we’ll get into the reasons why later. Until then, in the spirit of celebrating Soken and the FFXIV sound team’s work, I’m narrowing down a list of favorites.
As we await a new era of bangers in Dawntrail, let’s look at my personal top 10 picks from the MMO’s OSTs thus far, but please remember that this list is not exhaustive by any means, and I had an extremely hard time whittling down my choices to such a small sampling. So, I urge you to set out and discover your own favorites — perhaps even share a few with us. Anyway, from orchestral arrangements to heavy metal bangers, here’s my top 10 Final Fantasy XIV songs.
[Spoiler warning: This list includes music from just about every era of FFXIV, with a rationale for why it made the cut. Do not proceed if you have not completed Endwalker.]
The best FFXIV songs, from A Realm Reborn to Endwalker
10. Gogo’s Theme
Let’s start this with a little throwback to Final Fantasy VI, kicking things off with Gogo’s Theme. If you’ve never taken part in the Masked Carnivale, then firstly, I wish I could say the same but also, you’ll likely have never come across this song in Final Fantasy XIV.
There’s no other musical arrangement within FFXIV, or Final Fantasy in general, that evokes so much wistful nostalgia and rage at the same time, all within the first few bars. Gogo’s Theme is proof that some things easily stand the test of time, and this is one of them. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
9. Oblivion
Shiva is a level 50 Primal, and one of the first 8-player trials that you take part in when playing FFXIV. Her theme is technically one of two halves which coincide with the two phases of her fight. These days, you’re unlikely to encounter this theme as it should be heard, as the fight is usually over far too quickly, but I will never forget the first time I bore witness to it.
8. Scream
Not only is the musical arrangement of this song an absolute gothic masterpiece on behalf of Soken, the lyrics are such a gut punch. Hearing the words “scream all you like, your Gods can’t hear you” while fighting Hemitheos in Pandaemonium: The Sixth Circle really reminds you that you are truly on your own. I mean, let’s face it, this is all in the same expansion we’ve entered first-name informalities with the Gods reference. This song hits hard and goes even harder.
7. Dedicated to Moonlight
As someone who generally doesn’t take part in Alliance Raids unless I absolutely have to, I will always make an exception for Euphrosyne purely for the chance to belt out the lyrics to Dedicated to Moonlight while battling Menphina and Dalamud.
Although that said, I truly can’t write this without pointing out that The Primals have released a version of this that (in my humble opinion) only serves to improve it. The video is a masterpiece, as well, so I’d recommend you go and watch it and decide which version you prefer.
6. Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Although there were a lot of songs as part of the Shadowbringers expansion, and many of them are fan favorites, nothing sums up the beloved Version 5.0 and beyond quite like Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
With operatic vocals hammering home lyrics such as “may all of the dark lost inside you find light again”, this track really brings together all of the themes from the entire journey up until this point, punching you in the gut as you listen to it with added hindsight. Remembering those who have gone before and moving forward in their legacy – it’s a lesson that carries into the real world.
5. A Long Fall
There aren’t many dungeons that I would willingly run time and time again purely for their soundtrack, but The Twinning is definitely the one that springs to mind when I try to think of one.
This entire dungeon is a joy to run, no matter how many times you’ve run it already, purely because of this glorious musical arrangement. It pumps me full of energy and makes me want to fight all the harder, although it also makes me want to dance, which could prove problematic. Clearly, I’m not the only one who feels that way, either, as The Twinning has spawned a whole genre of FFXIV-related in-jokes.
4. Rise
No other song has brought together players of FFXIV quite like this one, something which is only proven by this majestic moment during Tokyo Fan Festival in January 2024.
The song was arranged to fit the mechanics of Alexander – The Soul of the Creator, a Raid from the Heavensward expansion, perfectly. The mechanic, and the song which accompanies it, has become a fan favorite over the years and I get goosebumps every time I see an arena filled with people freeze to pay homage to the mechanic.
I honestly had a hard time picking one song from the Alexander Raid series, so I’d recommend listening to them all and finding your own favorite!
3. Wayward Daughter
With both Japanese and English lyrics, this song represents Tsukuyomi’s battle within herself, and its chaotic music arrangement only serves to reflect that. Natsuko Ishikawa, who wrote the lyrics to this emotional tribute, was also the Main Scenario writer for both Shadowbringers and Endwalker, which explains how the lyrics of Wayward Daughter sum up Tsukuyomi’s tale so perfectly. Only someone writing two of the most heart-wrenching games ever could deliver a track like that.
2. Close in the Distance
During the development of the Endwalker expansion, Soken was receiving chemotherapy, and he announced as such at the 2021 Digital Fan Festival, thankfully adding that his cancer had entered remission He also revealed that he’d hidden his diagnosis from most of the development team and had even done some of his work from the hospital. If that doesn’t deserve respect, I don’t know what does.
All things considered, the lyrics of this song, such as “In the dark, you will not stray. Forge ahead till the end, we pray”, will burrow deep into your heart and remain with you for a very long time. It’s a message to keep going, that better times will always come, and hard times are never permanent. Close in the Distance truly is special.
1. Footfalls
This is my top choice for one reason and one reason alone – it somehow manages to feature every individual major song from the Endwalker expansion, while still retaining form as one cohesive song. If that isn’t testament to Soken’s skill in musical arrangement, I have no idea what else to give you.
This was the track that accompanied the full theatrical trailer for Endwalker and it served as an introduction to the new locations, the new people and the new battles we’d be facing during the expansion. It has never failed to give me goosebumps and I’m not sure it ever will.
