Relaxing video game music

[Sarge]

I think the night version of Xenoblade's Gaur Plains might fit the bill.

That has been my morning alarm tune for many years!

Ha, that's pretty cool! I have to keep changing mine. I'm not a morning person, so I start to associate a particular favorite song with waking up in the morning, and it's not a great sensation. (For example, I used Wood Man's song as an alarm.)

Thankfully, this is only a problem when I'm traveling a lot, my alarm I use at home is just an awful beeping noise.

[strangenova]

Love this track, so relaxing. When coupled with the water and cool colors of the caves, it's just perfect.

SOTN

[o.pwuaioc]

Oh, also, High Skies Sounds of Earth.

[Xeogred]

Frankly I think there should be a VGM subforum. I'd be there all day.

[strangenova]

Here's a game I don't hear people talk about much. Side Pocket for the Snes (also on genesis and nes) has some relaxing lounge type tunes. I've played this game since I was younger, and it is a solid game but it's the music that keeps me coming back. Here's a few samples:

Dinner For Two-
Whispers-

[J T]

Here's a few, across gaming generations, that immediately come to mind:

Solstice (NES): Main BGM Theme (A rare moment when Tim Follin isn't prog rocking at full blast)
Final Fantasy II (SNES): Title Theme (A classic, and I most love it as it sounds here for nostalgia. The harp sounded so real to me back when this was released).
Tetrisphere (N64): Hallucid (The composer spends his time trying to be Aphex Twin or The Prodigy. The Aphex Twin style tracks, like this one, are more relaxing.)
Katamari Damacy (PS2): The Wonderful Star's Walk is Wonderful (I love this soundtrack so much! It's so joyous. This is one of the laid back numbers.)
Minecraft (Multiplatform): Minecraft Main Theme (This whole OST is relaxing. I like to listen to it while cooking eggs for breakfast when I'm not awake yet.)
To The Moon (PC): Everything's Alright (This game has a dreamy soundtrack by Laura Shigihara and I just love her beautiful self-harmonizing on this song. It's so tender hearted.)

[marurun]

I find game composers have a harder time composing compelling calm or relaxed tracks. They often end up trite or overly simplistic. As you guys have demonstrated, however, it's not a completely hopeless search.

I love a few tracks from Actraiser.
Northwall is peaceful, but there is a tiny undertone of tension, so it might not be as relaxing as it could be.
Peace Offering isn't slow or sedate, but I find it relaxing.
Peaceful World, I think, fits the bill just right.

Ys III has one I like as well.
PC Engine version
SNES version

Dungeon Explorer II (bonus water drips)

[Xeogred]

Here's a really obscure one I bet nobody would ever think of. It caught me off guard completely:

Onimusha Warlords OST - (22) Waterfall Mountain

[Key-Glyph]

Hey all you VGM junkies... would you should consider recommending tracks to my podcast as you do on these threads? It's 90% listener-driven, kinda like a radio request show for VGM music. My co-host and I would love it if you'd drop us some awesome tunes (but I'm sure most of you know about this already).

In fact, maybe listen to our Spa Zone Episode for some excellent examples of patron-recommended relaxing tracks. Or you can just look up the tunes listed in the description and relax to them on YouTube.

Since Spa Zone is a special episode it has lots of short cheesy skits instead of patron testimonials. So... be warned.

I'll try to post links to other relaxing tracks in the future.

[pierrot]

Ultra necro-bump.
Been a real time for relaxing music. Very few of the links in this thread survive, though.

Anyway, I've always loved the soundtrack to Katamari Damacy, but I've been playing re-rolled lately and got to the Crown constellation stage where I was reminded of this gloriously soothing track:



Have been listening to it a fair amount tonight. Asaka Yui's vocals are haunting.
Can't mention relaxing Katamari Music without also mentioning 'Katamari Stars,' though.