Top of mind, semi-grouped (e: now with blurbs!):
- Gimmick (FC): Late-FC OST with the classic Sunsoft flair, lots of fun tracks ranging from happy-go-lucky to getting down to business. Also the 5B adds just a modest splash of color to the sound palette.
- Journey to Silius (NES): Another late-NES Sunsoft banger, very solid driving OST.
- Castlevania 3 (NES/FC): Many solid, iconic tracks here. JP version is fuller while US version is classic, but both versions are excellent.
- Chrono Trigger (SNES): Probably top pick here. Lovely instrumentation, plenty of memorable themes and emotional tracks. Also the story behind the music is an interesting one too.
- Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GEN): Lots of fun and iconic tracks here too. Funnily enough this OST also has a fun history behind it with MJ's involvement in it.
- Donkey Kong Country 2 (SNES), and I guess 1 & 3 as well?: Another fun OST, especially the tracks that lean into the synthy sound.
- Undertale (PC) & Deltarune (PC): Very clever and earworm-y tracks with the numerous leitmotifs it plays around. It's also very good at playing across/between a wide range of sound palettes, from NES to SNES-esque to full synth or orchestra arrangements.
- Celeste (PC): Just a lovely, lush OST, enhanced by how it's dynamically played back in the game. It's also a pretty surprisingly emotional OST at that.
Honorable mentions:
- Trip World (GB): Yet another great Sunsoft quality OST, but on GB this time.
- Turok: Rage Wars (GBC): Some great Alberto Gonzalez bangers here that really pull weight for the GBC. (have not played)
- Kirby Superstar (SNES): Lots of fun, cutesy tracks here.
- Super Mario RPG (SNES): A mostly fun and quality RPG OST.
- Streets of Rage 1/2 (GEN): Club/dance-inspired OST from Yuzo Koshiro hell yea. Haven't played the games but have heard the music was ahead of its time. SoR3 OST was too ahead of its time though lol
- Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA): People seem to not like the gritty and chippy GBA sound of this one, or the...dissonance, but I think it's got a nice interesting and unique sound. (have not played)
- YU-NO (PC-98): Nice lush and pretty FM sound. (have not played)
- Dungeons of Aether (PC/PC-98?): I mean technically this counts as PC-98 I guess...but lots of epic sounding tracks here. (have not played)
- Eschatos (360): Cool modern FM-esque OST with plenty of energy. (have not played)
- Tetris: The Grand Master 1/2/3 (Arcade): Bunch of nifty, electronic style tracks.
- Touhou (PC)...like all of them lol: Lots of great songs, iconic and catchy stuff here. Also respect for ZUN for being just one guy writing all (almost all?) the music for years.
- Half-Life 1/2 (PC): Could just be me being a HL fan but I think there's a lot of good range of atmospheric, moody, and driving stuff here that really fits the game.
- Doom 2016/Eternal (PC): Absolutely blood pumping stuff here, perfectly fitting for the game.
- Risk of Rain 2 (PC): IDK how to describe this one it just rocks
- Bastion (PC) & Transistor (PC): It's been a while since I've played these two but they're pretty and cool OSTs.
- Roboquest (PC): A pretty recent pumpy electro/synthwave OST that goes pretty hard, especially in game.
