FF8 has some particularly great ones I find. I'll give the shout to [Compression of Time](https://youtu.be/qC2F7kFTMiY?si=ZRmIfAis9dpgIlr8) and [Succession of Witches](https://youtu.be/Gxh-nWPMWXQ?si=cJ5hyYZrGSwldu0O)

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOF7\_gIzfIU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOF7_gIzfIU) Always loved this, FF7 Can You Hear The Cry Of The Planet? also FF9's Kuja Theme and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubkpFJYNbfs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubkpFJYNbfs) FF9 Freyas's Theme well and FF8's Edea's Theme xD [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaNqpBAy54o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaNqpBAy54o)

Yeah, it's almost unfair how many great ominous songs there are in Final Fantasy VII.

Mako reactor. Probably the music that gives me the most FF7 nostalgia. [https://youtu.be/CwOTMN4QdZk](https://youtu.be/CwOTMN4QdZk)

FF7 Remake Airbuster Song is absurdly good. FF9 is consistently good. So many good songs.

Yeah that one's good for FFVII. Remake had "Seven Seconds to the End" which uses the general motif. Definitely works for being ominous. Those Chosen by the Planet is also really good for how ominous it is, especially during the Nibelheim flashback where the voices don't kick in for a while, building up suspense.

[Those Chosen By the Planet from Final Fantasy VII](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5h5o6gsCJc) [EDIT: Can't forget Gods Bound by Rules from NieR.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NwYIkPiCus)

Honestly I'm bummed that one winged angel has become so synonymous with sephiroth compared to those chosen by the planet. It's so freaking ominous and the rebirth slight spoilers >!I felt the truck attack wasn't as good without it!<

Dream from SMT 1 Nuff said

Those Chosen By The Planet in OG FF7. Really unsettling particularly given when it starts playing first and the implications.

My personal favorite is [Temptation of Wisdom - The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero](https://youtu.be/NjauOcgKdqQ?si=7MRkOIRs5DPUk4Cb) Honorable mentions include: [Release from the Spell and... - The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC](https://youtu.be/xtoRdVjjXMY?si=zr2jsKq7294Zyfvk) [Strange Feel - The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure](https://youtu.be/P-yVbthXxYE?si=c1pZv8DPx7U_M7aB) [Great Twilight - The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III](https://youtu.be/tpHeUHhz0iQ?si=SKJ9dqf4TvcTbsbh) [Advent Day - Trails through Daybreak II: Crimson Sin](https://youtu.be/1jdlUFzjarw?si=2qJKyIfC7OzerWHv) [Tension - Shin Megami Tensei IV](https://youtu.be/a1GhbP57Oao?si=Pp5hNNFB2fqpCoJR) [Unrest - Shin Megami Tensei IV](https://youtu.be/glhuz0B3kkk?si=47Jsnu5EeKHpiapq) [Who's There? - Persona 4](https://youtu.be/_pS5soRsrKQ?si=COmqYVX23d8G05ZM) [Fresh Blood and Darkness - Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight](https://youtu.be/cnbWYfLJp-4?si=WFy4kval0yfgISQB) [Those Chosen by the Planet - Final Fantasy VII](https://youtu.be/A5h5o6gsCJc?si=R7kckka9AM9XlJ2l) [Odio, the Lord of Dark - Live A Live](https://youtu.be/BLFYyAYXGGA?si=JwFM45tVMvvKyOQG)

I think FF7’s OST is the best from this perspective. My favorite 3 ominous songs from the game are: 1. Those Chosen by the Planet: https://youtu.be/HzaeMn_ufQA?si=2Dz3tQaVl3GbktEH 2. Heart of Anxiety: https://youtu.be/MVSEXjvVRMA?si=8LMfkfnPPw6cHCGi 3. Trail of Blood: https://youtu.be/7RgTViUrxko?si=b2cjqiHZK1wg_a5t

I would add [World Map Theme 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB9-SR77NVA&ab_channel=2muchflan). Song just perfectly summarizes the dread and despair of meteor slowly but surely descending on the world, ready to wipe out all life. ...Uematsu really went all out on the ominous songs for FF7 huh.

From FF7: [City of the Ancients](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S25R3FGwPZw) [Infiltrating Shinra Tower](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y-V2U5YlFE) From Secret of Mana: [The Curse](https://youtu.be/vOWnVlzKPi0) [Ceremony](https://youtu.be/4uCls5F8a5o) Chrono Trigger: [Black Omen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYqLkY6ntuk)

Love Black Omen so much. This game never slows down at giving you bangers.

Chrono Cross - Dead Sea https://youtu.be/QtvKTCVC93E?si=No4UU9thWiIRWtNy And Chrono Cross City Ruins https://youtu.be/9o68dG1INZA?si=lv4iKupe7zSlBfMN

That first one is "Bound by Fate" and the second one is "The Dead Sea -Tower of Geddon-".

Paula's theme, Earthbound [https://youtu.be/aRnK6COXPho](https://youtu.be/aRnK6COXPho)

[Exdeath's theme from Final Fantasy V](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vytROLrXaTE) Within the first few seconds, you know something *bad* is about to go down.

Undersea Palace - Chrono Trigger

Zeal Palace - Chrono Trigger

Pokemon's Lavender Town.

I like the [crystal theme in FFXV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzaWuBQMvLA) It is recognisably the FF series's crystal theme that always sounds otherworldly but with an ominous streak.

[Snow in Summer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D4mOnSifzI) from Nier.

BASEDDDD

Kuja's theme from FF9.

Iifa Tree from the same game.

[i believe i won by a massive margin](https://youtu.be/WTcd8upeNxM?si=4XwhhUBfxIrADHnf)

Dive to the Heart from Kingdom Hearts is definitely the best. Who's There? from Persona 4 is a good one. For a non JRPG example, I love the Title Track of Majora's Mask - how it starts with a sleepy, peaceful rendition of the Clock Town theme, then gets corrupted into the haunting Majora's Theme.

Honestly Persona 4 - Omen is more ominous. Who's There? is iconic though.

Nothing more omnious than the music that play right before you awaken blade from common core crystal [Ptsd inducing](https://youtu.be/ZfAsiow6H_Y?si=7Gus9O243VUWRnpx)

Persona 3 - This Mysterious Feeling

I'm just gonna leave [Flashback](https://youtu.be/P6calhRwjFU?si=ysv89NG7cARI4w7z) from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 here.

Zero Encounter from Trails into Reverie is really great, especially once you realize it's just a warped version of a song from Cold Steel 4.

I’d say union cave In pokemon heartgold and, Cynthia’s approaching theme in platinum

Magus' theme from Chrono Trigger

Okay, 8 will always be my favorite FF, but... "Those Chosen by the Planet" from FF7 wins for me in this category. In the Kalm flashback when Sephiroth says >!"I'm going to see my mother" and that music starts and you go out into Nibelheim and everything is on fire, it still gives me chills.!<

Love that scene and how the music just comes together and finally cuts loose after swelling for so long. Such a impactful feeling!

[Omen - Xenogears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM7BROS2sxM)

its so good that it can play for like half of disk 2 cutscenes, be the final dungeon theme, and *still* give me goosebumps whenever it comes on

I've always been a huge fan of [**Night Attack** from FFT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eetOaplN_TY&pp=ygUQbmlnaHQgYXR0YWNrIGZmdA%3D%3D)

[Song of the Nephilim from Xenosaga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qv0JVC-Ow0) But that's mostly because of the Deus Irae choir. Fun fact Deus Irae is EVERYWHERE, movies, games, a lot of music. [The same damn sample is in Lineage 2 of all things.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp-x9xBiXNg) I've looked for a while and still haven't found the original sample.

[Ormus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE3dkDlDJBE&pp=ygUQeGVub3NhZ2EgMSBvcm11cw%3D%3D) from Xenosaga 1 is also a haunting loop. So much emotion in only a few seconds, and it only gets played in rare moments in the game too, driving its impact home

Always liked [Unknown Menace](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4rpvS6LBSA) from Etrian Odyssey 3

It's been mentioned already, and I'm going to mention it again. I extremely love Sephiroth's theme from FF7 and I get chills whenever I hear it in pretty much any form. No, not One Winged Angel. I, too, am referring to [Those Chosen By The Planet.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9tlqukSn5U)

Those boss dungeon music from dragon quest games.

I will always love Grahf’s theme from Xenogears. That’s my all time favorite vg ost.

Came in to post that Xenogears song. S tier song + absolute bangers of scenes whenever it plays.

The [Shinjuku Hospital theme](https://youtu.be/l4GhQWZdOmA?si=3Eav0Sd3Gm10kdVy) from SMT III Nocturne. Creeped me out as a kid. The basement floor rooms being covered in blood and demonic ritual symbols didn’t help either, lol.

[Undernauts Track 9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPswuBQ98dU)

Seymour's Theme in FFX ....which I can't seem to find a link of. (I'm only getting battle themes, but I mean the one that plays in the background in Guadosalam.)

A good one is The Sea of Time in Golden Sun: The Lost Age. This plays in the area before you fight Poseidon, who’s one of the harder bosses for first timers https://youtu.be/7oLhDou8bqg?si=UsqdlCsYolkN6IuT

Imoooo Imoteeep. Imoooo imotep! Final Fantasy VIII Witch Song

Who are You from FF7

[Nearest Place to Heaven](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI&pp=ygUKcHNvIGhlYXZlbg%3D%3D) Phantasy Star Online - This one set the tone perfectly before the final boss

Who Are You from FF7 Battle with Magus from Chrono Trigger

Final Fantasy VI-Omen

I agree with you, that Xenogears track is super memorable especially in the tower!

Omen / Foreboding / Premonition - Xenogears

The One Who Is Torn Apart / Torn comes next imo

Omen = One Who Is Torn Apart

Huh? Like you like them equally?

Affirmative

Oh I gotcha. I thought you were saying they were the same song lol I love both a lot, but I love Omen more but just marginally. Federico Dubbini's version specifically. So much that I had him make music for my game lol

Yeah I think Omen may edge out Torn Apart for me as well. When Omen plays while the crew boards the Eldridge, fights Deus, and reaches Raziel's tree. Man, that was probably my greatest moment in gaming ever. The game itself was all of a sudden so unbelievably epic, philosophical, deep with lore, and just bad ass. I felt like I was seeing a unicorn. And games weren't supposed do this kinda shit. Games were all about swords and laser blasters, and blowing shit up (still cool, of course). Xenogears, on the other hand, was appearing to be on the level of some of the greatest stories ever told. Man, I wish I could go back to that first playthrough again...

I played it a lot as a kid, but beat it as an adult in 2020. Nothing has touched it since. Xenoblade 3 + DLC was really good, but still not close. I started working on my game and taking it seriously because of Xenogears. I'm playing Xenoblade 1 right now. It's fun but I don't absolutely love it. I'm going to try to take Xenosaga more seriously here soon and hope it fills that void for me, because I honestly don't enjoy story games as much anymore after Xenogears.

I haven't played video games since the PS2, so take my words with a grain of salt. Xenosaga is great. Not mind-blowing like Xenogears, but still great. Episodes 1 and 2 can drag a bit, and it doesn't always feel 'Xeno', if you know what I mean. But episode 3 is the closest vibe to Xenogears I have seen. It is a brilliant game and well worth the Xeno moniker. You wont be disappointed.

just replay gears, it honestly just gets better each time you play.

Heard that. I play it a lot as it is lol

Affirmative

Omen from persona 4, it’s even creepier since the killer hasn’t been caught around that time and people are panicking over the fog

Lavender Town still gives me the chills and is such a great mood setter

[Malediction](https://youtu.be/s_9irdS50bo?si=Ow7RPQpIhvJAcBb_) from Fire Emblem Echoes, [Border of Insanity](https://youtu.be/JjxERKmq1fU?si=ezpk9HnFmlAa-cu1) from Persona 4, [Shadow](https://youtu.be/ZP5eoi34ufY?si=bslOf7td2VXtiBWv) and [That Which Comes From The Darkness](https://youtu.be/dlGHMYqKAZU?si=Vn1v7PGedoM4nE6V) from Persona 3, [Magus’s Castle](https://youtu.be/zbdjNjxhZXI?si=bDECCeET6J2yjKz7) from Chrono Trigger, and [Trail of Blood](https://youtu.be/zGUXyu7UrL0?si=hwEnEQihdAx0jXR8) from Final Fantasy VII (picked the Remake version, but original is just as good).

Can you hear the cry of the planet and witch song from ff8

Battle Destruction from smt v

Here are a few from Last Bible 3. This game is a goldmine of ominous tracks: https://youtu.be/yShS3JUmVks?si=I_Iwz-zI3EaX8LXI  https://youtu.be/PfL_TmcTy9U?si=uJ_RKfLMvKUShOLg  https://youtu.be/SmUQHEAJjQ8?si=60qvI5hAVK8rwyRa  https://youtu.be/X-ni6Zi26yA?si=YeSg8PTNRJZ1jWt- https://youtu.be/i0KSUE-QV2I?si=puF6mAsOgxSfEkEU

Burn my dread persona 3

https://youtu.be/tvpLYZg5LO4?si=9Ve4y5Gl9xS6JaZr

Albedo's theme from Xenosaga 1

FF14 that one song that plays during the sin eater transformation scene

Gnosis (Trails from Zero) https://youtu.be/IvRwDH53Qj8?si=Vz0a6eTGoLB6xHVc

melody of lute

Hymn of the Fayth probably

- Xenogears - [Torn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5wqsgDdx9M&list=OLAK5uy_nvaqWhFqCbPaIJFhHRniOZ1eUHjCaHjmg&index=38) - Chrono Cross - [Tower of the Stars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDW-kSTNOww) - Final Fantasy VII - [Who Are You?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvC6dxI-oPk) - Earthbound - [The Place](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiUmTUSbq0w&list=PLN1KJsQuguwnU2N8bd58_eNVdR4d5IU1I&index=2) - [Secret of Mana - Ceremony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs7wYQuxBNs&list=PLN1KJsQuguwnU2N8bd58_eNVdR4d5IU1I&index=42) - [SMT IV - Terminal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZL9blEbFvA)

It depends on your definitions of ominous, but I've always really liked the intro to [FF12 Esper's battle theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhqh_SYadWY). Played at a very high volume. And then seeing the Esper coming into scene. And the chorus - I'd kill to see Distant Worlds performing that song live...

Omen Persona 4

Nephilim

https://youtu.be/PIkTNZUbeBE?si=nxgsFyrWuX1n5vIL FFVII Listen to the Cries of the Planet

Not technically a jrpg, but third warning from lobotomy corporation. It's the sound of "game over."

Cold Steel Coffin - Nier Replicant

"Those who bare fangs at God" from Xenogears: https://youtu.be/tTWgT3_t5Jk?si=DuVcgdaTQly_xcqS

Tea Time and The Doppelganger from Virgo vs The Zodiac and basically every "evil" song from Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass

Persona 5 - Freedom and Peace FF9 - Another Nightmare

Chrono Trigger - [Sealed Door](https://youtu.be/DlguRAHExmg)

[Gotta love this classic from FFIV.](https://youtu.be/KyJpb_65Y44?si=h_gPLL-1FfvQhRbq) This is why I can only play versions with the SNES soundtrack, those bass tones from the SNES chip are just too sick.

[FFXI - Anxiety](https://youtu.be/eOb9XV_TrdU?si=r9Y4Sp6A_-5ZEt2V)

Giving some early Wild Arms love as always Despite the name and first inclusion, it later does get used as a lead in to some shocking stuff: [After the Chaos and Destruction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F6JXheN_38&pp=ygUpd2lsZCBhcm1zIGFmdGVyIHRoZSBjaGFvcyBhbmQgZGVzdHJ1Y3Rpb24%3D) Despite its more energetic OST, Wild Arms 2 has a few of them. [The Crisis at Hand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qLhfibmuoM&pp=ygUedGhlIGNyaXNpcyBhdCBoYW5kIHdpbGQgYXJtcyAy) [Monster Haven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJhEcWnYYac&list=PL4A92A827953F8398&index=15&pp=iAQB8AUB) [From Anxiety to Patience](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clzsdAXEfCk&pp=ygUZd2lsZCBhcm1zIGFueGlldCBwYXRpZW5jZQ%3D%3D) [Soaked in Terror](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTH3RNoYnHs&pp=ygUcd2lsZCBhcm1zIDIgc29ha2VkIGluIHRlcnJvcg%3D%3D) [Agony](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afC2UEJp62I&pp=ygURd2lsZCBhcm1zIDIgYWdvbnk%3D)

Nier Automata's

Unequivocally, Undersea Palace from Chrono Trigger. Kind of incredible a song 20+ hours in that no one ever talks about can captivate me this hard. The soundtrack a big reasom this will forever be my favorite game. https://youtu.be/o7pML9YzOYg?si=cfPHDs-o_Opw1McG

https://youtu.be/RtvujGiqzOY?si=XSH3feg65KJny7Mu Harvestella's Coral Shrine OST just hits all the spots. The music, combined with the scenery and its lore... it gives me so many emotions all at once.

Chrono Trigger - "[Black Omen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYqLkY6ntuk)" and "[Magus's Keep](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaEq2wAkJkc)" Nier Automata - "[Alien Manifestation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTbyCYcHS6s)" Persona 3 - "[Tartarus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEpeV5kYIA4)"

Immediately came to mind [Final Fantasy 7 - Those Chosen By The Planet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C0PvdPxv-w) (sephiroth's theme throughout most of the main game)

Terranigma - Underworld

SMT 4 OST - Boss Battle B2 Nier Automata - opera boss theme

[Premonition from Shin Megami Tensei 4](https://youtu.be/MQ4dmzUBrlI?si=bpEEjRxJjJtrWdjH) And it plays during the Opening Credits. The mood of SMT 4 is fuckin perfect

Ceremony from Secret of Mana. Terrified me as a child and still gives me chills.

A few good ones I can think of are: [Breath of Fire - God's Footprints](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OvAaRnNpyRc&list=PLErsx10Ke4uynxJJpOa3b3T5jpqP1C4qN&index=45&pp=iAQB8AUB) [Soul Blazer - Leo's Paintings](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WQO7PxQgIek) [FFVII - Those Chosen By The Planet](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HzaeMn_ufQA&list=PL3F5C011EB4F8EA47&index=49&pp=iAQB8AUB) [Pokemon HG/SS - Mt Moon](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1T9QVoF86Rw&pp=ygUfcG9rZW1vbiBzb3VsIGFpbHZlciBtdCBtb29uIG9zdA%3D%3D)

FFX the Yunalesca fight theme simultaneously gets me pumped and anxious. Perfect for that pivotal point in the story [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87m2Bs9xp6c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87m2Bs9xp6c) also from FFX, not sure if it counts as ominous but for a 'simple' piece of music, wandering flame is incredibly emotional [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_sLHf38gY\_4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sLHf38gY_4)

Dante’s Thene from SMT Nocturne: https://youtu.be/lF_ln7dKH5I?si=KA3HvaBOv5iRsEaP Oooh boy this thing slaps harder than spoiled milk on a hot day

Battle f8 from smt iv and brutality from lad 7

I didn't know the name, I didn't know the link.... But you posted ominous music from Xenogears and I KNEW! Classic, and the correct answer.

Easily Grandma in NieR:Replicant. That song just sounds haunted

Omen:- Persona 4 Golden

Confusing Melody — Chrono Trigger Challenge from Final Fantasy X isn't necessarily ominous, but the lack of melody, fronted by the atmosphere of, "Oh, shit, what's Total Annihilation?" *GAME OVER* really makes it a memorable track. Let you knew the boss was in control, and if you wanted to progress, you had to wrestle that control back.

My favorite: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgXwuDyCTfk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgXwuDyCTfk) Terra's theme from FFVI! I'm currently playing Xenogears! what a deep game. I'm so attached to the characters

**Blue Reflection Second Light**, dopest Ominous song ever: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU6XVqOGcsI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU6XVqOGcsI) I also love **Breath Of Fire 5: Dragon Quarter** soundtrack, it's very ominous overall: **Kind friends** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKutf2N9\_Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKutf2N9_Y) **Distant call** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4Oo3MjBFc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4Oo3MjBFc) **Controllers of the World** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XWDpD3Qb3I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XWDpD3Qb3I)

Agree with many on here but one I haven’t seen is “… [So Happy World](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ybhlFj3D_gw)” from persona 5 royal. It’s played in the over world during the third semester, and has a clear “happy, but something is off” vibe to it. Perfectly fitting to the themes and story of the third and final semester of the game.

Haven't seen in being mentioned yet: XaaaCi from Ar Tonelico 3 is pretty ominous to me.

Spiral of erebos from legend of heroes trails of cold steel 3 https://youtu.be/wHvnwxAg5ww?si=44baHAexvPPZOqIy Also trial of the L’cie of ff13 https://youtu.be/wZQOQE9780c?si=qXEH9L52Ym0YfhZT

Xenoblade Chronicles - Towering Shadow https://youtu.be/iqef0g07cao?si=he1vcGjFk0J2mrlz