The references that I was given as a starting point have a general pattern in that they are all heavily instrumental (strings, guitars, piano) and project a grand, cinematic feeling. I was sent a playlist by my group on YouTube that I will include below.
These videos of soundtracks/songs have made things a lot clearer for me as the composer because they’re all quite consistent in the mood and instrumentation. I had a couple of thoughts, however, that I expressed to the group. The main idea I had was that the soundtrack should be a little more intimate and subtle, because the game, as it has been described to me, seems to be a very simple, fun, solo game that doesn’t delve too much into the abstract realm and has a very definitive connection between the protagonist (the bee) and the player. I felt that an intimate soundtrack would serve the overall experience better, allowing the player to become more lost in the game whilst not becoming distracted.
In light of the idea of intimacy, I have turned to Minecraft as a reference. It’s subtle pianos and blissful ambience create a soothing playing experience, with the soundtrack playing a vital role in a simple open world game with an innocent aesthetic. I feel that the game I’m working on is similar in the sense that it revolves around a fun and playful gameplay rather than more cinematic and treacherous for the player, albeit a lot more simple.