Visual imagery mixed with an unabating score. 

Netflix’s animated series, ARCANE, has a cult following, and that’s putting it lightly. There’s no denying that its coveted soundtrack is undoubtedly part of its appeal, the music as alluring as the show’s storyline and dynamic visuals. Since the first season premiered on November 6, 2021, fans have eagerly awaited Season 2. On November 9, 2024, nearly three years since the show made its Netflix grand premiere, fans were rewarded with a second installment. ARCANE’s sophomore season is even more sought after than the original, partly due to the series’ overall $250M budget. No corners were cut, music included. 

Despite incredible artwork that commands and demands attention (and for good reason), the show’s jaw-dropping soundtrack has devotees in a tailspin. It features the likes of Twenty One Pilots, Imagine Dragons feat. JID, King Princess, and many more. While the show flawlessly depicts the rivalry between two sisters who are League of Legends champions, their feuding makes the music much more poignant. 

Christian Linke, ARCANE’s showrunner (with an assortment of well-deserved accolades), carefully constructed both seasons’ scores, looking for songs that captured the essence of pivotal scenes from each episode. These tracks were created specifically for the series, making it more impressive — and desirable. Yes, fans raced to watch Season 2 on Netflix, but not until after its soundtrack thoroughly satiated them.

Aside from each featured artist’s talent, there’s the shared camaraderie of each musician on the Season 2 soundtrack, and that’s the love of ARCANE. Passion projects are just that — passionate compositions with grit and heart. They’re about capturing an ethos instead of downloads, which, in turn, creates some of the most infectious — and evocative — art imaginable. 

Every artist involved shares some love for ARCANE, either as a Riot Game collaborator, an avid League of Legends player, or just a devoted ARCANE enthusiast. How often have casual players wished they could jump into their favorite game, and control the score? The collaborators on ARCANE’s Season 2 soundtrack did precisely that and with unprecedented precision, infusing wildly imagery from the show with the perfect blend of music.