India, Oct. 6 -- Minecraft Dungeons II is out, and its soundtrack has changed almost as much as the game itself. The sequel still carries the playful, oversized musical personality of the original, but its larger interconnected world demanded something more reactive, flexible, and strange.

Audio director Peter Hont describes the Dungeons sound as a mix of Super Nintendo and PlayStation-era game music with modern polish. That retro foundation remains intact, but the sequel pushes it into new territory without losing the series's slightly ridiculous sense of grandeur.

The first Minecraft Dungeons followed a clear loop between camp, mission selection, individual levels, and the return home. Dungeons II works differently, so its music could...