Project: AFK Journey

Client: Lilith Games

We Did: Music Composition  • Orchestra Recording • Video Production

Composers: Benny Oschmann

Behind the Score: The Music of AFK Journey’s “Crown of Ashes”

Here at Dynamedion, we are always thrilled to help game developers bring their worlds to life through powerful, immersive audio. Today, we are incredibly excited to take you behind the scenes of our recent collaboration with the team behind AFK Journey for their spectacular new season, “Crown of Ashes.”

To capture the deep lore and stunning visuals of the game’s new environments, our veteran composer Benny Oschmann stepped up to the podium. With over 15 years of experience at Dynamedion crafting iconic soundtracks for titles like Company of Heroes 3, Hitman: Absolution, and Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Benny was tasked with a unique creative challenge: composing three distinct tracks to represent the different districts of the majestic Savanah Royal City.

Music Rooted in Worldbuilding

What made this project so rewarding for our team was how closely the music was tied to AFK Journey’s rich worldbuilding. The development team provided us with incredibly detailed descriptions and gorgeous concept artwork, which served as the ultimate blueprint.

Instead of writing a single general theme, Benny’s mission was to give each district its own unique sonic fingerprint—matching the architecture, social atmosphere, and energy of the people who live there.

One City, Three Distinct Sonic Identities

To bring the diverse cultures of Savanah Royal City to life, Benny took a completely different stylistic approach for each of the three tracks:

The Central Plaza: Grandeur & Unity

To capture the massive scale and cultural weight of the city’s heart, we utilized a full 60-piece symphony orchestra. The main theme begins intimately with a solo trumpet before the orchestration gradually expands into a massive, sweeping crescendo. This musical growth perfectly mirrors the coming together of different cultures meeting in the plaza.

The Upper District: Elegance & Refinement

For the high society and aristocratic vibes of the Upper District, the music shifts away from a massive orchestra toward a refined, chamber-like sound. Centered around an elegant string quartet, this piece draws inspiration from European classical music and historical court dance forms to reflect the district’s prestige.

The Lower District: Folk & Everyday Life

To capture the vibrant, gritty energy of everyday medieval life in the Lower District, Benny pivoted to a light, folk-inspired direction. This track strips back the heavy orchestration to highlight historical acoustic instruments, bringing a rustic, lived-in warmth to the game’s streets.

From the Studio to Esperia

Bringing a score of this ambition to life requires world-class talent, so we took the production to the historic TomTom Studios Budapest. There, we recorded the sweeping orchestral arrangements with the magnificent Budapest Art Orchestra.

To ground the folk elements of the Lower District in absolute authenticity, we also collaborated with multi-instrumentalist Christian Wirtz, who tracked beautifully intricate layers of mandolin and lute. 

The result is a rich, dynamic soundtrack that we are incredibly proud of, and we can’t wait for players to experience it.

Orchestral Recordings: Budapest Art Orchestra

Orchestration: David Christiansen

Viola Da Gamba Recordings: TomTom Studios Budapest

Mandolin, Lute: Christian Wirtz