Music plays a critical part in the entertainment industry—especially when it comes to video games. Similar to cinema and television, audio design is a core part of the experience for audiences. It adds depth, texture, and believability to the film, show, or game.
Along with audio design, one of the core features of entertainment projects is their soundtrack. In the gaming industry, soundtracks can be either produced specifically for a game or cobbled together from existing hits. The former is known as video game music, which covers a truly vast range of genres, from synth-based tunes to heavy metal instrumentals.
Some of the world’s most famous video game music are produced specifically for games, including Still Alive from Portal (2007) and Techno Syndrome from Mortal Kombat (1992). Gamers around the world know these tunes, which have millions of plays on platforms like YouTube.
But what about video games that build soundtracks based on existing hits? Though they’re not quite as tailored to the video game, they can get players in the right mindset to do their thing. Think of it how poker players listen to music when playing in tournaments and table games.
Pros are known to put their headphones in for a variety of reasons, whether looking to avoid common mistakes early in a tournament or to avoid being read by other players. By listening to their favorite music, they can get into a flow state easier. And that flow state can yield better results by streamlining concentration and analytical skills.
Most players still to instrumental music, though there are others who like hard metal, ambient, and other genres. In the realm of video games, soundtracks usually tie in closely to the game’s theme. Let’s dig in to explore which musical genres are most represented in the video game industry.
Rock & Metal
For decades, rock and metal music have played a crucial role in the gaming world. In fact, one of the first video games to adopt a hybrid soundtrack was 1993’s DOOM. The game’s composer created multiple songs for the game, which were mixed with existing heavy metal hits from Metallica and Pantera. Since the game’s release, its soundtrack has been available on streaming platforms, as vinyl, and more.
The success of DOOM’s soundtrack helped set a precedent for gory action games, including Metal Gear Rising and Quake. But it also spearheaded experiments in new genres, including the racing combat game Twisted Metal, RPGs like Prince of Persia, and even Japanese fighting games like Guilty Gear.
Rap & Hip-Hop
While DOOM helped put heavy metal on the map for gamers, Tony Hawk’s Underground took things in a new direction upon its 2003 release. The game included a soundtrack with some of the coolest up-and-coming artists in the rap and hip-hop worlds, including Atmosphere and Jurassic Five.
Shortly after, the Grand Theft Auto franchise took this idea to new heights. In 2004, the San Andreas installation brought on some of the best West Coast rap from the 1990s. Not only did that delight players who were already fans of rap, but it also fit the game’s theme seamlessly. In fact, both soundtracks perfectly fit the bill for soaring over half-pipes and cruising down a Venice Beach-inspired avenue.
Orchestra
Orchestral music is an industry standard for video game music. Some of the most iconic sound clips from the gaming world include larger-than-life space opera anthems from Halo and Skyrim: The Elder Scrolls. Even slightly more casual hits like Zelda: Ocarina of Time have taken orchestral music to a near-perfect level. In other words, some players might turn on the soundtrack even when they aren’t gaming.
But did you know that many of these projects were created by highly qualified orchestras? The Boston Symphony Orchestra, for example, was part of the team that created music for Zelda soundtracks. The Los Angeles Philharmonic group, by contrast, has contributed to Final Fantasy projects, which are also some of the most celebrated in the gaming industry.
