There is nothing that can kill the enjoyment of a game faster than bad music. Perhaps some of the most frustrating gaming times will be when you are stuck on a boss and repeatedly hear the same tinkling tune.
Most modern games have an entire department dedicated to creating stunning, immersive layered music. No matter which zone you go to or what you do, you’ll have the best music to listen to.
There are a few great examples. of games with wonderful music, like World of Warcraft, Dragon Quest XI, Cuphead (if you can cope), Doom, Overwatch, Mega Moolah from Jackpotjoy, and The Witcher 3.
Studies have looked into which music tracks can improve your gaming performance, and here are a couple to add to your next gaming session.
How does music affect performance?
The brilliant thing about music is that it has an impact on our brains and gives us specific emotional responses, reduces or increases stress, encourages rhythmic movements, wakes us up, or gently helps us drift off to sleep. Music can be many things, but when it comes to music and gaming, you want something that works to increase performance, strength, speed, and delay fatigue.
The beats per minute that we are listening to raise our heart rate, help us concentrate, and increase stress levels – which can help us make faster decisions in our gaming.
This is exactly why there are playlists that can help us to finish a set at the gym or to help us focus and get hours of work done.
What is the best type of music for gaming?
Before diving into some of the best tracks for gaming, there are a couple of genres that are highly recommended for gamers to try out. It depends on what type of game you’re playing as to which genre works best.
For example, if you want a cozy gaming session to unwind after a long week, lo-fi with your Stardew Valley is a great option. But if you are in a raid, and your goal is to move fast, and react at speed to the changes in the dungeon, then the better option is something upbeat and intense.
Jazz & Mystery Games
Jazz music and games that involve mystery or puzzles are the perfect companions. Jazz comes in many forms, but the tempo is ideal for when you want to have a long gaming session that feels elegant and classy while uncovering the whodunit and the deep dark secrets of the game. Jazz is also great for casino games like poker, blackjack, and other games that you’d like to concentrate on and not be distracted by lyrics.
Pop & Casino Games
Pop is upbeat and exciting, which is the same effect that casinos have on us too! Although most casino games have their own bright and bouncy music, you can easily switch it out and play some of your favourite pop music. The faster beat of most pop music will keep your heart racing, and you can sing along to the lyrics while deciding on your next game. Bingo and slots are the best options for pop.
Pop music is also a nice change from the looping themes you often find in some casino games.
Rap & FPS or Combat Games
Any game with a rough and ready edge is perfectly accompanied by rap music of almost any type. Rap beats are typically very rhythmic, and the lyrics are usually enough to keep you focused on finishing the enemy no matter what it takes.
Rap music is usually one of the most used genres for getting your best workout at the gym, too – it is all about the energy and the ambition to win that really comes through.
80s & anything
The 80s is a broad category, but the synth, rock, high notes, and of course, them being a classic means you can sing along or tune out and enjoy the guitars and melodic type of music.
There are a couple of tracks that have become more like cult classics:
- Kansas – Carry On My Wayward Son,
- Toto – Africa,
- Boston – More Than A Feeling,
- Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance.
Chiptune & Retro games
Retro games are already loaded with chiptune and 8-bit classics, but thanks to modern music and beats software, they’ve been mixed and mastered and tuned into dance tracks that still have the heart and soul of the original but with a less ‘irritating’ sound than other types.
This type of music is definitely enjoyable for those who played the game the first time around but don’t want to deal with the constant loops.
Chillstep & Metroidvania
If Metroidvania background music is too loud, Chillstep offers the perfect antidote. Combining slow beats and low bass and being quite soothing overall, it can make the pace of Metroidvania more enjoyable for people who get overwhelmed with that type of music. Chillstep is the more relaxed version of dubstep, so if the trills and heavy bass of dubstep aren’t your things – try chillstep for gaming sessions.
Although a couple of newer Metroidvania games have a more relaxed soundtrack, older ones tend to be more clangy.
Choosing the right music for your gaming sessions can make them more enjoyable, and what is more, your sessions are completely tailored to you. Of course, you can check out thousands of tracks, and most streaming services have their own curated gaming soundtracks to match any type of game you’re playing.
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