Soundtracks are integral to movies, gym workouts, long journeys, and dog walks. But how do they work in the gaming world and how do they enhance our gaming experience?

Today, we will break down some key areas of gaming and music, and how the two intertwine. Those gaming brands and platforms that can capture the essence of a good soundtrack and use it to bolster their overall package can help their brand stand out against global competition. Still, the art is finding the right soundtrack to capture the imagination of gamers.

Casino gaming

Not many industries can boast the growth we have witnessed in online casino gaming over the last 20 years. As the potential for game design innovations continues to decrease, developers are looking at every possible avenue to try and innovate and concoct an idea that is a global hit. Soundtracks have started to play a more pivotal role in casino gaming, especially slot gaming.

This innovation is closely monitored, and not just in slot gaming. Expert review sites that weigh up a host of variables to rank the highest-rated brands are also interested in how effective a game’s soundtrack may be.

While it might not be the most seminal part of game design, if implemented correctly, it can elevate a great game into one of the highest rated. Casinomeister ranks slot games based on a vast range of criteria, including site security, the quality of their gaming library and what other gamers say about the brand on social media. However, soundtracks also play a crucial role, and for a slot game to be rated as one of the best, it needs to have a combination of these factors.

How soundtracks can enhance the gaming experience

Musical selections can be wildly different depending on the type of feel a game designer wants. For instance, if a game is going for a slower, spacey, or even dystopian feel, shoegaze music is one of the more popular options, as it relies on a hazy, thick sound to produce a dreamier type of audio.

In the case of shoegaze music, the overall aim is to immerse the gamer and create an idea of calmness and serenity. If a game has a fast-paced soundtrack – whether a heavy rock sound or a high-octane electronic beat – this is designed to get gamers pumped and engaged.

Those games that have been able to nail the soundtrack have embedded themselves in gaming folklore. Look at how Grand Theft Auto games have elevated themselves into incalculable levels of nostalgia.

Although the games were highly innovative and ahead of their time, the inclusion of radio stations as part of the soundtrack, featuring massive hits from the era in which they’re set, helped to lay the foundations of a game that didn’t just grab the world at the time but went on to define the era. Gamers fondly remember GTA soundtracks as much as the individual gaming missions or locations from some of Rockstar’s iconic titles.

Imagining games without music

Some games don’t require a soundtrack, but by including one, the quality of the game’s design is emphasized. Music helps to create a much broader package, allowing users to attach memories to remember a trailer or specific aspects of a game.

Sports games rely heavily on their soundtracks. The soundtrack spearheads the initial advertising campaign, but game developers spend enormous sums of money getting recognisable artists on board.

You’ll know exactly what we mean if you have played FIFA, Madden, or NBA 2K. EA Sports breaks the bank every year to come up with a fresh soundtrack and a lead tune to connect to their trailer. The idea of a sports game without any music, especially in American-based sports that are so reliant on music in real life, would make the whole experience duller and more forgettable.

Speaking from a personal perspective, I don’t really remember some of the games from a few decades ago. I’ve got vague snippets of memory and gameplay, but the soundtrack still sticks vividly in my mind. The idea of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, or Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas without a soundtrack is a world that I don’t even want to think about!

Final thoughts

Ultimately, it’s the overall package of a game; a great soundtrack is just as important as a product’s story, graphic design or marketing. It completes the entire jigsaw, and it is imperative that if a game wants to become a success, it needs to get the soundtrack right. That’s not to say a game must have a detailed, varied soundtrack.

Sometimes, a game without a soundtrack is just as engrossing, but it must be well-planned, structured and designed. If a game developer doesn’t include a soundtrack simply because they need to save money or haven’t considered every aspect of the game, it’s highly likely to adversely impact the final product.

Although I wouldn’t say a soundtrack is crucial for a game to succeed, music is so entrenched in our society and entertainment that it’s an enormous task to create a game without any music that will challenge the rest of the market.