Music has been incredibly important in video games. From the Super Mario Bros. theme song to the Halo franchise’s awe-inspiring Gregorian chant, music is the backbone to building a game’s atmosphere and identity. There have been plenty of great video game soundtracks over the years, but certain titles have used music in creative ways beyond the soundtrack.
Sometimes, music’s role in bringing a game to life can be overlooked, but there are moments when developers realize that music needs to be given its own spotlight during the story. I’m not talking specifically about rhythm games, either. Music in gaming goes far beyond the likes of Guitar Hero and Just Dance, and some developers have perfectly captured what makes it such a great storytelling tool.
Crypt Of The Necrodancer Shows A Different Side Of The Roguelike Genre
Fighting To The Rhythm
What makes Crypt of the Necrodancer special is that it blends roguelike gameplay with rhythm mechanics to create a deeply charming experience. Players can choose between 15 different characters and must fight through constantly changing dungeons while fighting off enemies like zombies, skeletons, and dragons.
Every action needs to keep in time with the beat, making it an even more challenging roguelike title. Its concept makes Crypt of the Necrodancer one of the most unique roguelike games of the last few years, and the soundtrack is just as infectious and fun as the gameplay. Even better, you can actually download your own MP3 tracks to the game to expand the soundtrack.
Hi-Fi Rush Packs A Punch With Its Soundtrack
Using Licensed Music In A New Way
There are some truly awesome game soundtracks that feature licensed music. Grand Theft Auto‘s radio stations are one of the most obvious examples of this, but games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Life is Strange all use licensed music wonderfully. Hi-Fi Rush follows in their footsteps, using its many great licensed tracks to build an action-packed world overflowing with life. A few of the tracks that are on Hi-Fi Rush‘s soundtrack include:
- “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys
- “The Perfect Drug” by Nine Inch Nails
- “1,000,000” by Nine Inch Nails
- “Invaders Must Die” by The Prodigy
- “Whirring” by The Joy Formidable
It’s a great lineup of songs that makes Hi-Fi Rush‘s action-packed combat feel that much more satisfying. Beyond the licensed songs, the game’s original soundtrack is just as solid. Keeping rhythm mechanics engaging is difficult, since the gimmick can wear off over time, but Hi-Fi Rush excels at keeping gameplay interesting.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is Gaming’s Quintessential Music Mechanic
Making Music The Heart Of The Story
Nintendo made waves with Ocarina of Time by making music both a core gameplay tool and a great storytelling device. Because of this game, I and plenty of others have a random ocarina lying somewhere around the house. Now that Nintendo has officially revealed the Ocarina of Time remake release date, it’s going to be fascinating to see if there is a new surge in people buying ocarinas. There is a real possibility that the upcoming Switch 2 remake is going to be the first time that younger Legend of Zelda fans have ever played Ocarina of Time.
The songs that Link plays on the ocarina serve as keys to puzzles or even change the time from day to night with Sun’s Song. Ocarina of Time turns music into an interactive experience instead of just something to fill up background noise, and it had a profound influence on a lot of gamers who had never seen a mechanic like the ocarina before.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Killing Demons One Beat At A Time
If you’ve ever wanted to play a version of Doom that was just as focused on the music as the action, then Metal: Hellsinger might be worth checking out. Even in its presentation, Metal: Hellsinger wears its Doom inspiration on its sleeve in a gloriously hellish way. This is more than just a game like Doom, though. The influence may be clear, but Metal: Hellsinger‘s gameplay has enough unique ideas that the first-person shooter can stand on its own.
Rhythm is the key in Metal: Hellsinger. The more players are on time with the beat, the more intense the music will grow during fights. Keeping in time with the rhythm will also make the destruction that much more powerful. Doom‘s metal soundtrack is iconic and integral to setting the tone, but Metal: Hellsinger takes things a step further and actually makes it an essential part of the game’s world. Whether you’re interested in hard-hitting melee or gunfights that pack a punch, Metal: Hellsinger lets players choose how they wish to slay demons with the accompaniment of a soundtrack that makes it easy to lose oneself in the chaos.
Mixtape Is Filled To The Brim With 90s Nostalgia And Heartfelt Music Moments
One Last Epic Playlist
I know that this game isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea, since its gameplay is pretty simple and forgiving, but its use of music makes it a truly great time. Mixtape feels like an interactive movie that allows players to experience a dedicated group of friends’ last summer. Protagonist Stacey Rockford is a music fiend, and she’s compiled the ultimate playlist to commemorate her and her friends, Cassandra and Van, last summer together before moving on to adulthood. The songs on the Mixtape soundtrack bring every scene to life and include hits like:
- “Atmosphere” by Joy Division
- “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain
- “Freak” by Silverchair
- “Roads” by Portishead
- “Love” by The Smashing Pumpkins
- “Spellbound” by Siouxsie & The Banshees
- “Shine” by David Gray
- “Candy” by Iggy Pop
This is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Mixtape‘s soundtrack. It’s packed with great songs, and Stacey’s introduction to each track is often followed by an interactive mini-game that demonstrates how the perfect song can really make a moment truly memorable.
Sayonara Wild Hearts Is A Beautiful, Neon-Fueled Fever Dream
Restoring The Balance Of The Universe Through Pop Music
Sayonara Wild Hearts‘ premise is just as wonderfully strange as its visuals. Labeled as a “pop album video game,” the story follows a heartbroken main character, and her longing disturbs the balance of the universe. She goes on a wild journey through neon-covered levels and arcade-style gameplay. What ties this all together is the game’s pop-heavy soundtrack.
Between skateboarding, riding motorcycles, shooting lasers, and even getting into dance battles, Sayonara Wild Hearts isn’t afraid to be playful with its use of music and various gameplay mechanisms. Sayonara Wild Hearts wants players to go fast and get lost in the experience, and the soundtrack helps push them along with each brain-scratching beat.
The Last Of Us Part 2 Turns Music Into An Unforgettable Mini-Game
Strumming Away In The Apocalypse
The Last of Us Part 2‘s story may be divisive, but the guitar mini-game wedged into the narrative is a bright moment in a dark, unforgiving game. Throughout the campaign, Ellie finds quiet moments to stop and play the guitar. Whether it’s the initial lesson from Joel or playing for Dina in the abandoned Seattle music shop, strumming the guitar is a great breather.
How Naughty Dog implemented the mechanic is even more satisfying. The developers utilized the PS4 and PS5 controller touchpad to mimic the feeling of strumming, while the left stick chooses the chords. It’s far from replicating what it actually feels like to play a guitar, but being introduced to the mini-game for the first time is one of The Last of Part 2‘s most memorable moments.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
