Best Music to Listen When Gaming

Video games… One of the best inventions of modern age. Definitely one of the more entertaining ones. Video games are like books on steroids. Not only they deliver the story but they also give us “ready to be consumed” visual imagery. So we don’t really need to make our own imagination work, it’s already done for us. And let’s not forget how engaging games are.

But one thing gamers often dislike is the game’s soundtrack. Sometimes the music is simply not good enough. Or its gets too repetitive. So naturally gamers look for something else to listen to. And many end up with a question: what is the best music to listen to while gaming?

The answer is simple:

The genre of music to listen to while gaming depends on the video game itself. A chill relaxing game goes perfect with lofi, pop and electronic music. While darker and moodier games are best played with heavier music, like metal or rock.

Sure, it might depend on your personal tastes. If you want to play Super Mario Bros while blasting doom metal, go for it! However, the best music for gaming usually matches the feel and mood of the game you’re playing.

Role of Music in Gaming

It’s hard to overstate how important a good soundtrack for a video game is. Just like it is for movies and TV shows. Sometimes a great song can save the whole scene. It can make a game moment truly memorable. Think about your favorite video games. The chances are, their music has a firm grip in your memory because it was a perfect fit.

For example one of my all time favorite games is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It had an amazing OST that was a perfect match for all in-game sequences.

But just as great music can elevate a game, a bad or low-quality soundtrack can turn a decent game into a mediocre experience. So sometimes we should find a better replacement. Just turn of the in-game music completely, play your own playlist instead, and have fun while gaming.

Matching Music to Game Genres

Choosing the right music for your game can make a big difference in your experience. Game devs not always get it right, but thankfully there’s plenty of awesome music online you can pick yourself. As a rule of thumb I recommend paring these music genres with appropriate type of games:

Energetic and upbeat music is perfect for fast-paced Action games. It can be a rock playlist, trance or house music. Whatever makes your blood pumping. Such music will keep you motivated and alert at the same time.

If you are into Puzzle games, I suggest playing a calming, chilling, softer tunes. Try instrumental tracks, lofi playlists, ambient tunes. Something that help you focus without distraction.

Epic soundtracks with grand orchestral scores are great for Adventure games. They seem to boost the sense of exploration and excitement. Play soundtracks from big movies (i.e. Gladiator, LOTR, Conan the Barbarian etc.) and see if they make a difference.

Strategy games work well with ambient music that sets a mood without pulling your attention away from your strategic thinking.

And white I’m talking about Strategy games, I want to mention this one: Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus. It’s a turn based strategy, set in a Warhammer 40K universe. Not only I recommend the game itself. But the soundtrack was simply amazing, definitely worth checking.

Horror Games are a bit different. In these types of games in-game sounds may be very important to your character survival, so a loud music on the background may be distracting. If anything try ambient music or horror movie scores for additional moody atmosphere.

Reason NOT to Use Different Music

Using different music while gaming can sometimes be distracting and take away from the immersive experience that the game’s original soundtrack is designed to provide. Good game developers spend a lot of time carefully choosing and designing the music to match the gameplay, story, and atmosphere.

Replacing it with other music might even lead to missing important audio cues or dialogue. Obviously, this can affect your overall gaming experience in a bad way.

In general I play the entire game once, or at least a big portion of it with the original soundtrack on. But if I keep playing the game for a while I do experiment with alternative music.

Personal Preferences and Custom Playlists

Creating custom playlists will allows you to fit the gaming experience to your liking. Whether you prefer upbeat tracks to keep or soothing melodies, you can always make playlists that enhance your enjoyment.

I have already made a nice playlist that works great with such genres as Moba, Action, Puzzle, Strategy, MMORPG. Feel free to check it out:

Experiment with different genres and artists to find what works best for you and the game you’re playing. Personalization is the king as they say.

Conclusion

A chill, relaxing game is better played with genres like Lofi, Pop, or Electronic music on the background. Darker, moodier games go better with heavier music like metal or rock.

But of course if your mood calls for something special, nothing stops you from experimenting with genres. It’s your game and your fun after all.