Soundtrack for the win
Cue violins. Ready the brass section. And fire up the sound card.
Gaming soundtracks are the pitch perfect accompaniment to gameplay, providing epic aural enhancements that can transport players to incredible worlds, or add drama, tension and suspense. So come with us as we explore how game soundtracks have become an institution all of their own, before uncovering how today’s gamers are embracing their favourite game-tunes as a backdrop for workouts, chill-outs and more.
Beep. Bloop.
Since the early days of gaming, soundtracks have developed in complexity and ambition, taking advantage of the rapid development of sound technology in computers and consoles. Gamers in the early 80’s would hammer at their rubber keyboards while playing along to the beeps and crackles from a single-channel beeper integrated into the machine's internal speaker. The more advanced of these beepers could only produce sounds across 10 octaves, as directed by the game programming which was written in a language called BASIC. And basic it was. But by the end of the decade, advancements in sound chip technology along with better programming languages were making it possible for game music composers to create ambitious multi-layered tunes that really drove gameplay.
Sounds good to me
Nowadays anything is possible. Game soundtracks have evolved into cinematic experiences that rival those of Hollywood blockbusters: intricate, orchestral masterpieces crafted by renowned composers and performed by world-class musicians. The creation of these soundtracks can be a big-budget affair, involving sprawling orchestras, state-of-the-art recording studios, and meticulous production processes.
It’s small wonder that so many gamers take game soundtracks to their hearts. We surveyed UK gamers to see how important game soundtracks are to them, and 62% of those we spoke to agreed that their emotional connection to a game has been influenced by the soundtrack. The majority of gamers (59%) say that the music affects their gaming performance, claiming it adds to the atmosphere and overall immersion in the game. In fact, over half of the gamers asked (52%) love the soundtracks to their favourite games so much that they would even go so far as to attend a real-world live orchestral performance of their favourite in-game tunes. In September 2024, a performance of the score from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a sell-out – so the demand is there.
However, many prefer to go their own way and choose their own tunes to play to. While 40% opt to exclusively listen to the soundtrack of the game they are playing while they play, 29% favour listening to their own music. The top three genres in this case are pop (43%), rock (42%), and hip-hop (25%).
A-list my playlist
Meanwhile 61% say that they have discovered new music or artists through video games. Big names from the music world have dabbled or been involved in game music since the 80s, but nowadays the collaborations are all-star a-listers. Online players of Fortnite have found their ears exposed to music by Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Spice, Travis Scott and Juice WRLD during gameplay recently, whereas players of games such as the FIFA series and Grand Theft Auto have been enjoying licenced chart music during gameplay for years. The GTA series dominates the top 10 games that use licensed chart music the best – according to Brit gamers – with 2013’s Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack coming in top.
Top 10 uses of licenced chart music in games
| 1 | Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Backstreet Boys, Jamiroquai, Lady Gaga, Queen, Elton John, 2Pac, Frank Ocean |
| 2 | FIFA/FC series | Yearly since 1993 | Blur, Fatboy Slim, Radiohead, Bloc Party, Doja Cat, Kasabian, Childish Gambino, Nia Archives, CHVRCHES |
| 3 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 2002 | Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Blondie, Squeeze, Michael Jackson, Run DMC, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie, INXS |
| 4 | Guitar Hero series | 2005-2015 | Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, System of a Down, Bon Jovi, Muse, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The White Stripes |
| 5 | Just Dance series | 2009 - present | MC Hammer, Elvis Presley, Spice Girls, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish, Gorillaz, Dua Lipa |
| 6 | GTA: San Andreas | 2004 | Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Cypress Hill, Erik B. & Rakim, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Eazy-E, Soundgarden, SWV |
| 7 | Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series | 1999 - 2020 | Dead Kennedys, Primus, Suicidal Tendancies, Papa Roach, Rage Against the Machine, Rammstein, AC/DC, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones |
| 8 | Rock Band series | 2007-2015 | Deep Purple, KISS, David Bowie, The Clash, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Beastie Boys, OK Go |
| 9 | Fortnite | 2017 - present | Travis Scott, Eminem, Queens of the Stone Age, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Snoop Dogg, Weezer |
| 10 | Forza Horizon series | 2012-present | Avicii, Chase & Status, DJ Fresh, New Order, Foster the People, Friendly Fires, The Chemical Brothers, Degs |
Serious airplay
It’s not unusual for game soundtracks to make their mark in the charts, either. The Grammys now recognise the growing importance of game soundtracks with a Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media category, while in 2012 the soundtrack to Halo 4 hit no. 50 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Since then, the soundtrack to Cuphead reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart in 2019 - the first video game soundtrack to reach No. 1 on a US Billboard chart.
Spotify is a clear indicator of the powerful influence of gaming music on listeners, with huge audiences streaming individual gaming songs. 43% of Brit gamers have downloaded or streamed a game soundtrack, while the number of listeners to the highest-rated gaming songs worldwide number in the hundreds of millions. Top of the pops with streamers on the platform is the fast-paced, aggressive, and intense instrumental track Megalovania from the human and monster role-player Undertale, which has been streamed over an astonishing 183 million times worldwide. Following closely behind is the minimalistic and melancholic piano piece Sweden from the world building smash Minecraft with over 176 million streams, while the vocal-driven hard rock of Blow Me Away from 2004’s Halo 2 comes in third with over 108 million streams.
Other notable heavy hitters in Spotify’s top 10 streamed gaming songs include BFG Division from 2016’s DOOM, The Last of Us from the game of the same title, and Secunda from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Top 10 gaming songs on Spotify
| 1 | Megalovania | Undertale | 183,272,983 |
| 2 | Sweden | Minecraft | 176,570,139> |
| 3 | Blow Me Away | Halo 2 | 108,328,598 |
| 4 | BFG Division | DOOM | 98,613,094 |
| 5 | The Last of Us | The Last of Us | 77,748,888 |
| 6 | Secunda | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 72,776,344 |
| 7 | Aria Math | Minecraft | 67,736,601 |
| 8 | Ezio’s Family | Assassin’s Creed II | 65,579,545 |
| 9 | Unshaken | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 47,156,381 |
| 10 | God of War | God of War | 45,559,046 |
Beyond the game room: soundtracks in the real world
As we’ve seen, the love for game soundtracks is the real deal. So much so that gamers are taking their favourite play tunes with them as an accompaniment for day-to-day activities. Over half of gaming Brits - 52% - choose to listen to game soundtracks outside of gaming sessions. The most popular activity to do while listening is exercising, with 45% streaming game tunes into their sweaty ear buds while working out. At the other end of the exertion scale is relaxing, with 45% loving nothing more than putting their feet up, lying back and immersing themselves in sounds from a digital world.
Other activities that just feel better with a backdrop supplied by a game soundtrack include household chores (32%), driving (31%), working (26%), cooking (25%), and walking/taking a pet for a walk (21%) - even better if your pet happens to be a blue hedgehog who loves nothing more than headbutting gold rings all day long.
The ultimate game soundtracks of all time
Pin back your ears – it's the big one. Which game soundtracks are the best of all time? We asked Brit gamers for their top choices, and they didn’t disappoint. And, what was noticeable was how much gaming tunes resonate and stick around in the brainbox for years to come, with memorable game soundtracks from as far back as 1985 landing in the top 10. There’s definitely a case of gaming nostalgia for some, with game soundtracks having the ability to transport us back to happy times sat in front of the screen with a gamepad in hand. It’s definitely a trend with Brit gamers, with a stonking 77% believing that a memorable soundtrack can increase a game’s long-term popularity.
A case in point is the classic Super Mario Bros., which, despite having a soundtrack that is almost 40 years old, is well-known and beloved by so many gamers, young and old. It comes in tenth place in the top 10 of all-time great game soundtracks. Sonic the Hedgehog is another – the original game arrived in 1991 as Sega’s rival to Nintendo’s Mario, and the stand-out jaunty tunes have stood the test of time. It holds eighth position for Brits, just below 1997’s Final Fantasy VII.
But at the top of the pile sits the soundtrack to 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a cinematic blend of spaghetti western and American folk, creating a mood that is often somber, reflective, and atmospheric. Heavily influenced by the works of Ennio Morricone, who penned classic cowboy film scores including The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West, it’s the perfect game soundtrack.
The greatest game soundtracks of all time
| 1 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018 |
| 2 | The Last of Us | 2013 |
| 3 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2015 |
| 4 | Halo series | From 2001 |
| 5 | Super Mario Galaxy | 2007 |
| 6 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 2011 |
| 7 | Final Fantasy VII | 1997 |
| 8 | Sonic the Hedgehog | 1991 |
| 9 | The Last of Us Part 2 | 2020 |
| 10 | Super Mario Bros. | 1985 |
Methodology
A survey of 1,000 UK gamers over the age of 18 was conducted using Pollfish.
Streaming numbers were collected manually from Spotify for the top listened-to track from 82 video game soundtracks.
Sound and vision: make your console sing
To really enjoy the best gaming soundtracks, you need the best kit to enjoy the games on. We've got a great range of laptops for gamers featuring super processing speeds, crystal-clear graphics and, of course, great sound capabilities. And to really get your head in the game, power up with a gaming PC bundle that’ll ensure you get the best deals on the best titles and brands.
Meanwhile, you can really level up your visuals with a gaming monitor. We’ll match you up with the best monitor for gaming so that you can enjoy large and sharp details with every game you play. We’ve also got powerful AMD graphics cards and the NVIDIA graphics card range to deliver extra realistic graphics and super-fast performance.
But don’t leave your ears out of the party – treat them to a pair of good gaming headphones from our excellent range, or go wire-free with our selection of the best wireless headphones for gaming.
Sounds good? Play on.
