Are you curious about how various music styles can enhance different game genres? Choosing the perfect music style for your game is essential, as it plays a crucial role in creating an immersive and engaging experience for players. In this article, we’ll explore the connection between music styles for different games, examining how each style contributes to the overall atmosphere and player experience.
By understanding how to effectively apply music styles for different games, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions when it comes to choosing the ideal soundtrack for your project. Join us as we delve into the world of music styles for different games and discover how they shape player experiences across a diverse range of game genres.
So you are building a game and want to know which music would be perfect for your vision? Well, the answer may not be so simple. Since we have many different types of games, music usually has a slightly different purpose in each setting.
There aren’t any fixed rules for each genre, so you should be the one to have the final word on the music style that will embed your game. Here at Flutu Game Audio we can compose and provide several musical genres. We’ve learned how to do it by carefully listening and greatly appreciating our favourite pieces of art!
This is the second part of our article on different music styles for different games. As we said before, it would be impossible to run through them all, so here are a few more examples of how different game genres tend to use specific music styles to bring the player the greatest experience possible.
- Sports Games
Any Sports Game fan knows how wide the genre is. It spans from playing basketball in the NBA, winning the FIFA World Cup to leading Yoshi to the highest place in the Mario Kart podium. Here, let us focus on real life sports, like Madden NFL or the Pro Evolution Soccer series.
Usually, these games feature licensed tracks from different artists. Depending on the current musical trend, and on the mood and genre of the game, it will feature different types of artist and musical styles.
In general, these are upbeat and energetic tracks. Since sports games tend to have the competition turned up to eleven, the music should be a reflection of putting yourself in a competitive experience, be it in a stadium or playing ball in the streets. Winning or losing, the music should be there to keep you IN the game.
For sports games, it’s common to create what are called “stings”, jingles and fanfares. They’re used in key moments in the game, at the height of a win or the low of a devastating loss. These songs are meant to convey a sense of achievement or emphasise that you gotta try again if you lose!
As an example, let’s take a look at recent sports game releases, like the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 remake (2020) and NBA 2K20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1egg1mlxvM&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PJ8sb9MmDs&list=PLasqSXwCIDXezZEWSdhljDTy2lyLoEp3I
- Open World and MMORPG Games
Oh, what a role does music play in THESE games! You are literally introducing the player to a new world, and music is as much a part of it as its fauna and flora. These types of games usually have amazing settings and landscapes, and therefore the music will be created to help capture the moods and the atmosphere that we would hope a player will experience as he/she enters this new planet.
These games propose that the player explore an open map for a long time. Be it a forest, a distant magical land, the wild west or even outer space, music is what’ll help engage the player in the game’s quest and exploration, making it feel real.
As an example, let’s listen to the Red Dead Redemption soundtrack, where through southern moods and vibes, the game puts the player in the middle of the wild west with deep immersive music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McnMsFwZlvA
- Platform Games
You can’t really pinpoint a specific type of music used in platform games. Since the location can vary wildly, so can the music used to set the mood. An icy cave can’t have the same sounds a volcanic mountain does, and a game set underwater will most definitely sound nothing like one set in the old Persian empire.
Precisely this wild variation is what we can focus on when talking about platform games. Whenever the player moves on to the next level, we’ll see a change in terms of setting and scenery. The soundtrack should be there to help the player make sense of where we are in the game in terms of levels and locations.
Listen to the classic “Super Mario World” by the master Koji Kondo to understand more about how music can help you set the mood and complete the scenery of a specific level.
“Super Mario World” takes place in tropical land full of lizards, turtles, waterfalls, palm trees and beaches. It really has a Caribbean feel to it. That’s why Kondo uses latin elements in his tracks.
But what’s most impressive is how the music changes when Mario steps inside a cave or goes underwater. The game feel and concept remains faithful to the original idea and just by using melodies and arranging technique, Kondo delivers a masterpiece, full of game immersion concepts. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=438nMbWncRU
Hey, thanks for reading! Remember, we’re not trying to set any rules, our goal is to help you understand how to express yourself when you are talking to an audio team for your project.
Here at Flutu Music we are eager to know more about your development process and about your game. Visit the “tell us more!” section of the website to book a call with our creative team.
Keep creating!
