The Importance of Music and Sound Effects in Horror Movies 👻
All 80s and 90s kids reading this will probably recognize the Mario Bros video games and most likely remember their iconic soundtrack. Classics like Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, and even more recent hits like Halo and Fortnite wouldn’t be the same without their signature video game music. In fact, you can probably hear this image in your head right now:
How to choose the perfect music for video games
“A lot of the time you sit in your bedroom, by yourself, playing a game. It’s brilliant. The world goes away. The music just takes you to another world. That’s the glory of video games,” said composer Grant Kirkhope in an interview with Mashable. And every gamer out there would probably agree. Just like in movies, music for video gamescreates momentum and adds depth to the gaming experience, no matter the genre. But picking the right royalty-free soundtrack isn’t as easy as it sounds—not even for Mario Bros (see what we did there?). It takes time, effort, and a lot of searching to find the perfect fit while ensuring it’s royalty-free to avoid copyright claims.
To start, you need to truly understand your game—literally. The soundtrack should complement the storyline, characters, and especially the audience you’re targeting. Most importantly, it should align with the game’s visuals and aesthetics. A dramatic scene or the grand entrance of a character deserves a powerful soundtrack, while a triumphant moment calls for something motivational. Music for video games helps keep players engaged, so think about the emotions you want to evoke: Do you want to motivate them? Celebrate something? Create suspense? Since different moments in a game require different moods, organizing your choices can help. That’s why we recommend using our Wishlists panel to categorize and compare your top selections.
Just as games span countless genres, so does their music. From intros to battle scenes and epic finales, every moment deserves the right kind of background tune. Can you imagine an intense boss fight without equally intense music? Neither can we. Music—like everything else in a game—shapes emotions, and game designers realized early on that even the simplest creations needed background music. Over time, the importance of soundtracks grew, leading developers to hire professional composers to craft the perfect tunes. Today, video game soundtracks are a major aspect of the gaming industry, sometimes even performed by full orchestras in global concerts. Franchises like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda have music so iconic that they’ve become standalone cultural phenomena. A quick search on YouTube or SoundCloud will reveal incredible remixes inspired by these legendary soundtracks.
Why is music for video games important?
Fast forward to today, with streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch turning professional gaming into a global phenomenon. If you’re planning to stream, remember that copyright restrictions still apply—meaning you’ll need royalty-free music for your content. Forget about using your Spotify playlist; copyrighted tracks can get your stream taken down or, worse, lead to legal trouble. But don’t worry—HookSounds has over 3,000 royalty-free tracks designed specifically for gaming content. Wink, wink.
And that’s not all. Our music library isn’t just massive—it’s curated by our very own artists to ensure originality and quality. Plus, if you’re looking for something tailored to gaming, we have a dedicated video game music collection filled with tracks that capture the thrill, intensity, and atmosphere of your gameplay.
And let’s not forget about sound effects. What would video games be without them? Both streamers and game developers use sound effects to make the gaming experience more immersive. From Fallout’s vault doors to Doom’s eerie openings, sound effects have become as iconic as the games themselves. If you need some, check out our sound effects library.
As gaming has gone mainstream, soundtracks have evolved to meet higher expectations, and today’s gamers demand high-quality, immersive audio. Ready to find the perfect soundtrack for your game? Let’s make it happen!
