While it’s no different than music from any other kind of medium, music derived from a video game you enjoy can invoke different emotions and memories that are unique from music from other media.
The Sims (2000)
This game was an early experience in my childhood. As a 5-year-old, I didn’t understand it but watching it be played by my dad and my older brother, I knew it was special and the calming and jolly music tied to increased my enjoyment even more. Composed by Marc Russo and Jerry Martin, they give the utmost feeling of being welcome into a new world. My favorite tracks from this classic are “Neighborhood”, “Mall Rat”, and “Groceries”.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
In this instant classic western-action game, many of the game’s songs are featured at certain points in the story. The lyrical tracks, featuring names such as D’Angelo, Willie Nelson, and Rhiannon Giddens, are spread in important moments in the long game and produce some of the most memorable sequences in the game. My favorite tracks include, “That’s the Way It Is”, “Cruel World”, and “Mountain Hymn”.
Bugsnax (2020)
Hot take incoming: In what is arguably the oddest game in the last few years, comes, in my opinion, some of the catchiest little tunes a game has produced since the Super Mario games. With a weird and quirky concept as a colony of dog-like creatures called Grumpuses living on an island occupied by food-themed bugs, reptiles, arachnids and etc., which if eaten, transforms any given body part into the food that creature is themed after, comes the need for some quirky and weird music to pair along with it. The composer of this game, Seth Parker produced a diverse soundtrack of fun psych-synth-pop melodies that tastefully complement the game’s themes and tone. Most tracks are tied to certain biomes and areas of the game, which make discovering each area a treat in a unique way. My favorite tracks include “Sunrise over Snaktooth Island”, “Those Darn Bungers”, “A Date with Gramble”, and “Crapple’s Lullaby”, to name a few.
