In addition to the graphics, story and mechanics, the soundtrack is of course also extremely important for a video game. If you listen carefully, you’ll discover one or two songs by a well-known band or famous artist.
No matter whether it’s exciting adventures, fast-paced racing action or funny jump ‘n’ run – many computer game producers not only pay attention to cinematic scenes, but also give their game the right soundtrack. Razor-sharp game scenes combined with pulsating beats bring the adrenaline to maximum temperature while gaming. We took a look at which well-known artists and bands have provided the soundtrack for computer games.
Fear Factory – Demolition Racer
The name “Demolition Racer” already suggests what this game from 1999 is about. There’s a lot of banging going on here. The name Racer is misleading. Because this game is only about proper crashes, not about best times. In different game variants, the typical American racing cars constantly rush into each other.
Of course, the music has to be really banging. The American metal band Fear Factory makes sure of that. Razor-sharp guitar riffs and pumping double bass form the framework for a deafening brass orgy symphony. It’s not for nothing that the title track is called “Full Metal Contact”.
Nine Inch Nails – Quake
In the first-person shooter “Quake” from 1996, our hero shoots his way through a dark military base. In various levels, the heavily armed superhero searches for a mysterious demonic power. This wiped out the entire crew of the base. Our hero is the only survivor.
For this horror scenario, the American industrial metal band Nine Inch Nails delivers sounds with goosebumps factor. The individual tracks vary between frightening electro sounds and driving guitar riffs.
David Bowie – Omicron: The Nomad Soul
Long before Corona, the computer game “Omicron: The Nomad Soul” enchanted gamers. The science fiction adventure from 1999 allows the player to move completely freely for the first time. Later, an entire genre emerged from this: open world games. All buildings can be entered. Characters that appear are all addressable. Rock legend David Bowie provides the sound.
The artist experimented with electronic and ambient sounds in the late 1990s. David Bowie’s tracks underline the apocalyptic atmosphere in the game. By the way: David Bowie himself appears in the game as a digital version. At what point is not revealed here.
Michael Jackson-Sonic 3
Yes, of course the King of Pop cannot be missing from this list. Very few Michael Jackson fans should know: The pop icon provided some sound ideas for the Sega hit ‘Sonic 3’ from 1994. Like many stories about Michael Jackson, his involvement in the funny computer game remains nebulous. Because his name does not officially appear at the presentation in the mid-1990s.
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There are clear passages that suggest Jackson’s involvement. One can only speculate as to why Sega chose not to mention it when introducing the game. This is how it could have been: Michael Jackson and his treatment of children made the artist a target in the media. Because “Sonic 3” appeals to a younger target group, Sega is probably forgoing any major press hype.
Djerv – League of Legends
Another big name in the gaming world is “League of Legends”. The multiplayer online battle arena game (MOBA for short) was launched in 2009. The aim of the game is to destroy the opponent’s so-called Nexus. In fact, some songs from the game have become quite famous, “Get Jinxed” by Djerv is definitely one of them. The Norwegian band released the song in collaboration with Riot Games in 2013.
Imagine Dragons – League of Legends
And “League of Legends” again. The game delights millions of gamers around the world in various versions. This attracts attention in musical circles. The American pop-rock band Imagine Dragons also wants to share in the game’s fame. In 2014, she provided the soundtrack for the current edition of League of Legends with the track “Warriors”. The epic song offers the right anthem for the online battles. Let the games begin!
Paul McCartney – Destiny
This artist is probably one of the least expected musicians on this hit list. Paul McCartney, bassist for the Beatles and British rock and pop icon, delivers an exclusive song for the first-person shooter “Destiny” from 2014. His song “Hope for the Future” forms the framework for this apocalyptic online game. In the distant future, humanity fights against an alien force.
In addition to the first-class soundtrack, the game delivers many visual treats. It’s not for nothing that “Destiny” was considered the most expensive computer game of all time. An estimated $500 million went into development. A not entirely insignificant part of it probably ended up in Paul McCartney’s bank account.
Ariane Grande & Katy Perry – Final Fantasy
The role-playing game “Final Fantasy” has a long history. The computer game has been delighting gamers all over the world on various platforms since 1987. For the final fantasy version “Brave Exvius,” the game developers brought a female pop star on board. The American Ariane Grande not only appears in the game itself, but also contributes an exclusive song, “Touch It”.
Katy Perry-Final Fantasy
On top of that. US singer Katy Perry doesn’t take long to provide the track “Immortal Flame” for “Brave Exvius”. Fun Fact: When “Final Fantasy” was released in 1987, Square, the game’s Japanese producer, was on the verge of bankruptcy. The makers are now miles away from that. Well-known musicians and bands regularly provide songs for the popular role-playing game.
Pink & Eminem – Call of Duty
“Call of Duty” or CoD for short is one of the most successful computer game series in the world. Since 2003, gamers have been clamoring for the latest edition of the first-person shooter. For the 2010 edition “Black Ops”, our hero is on an adventurous mission in Vietnam, Laos, Cuba and Russia. Since things are never squeamish in the CoD series, the sound is also a big hit. The eloquent US rapper Eminem fires his lyrics in the track “Won’t back down“ around the ears of the gamer. He is supported by the US rock band Pink. With so much vocal power in your ears, your finger on the trigger switches to continuous fire.
Avenged Sevenfold – Call of Duty
In fact, several songs by the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold can be found in the “Call of Duty” games. In 2010, the band composed the song “Not Ready to Die”, which can be heard in the game “Black Ops”. Avenged Souls then produced the song “Carry On” for “Black Ops II”.
You can also hear the song “Shepherd of Fire” as a so-called Easter egg. Further titles for “Call of Duty” followed with “Jade Helm” and “Mad Hatter”. This is one of the most famous and long-lasting shooter series in the world.
Chvrches – Death Stranding
The apocalyptic drama and open world game “Death Stranding” from 2019 is almost like a feature film. Real actors were hired for some of the main characters. Norman Reedus, known from “The Walking Dead”, portrays the hero Sam Porter Bridges. Despite the apocalyptic mood of the framework, the game is about cohesion, community and love. In the game, Sam Porter Bridges tries to bring isolated cities and a hostile society back together. The dark and at the same time hopeful soundtrack delivers the Scottish electro-pop band Chvrches.