Study Video Game Music

Listen to and analyze video game soundtracks from different genres and eras. Pay attention to how the music supports the gameplay and sets the atmosphere. You can find [OSTs (Original Soundtracks)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundtrack#:~:text=The%20term%20original%20soundtrack%20(OST,a%20rerecording%20or%20cover%20version.) on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, or dedicated video game music websites.

Music is one of the most overlooked parts of making a game, and one of the most important.

When you study game music, you hear how melody and harmony follow the player through the game. Music shapes emotion and pulls players into the world. Look closely at how game music is composed and produced, and at the role it plays in storytelling, gameplay, and player engagement.

From the catchy chiptunes of retro classics like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris to the orchestral scores of modern epics such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, video game music covers a wide range of styles and genres. It's worth studying closely.

Here are the top 10 video game theme songs picked by Oliver Tryon from CULTR:

1. The Legend of Zelda

2. Super Blackjack Battle II Turbo Edition

3. Super Mario Bros.

4. Main Theme (L.A. Noire)

5. Tetris

6. The Last of Us

7. Street Fighter II

8. Donkey Kong

9. Sonic the Hedgehog

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

From the cheerful melodies of Super Mario Bros. to the haunting atmosphere of The Last of Us, each of these themes stays with players long after they put the controller down. They capture the feeling of adventure and triumph, and they show how much music shapes the way we remember a game. As games keep evolving, these melodies remain favorites that players share and bond over. Now that you know what made them popular, you can use the same ideas in your own game's music!

If you want to sit down and really learn, here are some paid and free courses for studying video game music:

Paid Courses

1. Game Music Composition: Make Music For Games From Scratch! (Udemy): This course covers the fundamentals of composing music for video games, including creating themes, adapting music to gameplay, and implementing sound effects.

2. Video Game Music Composition: Compose Background Music For Games (Udemy): This course focuses on composing background music for video games, covering topics such as looping, layering, and adaptive music techniques.

3. Complete Guide to Game Audio (LinkedIn Learning): This comprehensive course covers all aspects of game audio production, including sound design, music composition, and implementation in popular game engines.

4. Introduction to Game Audio (Coursera): Offered by Berklee College of Music, this course gives an overview of game audio production techniques, including sound design, music composition, and integration into game engines.

Free Courses

1. Introduction to Video Game Music (Coursera): This free course, offered by Michigan State University, explores the history, theory, and composition techniques of video game music, with a focus on both traditional and interactive music.

2. Game Audio For Beginners (YouTube): This series of video tutorials covers the basics of game audio production, including creating sound effects, composing music, and implementation in game engines.

3. Introduction to Game Music (Open University): This free online course introduces the world of video game music, exploring its history, cultural significance, and compositional techniques.

4. Game Audio Essentials (YouTube): This series of video tutorials covers essential topics in game audio production, including sound design, music composition, and implementation with software like FMOD and Wwise.

These courses offer useful insights and practical skills for anyone studying video game music, whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional looking to expand your knowledge.

When you're ready to put your music in a game, hyperPad lets you make as many games and apps as you want for a one-time USD $14.99. Turn your Procreate designs or digital art into interactive comics, games, and more, then export them to the App Store from your iPad. Start your game dev journey with hyperPad today and bring your ideas to life!