The audio and the soundtrack of a video game are an essential part of the overall gaming experience as they can completely change the atmosphere and mood, but they are sometimes overlooked by gamers as most of them focus on the graphics and the gameplay mainly. So here are games with great audio and soundtracks. This list is in no particular order.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is simply a masterpiece. Along with an excellent story and a gorgeous open world, it also has a beautiful soundtrack and audio effects. It’s amazing how the relaxing and soothing music with birds chirping and wind humming changes to chaotic sounds of swords clashing, taunts, and badass music as you encounter dangerous foes on your journey.
Here’s one of the most beautiful soundtracks in The Witcher 3:
Red Dead Redemption 2
It’s safe to say that Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar’s masterpiece. This game is incredibly cinematic.
The music is minimum as you explore the open world, allowing you to hear layers upon layers of different audio effects, making for an immersive experience. Woodland ambiance will be rather quiet and focused on environmental sound effects.
The ambiance in a saloon is more lively with music playing and people chatting. Meanwhile, the gunfights are loud and chaotic with intense music. In other words, the audio is appropriate to the situation.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is another great game by Rockstar. Like Red Dead Redemption 2, the music is at a minimum in the open world, but the missions are accompanied by beautiful music.
The bustling urban areas of GTA V are gorgeous. The sound effects are insanely realistic. Get into a car and the radio will be playing. Visit the beach and there will be people singing and waves crashing. Police chases will be intense, with cops demanding you to surrender over loudspeakers and sirens.
Forza Horizon 5
You could list Forza Horizon 5 or any other Forza Horizon game for that matter. I personally don’t like the radio songs of this game, but the audio effects are insanely good. The main sound effect you’ll hear is the roaring engines of vehicles. When you customize your vehicle, the sounds change drastically.
Here’s a tip: Make a Spotify playlist of your favorite songs and play them in the background instead of the radio songs in-game.
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is another game set in bustling urban environments, except I consider this game’s cities and sound effects/soundtrack to be superior to GTA. The game is set in Japan, so the dialogue is in Japanese. Fans say that this game depicts Japan quite accurately.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is one of the most realistic games ever created. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous and very realistic. There’s a lot of exploration in this game, and the fun of it wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for the masterful sound design. The medieval music along with the magnificent sounds of animals, wind, and other characters is second to none, I daresay.
DOOM Eternal
Unlike most other entries on this list, DOOM Eternal doesn’t have relaxing and atmospheric music. Instead, it’s completely chaotic and brutal. This game is a metal music fan’s dream come true. The soundtrack instantly boosts your energy and makes you into a literal demon-killing God.
Stardew Valley
Let’s end this list with a wholesome and cute entry. Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games, and it remains one of the highest-rated RPGs on Steam. It may seem girly and naive at times, but trust me and give this game a try.
The sound effects aren’t realistic this time, but more fantastical and cute. You can visit certain locations, you can just put your controller down and enjoy the beautiful sounds (the beach for example). This is the perfect game to play to relax.
