It starts as a whisper behind the action.
Then builds. A slow, rising hum that sinks into your bones right before a final boss or emotional cutscene, if you’ve ever played a game that truly stuck with you, the music probably had a lot to do with it.
It’s funny how something so central still ends up being overlooked.
Video game scores shape the way we feel while playing, but outside of gaming circles, they’re rarely treated with the same respect as film or classical music, which is odd, considering how far they’ve come and how often they linger in people’s minds long after the credits roll.
From Beeps to Full Symphonies
The earliest game music had a job to do and not much room to do it. Composers worked with just a handful of sounds, yet somehow crafted melodies that are still instantly familiar decades later.
Fast forward a bit, and the difference is night and day. Today, a single game can feature hours of fully orchestrated music, written with the same care as a film score, sometimes more. The best soundtracks don’t just set a mood, they tell a story alongside the game itself.
And people are listening. Game soundtracks now chart on streaming platforms and fans build playlists around them. You’ll hear them on long commutes, during study sessions, even at weddings.
Still Playing Catch-Up
For all this progress, game music hasn’t fully shaken off its “background noise” label. It’s praised by players, sure, but when it comes to the wider music industry? It’s not always part of the conversation.
There’s no single reason. Some of it’s leftover bias. Games still fight for legitimacy in some circles. And what’s tied to them, music included, gets dismissed as novelty or niche.
That mindset is fading, but it’s slow. While esports is taking off on platforms like at Betting.co.uk, music from games is having a harder time achieving mainstream acceptance.
Big Crowds, Bigger Impact
If you haven’t been to a concert featuring only video game music, you might be surprised. These events pack theaters. People dress up and they cheer at the first few notes of their favorite track.
It’s a reminder that this music isn’t just for gamers, it hits a nerve for people on a deeper level.
What Makes It Different
Unlike a movie, where the music follows a fixed script, game music often has to change on the fly, you move, it changes, you win, it soars, you fall, it fades. That interactivity creates a bond between player and music that’s hard to describe, but easy to feel.
The emotional payoff isn’t just a happy accident. It’s a result of careful design and serious musical talent. Many composers in this space come from classical or jazz backgrounds. Others from film. What they create is deeply layered and often experimental. And yet, it’s still not talked about enough.
Room to Grow
Game scores are gaining ground, no doubt about it. But there’s space for more recognition. More press coverage, more awards that acknowledge their role in storytelling, and more seats at the table for composers doing this kind of work.
Because make no mistake, it is work. And it’s good, sometimes breathtaking.
Fans know this already. They buy vinyl releases, they show up to symphonies, and they learn the piano versions and upload them online. The passion is there. Now the broader culture just needs to catch up.
Final Thoughts
Music in games has gone from a few beeps to full orchestras, from background filler to front-row ticket events. And maybe it’s time we started treating it that way.
Not as a trend, not as an offshoot of something else, but as its own form of art that can stand proudly next to anything on stage, on screen, or in your headphones.