The further we go into the future, what are considered the most important aspects of gaming seem to change.
Back when video games were nothing more than a few pixels on a screen, sound design was arguably far more important than graphics. There is a good chance that there are more people who know the theme songs to popular franchises than those who have actually played the game. Now, it seems that sound design is either taken for granted or placed toward the end of the list of things to pay attention to.
In modern video games, sound design is a gateway into an entirely new world of immersion. Sure, the warzones and landscapes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 look visually stunning, with charred roadways and burning buildings, but it’s the sound of rifles in the far distance and helicopters overhead that makes the impact the developers were really going for. There’s no better way to feel right in the heat of the action than being able to hear your squadmates as though they’re directly next to you. There are even some games that tell their stories exclusively with sound effects and music.
Sound design goes far beyond making video games more realistic. They also extend to other kinds of interactive media, such as slot games online. The mechanics of slot games tend to differ from traditional video games, but the way audio cues are used is very similar. Whenever a player gets a winning combination or earns some kind of reward, there are typically loud bursts of music and sound effects that motivate them to keep playing.
Even if there isn’t a win on the screen, background music still plays an important part in the game’s overall theme and tone. This atmospheric detail is where audio in modern video games truly shines. The faint footsteps of some faraway monster in Silent Hill 2 or the roar of the battlefield in Battlefield 6 all tell a story that extends far beyond visuals. Even the rise and fall of music when entering important areas is there to invoke specific feelings that turn typical games into Game of the Year contenders.
These same games are also great examples of even more immersive sound design. They feature sound choices like heavy breathing to convey fear or the pumping of a heartbeat to copy the feeling of adrenaline. Paired with sounds like reloading a weapon or hitting an enemy with a bat, it’s difficult not to fall into those worlds. Without this attention to audio detail, even the most graphically enhanced titles, like The Last of Us Part II, will feel hollow to the modern gamer.
The role of sound design will continue to evolve so long as players keep enjoying video games. As more titles focus on strict immersion and being true to the time periods in which they take place, sound will continue to invoke different player responses. Whether players are stepping out into the massive world of Hyrule or spinning the reels of an online slot game, sound design will remain the unsung art form that holds the artistry together.