There are lots of elements that are important to the gaming experience, and one of them is music. It is used to enhance the visuals on the screen and to help set the mood.
Music is absolutely essential to the immersive atmosphere of modern games. Whether it is funky dance tunes or doom-laden death metal, the soundtrack will influence how you feel when playing a game.
Not everyone wants to stick with the official audio though – some prefer to curate their own playlists of gaming songs. There are songs out there to fit any genre of game on the market but explore how music enhances the experience of gaming. It will also pick some of the best songs for a games playlist in 2025.
The Impact of Music on Gaming
When we talk about gaming soundtracks, most people think in terms of video games. That is because they feature complex narratives and music can help to tease out the subtleties of them.
All of this is true, but music can also improve the experience of playing more simple games. Take the sort of online slots that people play at Bally Bet. They are colorful fun-packed games, which is why people like them so much. They usually come with soundtracks that are designed to heighten the excitement of them.
Those soundtracks are more one-note than most video game music, but they serve much the same purpose. So just like with video games, you could pick your own slot-friendly playlist to replace the official audio.
Slot game music does have a second function too though; which is to reinforce the themes of the games. That is something you should take into account if you are thinking of devising a slots playlist.
So what songs are good for gaming playlists and what types of games do they suit?
The Top Tracks for Gaming in 2025
- The Emptiness Machine – Linkin Park
Linkin Park are stalwarts of the nu-metal movement and their music is filled with rage and angst. The Emptiness Machine is typical of their output and is an ideal choice for a certain kind of game.
This song should be on the playlist for battle games that feature dark and dystopian narratives. It will really help to get you in the mood for that kind of violent and bloody warfare.
The song could also make for a good choice for games that tell coming-of-age stories though. For most people, their teenage years are tough and a raging soundtrack will capture that feeling.
- Jump – Blackpink
This is a k-pop song that has earned rave reviews since it was released in the summer. Blackpink are one of the biggest groups in that genre and the song was a smash hit.
Jump is an upbeat dance pop song with lyrics that celebrate going out on the town. That makes it best suited to games that have a similarly positive and fun vibe to them.
You could bop along to this song while spinning an online slot, or playing an action-adventure game. It has already started to filter into gaming playlists on the likes of Amazon Music, so clearly gamers agree with that sentiment.
- Mr Brightside – The Killers
The debut single by US rockers The Killers combines a poppy tune with darker lyrics that are full of paranoia and jealousy. If you are playing a game that mixes colorful graphics with dark themes, it could be the perfect soundtrack to that.
Like Jump, it is a song that was a massive chart hit when it came out and it is still played a lot more than 20 years later. That is testament to a song that has become a genuine classic.
Finding the right gaming fit for it could be a bit of a challenge, but you could just ignore the lyrics and treat it as a party tune. That way it will fit with anything from an online slot to Bubble Shooter Classic.
- In The End – ILYAA
One artist who has become a staple of music playlists – especially among gamers – is this Swedish DJ. ILYAA is hardly a household name, but his music has something that connects with people who like to play games.
In The End is typical of his sound, combining electronic music with passionate vocals. It will suit games that have a melancholic mood to them, particularly deep role-playing ones.
How Music Shapes Player Emotion and Gameplay
Music does far more than sit in the background while you play, because the right track can change the way a game feels moment to moment. Fast, high-energy songs naturally push players toward quicker reactions, which is why racing games, shooters, and competitive titles often rely on aggressive beats that raise adrenaline. Slower or atmospheric tracks, on the other hand, help players ease into puzzle games, story-driven adventures, or anything that requires long-term focus and strategy.
Soundtracks also guide emotion. Horror games use low drones and sudden crescendos to build tension, while RPGs lean on orchestral themes to highlight big story moments. Even simple mobile or slot games use rhythmic loops to signal wins, near-misses, or bonus rounds, all of which subtly influence engagement. In every genre, music becomes a tool that shapes mood, pacing, and the overall connection a player forms with the game.
The fact that a relatively obscure musician features so often on gaming playlists is proof that you do not need to be a big star to get your music out there.
There is no one thing that makes a great song for a gaming playlist, because it depends on the mood and story of the game.