In honor of National Video Game Day, Will Ayers, Â鶹ӳ»´«Ã½ associate professor of music theory, has put together the ultimate playlist of study music from the gaming world. Ayers specializes in analyzing music in interactive media and video games, and also studies music for concerts, films and theme parks. Outside of teaching and research, Ayers is an active composer and performer of choral music.<\/p>\n
Get your headphones ready for an expertly curated playlist that spans 14 years of video game soundtracks. To celebrate the flourishing of indie games over this period, the soundtracks come from games developed by (primarily) independent game studios.<\/p>\n
Flower<\/em> (Thatgamecompany, 2009)<\/strong> To start off with something relaxing, there is nothing more calming Thatgamecompany\u2019s Flower<\/em>, a dreamy tale that places the player in control of the wind as it directs flower petals to enliven other flowers in the game world, all with interactive audio that aligns with the ongoing music. Vincent Diamante\u2019s soundtrack is delicate and beautiful, and you might also check out his music for Thatgamecompany\u2019s Sky: Children of the Light<\/em>. These can offer some comfort after a long day of learning.<\/p>\n Limbo<\/em> (Playdead, 2010) If you\u2019re into something a bit darker in tone, definitely listen to Martin Stig Andersen\u2019s soundtrack for Limbo<\/em>, a puzzle platformer that examines choices and mishaps with a dramatic, atmospheric soundscape that can haunt and comfort in equal turn. The soundtrack for Playdead\u2019s followup game Inside<\/em>, also composed by Martin Stig Andersen, has a similar vibe. Combine them to complete a full listening session for intensive work.<\/p>\n Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP<\/em> (Capybara Games, 2011) Here\u2019s where the real fun begins! Jim Guthrie\u2019s music for Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP<\/em> offers the feel of a throwback with the production of modern synth-pop. The album\u2019s outlandish title, Sword & Sworcery LP: The Ballad of the Space Babies<\/em>, automatically sets the tone for this weird and wonderful listen that demonstrates its motivational potential from front to back. Guthrie\u2019s soundtrack for the game Below<\/em> offers a similar but gloomier mood for those interested.<\/p>\n Fez<\/em> (Polytron Corporation, 2012) This soundtrack is my go-to for working, reading, studying and the like. Disasterpeace has put some excellent music out into the world, including the fantastic soundtrack for Hyper Light Drifter<\/em>, but his music for Fez<\/em> is a cut above. The game\u2019s development was highlighted in the documentary Indie Game:<\/em> The Movie<\/em>, which also detailed the success of the popular indie titles Braid<\/em> and Super Meat Boy<\/em>. The soundtrack for Fez<\/em> urges you to keep thinking, puzzling and changing perspective, and it sits at the perfect level of intensity for a deep study session.<\/p>\n Antichamber<\/em> (Demruth, 2013) Alexander Bruce\u2019s mind-bending first-person puzzle game Antichamber<\/em> incorporates an abstract visual style that is subtly and expertly mimicked by Siddhartha Barnhoorn\u2019s ambient soundtrack. The game\u2019s use of multistable perception, the ability to shift between different stable interpretations of an object, promotes a unique exploration of space that is interpreted with expansive soundscapes that fluidly morph over long periods of time. Great for extended reading or thoughtful consideration.<\/p>\n The Banner Saga<\/em> (Stoic, 2014) Epic stories in games call for expansive soundtracks that cover a breadth of experiences from touching personal moments to surprising tactic-fueled battles. If that sounds like your type of adventure, then Austin Wintory\u2019s music for The Banner Saga<\/em> will be of interest. And luckily, the game has two sequels with their own expansive soundtracks. Listeners may also be interested in Wintory\u2019s notable collaborations with creative director and artist Matt Nava on the games Journey<\/em>, Abz<\/em>\u00fb<\/em>, and The Pathless<\/em>, all wonderful accompaniments for studious behavior.<\/p>\n Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture<\/em> (The Chinese Room, 2015) The game Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture<\/em> is an exquisite study in patience, thoughtfulness, mystery, and jubilation. Its BAFTA-Award-winning soundtrack captures that spirit with music that evokes its provincial village setting but also indulges in the enigmatic and the euphoric. Jessica Curry\u2019s soundtrack for the spiritual predecessor, Dear Esther<\/em>, to Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture<\/em> is just as compelling while offering more traditional compositional tactics. Both are worth a listen.<\/p>\n Stardew Valley<\/em> (ConcernedApe, 2016) Indie games are generally developed by small teams. Occasionally, the number of people on a project is unbelievably small. Such is the case for Stardew Valley<\/em>, which sees Eric Barone (AKA ConcernedApe) working as the sole designer and composer for the game. The soundtrack\u2019s focus on delivering calming tunes for the game\u2019s stylized farm life simulation is simultaneously quaint and astounding due to both its singular creative source and its adventurous musical scope. It is the perfect soundtrack for a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n Hollow Knight<\/em> (Team Cherry, 2017) You\u2019ve probably heard of Team Cherry\u2019s indie darling Hollow Knight<\/em>, but if you haven\u2019t, now is the time to check out Christopher Larkin\u2019s soundtrack for this mysterious and charming game. The haunting boss music will make some listeners recall their thwarted efforts while playing the game, but new listeners may hear these ramps in intensity as opportunities to take on new challenges. Play this soundtrack when you need to shift between moody atmospheric expanses and sharply focused set pieces.<\/p>\n Celeste<\/em> (Maddy Makes Games, 2018) Lena Raine\u2019s music for Celeste<\/em> is so good that it makes every time you fail worth the price of repetition. While the moving story and the challenging puzzle platforming are huge draws for the game, the engaging soundtrack definitely keeps players coming back. If you have a repetitive task to complete, this synthesized monument of indie video game music is just the right mix of complexity and tranquility. Raine\u2019s music for Chicory: A Colorful Tale<\/em> is also not to be missed.<\/p>\n Outer Wilds<\/em> (Mobius Digital, 2019) Outer Wilds<\/em> is a game about time, exploration, and curiosity. Andrew Prahlow\u2019s soundtrack, with its casually plucked banjo and strummed guitar intermixed with atmospheric synths, supports this sense of curiosity. With its blend of folk serenity with subtle ambience, this is excellent music for starting something new and allowing the spirit of inquiry to take over.<\/p>\n Hades<\/em> (Supergiant Games, 2020) This is for those who really need to get through some hard work. Darren Korb\u2019s soundtracks for the previous entries from SupergiantGames, Bastion<\/em>, Transistor<\/em>, and Pyre<\/em>, are all brilliantly styled for their individual settings, and his work on Hades<\/em> is similarly attuned to the grandiose inspiration of Greek mythology. Using the sound of the ba\u011flama as a starting point, Korb is able to generate a surprising metal-infused frenzy that still feels grounded in the world of the game. The underlying drive of rock rhythms should help to get you through any challenges you are encountering in a study session.<\/p>\n Tux and Fanny<\/em> (Ghost Time Games, 2021) Perhaps an odd inclusion on this list, but Albert Birney and Gabriel Koenig\u2019s Tux and Fanny<\/em> has a well-crafted soundtrack to support its uniquely fun and somewhat absurdist gameplay. If you are looking for something that can provide intermittent interest between more thoughtful moments of studying, look no further. The miscellaneous assortment of retro vibes in Tux and Fanny<\/em> has you covered.<\/p>\n Tunic<\/em> (Isometricorp Games, 2022) Tunic<\/em> is about as close as you can get to playing a Zelda<\/em> game without actually playing one. That said, the music from Terence Lee (AKA Lifeformed) and Janice Kwan is a far cry from traditional fare in the Zelda<\/em> series. The synth-heavy aesthetic offers both reverberant exploration music and occasional forward-moving moments that can inspire the best in your work. I might also suggest Terence Lee\u2019s delightful soundtrack for the game Dustforce<\/em>, titled Fastfall<\/em>, which takes inspiration from earlier video game music but expounds upon those ideas with refreshing results.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Celebrate National Video Games Day with study music recommendations from Associate Professor of Music Theory Will Ayers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":148988,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,27],"tags":[17023,54800],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-148986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-student-life","tag-college-of-arts-and-humanities","tag-will-ayers"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nMusic by Vincent Diamante<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Martin Stig Andersen<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Jim Guthrie<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Disasterpeace<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Siddhartha Barnhoorn<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Austin Wintory<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Jessica Curry<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Eric Barone<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Christopher Larkin<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Lena Raine<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Andrew Prahlow<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Darren Korb<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Albert Birney and Gabriel Koenig<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Music by Terence Lee (AKA Lifeformed) and Janice Kwan<\/p>\n