How Music Enhances The Gaming Experience

How Music Makes Stories in Games More Exciting

Music is the spice of life. It’s so important to our quality of enjoyment that, quite frankly, it is a make-or-break for whatever type of entertainment you’re focused on. A great movie with a terrible soundtrack immediately loses its shine. An RPG game that has poor sound design and voice acting just isn’t the same, and can even turn you off entirely.

Sound, and in particular music, enhances every experience, most notably in immersive, interactive environments. After all, the music needs to draw you in, being both engaging and not distracting. This delicate balance is difficult to achieve, but when game makers nail it, they nail it.

If you’ve ever wondered why or how music enhances the gaming experience, the answer boils down to a few key elements:

Creating a Multi-Sensory Environment

Ultimately, every game, whether that’s an RPG or an online casino game on lonkerokasino.com, has the difficult challenge of creating a full-sensory environment from just a 2D screen.

With consoles, you have the added tactile experience that comes from haptic feedback, yes. Ultimately, however, what a game has available to engage and immerse you is its visuals and its sound. You cannot feel a game (even with technology like haptic feedback), and you cannot smell it.

This means that both the visuals and the music and sound need to work harder. That’s where music comes in.

The Role of Music on Our Psyche

Music actively changes our brains. Music theory dictates that different beats, tempos, and even notes actually change our moods, and this is because our brains actively respond to these elements.

A fast-paced song with a lot of staccato beats engages the brain, makes it sit up, and feel urgency. Slower-paced songs that blend notes are relaxing and can help us de-stress and even sleep better.

Researchers have long been fascinated by how we physically respond to music, and game makers use this power to immerse the brain in the right physical sensation.

Matching the Beat with the Experience

Music can physically change our brainwaves and make us feel different things, just by the approach it’s taken with notes. Game makers use that ability to pair music with the gameplay itself to enhance the experience you enjoy, even if you’re just playing from your phone.

A live poker game may have a calmer backing track to help players focus, while a slots game may have an upbeat jingle to match the pace of gameplay.

The Importance of Finding the Right Music to Go with Your Gameplay

Not every song is going to be to your taste. Music also has an unfortunate habit of getting stuck in a loop in your head. That’s why, when it comes to choosing games (particularly short games like those found on online casino platforms), you need to pick an option with a soundtrack you enjoy. Songs are often in a loop when it comes to mobile games to keep you immersed and set on the task you’re on. If you hate the song, you’re just dooming yourself to having it stuck in your head.

The good news is that, with so many endless options out there, you are guaranteed to find an online casino game with a backing track you like, alongside excellent visuals and game mechanics.

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and host of the XS Noize Podcast, where he interviews top music artists and emerging talent. Known for insightful, in-depth conversations, Mark brings a passionate, fan-first approach to music journalism. Favourite album: Achtung Baby by U2. Follow on X: @mark_xsnoize.

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