A video game is an entire experience. Background music and sound effects can help to draw players in and enhance the gameplay.
You can find royalty-free music for video games that doesn’t require a copyright, both for free and for purchase. Music is a vital part of video games, and there are a lot of options when it comes to adding this music to your project.
What Background Music for Video Games Works Best?
People who play video games can (and often do) become obsessed with the sounds they hear. The right songs can even convert curious people into fans. As one player puts it, “Video game music gave me access to a game without ever even playing it, and for someone with a short attention span and terrible hand-eye coordination, video game music was my way into many fandoms.”
The best background music for video games varies by the type of game and the experience players have when they enter the virtual world. However, some types of music are very common from game to game.
Rock and Metal
Some of the earliest and most successful video games (including DOOM) use a fast-paced soundtrack with a thumping bass and plenty of hardcore vocals. Sounds like this are appropriate for games with dark backgrounds, plenty of violence, and jump scares.
Atmospheric
Innovative games like Ape Out have reactive music that can change as the player interacts with the digital environment. The sounds here are generally atmospheric, so they don’t have vocals or distracting lyrics. But the tone and speed of the song can change to amp up the action. Atmospheric sounds like this could be appropriate for almost any game, particularly those that take place in a world that’s very different from reality.
Classic
Video games like Super Mario have instantly recognizable music, complete with beeps and blips. For many middle-aged gamers, this is what a video game can and should sound like. The tunes should be short, electronic, and repeatable. If you’re creating a video with a throwback vibe, songs like this work best.
Best Websites to Download Royalty-Free Music for Video Games
Royalty-free music does not require ongoing royalty payments.
Instead, you pay a one-time fee (or no fee at all) for access to the songs you’d like to play. Many companies offer this service, and we’ve compiled the information you need in the table below.
Why Music in Video Games Matters
Music in video games is often designed to build tension. This can be used when a character is facing a villain and resolved when the player succeeds in vanquishing it. This can create a sense of euphoria in the player for completing the task.
Music in video games, therefore, is designed to elicit an emotional response from the player and keep them engaged in the digital world of the game. Music can build suspense, let a player know that something is happening off the immediate stage, and help to set the tone while developing characters.
Music is an important part of the video game realm.
Where Does Copyright Fit In?
Much of the music you hear on streaming sites like Pandora is protected by copyright. The people involved in the creation and publication of these songs have rights that are protected by law. If you use these songs without permission, you could be sued by the copyright holders.
Many artists use performance rights organizations (PROs) to manage copyright issues. These companies issue licenses and take payments they deliver to the copyright holder. Common PROs include BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, and GMR.
If you want to use a popular song that is copyrighted, you need to obtain a license to do so. Here’s how to get started:
- Identify who holds the copyright or manages the licensing. If you have a physical copy of the song (like a CD), the copyright holder will be clearly stated. If you found the song on a streaming service, you may need to run a search online for the copyright holder or the entity that manages the licensing. Look for the PRO acronyms we’ve listed above to determine whom to contact.
- Contact the copyright holder or PRO. Once you know who holds the copyright or manages the licensing, contact that organization. Explain that you’d like to use one song (or a series of songs) within a video game, and ask for a license to do so.
- Prepare for a fee. PROs will issue a license with an appropriate fee. If your video game is small and likely to reach just a few people, your payment could be small. If you’re creating something with a potential audience in the thousands, expect to pay more.
- Keep the paperwork. Once you’ve paid your license fee, you’ll get documents that outline your copyright arrangement. Keep them in a safe spot, in case someone asks you about this later.
PROs typically provide very detailed license agreements that outline what you can and can’t do. For example, you may be allowed to use the song within your video game, but you may not be allowed to use that song in advertisements for the game. Ensure that you understand how your license works, and don’t use the song in unusual ways without permission.
What If I Want to Use a Famous Song in My Video Game?
You will need both a master use license and a sync license to use a famous song in your video game. You need permission and approval from the creator of the music to use it commercially.
Songs typically have more than one copyright, and you will need them both to use the song legally. The sync license allows you to use the musical composition, while the master use license grants permission to use the actual sound recording of the original artist.
Music rights organizations, record labels, and music publishers can sell you the license to use their copyrighted music. You will need to find out who owns the rights to the music you want to use and contact them for permission.
References
The Language of Music Storytelling in Games. (October 2014). Writing Interactive Music for Video Games: A Composer’s Guide.
Video Game Music Spans Across Genres, Provides Joy Despite Being Labeled Uncool. (December 2023). The Oberlin Review.
Gaming Soundtracks: Which Genres Are Most Common in Video Games? (July 2024). Cultr.
Video Game Music: A Look Into the Past and Present. Berklee Online.