Music can completely change the experience of playing a game. It can make us feel scared or intrigued, or make a boss fight feel particularly epic. But what happens when the music takes center stage and the gameplay actually revolves around it? This can produce anything from what we call rhythm games (in which gameplay follows the beat) to spectacular themed casino and arcade experiences. And because such games are always treats for music fans, we want to take a look at some awesome examples.
1. Beat Saber
This game from Czech studio Beat Games is an intense virtual reality experience that challenges the player to use motion controllers to control a pair of… well, let’s call them lightsabers, to slice a series of blue and red blocks coming the player’s way. The exciting electronic music and the level of difficulty have made this title a favorite on social media, where people tend to share clips of their impressive feats with their friends. And for music fans, part of the fun is that there are still more songs being added to the game’s collection.
2. Crypt of the Necrodancer
In this dungeon crawler, the player has to guide a character through procedurally generated levels filled with monsters. However, the character avatar has to move or attack by matching the rhythm of the music. This game mechanic is made even more satisfying by an adaptive music system that helps the soundtrack to gradually incorporate sounds from the enemies. It also has a spin-off game featuring remixes and characters from The Legend of Zelda, which naturally has made it all the more popular.
3. Guns N’ Roses Slot
Guns N’ Roses may be of a different era, but they’ve been extraordinarily present in the lives of rock fans in recent years, and even announced that they are headed back on tour this year. When they really made their comeback, however, now several years ago, this slot game was essentially part of the publicity. The game allows fans to play with classic designs from old albums, as well as listen to some of the band’s most famous songs. To make the experience even more engaging, each round reveals clips from classic live performances of the band over the years.
4. Jimi Hendrix Slot
Guns N’ Roses are not alone amongst major musical acts that have produced casino games, and it just so happens that one of history’s greatest guitarists has one as well. Now part of the Foxy Bingo slot collection, this rock game features a mix of cell-shaded and 3D animations to present the titular musician’s performances and spinning icons. These usually involve guitars and record players, but also more playful imagery that matches the Hendrix era (and aura) –– like flowers, peace symbols, and hearts. The animation is smooth, but it’s the classic Hendrix tracks used in the soundtrack that set the game apart from other titles.
5. Sequence Storm
This cyberpunk racing title takes the idea of incoming musical notes used in games like Rock Band and turns it into a futuristic racing track. The movements of the player lead their vehicle to make quick turns and overcome opponents, all while a fast-paced track plays. What makes this title different though is that it follows a surprisingly intriguing story, which is somewhat unusual in this genre. Usually, musical accompaniment is strictly about matching the beat or providing engaging background. In this case, the music guides you through more of a narrative gaming experience.
6. Muse Dash
Resembling a side-scrolling shooter, this game features cute anime-style characters battling enemies while the player tries to hit buttons at the right time. The game’s art and animation are outstanding, though for some they can also be a little bit overwhelming. If you can handle it though, it’s one of the most exciting rhythm games you can play without having to use VR or complex gadgets.
Music can drastically change the way we experience a game –– from making cut scenes more engaging, to turning standard actions into enthralling sequences. But when games actually revolve around the audio, they allow gamers who truly enjoy music to enjoy a whole new side to the experience. The titles above don’t represent all such games, of course, but they’re some of the best that any music fan could hope to find.
