We all know that great musicians can take something and make it even better. It almost doesn’t matter what it is. For example, an iconic sporting moment, such as Usain Bolt breaking the 100 meter world record, would be even more entertaining with Chariots of Fire soundtrack playing over the top of it. Music evokes certain emotions and, with the right accomplice, it can heighten emotions. This is certainly true when it comes to gaming.

The influence of music and musicians on the gaming industry can’t be ignored. Indeed, when you look at the industry as a whole, you’ll find examples of music making certain types of games more entertaining. For example, if you scroll through the exciting online slot games at Paddy Power, there are dozens of different themes.

Each theme requires specific images, animations and, of course, sounds. Gladiator Jackpot, based on Ridley Scott’s famous movie, features ominous synth sounds, drum beats, and a flourish of trumpets, in among chimes and classic slot bleeps. These sounds are mixed with video sequences from the movie to create an epic feel that makes the slot more enjoyable. Beyond the seemingly implicit power of music in casino games, we can move to overt examples.

There’s an Unbreakable Bond Between Games and Music

Thanks to licensing deals between record labels, artists, and software developers such as NetEnt, there are casino tributes to iconic artists. First onto the market were slots featuring hits from Guns N’ Roses and Jimi Hendrix. These spinners not only contain visual tributes and cash prizes, you can listen to their hit records. From these early offerings, players can now listen to their favorite tracks from the likes of Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne, Ritchie Valens, and more.

Essentially, these songs are making the whole experience more engaging and entertaining. In this regard, music in casino games is no different from compositions in any other type of game. We often choose games for their fundamental dynamics. For example, people play Chess because they enjoy the logical challenge it poses. However, in the digital arena, games aren’t one-dimensional, they’re multi-dimensional. That’s why developers put so much time and effort into a game’s sounds and visuals. There’s nothing wrong with making a basic game of chance where all you can see are simple symbols on a set of plain reels.

As long as there’s an element of uncertainty and some potential rewards, it would be exciting for a little while. However, would you really want to play something so basic for a long time? Probably not. Now, let’s throw in some images, animations, and music. This creates a complete sensory experience that’s more likely to hold your attention. Music is a powerful tool. We all know that. However, once you see how it’s used outside of the music industry, you get an even better sense of just how powerful it is. That’s certainly true in gaming and it’s the reason developers have used it to good effect over the last few decades.