Game On! Best Gaming Soundtrack Hits!

Saints Row 2022 #3

By Jeremy Martin | Contributing Writer

Whether it be original composed instrumentals or an entire soundtrack made of existing songs, the two mediums come together as seamlessly as peanut butter and jelly. Some of the most memerable video games to me are those that have sountracks made of preexisting songs, as these tend to be among some of my favorite games to this very day. With that being said, here are my top three modern favorite video game soundtracks.

Open world video games like Saints Row and Grand Theft Auto tend to really shine with their soundtracks. However, two songs that stand out to me would have to be Party Up by DMX and BANG! by Trippie Redd. These two songs offer up-beat and gritty sounds that capture the attitude of today’s modern hip-hop and the overall party animal nature of the Saints gang in their efforts throughout the main story, adding a degree of personality and the enveloped world building.

#1 Grand theft auto vice city

Tony Hawk’s pro skater 1+2 Remake #2

There is no way I could make a list of my favorite video game soundtracks without mentioning the Tony Hawk franchise. Known for its inventive music, the Tony Hawk franchise has delivered some of the best and most memorable soundtracks in video game history. The soundtrack includes music from artists like Goldfinger, Papa Roach and Machine Gun Kelly.

Some of my favorite songs in the soundtrack would have to be Bloody Valentine by Machine Gun Kelly and Blood Brothers by Papa Roach. These tracks deliver an aggressive and “in your face” alternative rock ‘n’ roll attitude that captures the tone of the Tony Hawk games perfectly.

Coming in at No. 1, the definitive edition of Grand Theft Auto Vice City is my all-time favorite soundtrack in modern video games. There are a wide variety of songs from different artists across the video game’s nine different radio stations. I believe it’s these hits that really define Vice City and capture the overall feel and attitude of the ’80s. Outstanding and catchy new wave sounding songs like Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles, 99 Luftballons by Nena, Africa by Toto, Waiting For a Girl Like You by Foreigner and Keep on Loving You by REO Speedwagon are just a few songs that stand out on this outstandingly seamless soundtrack of ’80s hits. I mean, seriously, ladies and gentlemen … Rock ‘n’ Roll. That simple line is exactly what players will think and feel when listening to Vice City’s lengthy list of ’80s smash hits that would make anyone say, “I want my MTV!”

The upbeat and heavily synthesized sounds of various ’80s songs are perfect to drive around in Vice City’s Florida-based landscape.