Music has always been a crucial part of video games, enhancing immersion and adding depth to virtual worlds.
Think about it: from the catchy Super Mario Bros. theme to the unforgettable Tetris melody, some video game tunes are as iconic as the games themselves.
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Over the years, game music has evolved to include full orchestral scores and cinematic compositions. But there’s another powerful type of video game music that's been making waves since the ’90s: the licensed soundtrack.
The idea of using popular songs in video games took off in 1982 with Journey’s chiptune version of "Don't Stop Believin'" for the Atari 2600 game.
By the early ’90s, with home consoles like Sega Sammy Holdings Inc‘s (OTC:SGAMY) CD and Sony Group Corp.‘s (NYSE:SONY) PlayStation, games began incorporating high-quality audio tracks.
Titles like “Twisted Metal: Black” (2001) with The Rolling Stones’ "Paint It Black," and “Red Dead Redemption 2” featuring D'Angelo's "Unshaken," exemplify how licensed music can elevate a game’s impact.
Curious about which games nailed it with their soundtracks? Rolling Stone recently ranked the 25 best licensed gaming soundtracks of all time. Let's ...