Regardless of where, by whom, or how a game was created for any platform, it will always have a soundtrack. There is not a single game in modern game-development that is completely “deaf-mute”. About creating music for the game, will tell the guide from Kwalee.

A side note: Kwalee on the importance of gameplay in hyper-casual games

Creating music for the game and its importance

The secret of many games is precisely the right kind of music. The ambient music allows you to immerse yourself in the action, literally “cutting out” the player from reality and allowing them to live the life of their character.

Think of the music in The Witcher, which makes you fully experience the beauty of nature or the gravity of battle at any given moment; think of the motifs in The Legend of Zelda, which remind you of the past in a nostalgic way, or the jazz of CupHead, which with its major tonalities never fails to draw you in to play more and more.

Creating music for the game

All this, in the end, gives an exceptionally positive feeling. Definitely, an orchestra or rock band will allow you to realise your musical idea in the best possible way. However, you don’t have to have a big budget to create beautiful music for your game.

The basics: where to start?

It’s good if you make your own music and can create it yourself, but if that’s not the case, no problem. Large studios have sound designers on staff, but if you’re a beginner, freelance platforms are a great place to start. There you can find the right specialist for your budget, and also supervise the creation process if necessary.

Whoever creates music for video games should carefully consider the technical basics. There is plenty of information and training for aspiring musicians on sound theory, harmony, arranging and much more.

In any case, if you entrust the creation process to a musician, the most important thing is effective communication between you. Find common ground, lay out your vision of the overall concept, and the whole process will be much easier, even if you are not involved in music creation in any way.

Making music to suit the requirements of your game

To create the perfect soundtrack for your project, the following rules should be adhered to

  • The music should match the mood of the game. Don’t try to introduce some heavy tunes into a nature game, but rather a brass instrument or an orchestra, for example. Try to figure out for yourself what will help the player immerse themselves in the gameplay.
  • Create an adaptive ambient. Music for open terrain, dungeons, battles with enemies or bosses, all need to be different to properly convey mood and emotion. At the same time, it should not be intrusive, but should complement the gameplay without distracting the player.

Think about your game, your audience, your resources and decide what works best to create the perfect soundtrack. Practise and eventually you will be able to create the perfect accompaniment.

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