Catchy Beats From Virtual Worlds: The Best Songs from Video Games

By Seb Gorlov

Video games are created to be enjoyable but songs should be fun to listen to as well, so one of the key ways game companies can become strong market leaders is by capitalising on the usage of popular music to make their products even better.

From the success of yearly FIFA soundtracks to works centered around music specifically -such as the “ Kid A Mnesia Exhibition”, created for PlayStation by Epic Games and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke in 2021, containing artwork from the band’s albums Kid A and Amnesiac which gave players an immersive experience into Radiohead’s creative process- there are some great records that tie in with the popularity of their relevant games.

Here’s a look into some tracks featured in video games that need to be on your playlist and why.

 

“Everything In Its Right Place” – Radiohead (Kid A)

The opener to Radiohead’s highly acclaimed Kid A, “ Everything In Its Right Place” is a sonically elegant track that combines Yorke’s hauntingly beautiful vocals with a multitude of melodic acoustic elements.

It starts with a captivating synth sound which remains consistent throughout, adding a new dimension to the song. The lyricism is simple yet complex, mainly due to the repetition of certain  lines meshed together with confusing ones that add a hint of intrigue.

“ Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon/ Everything/ Everything/ Everything/ In its right place” (“Everything In Its Right Place, Kid A, Radiohead).

In the “Kid A Mnesia Exhibition” video game, the player goes on a journey through Radiohead’s world, without needing to play through levels, fighting enemies or trying to keep health bars away from danger zones. It is a very easy game, it is playable at whatever pace you desire, and the addition of the first track on Kid A really enhances the experience.

“When instantly recognisable full portions of songs are used, they’re done so in all the right places: the thudding rush of ‘Kid A’ opener ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ accompanies my first foray down a neon-lit pathway with Radiohead artwork dashing up and down the walls at the speed of light.” (Richards, NME, 18.11.21).

 

“Sleepyhead” – Passion Pit (Manners)

This high-tempo bubblegum-pop track from indietronica cult heroes Passion Pit serves a great addition to their 2009 album Manners

The song speaks volumes of how creative lead vocalist Michael Angelakos is as an individual. The intro alone is fantastic, beginning with a scratching sound like a needle coming off a vinyl. This is followed by catchy handclaps in the background and a sample of a traditional Irish folk song – Mary O’Hara’s “Oro Mo Bhaidin”, which translates as “Oh, My Little Boat”.

Both stay consistent throughout the song to form a perfect beat. In addition to this, the lyrics highlight Passion Pit’s approach – creative, dreamy and thought-provoking.

 

“ Like stars burning holes right through the dark/ You gave fire like saltwater into my eyes” (“Sleepyhead, Manners, Passion Pit).

 

Given the experimental nature of this song, it felt like the perfect choice for Little Big Planet 2 and that’s exactly what game developers Media Molecule had in mind. Little Big Planet is a series famed for its creative nature and for allowing fans to explore and experiment freely. There are levels, but with a sandbox-style approach. This makes it a very fun addition to any video game collection and there’s something apt about listening to “Sleepyhead” whilst in the world of the franchise’s protagonist Sackboy.

“If the music in LBP was rooted in the “journey around the world” nature of that game’s story mode, the music in LBP2 takes its inspiration from the idea of “science through the ages” explored in the new story we’ve created for you.” (Young, Media Molecule, 08.12.10)

 

“ Girl Like Me” –  PinkPantheress (Fancy That)

PinkPantheress has had a meteoric rise. The chart-topping star is known for her crystalline vocals and energetic background acoustics, and her 2025 album Fancy That is laced with electronic and dance music tones.

The album was released last May and its second track,  “Girl Like Me” was featured on the soundtrack for FC26 ( the latest of the rebranded FIFA games) before its release later that year.

The upbeat track comes with a catchy, club-ready beat and stellar lyricism describing the pitfalls of a relationship that isn’t working, creating a contrast between happy sounds and difficult themes that works perfectly.

 

“ Think of me, you can’t pay for therapy/ Nothing left to bleed, you spent all your clarity” ( “Girl Like Me”, Fancy That, PinkPantheress).

 

The song, like many on the album, is notoriously short, clocking in at two minutes twenty-four seconds. This is a trademark of her music, with tunes hooking the listener in despite having less runtime than an average pop song. It makes it perfect for FIFA – efficiently delivered and creative, mirroring the game’s overall aesthetic and vibe.

“ With ‘Fancy That’, PinkPantheress is kicking down the door to her next chapter – one that promises to be more adventurous than ever. She’s no longer content with being the elusive girl behind the screen, proving she can shapeshift, push boundaries and still keep us hooked – all in under 20 minutes.” (Williams, NME, 07.06.25).

 

“Ludens” – Bring Me The Horizon (POST HUMAN: Survival Horror)

The penultimate song on Bring Me The Horizon’s 2020 album POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR does an incredible job of capturing themes of societal change amidst a disconnected, futuristic world. It is also one of the band’s heavier songs, with pounding drums, harmonious guitar riffs and guttural vocals from lead singer Oli Sykes. Sykes is also a master of his craft when it comes to lyricism, his wordplay in this record exploring the idea of disconnection.

“ That a world covered in cables/ Was never wired to last/ So don’t be so surprised when the programme starts to crash”

(“Ludens”, POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR, Bring Me The Horizon”).

 

“Ludens” was initially penned for an appearance in Hideo Kojima’s scintillating game, Death Stranding. One of the in-game tracks, its themes mirror those of Kojima’s game, which sees the protagonist Sam – a courier – try to deliver supplies in a damaged, futuristic version of America which has been ransacked by a dangerous species.

The game’s futuristic, remote world setting is matched by those aforementioned themes in Bring Me The Horizon’s song, which at times feels like the anthem for Sam’s plight. Hearing Ludens in-game whilst exploring that desolate open world is an incredible experience and one all avid gamers will enjoy.

 

Overall, it can definitely be said that soundtracks enhance video games and the overall experience of players and hopefully companies continue to capitalise on this, as it is a great way of making a good game unforgettable.