The ninth console generation was kicked off last week with the launches of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. The new hardware has enabled games to look shinier than ever before. But while flashy graphics easily catch the eye, excellent sound is far more important and, sadly, less appreciated. The most effective games are those that use their soundtrack to craft an immersive experience. This playlist is a selection of video game music that, when appreciated alone, will help you to tune out the distractions and get down to work.
“Welcome to Los Santos,” Oh No
A symphony of synthesized piano and pounding bass, rapper Oh No’s title theme for Grand Theft Auto V is the perfect tone-setter. Taking inspiration from ’80s movie scores by artists such as Giorgio Moroder and Tangerine Dream, this song perfectly evokes the obsessive ambition underscoring the rags-to-riches crime…
