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Pump Up The Jams: 20 Video Game Soundtracks That Are Better Than Any Playlist You've Heard


Pump Up The Jams: 20 Video Game Soundtracks That Are Better Than Any Playlist You've Heard


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Are you getting sick of music spoon-fed to you by Spotify and YouTube? Instead of corporate algorithms, it's time to go back to another tried and true way to discover new music: video games! Gaming has been serving up god-tier collections of music for decades. These crazy tracks defined entire generations of gamers and changed how we experience music. Here are 20 video game soundtracks that'll make you rethink everything you know about the perfect playlist.

a woman wearing headphones and a pink dressmahdi chaghari on Unsplash

1. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

THPS2 didn't just feature songs. It created a whole generation of music fans. Even if you never touched a skateboard, you still know every word of Guerrilla Radio. Songs by Bad Religion and Rage Against the Machine made everyone feel like they could conquer that impossible gap jump.

File:Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Interface.pngArchimëa on Wikimedia

2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

This game's soundtrack is basically the ultimate 80s mixtape. Whether you're vibing to Michael Jackson on Fever 105 or headbanging to Iron Maiden on V-Rock, GTA Vice City proved that radio stations could be an art form. You'd even pull over in-game just to finish listening to I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls.

untitled-design-8.jpgGrand Theft Auto: Vice City – Gameplay PS5 | 4K 60FPS by Airton

3. Need for Speed: Underground 2

Street racing never sounded this good. Underground 2 won the mid-2000s car culture with a mix of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music that made every drift feel epic. Snoop Dogg's Riders on the Storm remix became the unofficial anthem of virtual street racing, and honestly, it still hits differently when you're stuck in actual traffic.

untitled-design-9.jpgNeed For Speed Underground 2 - Final Race & Ending (4K 60FPS) by Shirrako

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4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Those opening riffs of Welcome to the Jungle, the finger-destroying madness of Through the Fire and Flames—this game turned plastic controllers into the world's most accessible concert tickets. Guitar Hero III dropped the most epic collection of guitar-driven anthems ever assembled.

untitled-design-10.jpgGuitar Hero 3 - Legends of Rock - Medium Difficulty [HD] Playthrough part 1 by Nero Mystyra

5. Mafia III

Want to create a 60s playlist? Mafia III's soundtrack is a history lesson. Rolling through New Bordeaux while Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, and Creedence Clearwater Revival play on the radio? It would be an atmosphere so authentic that you could practically smell the vinyl.

File:Mafia III Stand - Paris Games Week 2016.jpgFR on Wikimedia

6. FIFA 14

FIFA games have always been unofficial music discovery platforms, but FIFA 14 was the series at its peak. This was where many people first heard Chvrches or Empire of the Sun. Somehow, EA Sports managed to predict which indie bands would take off next and created a soundtrack that felt ahead of its time.

birglbirgl on Pixabay

7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

If you wanted to understand 90s West Coast hip-hop, this game was better than a documentary. Radio Los Santos created an authentic time capsule of an era. From Dr. Dre to 2Pac, this soundtrack taught players more about that genre than any classroom ever could.

untitled-design-11.jpgGTA San Andreas Definitive Edition - Part 1 - HERE WE GO AGAIN.. by Hollow

8. SSX 3

Snowboarding games need that perfect combo of adrenaline and cool, and SSX 3 nailed it. The blend of electronic, hip-hop, and rock made every trick feel like part of a music video. You haven't lived until you've landed a perfect trick right as the beat drops.

untitled-design-12.jpgSSX 3! Xbox One X Enhanced! Part 3 - YoVideogames by YoVideogames

9. Def Jam: Fight for NY

Think of the ultimate hip-hop concert, but it's also a fighting game. With exclusive tracks from Method Man, Snoop Dogg, and Joe Budden, this soundtrack was more than background music. It was part of the action. Every fight felt like a music video come to life.

untitled-design-13.jpgDef Jam Fight For New York Is Absolutely Insane | A Retrospective by MrHammers

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10. Burnout 3: Takedown

Nothing goes better with high-speed crashes than punk rock, and Burnout 3 knew it. Those songs made every collision feel like a mosh pit moment. The energy of bands like Yellow Card and Rise Against perfectly matched the chaos on screen.

mibromibro on Pixabay

11. NBA 2K11

When a basketball game understands music culture this well, you know it's special. 2K11 curated the perfect list for both pregame hype and postgame celebration. Ron Artest's unexpected bars and Snoop Dogg classics made every virtual matchup feel like an All-Star game.

untitled-design-14.jpgNBA 2K11 (PC) - Celtics vs. Lakers - Highlights by NLSC

12. Crazy Taxi

The moment you heard The Offspring's All I Want, you knew this wasn't your average arcade game. Crazy Taxi's punk rock tracks turned every fare into a high-energy music video. Even today, it's impossible to hear these songs without imagining yourself drifting through San Francisco.

File:Crazy Taxi remote control car.jpgNo machine-readable author provided. Katetchepare assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia

13. Jet Set Radio Future

Tokyo's underground sounded so good in this game. JSRF mixed J-pop, hip-hop, and electronic music in ways that shouldn't work but absolutely do. The soundtrack was so ahead of its time that people are still discovering genres through it today. Try listening to Concept of Love without wanting to spray paint something—it's a dare!

untitled-design-15.jpgMasterpieces: Jet Set Radio Future | Documentary by kayisthey

14. Saints Row IV

Most games try to be cool. Saints Row IV said, "Let's be ridiculous instead." Where else can you fight aliens while classical music plays, then switch to "What Is Love" for a proper action sequence? The curators understood that sometimes the best playlists are the ones that don't take themselves too seriously.

untitled-design-16.jpgSaints Row 4 Gameplay (PC UHD) [4K60FPS] by Throneful

15. Life Is Strange

If indie folk and alternative rock had a perfect moment in gaming, this was it. Every song feels like it was handpicked for those quiet moments of teenage reflection. José González and Syd Matters narrated the emotional journey. You've got the playlist for every introspective late-night drive you'll ever take.

untitled-design-17.jpgLife Is Strange Gameplay Walkthrough - Part 1 (XB1/PS4/PC 1080p HD) by GhostRobo

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16. Watch Dogs 2

Silicon Valley needed a soundtrack that captured both its tech culture and its counter-culture. The mix of electronic beats and underground hip-hop did exactly that. This playlist sounds like what would happen if a hacker collective decided to become club DJs—and it works perfectly.

untitled-design-18.jpgHACKING HOME SECURITY!! (Watch Dogs 2) by Typical Gamer

17. Driver: Parallel Lines

Try this for ambition: two complete soundtracks in one game. The 1978 playlist brings the funk and disco, while 2006 hits you with modern beats. It's like having a time machine with an amazing car stereo. No other game has presented musical evolution quite like this.

untitled-design-19.jpgDRIVER: PARALLEL LINES | PS2 Gameplay by Benedict

18. MLB The Show 17

Baseball and music might seem like an odd couple, but this soundtrack knocked it out of the park. The collection of alternative rock and hip-hop created the best backdrop for America's pastime. It's like someone took the best parts of every stadium's playlist and removed all the overplayed classics.

untitled-design-20.jpgMLB The Show 17 - Gameplay (PS4 Pro HD) [1080p60FPS] by Throneful

19. Forza Horizon 4

Imagine having a different radio station for every mood, weather condition, and driving style. That's Forza Horizon 4. Whether you're drifting to drum and bass or cruising to classical, the tracks prove that good driving music knows no genre. 

untitled-design-21.jpgForza Horizon 4 - Seasons Change Everything | Winter by Forza

20. WWE SmackDown! Vs. Raw 2007

Wrestling games usually stick to entrance themes, but this one went further. It created the ultimate gym playlist before workout playlists were even a thing. The game's rock and metal tracks didn't just accompany the action. It made every match feel like a main event at WrestleMania.

 untitled-design-22.jpgSmackdown vs Raw 2007: All Finishers (4K 60 FPS) by EspacioNX