A lot of modern games have great soundtracks and are designed to match the tone of the action on screen. In this respect, there have been many occasions where games have rivaled and even bettered some big movie setpieces. However, for some gamers, only their favorite music and soundtracks will do. Thanks to apps like Spotify and Amazon Music, listening to one’s favorite tracks while playing has never been easier.
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Just like exercise or work, music can improve an individual’s productivity and concentration. The same thing can apply to gaming too, as many players feel that they play better when they listen to their favorite type of music. One genre of music that fits very well with gaming is techno. Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that has spawned several sub-genres like happy hardcore and acid house and is somewhat comparable to the Trance genre. This list will includethe best games to play while listening to techno music.
6Returnal
The award-winningPlayStation 5 exclusiveReturnalalready has some of the best sound designs and tracks of this generation. The science-fiction Rogue-like blends elements of old-school arcade action games with modern survival horror.
The action inReturnalis a breathtakingly fast-paced light show of color and sound. This alone makes it a perfect candidate for techno fans. The music will add even more intensity to an already adrenaline-infused experience for one of the PS5’s best high octane titles.
5Streets Of Rage 4
The first three entries in theStreets of Ragefranchise are considered among the greatest side-scrolling beat-em-ups of all time. Several other titles came close, like theFinal Fightseries, butStreets of Ragestood tall as one of the very best of its time.
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The music inStreets of Rageis just as iconic, as it was already known for its use of techno and electronic dance tracks to accompany the action thanks to composer Yuzo Koshiro. Released in 2020,Streets of Rage 4was both a love letter and the perfect sequel to the classic series. Thankfully, the music lives up to the original games, but if one wanted to change it up and listen to their favorite techno tracks instead, thenStreets of Rage 4is the perfect match.
4Dying Light 1 And 2
TheDying Lightseries is made up of two survival horror games that merge parkour, platforming, and brutal combat in apocalyptic zombie-infested worlds. Despite its adrenaline-fueled chase sequences and incredible platforming - aside from one or two notable exceptions - the soundtrack is quite limited.
However, the addition of fast-paced dance and trance tracks can make bothDying Lightgames considerably better. The speed and tempo of the music are the perfect fit for the game’s most intense and dynamic moments. The games are well supported by Techland too, with lots ofDLC and content out for bothDying Lightgames.
3Sifu
Released in 2022, Sloclap’sSifuis a roguelike fighting game and a love letter to classic Hong Kong cinema. It’s a brutally tough beat-em-up, but it’s also one that rewards patience and timing. It’s one of those games where players can feel themselves getting better with every playthrough.
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Techno music and the rhythmic movements of a Kung Fu title likeSifuare the perfect marriage of sound and violence. It’s also one where the beats and speed may help some players improve their timing and reaction times. The nightclub fight scene in particular will make players feel like they are in a Donnie Yen movie by adding some modern techno tracks into the mix.
2Bayonetta
Released in 2010,Bayonettais still considered one of the best action games of all time. Coming from Hideki Kamiya, the same director that worked onDevil May Cry, one should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It’s a lightning-fast fighter with incredible boss fights and memorable set pieces.
The game’s soundtrack is outstanding in its own right, but a change of music can be a transformative experience. The game is perfect for the hardcore variation of techno thanks to the speed ofBayonettaand the higher tempo of hardcore techno’s beats, bass, and almost chaotic sound.
1Devil May Cry 5
Another game that already has a great soundtrack isDevil May Cry 5. In fact, all the games in the series have great soundtracks. The franchise as a whole was inspired by late 90s and early 2000s action classics likeBlade, The Matrix,andEquilibrium.Blade,in particular, has one of the most iconic opening scenes in action movies thanks to its soundtrack. Blade taking on a horde of vampires to Junkie XL’s “Dealing with the Roster” is still one of the most memorable sequences in all of Marvel’s movies.
The closest one can get to playing a Blade-like character in an action game to replicate these sequences isplaying as Dante, Virgil, or Nero inDevil May Cry.One should play all the games, but it’s the fifth entry that has the most visually impressive scenes and beautifully fluid combat. Sticking on some fast-paced techno (or even Blade’s “Dealing with the Roster”) during some of the game’s more intense moments can raise the excitement bar even higher.
