Game music suggestions for my classroom

Game Music Suggestions

What are the best game music suggestions for my classroom? As a high school game design and computer science teacher, I want to play game soundtracks in my classroom. I’ve already included tracks from Nobuo Uematsu, Koji Kondo, Grant Kirkhope, and Fire Emblem. I’m looking for standout albums or tracks to add to my playlist, and I’d love your recommendations.

Teachers, what are some of your favourite games? What music do you like from those games? One of our readers writes, “I am a teacher and my students are making a game for a competition. I play video game music in my classroom to keep the students calm, but I am looking for suggestions. Please and thank you!” I’m sure we can come up with some music suggestions for our fellow teacher.

Already I’ve played music from Nier Automata, Xenogears, Panzer Dragoon, Vagrant Story, Legend of Mana, Astal, 13 Sentinels, Ecco the Dolphin, Castlevania SOTN, Simcity 4, Katana Zero, Jet Set Radio Future, Nights into Dreams, and Tenchu. If you have any music suggestions, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

Yoko Shimomura’s work, such as Legend of Mana and Parasite Eve, is recommended by multiple users. Other options include Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal, Crash Bandicoot, and Commodore 64/Amiga music.

Game Music Suggestions

There are so many great game soundtracks out there, and this is just a sample of the suggestions that I’ve received so far. If you want to check out other options, I’ve linked the names to videos on YouTube. I’ll also be updating this list with more suggestions as they come in, so keep checking back.

StickerBush Symphony from Donkey Kong Country 2 is highly praised, with one user saying it is “the only song that I can listen to from start to finish without getting bored.”

GameChops, a label that remixes video game music, is also suggested for remixes and arrangements.

Here are some other popular suggestions:

• Symphony of the Goddesses is the name of a concert series in which the music from the three original Zelda games is performed live.
• Lo-Fi NES music is also another popular recommendation, as is music from Xenoblade, Skies of Arcadia, Baten Kaitos, and Sonic.
• Metal Gear Solid 2, StarCraft, Diablo, Halo, and Doom soundtracks are also mentioned but may be too distracting.
• They Are Billions and The Last Spell have tense background music for a classroom, but if you’re after something a bit more peaceful then I really love the Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Galaxy News Radio.
• We have a few options here, but Thomas Was Alone, Sword and Sworcery, Bastion, Race the Sun, Hotline Miami, The Banner Saga, and The Swapper also come highly recommended.
• Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Cyberpunk 2077 have popular tracks, but I’m not sure how distracting they would be in a classroom.
• If you want the music from Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm then there are plenty of options, but I particularly like the music from both games by Daughter.

We’ve got some great music here, but if there’s anything you think we’ve missed, be sure to let us know in the comments.