The video game genre of first-person shooters tends to get a bad reputation, as many simply associate it with mindless killing. While that may be the case with some titles, some shooters contain beautiful, awe-inspiring in-game soundtracks that create a distinct experience all by themselves.
To prove it, we’ve compiled a list of six first-person shooters with killer in-game soundtracks.
Halo: Combat Evolved
As a series, Halo has a lot of awe-inspiring music that is responsible for setting the tone for Master Chief’s world ending battles.
Whether he is fighting the covenant, flood, or remnant, though, few soundtracks are able to match the groundbreaking score of the original.
From the first time players emerge from the escape pod on the halo to the eerie first contact with the flood, Halo Combat Evolved’s music invokes emotions that really make battles feel exciting and intense.
The slow symphonic build up that accompanies each level raises heart rates to the point where it actually feels like a fight, serving to immerse many in this unique sci-fi experience.
To this day, you’ll still find people replicating the original theme song in empty, echoey bathrooms and parking garages in tribute to its operatic glory.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
There is nothing quite like listening to the genius that is a Mick Gordon composed soundtrack while hunting Nazis in Wolfenstein II: New Colossus.
This time around, the game takes primarily in a Nazi-run America, as B.J. Blazkowicz and company look to lead a revolution to take back their world.
While the second installment in the series might not have had J and his wild tunes, there are still plenty of awesome guitar-heavy songs propelling B.J. throughout the battlefield.
The mix of industrial and rock music, as well as distorted synthesizers and reverbed electric guitars, returns in the sequel, standing out as one of the more unique in-game soundtracks around.
Overall, the music feels far more atmosphere, straying slightly away from the heavy metal focus of Gordon’s other work on the 2016 Doom reboot.
I’d recommend starting off on a lower difficulty to fully enjoy the music’s fast-paced nature though, as it may be a little challenging to run-and-gun on some of the tougher difficulties in the game.
Destiny
Considering what they managed to accomplish with the Halo series, it isn’t entirely surprising that Bungie’s follow-up franchise, Destiny, also features an amazing soundtrack.
Yet another space opera, the game complements spacious levels with music that is deserving of its epic scope – for single player and multiplayer alike.
From exploring the creepy caverns of the moon to the Hive call home to the triumphant horns of victory the winners of multiplayer games here, the variety of sound on display throughout the title is enough to inspire any Guardian to charge into battle.
Boss themes are where Destiny shines though, making encounters with each over-sized alien being feel larger than life.
There is certainly a God-like feeling associated with picking up the sword to battle Krota for the first time, not to mention the awesomeness that was almost the entirety of the Rise of Iron soundtrack.
TimeSplitters 2
Just looking at the sheer variety of the level designs in Timesplitters 2 is impressive enough by itself, as players explore exotic locations that range from the Wild West to a Mexican Mansion to a Spaceport.
These levels wouldn’t be nearly as memorable without the pure adrenaline rush provided by the unique music for each area.
Depending upon where – and when – the two space marines time travel to in the game, players are treated to tracks worthy of the atmosphere they’re in, with some variation mixed in that’ll pump things up alongside the action.
The sequel even carries over a handful of beloved tracks from the original Timesplitters too, providing a sense of nostalgia to go along with the updated gameplay.
Overall, the musical updates for the second installment feel more befitting of a fast-paced shooter.
Where the first title in the series is more of a laid-back techno romp, TimeSplitters 2 is a nonstop thrill ride that is worth playing both alone and with friends.
Doom (2016)
Usually, it isn’t encouraged to listen to music that makes you want to curb stomp your enemies into the ground but playing Doom (2016) does qualify as an acceptable occasion in which to do so.
Bethesda and id Software’s modern-day reboot of the series picked up the pace considerably when it released, combining everything fans loved about the original with the frenzied feel of the Quake series.
Fast and fluid gunplay, tightly level design, and a wide variety of enemies to defeat served to make Doomguy, and anyone who controlled him, feel badass all by itself, as they bounce around each area and perform grisly executions.
Doom’s rapid gameplay is only as atmospheric as it is thanks to the soundtrack though.
The modernized music features enough insane guitar riffs and drum solos to make Judas Priest jealous, setting the stage for battles perfectly all the while.
If you’re ever having a dark day and simply want to stew in self-loathing misery, id Software’s shooter is also a solid choice.
Far Cry: Blood Dragon
It’s no understatement to say that synth-wave is a bit of a niche genre of music, especially in the video game landscape. That doesn’t mean it can’t work in a first-person shooter though, as composer Power Glove and Ubisoft prove with Far Cry: Blood Dragon.
Described as “an 80s VHS vision of the future,” this standalone DLC to Far Cry 3 places players in the far off alternate version of 2007, where the world is suffering from the fallout of a nuclear war.
Based on the first part of the description above, it isn’t hard to tell that everything about the premise is satirical, veering more toward parody than a serious FPS.
Blood Dragon has you riding dinosaurs and fighting zombies in a colorful techno landscape; a perfect fit for the many of the 80s inspired tracks from Power Glove.
If that doesn’t sell you, knowing that the title includes songs like “Long Tall Sally” by Little Richard and “War” from the soundtrack of Rocky IV should, making for a surprising ambiance to experience the chaos in.
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