7 Video Game Songs You Need To Add to Your Workout Playlist
Looking for a better way to stay energized throughout the day? Don’t underestimate the power of video game soundtracks. Soundtracks are designed to keep you motivated during difficult or repetitive tasks while blending into the background so that they don’t break your focus.
The right video game music — with an upbeat and consistent beat — can help energize you during workouts, chores, or your morning routine. These are my top picks for the best songs from video game soundtracks to amp you up!
(Note: If you love these songs and want to read more, check out the extended article for some mini reviews of each one, written by me and my colleague)
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012) — “Adrenaline”
“Adrenaline” is an upbeat, synthy song from Call of Duty: Black Ops II. It keeps momentum by swinging between high-energy flows and slower, more chilled-out sections.
Where it plays
Whenever the players hear this, it means that they’re waiting in the Black Ops II multiplayer menu.
Did you know…
Those who spent a lot of time playing with friends may also know this song as the character creation anthem, since it was the only song that played — on repeat — when you choose a class and emblem in preparation for online play.
6. Chrono Cross (1999) — “Chrono Cross ~Scars of Time~”
“Scars of Time” is the main theme from Chrono Cross. It begins with a peaceful woodwind intro, though it quickly amps up after the first minute, when the drum beat and violins roll in and add a sense of tension and adventure.
Where it plays
Scars of Time plays during the opening cutscene every time you open the game. When the song picks up, a montage of various pivotal moments throughout the story plays.
Did you know…
Despite having become relatively obscure, the Chrono Cross soundtrack was a runaway success when it was released. It quickly found its way into symphonies and remixes. Although the song had come out 12 years prior, in 2011 Scars of Time was voted first place in Hardcore Gaming 101’s “Best Video Game Music of All Time” poll.
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) — “Dragonborn”
“Dragonborn” is the main theme from Skyrim. It features a warlike chant set to a booming orchestral arrangement.
Where it plays
As the main theme, this song plays intermittently throughout the story. However, it’s most recognizable as the song that plays if you wait on the menu screen for too long.
Did you know…
The lyrics of Dragonborn are written in a fictional language called Dovahkiin. The creators of Skyrim developed the language for the game because they wanted a more “barbaric” sounding language for their choruses.
4. Cuphead (2017) — “Floral Fury”
“Floral Fury” is an upbeat samba that feels timeless compared to the rest of the jazzy Cuphead (2017) soundtrack, which feels like it’s been pulled straight out of 1930s animation.
Where it plays
This song plays during Cuphead’s battle with Cagney Carnation, one of the bosses in the first island.
Did you know…
When the game was originally released, the battle with Cagney Carnation didn’t have its own soundtrack. Instead, it reused a song from a later boss battle. The original song was more consistent with the ragtime of other songs on the Cuphead soundtrack.
3. Persona 5 Strikers (2020) — “Last Surprise — Scramble”
“Last Surprise — Scramble” is a hard rock banger with heavy 80s influence. This is a departure from the rest of the Persona 5 Strikers soundtrack, which leans more jazzy.
Where it plays
You get to choose when this song plays! Pick this as your battle music for maximum amp-up.
Did you know…
This version of the song is a remix of the original Last Surprise from Persona 5 Royal, which was removed from the game and replaced by Take Over. Also, the singer Lyn Inaizumi is not a fluent English speaker; she learned how to pronounce the necessary sounds in order to sing the lyrics.
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) — “Gang-Plank Galleon”
Gang-Plank Galleon is the theme for King K. Rool in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This ultra-fast song features a triumphant horn section to amp you up, while its nearly-intelligible rap verse adds enough textural difference to keep things interesting.
Where it plays
This song may play randomly while players are fighting in one of the 4 Donkey Kong stages: Kongo Jungle, Kongo Falls, Jungle Japes, or 75m.
Did you know…
This version of Gang-Plank Galleon is a recent remix of the original version, which plays during the final boss battle between Donkey Kong and King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country (1994) on SNES. The original version has a more electronic sound.
1. God of War (2018) — “God of War”
There is no composition more fitting to be called “God of War” than this song. The guttural chanting and battledrum give the main theme from God of War its warlike edge, while the soaring horns and holy choir elevate the song to cosmic status.
Where it plays
The song plays during the credits as a triumphant send-off to the game. Although its presence is sparse throughout the rest of God of War, fragments of the main theme play throughout, at pivotal points in the plot.
Did you know…
The lyrics of this song are sung in Old Norse, which is very similar to Modern Icelandic. Because of this, the composer of the God of War soundtrack employed Icelandic singers, who would be able to understand the depth of emotion behind the Old Norse lyrics they were singing, without translation.
Honorable Mention: Wasteland 3 (2020) — “Washed in the Blood of the Lamb”
The understated gospel rock of “Washed in the Blood of the Lamb” is an unexpected departure from the overall vibe of Wasteland 3. Although this song is more mellow than everything else on this list, I had to give it an honorable mention because the context surrounding the song elevates it to amp-up status.
Where it plays
The song plays during the first major encounter at the end of the tutorial. Set to the ambience of gunfire and explosions, Washed in the Blood of the Lamb feels powerful.
Did you know…
This song is derived from a Christian hymn that dates back to 1878. Another popular version of the song is the Billy Bragg version, which takes the song into a more modern context. The Wasteland 3 pulls stylistic inspiration from both versions of the song. This blending of styles resulted in a cover with more emotional potency than any of its predecessors.
You can do it!
I hope that these songs bring the burst of energy you needed to help you conquer your next battle. If you liked these songs, read more about them on the NexiGo blog — or stay tuned for more on Medium.
