Video games often make cultural references to famous people, fictional characters, and popular music. Sometimes, releases include recognizable songs to help engage the gaming community and target a specific demographic. Licensed tracks are littered across a number of AAA releases, which efficiently and effectively enhance the gameplay.
Popular titles such as FIFA and Grand Theft Auto have fitting soundtracks that meet the aesthetic demands of the game. However, some games will strategically include well-known songs during certain levels. This puts emphasis on the plot and the characters as well as making long-lasting missions and virtual car journeys more enjoyable. Whether it's during an important cutscene, as a level commences, or even in a lobby or menu screen, music gives a game character and amplifies the overall gaming experience.
10 Saints Row: The Third Features Kayne West While Players Crash A Party
Saints Row: The Third is an action-adventure game that features many licensed songs which can be heard around the open-world environment and on the game's radio stations. Throughout the storyline of this GTA competitor, gamers play as their customized protagonist. During "Party Time," the fifth mission of Act 1, players must jump from a helicopter and parachute onto the rooftop where the rival Morningstar gang is hosting a pool party.
Once the elevator code has been obtained, players can progress through the penthouse and activate the elevator to let their fellow Saints come and help clear out the remaining enemies. This part of the mission is accompanied by Kanye West's "Power," which intensifies the story and makes this level unforgettable.
9 Far Cry 3 Has A Memorable Mission With Popular Music
After playing a game of poker and stealthily following the man in the twelfth mission, gamers will have access to "Kick The Hornet's Nest" where the storyline continues. Once players meet Willis in his shack and prove they're not a risk, he'll provide a flamethrower that players must use to burn down Vaas' drug crops.
As gamers literally burn through the antagonists' profit, "Make It Bun Dem" by Skrillex and Damian Marley plays on repeat until all five crops are destroyed. The task is far from a chore and is one of the most memorable and enjoyable missions in the Far Cry series.
8 Rayman Legends Includes Black Betty While Players Run Through The First Musical Level
Rayman Legends has been out since 2013, and although it's not the most recent title in the series, it's still enjoyed by many gamers today. The Ubisoft franchise also appeals to music enthusiasts with this release, which includes musical levels where players must jump and punch in time to the music.
The first level in the game to feature a popular song is "Castle Rock" where players must run away from a wall of fire and reach the end without falling or running into enemies. The beautiful gameplay is perfectly synchronized around the tempo of the music. The accompanying track is a Rayman version of the popular Rock song, "Black Betty."
7 Prey Features Ironic Music To Emphasize The Story
Developers – Human Head Studios – released Prey in 2006, where gamers control protagonist, Domasi "Tommy" Tawodi. The first mission, "Last Call," begins in Jen's bar (Tommy's girlfriend) where players are also introduced to Enisi, his grandfather. While these characters voice their concerns, gamers can explore the environment and interact with almost anything, including the digital jukebox that features licensed music.
After teaching some drunkards a lesson, the emergency alert system is activated, which states several similar-looking objects have been sighted over North America. Seconds later, the jukebox automatically plays, "Don't Fear The Reaper," by Blue Öyster Club. During what appears to be an alien invasion, this ironic song plays as the roof opens up and Tommy and his loved ones are abducted.
6 A Call of Duty: Black Ops Mission Plays The Rolling Stones
Gamers play as Alex Mason in the tenth Call Of Duty: Black Ops mission, "Crash Site." The SOG unit is tasked with retrieving the Nova 6 agent from a plane wreckage in Laos. After boarding the PBR, the team heads upriver whilst defending themselves against enemy guard towers and sampans.
With unlimited ammo on board, players must also destroy hostile missile launchers and riverboats before reaching the next stage. During the chaos and destruction, "Sympathy For The Devil" by The Rolling Stones plays in the background. The song was released in 1968, which is when the mission takes place, giving players a more realistic gaming experience.
5 Gears of War 3 Has One Of The Saddest Moments In Video Game History
Epic Games added to the Xbox franchise in 2011 with the release of Gears Of War 3. The title features one of the saddest moments in video game history during the mission, "Brothers to the end," from Act 3 - Chapter 5. Delta Squad member, Dom, is seen mourning his wife, Maria, as he leaves her necklace and his COG Tag on her family's tombstone.
This cutscene foreshadows what comes later when Dom sacrifices himself to save his comrades at the end of the mission. This moment transitions into another cutscene, which is accompanied by the instrumental version of Gary Jules' "Madworld." This song heightens the sadness and emphasizes the story for those playing.
4 Steep Features Classical Music During A Wingsuit Challenge
Ubisoft brought the world Steep in 2016. The snowboarding game also includes other sports such as skiing, paragliding, and wingsuit flying. Players will find various missions and challenges in the open-world map across the extensive mountain range.
"Ride Of The Valkyries" is a challenge that requires extreme sports enthusiasts to jump off a high platform on a cliff edge and wingsuit through the checkpoints. Gamers have the pleasure of listening to Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries" as they glide through the air at top speeds. Players will fly dangerously close to the mountain face and the classical music helps to give the mission a sense of danger.
3 Destroy All Humans! 2 Puts Emphasis On The Era With A 60s Style Song
Destroy All Humans! 2 begins in Bay City where gamers play as Crypto, an extraterrestrial from the planet Furon in 1960s' California. The third story mission, "They Shoot Hippies, Don't They?" involves destroying blimps filled with Revelade gas – a substance that eradicates Furon DNA in humans. The hippie commune leader, Coyote Bongwater, has plans to pollute the population to protect the public from alien manipulation.
In this part of the level, players must destroy waves of pink blimps filled with Revelade to allow Crypto to continue harvesting brains in Bay City. The experience during this crazy mission and the intricate storyline is made better with The Greenhornes song, "Pattern Skies." The track reminds players of the 60s era whilst they wreak havoc and destruction in a flying saucer.
2 Back 4 Blood Plays Motorhead while Gamers Fend Off Zombies
The spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead 2 includes licensed music, which enhances gamers' zombie-killing experience. During the Back 4 Blood mission, "Bar Room Blitz" in Act 1: Search And Rescue, players must start the jukebox in Keet's bar and fend off the zombies while the music plays.
The songs vary with each playthrough, giving gamers different audible entertainment while they slay the undead. Popular songs include "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, "Tick Tick Boom" by The Hives, and Motörhead's "Ace Of Spades." There is also a jukebox located in Fort Hope for those who want to hear the other tracks featured in the game.
1 Red Dead Redemption Recreates The Cowboy Way Of Life With A Song From José González
In the first title in the franchise, gamers play as the protagonist, John Marston. The story takes place after the game's successor, Red Dead Redemption 2, which is a prequel. The original game has four chapters, and after completing the first, some familiar music can be heard.
Upon entering Mexico, music from the famous guitarist, Jose Gonzalez, plays in the background. As players delve into the newly-unlocked area, the song "Far Away" begins to play, which assists in transporting gamers back in time as they cross the border into Mexico. Some people have claimed that this is one of their favorite moments whilst playing a video game.