The Most Bone-Chilling Video Game Songs That Will Haunt Your Nightmares

Highlights

A captivating and unsettling soundtrack is a vital component in horror video games, creating a chilling atmosphere that sends chills down players' spines.

Titles such as Hitman: Contracts, Song of Saya, and Left 4 Dead employ tracks that skillfully escalate tension, integrate unsettling samples, and elicit a palpable feeling of paranoia and madness. From the eerie Lavender Town theme in Pokémon Red & Blue to the twisted compositions found in games like Doom and EarthBound, these soundtracks create a haunting atmosphere that intensifies the unsettling nature of the gaming encounters.

There is a vast array of video games that have explored the realms of horror and the macabre, delving deep into psychologically twisted landscapes. An integral aspect of these games is a captivating and immersive soundtrack. The inclusion of melancholic choirs, off-key melodies, and disturbing samples has the power to send shivers down the spines of even the most fearless players.

For individuals seeking the thrill of unsettling and eerie music while navigating through video games, there is an abundance of options available to explore.

10 "Slaughterhouse" - Hitman: Contracts

Hitman: Contracts took the stealth-action series to new depths of darkness, surpassing any other game in its path. Jesper Kyd's haunting masterpiece, "Slaughterhouse," perfectly complements the game's grim atmosphere, evoking a sense of all-consuming paranoia that could drive any aspiring assassin to madness, except for 47 himself.

Gradually, the layers of instrumentation thicken, intertwining with a disturbing ambiance. The synths, bass, and drums merge, creating a disconcerting symphony that mirrors the fragile state of sanity teetering on the edge of collapse. At the four-and-a-half-minute mark, the song abruptly halts, only to be punctuated by the jarring sound of a squeaky door, resembling a tortured scream. The track then resumes its haunting journey.

9 "SCHIZOPHRENIA" - Song Of Saya

Sakisaka Fuminori's perspective depicts a world engulfed in putrid flesh and skin. The repugnant odor fills the air while words resemble sludgy murmurs. "SCHIZOPHRENIA," the chilling opening track of the haunting visual novel Song Of Saya, flawlessly captures his distorted perception.

The guitar's relentless play is wrapped in harsh compression, cutting through the senses, while the imposing bass adds an intense layer. Following a brief solo devoid of rhythm or purpose, the track resumes with additional drums and percussion. The result is an unsettling and perverse sound, capable of instantly unsettling players.

8 "Left for Death" - Left 4 Dead

Left 4 Dead

Released November 17, 2008Developer(s) ValvePublisher(s) Valve

Dying in a co-op game like Left 4 Dead not only leaves the surviving teammates to fight zombies alone, but it also triggers a powerful and haunting soundtrack. As the camera zooms in on the fallen player, a chilling choir accompanied by a humming synth sets the eerie tone. The addition of a keyboard intensifies the impact of death in the game. However, this emotional experience is somewhat undermined when the deceased player is conveniently rescued from a closet just 100 feet away. Nevertheless, the deeply moving song continues to evoke a sense of heartache every time it plays.

7 "Intro" - POSTAL & POSTAL Redux

POSTAL, initially, did not have a humorous and absurd tone as a series. Its beginning in 1997 introduced a profoundly disturbing and controversial top-down shooter, where a deranged gunman mercilessly gunned down enemies throughout the town of Paradise. Almost two decades later, it received a remake known as POSTAL Redux.

To be frank, determining which of the menu tracks is more unsettling is challenging. The original composition by Christian Salyer possesses a metallic tone, possibly compressed for memory conservation, yet this intensifies the discomfort. In the remake, Takumi Sekiguchi Sloan skillfully intertwines echoing voices with modern instrumentation, resulting in something truly monstrous. Regardless, both versions evoke a nightmarish sensation.

6 "Lavender Town" - Pokemon Red & Blue

Lavender Town, an all-time classic, stands out in the first-generation Pokemon games due to its contrasting theme. Unlike the happy, adventurous, and dramatic tunes of other songs, the music that resonates in this haunted town feels unsettling. The hauntingly melodic opening, combined with the layered instruments, creates an impression of an earnest attempt to create a sense of homeliness, despite the eerie state in which the player discovers it.

5 "Prayer To Shin'nai (Distorted)" - Raging Loop

Raging Loop, a supernatural murder-mystery visual novel, features a considerable amount of death. The game includes various scenes that unveil the sinister acts of werewolves invading a local village and slaughtering its inhabitants as part of an ancient ritual.

The recurring 'Prayer to Shin'nai' in the game, resembling a peculiar nursery rhyme, is accompanied by pseudo-choirs singing along. This eerie tune is intertwined with unsettling synths, creating a chaotic yet subtly disturbing atmosphere. The dissonance of these elements adds great impact and a sense of extreme terror to the scenes in which this track is played.

4 "The Hall Of Souls" - Quake

Quake

Released May 22, 1996Developer(s) id SoftwarePlatform(s) PC, Switch, Nintendo 64, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Sega Saturn

"The Hall Of Souls," also known as "Track 1" by fans and featured on the official Quake vinyl release, sets the mood during the introduction section. In this part, players have the opportunity to choose the difficulty, chapter, and various levels. Right from the start, this track intensifies the feeling of fear.

The distorted guitar strums gradually increase in volume, accompanied by sharp percussions that tap alongside a continuous bass note. Additionally, multiple layers of backmasked voices create a haunting ambiance in the background. This combination gives the impression that the music is literally pricking at one's eardrums with needles. Trent Reznor's talent truly shines through in this piece.

3 "Lamentation" - DOOM

Doom, a video game developed by id Software, was initially launched on December 10, 1993. The game is available on various platforms including PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox (Original), PS1, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Android, and iOS.

Aubrey Hodges took a unique approach when composing the music for the PlayStation version of DOOM. Instead of upbeat and catchy rhythms for the levels set in Hell, he incorporated the eerie sounds of crying babies. The bass-heavy instrumentation creates a seamless blend of notes while the distorted and pitch-shifted cries of babies add an unsettling atmosphere. It is as if these cries have emerged from Limbo and found themselves in a realm of damnation. The result is a haunting and emotionally intense listening experience.

2 "Sayo-Nara" - Doki Doki Literature Club!

Doki Doki Literature Club!

Released September 22, 2017Platform(s) PC, PS VitaDeveloper Team Salvato See at Steam

Yes, it's the theme from THAT infamous scene in Doki Doki Literature Club! The scene that took a cutesy visual novel and delved into the dark depths of mental illness. And then...something unexpected occurs.

The music playing during the scene is incredibly chilling. Initially, it attempts to blend the game's recurring melody with eerie synthesizers, only to glitch out completely, accompanied by a haunting pseudo-choir. The melody returns, but now it feels distorted, like a malfunctioning music box, leaving the player to process the bewildering turn of events.

1 "Final Battle" - EarthBound

Earthbound

Platform(s) SNES, Game Boy AdvanceReleased June 5, 1995Developer(s) HAL Laboratory, Ape Inc.

The boss battle in EarthBound from the 90s is notorious for its disturbing themes. The unsettling tunes that accompany the battle against Giygas are deeply unsettling, sending chills down the listener's spine. The notes are dissonant and scattered, creating a sense of unease, while the bass thunders through like rapid footsteps. Glitchy noises and incomprehensible growls add to the eerie atmosphere. The music transitions from eerie winds to a terrifying cacophony of notes, then shifts to a soothing keyboard composition, only to end with a jarring breakdown and grating static sounds. It's no wonder that the Earthbound series is held in such high esteem.