{"id":1638678,"date":"2026-07-19T20:15:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T20:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/P5yBoaeFWwDyXYcXSduren"},"modified":"2026-07-19T20:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T20:15:33","slug":"whats-the-best-summer-themed-videogame-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/whats-the-best-summer-themed-videogame-track\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the best summer-themed videogame track?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Summer is officially here, and as a British person it is the law of this nation for me to say it’s a bit hot, init? <\/em>My AC-less apartment is being held together by a box fan and a dream. I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in weeks, and I fear I’ve forgotten how it feels to be cold.<\/p>\n

\n
Critical Hit<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\"Critical<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome to Critical Hit<\/a>, where I (or someone else on the PC Gamer team) celebrate and lament all things videogame music, audio design, and the ways our favourite games make our ears tingle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

But if there’s any positives to come out of the scorching heat and never-ending sun, it’s that all the Vitamin D seems to be the perfect catalyst for summer-themed videogame bangers. I feel like there’s nothing a videogame loves more than stuffing weather-appropriate tracks into its scores. Is it a bit rainy in-game? Switch up the music to a softer arrangement. Dead of winter? Perfect opportunity to make the music all twinkly and a touch festive. <\/p>\n

Summer music is no different, often leaning on beachy or water vibes for that big sunshine feeling. Ukuleles and steel pan drums are rampant <\/em>to capture that vibe\u2014think Destiny Islands from the first Kingdom Hearts game, or Ginger Island from Stardew Valley. They’ve got a real tropical feel to them, perhaps the best and easiest route to screaming “This is a summer track, everyone! Summer!”<\/p>\n

\n