Great music and great video games have always worked hand in hand, but 2023 took it to the next level. Rhythm-based games like Hi-Fi Rush are more popular than ever, tying great gameplay to solid original soundtracks, and most of this year’s Triple-A titles were accompanied by singles and official playlists on Spotify so we could enjoy those beats even when we put the controller down. Original video game tracks vary widely in terms of genres, from the soulful blues of Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty’s “Hardest to Be” to the euro-pop explorations of Atomic Heart’s “Komarovo.” Many of this year’s original songs are absolute bangers, but we have chosen a select few that we believe are the hardest-slapping tracks of the year.
The Nominees are…
“All Over the World” by L I O, Cecilia Stalin, and Yasumasa Kitawgawa from Street Fighter 6
“The Beacon” by The Glass Pyramids from Hi-Fi Rush
“Follow You into the Dark” by RAKEL from Alan Wake 2
“Stay Alive” by FFM and Felix Bushe from Dead Island 2
“Swing” by EARTHGANG and Benji. from Spider-Man 2
And the award goes to…
“All Over the World” by L I O, Cecilia Stalín, and Yasumasa Kitagawa
All of the nominees get our toes tapping, but “All Over the World” hits different. This song plays in the background during the world map menu in Street Fighter 6, and perfectly sets the tone for the high-adrenaline gameplay that the player is about to experience. An effective original video game song elevates the gameplay and sticks in the player’s head long after they sign off. “All Over the World” prepares players for the fights that are in store, while being catchy enough to be L I O’s highest-played song on Spotify. This world map menu music didn’t need to go as hard as it did, and for that, we can’t help but name it the hardest-slapping track of 2023. “Y’all going home so better pack your bags…”
