The Best Game Soundtracks for Studying and Focus
Video game music is made to sit in the background for hours without distracting you. The best game soundtracks for studying, working and staying focused.
Here’s something game composers know that most people don’t: they’re writing music you’ll hear for hours on end, while you’re concentrating on something else. A good game soundtrack has to create a mood without demanding your attention, loop without getting annoying, and keep you in the zone. That’s also a pretty good description of perfect study music.
It’s no surprise that “video game music for studying” playlists are some of the most popular on YouTube and Spotify. If lo-fi beats are starting to wear thin, these soundtracks are a great alternative for studying, working or just getting through a pile of emails. We’ve picked the calmest, most focus-friendly ones, with tips on which tracks to start with.
When there’s writing to be done, Nyx puts on the Minecraft soundtrack by C418. It’s quiet, it never asks for your attention, and after years of listening it works like a switch: the music starts, and the brain knows it’s time to focus.
What makes good study music?
- No lyrics. Words compete with the words you’re reading or writing.
- A steady mood. No sudden drops, loud climaxes or dramatic changes.
- Long tracks or easy loops. The fewer interruptions, the better.
- Calm tempo. Gentle and consistent works better than fast and busy.
Avoid boss themes. Your brain doesn’t need to fight a dragon while learning statistics.
Minecraft
Composer: C418 (Daniel Rosenfeld) · Start with: “Sweden”, “Wet Hands”, “Subwoofer Lullaby”
Possibly the most-played study soundtrack ever. C418’s soft piano and ambient pieces are simple, warm and slightly melancholic, and they fade into the background perfectly. For a lot of people who grew up with Minecraft, these tracks are pure calm.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Stardew Valley
Composer: ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) · Start with: the four seasonal albums
Eric Barone didn’t just make Stardew Valley by himself, he wrote all the music too. Each season has its own set of gentle, cheerful tracks, and listening to the spring music while you work feels like a warm cup of coffee. “Summer (Nature’s Crescendo)” is a quiet highlight.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Animal Crossing (any of them)
Composers: Kazumi Totaka and team · Start with: the hourly music
Animal Crossing has a different track for every hour of the day, and fans have turned them into long playlists and even clock apps that play the right track for the current time. They’re calm, playful and perfect for keeping track of your day.
Where to get it: Nintendo Music
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Composers: Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata and Hajime Wakai · Start with: “Field (Day)” and the stable music
Breath of the Wild’s exploration music is mostly quiet piano notes floating over silence, like wind across grass. It’s minimal, beautiful and perfect for deep focus. Save the town themes for breaks.
Where to get it: Nintendo Music
Skyrim
Composer: Jeremy Soule · Start with: “Far Horizons”, “Secunda”, “Ancient Stones”
Skip the epic main theme and go straight for the ambient exploration tracks. They’re slow, atmospheric and long, and they make even the most boring spreadsheet feel a bit like a journey across snowy mountains.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Journey
Composer: Austin Wintory · Start with: “Nascence”, “The Road of Trials”
Gentle cellos and soft strings that build slowly. The full soundtrack has a few big emotional moments, so it works best for creative work rather than heavy concentration. It’s also the first game soundtrack ever nominated for a Grammy.
Where to get it: Apple Music
FEZ
Composer: Disasterpeace (Rich Vreeland) · Start with: “Adventure”, “Puzzle”, “Home”
Dreamy, retro synth music full of soft tones and glitchy textures. It sounds like a 1980s computer daydreaming. Great for creative work, coding and late-night sessions.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Outer Wilds
Composer: Andrew Prahlow · Start with: “Outer Wilds”, “Timber Hearth”
Campfire banjo, soft guitar and quiet space ambience. Outer Wilds’ soundtrack is warm and nostalgic, and it captures the feeling of sitting under the stars wondering about the universe. Beautiful for winding down after a long session, too.
Where to get it: Apple Music
A Short Hike
Composer: Mark Sparling · Start with: the full album, start to finish
Light, cozy and summery. Like the game itself, the soundtrack is short and sweet, and it puts you in a good mood without asking anything of you.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Spiritfarer
Composer: Max LL · Start with: the main theme, then let the album play
Soft acoustic guitar, piano and strings, warm and a little bittersweet. A lovely soundtrack for reading, journaling or calm, steady work.
Where to get it: Apple Music
Tips for using game music to focus
- Build playlists by task. Something calm for reading, something a bit more upbeat for routine work.
- Keep the volume low. Music should support your focus, not take over.
- Use timers. Try the Pomodoro method: 25 minutes of work with music, then a five-minute break.
- Avoid new music for hard tasks. Familiar tracks are less distracting than something you’re hearing for the first time.
- Use decent headphones. Closed-back headphones block out noise around you. We have a few budget picks in The Best Budget Gaming Headsets.
Where to find these soundtracks
Most are on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube through official uploads. Many composers also sell their soundtracks on Bandcamp, which is the best way to support them directly. Fans have also made hours-long “study mixes” of most of these games on YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
Is video game music good for studying?
It’s designed to stay in the background for long periods without distracting you, which makes the calmer soundtracks a great fit for studying. Choose music without lyrics and avoid intense battle themes.
What is the most relaxing game soundtrack?
Minecraft and Breath of the Wild are hard to beat for pure calm. Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are great if you want something a bit more cheerful.
Can I listen to these for free?
Yes. Most are available on free tiers of Spotify and YouTube, with ads.
Want the big, emotional scores instead? See The Best Video Game Soundtracks of All Time.
