Our Favorite Titles with the Best Sound Design

Sound design may not always be the first thing you notice in a game, but it is the element that ties everything together. Your eyes may tell you it is a video game but the sounds of an empty alleyway, the quaint melodies on the savannah, or the footsteps of your character walking through the rain are what sells the experience. 

From Annapurna Interactive Official Website

To highlight this unsung hero in game creation, we want to highlight the games with the best sound design. 

Stray

From YouTube/PlayStation

Listening as a human being is one thing, but listening as a feline cat is another; and this experience was something else! Stray’s audio team took incredible care in crafting every echo, scratch, and distant hum to create a city that feels alive yet slightly alien. The sound of your character’s soft footsteps, the faint buzz of flickering neon lights, and even the little robotic voices that chatter as you explore—each sound pulls you deeper into the mystery. 

With ambient city noises and subtle audio cues, Stray gives players an authentic feline adventure in an urban dystopia.

Bioshock 2 

From YouTube/2K United Kingdom (BioShock 2 Launch Trailer)

There are many iconic games, but few achieve an auditory atmosphere like Bioshock 2. This title was set in the submerged city of Rapture, and the sound design is eerily captivating. I always found the sound of water unique, which is why every water drip within the game added greatly to its tension. It allowed you to feel the immense weight of the ocean pressing in. 

Rapture isn’t just a setting; it’s a character with its own mood, and the sound design plays a massive role in shaping that. You hear faint whispers, unsettling melodies on old record players, and the terrifying footsteps of the Big Daddies—all woven into the audio in ways that make each encounter and exploration feel hauntingly real.

Red Dead Redemption 2 

From YouTube/Rockstar Games (Red Dead Redemption 2: Official Trailer #3)

Rockstar’s attention to detail shines brightest in one of their most acclaimed titles: Red Dead Redemption 2. There are moments you would just love to sit down with your horse and explore. Five minutes will become an hour once you allow yourself to enjoy it as it is.  

From the calls of distant wildlife to the crunch of boots on dry earth, every sound transports you into Arthur Morgan’s world. The realistic ambient sounds—like storms rolling in over the plains or the faint rustling of leaves in the wind—bring an authenticity that lets you get lost in the landscape, fully embracing the life of an outlaw. 

The JBL Tune 760NC is perfect for anyone who loves getting lost in their game’s world. You’ll catch every little detail with noise-canceling and deep bass—whether it's a cat’s footsteps in Stray or the crackling of a campfire in Red Dead Redemption 2. If you are leaning towards a sick upgrade, you can check out more stuff at the Next Upgrade Shop.