Just like exercise or work, music can improve an individual’s productivity and concentration. The same thing can apply to gaming too, as many players feel that they play better when they listen to their favorite type of music. One genre of music that fits very well with gaming is techno. Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that has spawned several sub-genres like happy hardcore and acid house and is somewhat comparable to the Trance genre. This list will include the best games to play while listening to techno music.

6 Returnal

  • Released:
  • 2021
  • Developer:
  • Housemarque
  • Platform:
  • PS5

The award-winning PlayStation 5 exclusive Returnal already has some of the best sound designs and tracks of this generation. The science-fiction Rogue-like blends elements of old-school arcade action games with modern survival horror.

The action in Returnal is a breathtakingly fast-paced light show of color and sound. This alone makes it a perfect candidate for techno fans. The music will add even more intensity to an already adrenaline-infused experience for one of the PS5’s best high octane titles.

5 Streets Of Rage 4

  • Released:
  • 2020
  • Developers:
  • Seaven Studio, Guard Crush Games, and Lizardcube
  • Platforms:
  • iPhone, iPad, PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One

The first three entries in the Streets of Rage franchise are considered among the greatest side-scrolling beat-em-ups of all time. Several other titles came close, like the Final Fight series, but Streets of Rage stood tall as one of the very best of its time.

The music in Streets of Rage is just as iconic, as it was already known for its use of techno and electronic dance tracks to accompany the action thanks to composer Yuzo Koshiro. Released in 2020, Streets of Rage 4 was both a love letter and the perfect sequel to the classic series. Thankfully, the music lives up to the original games, but if one wanted to change it up and listen to their favorite techno tracks instead, then Streets of Rage 4 is the perfect match.

4 Dying Light 1 And 2

  • Released:
  • 2015 and 2022
  • Developer:
  • Techland
  • Platforms:
  • Linux, macOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

The Dying Light series is made up of two survival horror games that merge parkour, platforming, and brutal combat in apocalyptic zombie-infested worlds. Despite its adrenaline-fueled chase sequences and incredible platforming - aside from one or two notable exceptions - the soundtrack is quite limited.

However, the addition of fast-paced dance and trance tracks can make both Dying Light games considerably better. The speed and tempo of the music are the perfect fit for the game’s most intense and dynamic moments. The games are well supported by Techland too, with lots of DLC and content out for both Dying Light games.

3 Sifu

  • Released:
  • 2022
  • Developer:
  • Sloclap
  • Platforms:
  • PC, PS4, and PS5

Released in 2022, Sloclap’s Sifu is a roguelike fighting game and a love letter to classic Hong Kong cinema. It’s a brutally tough beat-em-up, but it’s also one that rewards patience and timing. It’s one of those games where players can feel themselves getting better with every playthrough.

Techno music and the rhythmic movements of a Kung Fu title like Sifu are the perfect marriage of sound and violence. It’s also one where the beats and speed may help some players improve their timing and reaction times. The nightclub fight scene in particular will make players feel like they are in a Donnie Yen movie by adding some modern techno tracks into the mix.

2 Bayonetta

  • Released:
  • 2010
  • Developer:
  • PlatinmumGames
  • Platforms:
  • PC, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Released in 2010, Bayonetta is still considered one of the best action games of all time. Coming from Hideki Kamiya, the same director that worked on Devil May Cry, one should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It’s a lightning-fast fighter with incredible boss fights and memorable set pieces.

The game’s soundtrack is outstanding in its own right, but a change of music can be a transformative experience. The game is perfect for the hardcore variation of techno thanks to the speed of Bayonetta and the higher tempo of hardcore techno’s beats, bass, and almost chaotic sound.

1 Devil May Cry 5

Another game that already has a great soundtrack is Devil May Cry 5. In fact, all the games in the series have great soundtracks. The franchise as a whole was inspired by late 90s and early 2000s action classics like Blade, The Matrix, and Equilibrium. Blade, in particular, has one of the most iconic opening scenes in action movies thanks to its soundtrack. Blade taking on a horde of vampires to Junkie XL’s “Dealing with the Roster” is still one of the most memorable sequences in all of Marvel’s movies.

The closest one can get to playing a Blade-like character in an action game to replicate these sequences is playing as Dante, Virgil, or Nero in Devil May Cry. One should play all the games, but it’s the fifth entry that has the most visually impressive scenes and beautifully fluid combat. Sticking on some fast-paced techno (or even Blade’s “Dealing with the Roster”) during some of the game’s more intense moments can raise the excitement bar even higher.