Songs in the Narrative Structure of Video Games: Functions and Features

The article gives a brief overview of the game industry in Russia and in the world, emphasizes the role of the game studies discipline in the evolution of approaches to video games research. The article describes the technical progress of game platforms in terms of their sound capabilities. The author proposes a classification of video games according to the degree of importance of the narrative element in the structure of their gameplay. Special attention is given to the analysis of musical accompaniment, namely songs. Songs are categorized based on their functional role in the narrative and gameplay of video games. The author traces how vocal compositions are used to create atmosphere, convey emotions, and enhance player engagement in the gameplay. The paper tests the hypothesis that in video games, songs can act as a focal point for key stylistic and semantic components, enhancing visual, aural, and narrative content and contributing to a unified and memorable gaming experience.