Apply Sound Effects to Strengthen the Atmosphere
On this page
When creating a sonic landscape for your game, consider incorporating the following elements:
Ambience: These are static background sounds, including:
Room tones.
Soundscapes of man-made environments such as cities, airports, and similar settings.
Weather sounds such as wind, rain, storms, etc.
Soundscapes of natural environments, for instance, forests or meadows.
The sound of a sandstorm.
Credit: Soundly.
Sound Effects: These are dynamic audio cues produced by specific objects or characters within the game world, such as:
Weapon sounds.
Footsteps.
Vehicle sounds.
The breathing of a monster.
The monster’s heavy breathing.
Credit: A Sound Effect.
Speech: This category includes:
Barks.
In Sniper Elite 4, the player hears various combat-related barks.
Credit: Rebellion Developments. Footage captured by the author.
Monologues.
Dialogues.
Internal voices, visions, or hallucinations.
Music: Background music, though not a sound effect per se, contributes to the overall auditory experience and should work in harmony with the sound design.
Sound effects should immerse players within the environment. Consider a scenario where the player character is standing on a beach. Expected sounds might include waves and seagulls. If there is a port nearby, players might also anticipate hearing cranes moving goods or the distant sound of ship horns. Although not strictly necessary, these additional sounds enhance the believability of the environment.
Striking the right balance in the quantity of sound effects is essential. An overabundance of sound effects may distract players or disrupt the intended atmosphere, whereas insufficient audio cues can weaken the emotional impact of a scene. Even subtle sound effects can significantly enrich the auditory environment and support the overall immersion.
Create the Right Atmosphere for Your Locations
For each level in your game, consider what sounds you would expect to hear as a player. The goal is to bring each environment to life and make it more convincing. Playing other games with similar themes can serve as inspiration. Be sure to disable the music channel to better evaluate the impact of the sound effects.
It is also important to note that sound effects can evoke different emotions depending on the time of day, even when used in the same location. For example, the rustling of grass and tree leaves may evoke a pleasant feeling during a warm autumn day but generate unease when heard at night.
Create the Right Atmosphere During Various Events
Sound effects should reflect the player’s actions and the events occurring within the game. Specific emotions may be elicited during these moments:
Fear
The following sound effects may help evoke fear:
Civil defense siren: Often associated with air raids, nuclear threats, tsunamis, or tornadoes, this sound is deeply unsettling.
The sound of a siren.
Credit: Ghosthack.
Creaking doors or floors.
Footsteps.
Example:
The approach of a powerful enemy whom the player cannot confront head-on can be extremely intimidating.
Impact sounds.
The sound of a door closing.
Credit: Soundly.
- Jump Scares: Jump scares can be effective when used sparingly and not in a repetitive manner. To maximize their impact, it is essential to ensure they are as unpredictable as possible. However, a potential drawback of using jump scares is that they may lead to a sense of relief once the moment has passed. This can be counterproductive if the intended goal is to maintain a continuous feeling of fear or tension in the player.
The sound of a jump scare.
Credit: Boom Library.
- Risers: These can build suspense.
The sound of a riser.
Credit: A Sound Effect.
- Rattle and rustling sounds.
Rattling sound.
Credit: Soundly.
- Scratches.
A creaking sound.
Credit: We Sound Effects.
Silence: Sometimes, the absence of sound is more effective than its presence in creating a sense of fear.
Monster sounds: These are particularly frightening when the monsters are not visible.
The sound of the Minotaur.
Credit: Smart Sound.
Hope
Sound effects that may convey hope include:
Characters shouting encouragement or directions to the player from behind a closed door.
The sound of friendly allies arriving just in time to alter the outcome of a dangerous situation.
The distant noise of a rescue helicopter arriving to extract the player from a perilous environment.
Credit: Soundly.
Mystery
To create a mysterious atmosphere, consider using:
Room tone: When used as the only audible element, it can strongly emphasize silence and isolation.
Unusual or Unidentified Sounds: These sounds may be produced by an enemy hiding around a corner, outside of the player’s line of sight. In such situations, the enemy could interact with or manipulate various objects in the environment to draw the player’s attention, thereby heightening the sense of mystery or tension.
Satisfaction
These sound effects can help instill a sense of satisfaction:
Accomplishing an objective.
Example:
The scream of a boss defeated after a long and difficult battle.
Receiving a reward: Sound effects can enhance the feeling of accomplishment, especially after great effort.
Examples:
Gaining additional time to complete a mission.
Unlocking new characters.
Discovering collectibles.
Acquiring consumables.
Finding currency, such as gold or money.
Receiving praise or recognition.
Earning experience points.
In Sniper Elite 4, the player is promoted to Private Mark 4 after a dangerous mission, with a satisfying sound effect accompanying the promotion.
Credit: Rebellion Developments. Footage captured by the author.
Interactions: Sound effects can also be used to enhance feedback from player interactions.
Examples:
Solving a puzzle, like picking a lock to open a door.
Purchasing a piece of equipment.
Firing a weapon.
In Sniper Elite 4, the KillCam begins with the player firing a shot, which is accompanied by a highly satisfying sound effect.
Credit: Rebellion Developments. Footage captured by the author.