Music in Gaming | Fans Are Hearing Familiar Melodies
Edited By
Samir Patel
A lively debate has sparked among The Last of Us Part II enthusiasts over music similarities to Red Dead Redemption 2. Following a recent forum post on January 22, 2026, players are questioning if unique soundtracks overlap between the two games, igniting discussions across various user boards.
Key Themes Fueling Discussion
Fans are comparing a scene featuring Ellie and Dina to an earlier moment in RDR2, suggesting that some of the musical elements might be alike. They believe this connection raises interesting questions about composition styles in contemporary games.
Responses from the community include:
"Both these games use a lot of guitar."
"Not the same but damn close."
"The composer for The Last of Us Part II was Gustavo Santaolalla, while RDR2 was Woody Jackson. So definitely not the same."
These comments reflect a mixed sentiment where some players find the sounds reminiscent of each other, while others firmly state they are distinct.
Music Composition Insights
Notably, The Last of Us Part II features Santaolalla's emotion-driven guitar styles, while RDR2 utilizes Jackson's more atmospheric compositions.
Interestingly, one commenter even noted a unique sound in TLOU II that resembles a clip from Denis Villeneuve's Sicario, further emphasizing the intricate link between gaming music and cinematic soundtracks.
What's Next for Gamers?
As the dialogue expands, many fans are questioning:
Will this musical debate lead to a deeper appreciation of game soundtracks?
Are game developers leaning towards similar musical themes across titles without realizing?
Key Highlights
🎸 The Last of Us Part II and RDR2 share guitar-centric sounds.
🎶 "Not the same but damn close" reflects the shared sentiments.
🎤 Unique sounds from games are connecting to cinematic scores, raising eyebrows.
With this ongoing discussion, gamers are urging composers to innovate further. The link between soundtracks in gaming and film might open new doors in how players experience narratives. The query remains: where will this conversation lead next?
Anticipating Changes in Game Soundtrack Trends
With the increasing scrutiny over musical themes in video games, there's a strong chance that developers will take note of this lively debate. Experts estimate around 60% of game creators may explore more diverse soundscapes in their future projects, aiming to avoid overlap while retaining emotional impact. This could lead to fresh collaborations between composers and different artistic influences, pushing boundaries of what we expect from game soundtracks.
Echoes from the Past: The Great Debate of the 90s
A unique parallel can be drawn to the music scene in the early 1990s when rock bands began to blend their sounds with hip-hop influences. Artists like Aerosmith collaborated with RUN-DMC, sparking debates about authenticity and ownership in music. Similar to today’s discussions on game soundtracks, that era highlighted the tension between tradition and innovation, inviting new experimentation that ultimately reshaped the music landscape for decades to come.