Typically, the topic of video game music automatically suggests composers like Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy), Koji Kondo (Super Mario, Legend of Zelda), and Yoko Shimomura (Super Mario RPG), and that success has been well deserved and with strong merit.
When it comes to The Sims games, the names Jerry Martin and Steve Jablonsky—just to name a couple—deserve to be household names too, as they are two of the main music composers for the Sims franchise. Whether it's a holiday expansion, more career options, or adding cats and dogs to the game, every Sims game and all the expansions have worthwhile musical compositions ranging from classical to rock to folk.
The images in this article are sourced from EA (Electronic Arts).
4 Build Theme No. 1 From The Sims
As the Sims games offer insight into musical compositions of many genres, the games promote positivity surrounding classical and themed music in a way that’s unique to video games. That's why first on this list and last in ranking (though still impressive) is Build Theme No. 1 from The Sims.
This is one of the main musical themes of the franchise that every simulation gamer knows, and it comes as no surprise why upon first and subsequent listens. This is a piano solo without a doubt that's easy to listen to. With a simpler left hand and more intricate right hand, this Sims song is a spectacular musical specimen for the more musical gamers and an attention-holder for all music appreciators and gamers alike.
One of the reasons why this song is such a memorable one, while only just scratching the surface of this list, is because of its intricate melody with the higher notes. Songs from The Sims have the capacity to become more popular if they utilize this layout as it makes for very successful thematic musical compositions.
3 The Sims 3 Theme
Every gamer who's played The Sims knows that all circumstances have a theme attached, each situation planned background music in advance. Second on this list and second to last in rank is the Sims 3 Theme, although any composition by Steve Jablonsky would be worthy of being included with top picks.
This composition does not include the piano as one of its musical instruments, but that doesn't mean it's not good for Sims music. The various percussion, electronic, and vocal patterns in this selection are stitched together in such a way as to offer gamers a bright, welcoming start to the third game of the Sims franchise.
While there have been additions to the Sims franchise over the years with Sims 4 and its expansions, and now information about Sims 5, nothing beats the compositions of Jablonsky in the Sims 3. One particularly fun Sims 4 expansion is related to caring for pets and animals. And as far as the debate of whether video game music is "real" music or not, just ask any of the composers who worked on music for the games, and that should provide a satisfactory answer, if such a debate were to arise.
2 Circle from The Sims 4
The music played in the Sims games during build, buy, and live modes has been leaving gamers mesmerized ever since the first Sims was released in 2000. It's not uncommon to spend an hour in the buy or build mode, only to get used to the music and take it for granted. That's the beauty of the Sims, and as such the games necessitate beautiful music for gameplay.
Aside from live gameplay, this is arguably one of the best aspects of playing a Sims game: the music, and knowing there can always be an abundance of original compositions. On that note (pun intended), the third musical composition on this list and the penultimate ranking champion is Circle from The Sims 4 by yet another Sims music composer, Ilan Eshkeri.
With children in the game, additional dynamics are included, such as getting them to and from school, doing homework, building skills and making friends. The Sims 4 has excellent expansions and after school activities available for those Sims. That said, some of the best Sims music comes from the games' expansion packs. For example, the Sims 3 includes some wild expansions, including one called World Adventures.
1 Build Theme No. 4 From The Sims
And finally, last on this list and first in our ranking, is “Build Theme No. 4” from The Sims. There is no better Sims music than a Jerry Martin original, piano music only, both hands creating arpeggiated musical phrases up and down the piano. That's what this particular theme does best. Starting off with one note played at a time, this theme quickly and simply becomes a show-pleaser by executing what The Sims has always been well-known for: its musical themes with fun, lively chords and accompaniments.
Jerry Martin, an American composer, is responsible for a good chunk of the music composed for the Sims. Martin is not afraid to take a domain like washing dishes and add thrills to the music, making him a flexible and predictable (in a good way) game composer. Of course, Sims are afforded interesting ideas in other ways, ones that bring in a lot of money.
Musical compositions are an important and integral part of every Sims game. Without Jerry Martin or Steve Jablonsky (and Ilan Eshkeri, among many others) to give gamers background music to the mundane and everyday situations like changing clothes or digging a pool in the backyard (although the latter is hardly mundane), the video game world would be a lesser place.