Do you play with or without sound?

[lasagne_of_death]

Does anyone have a preference for playing video games with or without the sound on? Why?


For me, I always have the sound off. I don't really know why, it's not like I hate the music in games, I just prefer playing in silence (which probably looks a bit silly and takes away from the experience). Maybe it's because I already get stressed enough without the music, so I don't need suspenseful chords playing in the background lol.

 

[Midoriya]

I usually play with the sound on in most games, unless it's annoying for whatever reason or I'm idling in an online game. Then I'll usually mute it, lol.

 

[QueenCobra]

I usually listen to music or YouTube videos whenever I play a game. I can’t play in silence, and for whatever reason I find in-game music distracting, yet I can focus with outside music/videos lol.

 

[pup]

very much depends on my emotional state and if the in-game music is good.

i work a very emotionally intense job so sometimes i need like ALL the stimulus to shift gears into relaxation and think about something else. if that's the case then it's sound off + a youtube video or podcast in the background. but if i'm vibing and relaxing then i usually wanna go sound on and enjoy the music. honestly if the sound design in a game was so grating i couldn't listen to it i probably wouldn't play the game lol.

 

[Croconaw]

I usually play with sound, unless I’m listening to my own music.

 

[Halloqueen]

For the first playthrough of a game, I'll play with the sound on so I can more fully experience the game.

However, most of the time when playing a game, I have the sound off and am listening to something else, whether it be YouTube videos, Twitch streams, podcasts or some other music. I might switch it back on for particularly good in-game songs though.

I think it's a habit I developed back in the 90s, which I proceeded to carry on throughout my life, after a friend told me playing my Game Boy Color with the volume on drained the batteries faster. When it comes to consoles hooked up to a tv, it was also being considerate of others who might not want to hear the noise.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I usually play with sound at home when I'm not bugging my family when playing games. In public, I either put it at very low volume or none at all. Generally, I don't want to be a bother to others since I know how annoying it can be hearing loud music or sounds in public that can easily be rectified by using earphones or turning it off entirely.

Reading the posts here, I find it interesting that some of you listen to music and/or podcasts while gaming. I personally can't focus on two things at the same time, so I just do one thing and stick with it for a while.

 

[Yoshi155]

Usually with sound so I can hear whatever bangers are playing since I tend to like the soundtracks of games I play, it’s rare that a game would have such an annoying soundtrack or particular song that I’d turn the volume off to not hear it. Also, I feel like playing with sound enhances the experience somehow, it feels wrong to play without it. In public I would probably play with headphones or at least the sound off. I don’t usually listen to other music while playing.

 

[Rainy.Nights]

Aside from where it's needed like rhythm games, it just depends on the game. If the soundtrack gets too annoyingly repetitive I might mute the music and listen to something on youtube.

 

[Seastar]

I usually play with the sound on. I feel like that's just part of the experience.
Though on some occasions I have left whatever music I was already listening to on while doing dailies in Animal Crossing or grinding in a Pokemon game. But I already know what those games sound like so I don't feel like I am missing out. It just depends on if I really wanted to leave my current music on. (Which, on second thought, is mostly likely more video game music.)

Reading some of these makes me wonder what you guys are playing that apparently sounds annoying, lol.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

Always with the sound with the volume levels set to the highest setting. I like hearing sounds in games and on a tv, I find that I’m more immersed in the game than without it. There are very few games where I find myself annoyed with the background music and/or sounds and that’s usually with mobile games.

 

[himekirako]

i’m always playing with the sound on! i think it adds to the experience

the only times i don’t are usually when i’m playing the sims (sometimes i do have the sound on but at a very low volume) or when i’m playing a handheld, in those cases i’m playing my own music

 

[Annika.]

If it needs my full attention, with sound.

Stuff like AC and Pokémon can be done while watching something else. Also replaying old AAA games I just watch something and skip cutscenes tbh...

 

[Sheando]

It really bothers my brain to have games fully muted, so I pretty much never do that. I know it’s very common to listen to separate music while playing a game, but just the thought makes me feel a bit itchy. I really like being able to hear what is happening; without the sounds I feel eerily cut off from the experience.

I’ll play with lower sound if I’m really tired/overstimulated or if my partner wants to watch a nature documentary or something, but I can always still hear the game alongside whatever else is happening.

 

[Nuguns]

Ive tried things with sound off and its like a void was opened and suddenly I could think and feel

I voted usually on; this could change tho

 

[Muna]

I usually play with sound. Sometimes, but only when I already know the game well, I turn off the in-game music and listen to my own music, but I need to be in the mood for it. And sometimes when I'm doing something repetitive that doesn't require much attention (like decorating my island) I watch something in the background or listen to podcasts.

 

[Chris]

On, but with music adjusted to be lower than the default setting of other audio.

 

[Hyoon]

it depends for me. if i'm doing something story related or experiencing something new, i will have sound on to experience everything fully. if i'm just grinding or maybe doing some side quests (like something without voiceover), then i don't usually have my sound on or the sound would be pretty quiet. of course there are exceptions if i really love the game's soundtrack then i would have it on at all times.

 

[Iris_T]

Always with sound, I dont like playing stuff and not hearing anything at all

 

[nightglow]

With sound. It's so I can "see" better
If the game has great music, that is a bonus.