The Role of Sound and Music in Player Engagement & Video Game-Induced Affect: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Video game sound and music have previously been found to influence player engagement and affective responses during gameplay. However, a systematic investigation into the full extent of these effects has not been conducted. This review and meta-analysis examined the influence of music and sound on player emotional (e.g., affective responses) engagement during video game play. 14 studies met the inclusion criteria, with six providing data for meta-analysis on affective valence. Results show that sound and music were able to elevate player engagement during gameplay by positively influencing engagement related domains such as enjoyment, flow, immersion and motivation. Sound and music had a significant positive effect on affective valence (g = 0.409, 95% CI [0.109, 0.709]; p = 0.007). Sensitivity analysis showed a consistent significant effect, with low heterogeneity (g = 0.287, 95% CI [0.113, 0.462]; p = 0.001; I² = 0%). Study quality was generally high, with 11 out of the 14 studies rated for a low risk of bias. There is promising evidence for video game sound and music to improve player engagement and affective responses during gameplay, yet further research as well as standardization of methodology is required to better understand the underlying mechanisms in this emerging area.