Guide
Video game music for studying and focus
Updated October 18, 2026
Why game music helps you focus
When a game's music is composed, the goal is for players to spend hours in the same level thinking about something else: the puzzle, the fight, the map. So it shares several traits that also help when you study:
- It almost never has lyrics, so it does not compete with the words you are reading or writing.
- It keeps a steady rhythm and energy, with no sudden changes that pull you out of what you are doing.
- It is meant to repeat without getting tiring: composers make sure a theme holds up for dozens of passes.
- It feels familiar: a theme you already know does not demand your attention like a new song does.
Everyone is different: some people work best in silence, others with background noise. If you need something playing, video game music is one of the most rewarding options.
Which themes to pick for each task
| For… | Look for themes from… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and studying | Towns, menus, calm exploration, puzzles | Soft, steady melodies with no surprises |
| Writing or coding | World maps, exploration levels | Some drive without becoming a distraction |
| Repetitive tasks | Race tracks, action levels | Energy to keep the pace |
| Winding down or sleeping | Night themes, lullabies, save screens | Slow tempo and gentle volume |
Final boss and battle themes are made to fire you up: save them for when you need a push, not for reading notes.
The problem with regular playlists: the breaks
If you listen to these soundtracks as MP3s or on a streaming service, each theme lasts two or three minutes and ends, even though it played non-stop in the game. "10 hours" videos try to fix that, but they come with ads, use a lot of data (they are video) and depend on someone having uploaded exactly the theme you want.
With BRSTM files none of that is needed: the file includes the game's loop point, so a two-minute theme can play all afternoon without a single break, just like on the console.
How to set up your study session in BRSTM Player
BRSTM Player lets you decide how long each theme plays, and that is what makes it great for studying. Three ways to do it, from simplest to most elaborate:
One theme, forever
Pick your favorite focus theme and press ∞. It will loop seamlessly until you stop it. Ideal for long reading sessions.
A playlist with long tracks
Create a "Study" playlist with calm themes and set, for example, 8 minutes per track. Each theme stays long enough not to distract you with changes, and the playlist varies on its own with a smooth fade.
The Pomodoro trick
Set the playlist to 25 minutes per track: every theme change tells you it is time for a break. If you want marked breaks, add a short theme with no loop in between: it plays in full and the playlist carries on.
Switch levels on and off: the most specific one always wins.
- Infinite modeThe ∞ button in the player: the track keeps looping with no limit.∞
- Track timeOnly for one specific track (track ⋮ menu).8 min
- Album or playlist timeFor everything played from that album or playlist.5 minApplies
- Global timeYour default value, in your profile.3 minAlways
On your phone, with the screen off
If you study at the library or your laptop is busy, use your phone: with your BRSTM files in Google Drive and BRSTM Player added to your home screen, the music keeps playing with the screen locked and uses barely any data, because a looping theme downloads only once. The steps are in the help center.
Playlist ideas
- Calm morning: town and shop themes, 6 minutes per track.
- Deep focus: a single exploration theme in infinite mode.
- Sprint: race track or action themes, 3 minutes per track, for quick tasks.
- End of the day: night themes at low volume; when the playlist ends, the music fades out on its own.
Use music you have the right to listen to: your own files or ones you made yourself (see how to make a BRSTM).