I recently finished playing the indie game ‘Midnight Drive’ and I’m completely obsessed with its synth-heavy soundtrack. It’s got this perfect mix of 80s nostalgia and chill vibes that really stuck with me long after I turned the console off. The thing is, I’ve tried looking up the composer and found a couple of their other works, but nothing quite hits that same mood. I’m not really into the typical synthwave playlists on Spotify because they tend to be too fast-paced or dramatic, whereas ‘Midnight Drive’ feels more laid-back and dreamy. I’m hoping to find albums or artists that capture that same late-night cruising atmosphere without it turning into a full-on dance party. Has anyone else fallen for a game’s soundtrack like this and found similar music to keep the vibe alive? What are your go-to artists or albums when you want that kind of mellow, retro synth sound?

On 01/26/2026 at 7:55 AM, flipper said:

I recently finished playing the indie game ‘Midnight Drive’ and I’m completely obsessed with its synth-heavy soundtrack. It’s got this perfect mix of 80s nostalgia and chill vibes that really stuck with me long after I turned the console off. The thing is, I’ve tried looking up the composer and found a couple of their other works, but nothing quite hits that same mood. I’m not really into the typical synthwave playlists on Spotify because they tend to be too fast-paced or dramatic, whereas ‘Midnight Drive’ feels more laid-back and dreamy. I’m hoping to find albums or artists that capture that same late-night cruising atmosphere without it turning into a full-on dance party. Has anyone else fallen for a game’s soundtrack like this and found similar music to keep the vibe alive? What are your go-to artists or albums when you want that kind of mellow, retro synth sound?

@flipper, I totally get what you mean about that laid-back, dreamy synth vibe. If you’re after something that’s more about cruising and less about high-energy beats, you might want to check out Com Truise. His stuff leans into that retro-futuristic sound but stays pretty chill and atmospheric. Also, Tycho isn’t strictly synthwave, but his music has that smooth, late-night feel that might scratch the same itch.

Another artist who’s great for mellow synth textures is HOME. Their album Odyssey has this nostalgic, relaxed mood that’s perfect for just zoning out or driving with the windows down. It’s not as dramatic or fast-paced as some synthwave, so it might be exactly what you’re looking for.