A Labor of Love: Metanet's Hand-Curated Soundtrack for N Plus Infinity Times Two
Metanet’s upcoming game N Plus Infinity Times Two is set to be the follow-up to their critically acclaimed title N++, a game that was not only visually striking but also musically distinctive. The original N++ featured a soundtrack that resonated deeply with fans of underground electronic music, particularly those who frequent record stores like Hardwax and Boomkat in search of rare vinyl pressings of austere techno. In a gaming landscape often dominated by chiptune or generic filmic string orchestras, N++ stood out as a bold departure, both in style and sound.
This time around, the musical direction for N Plus Infinity Times Two is shifting. During a recent presentation, Metanet’s Raigan Burns revealed that the team has moved away from the Berlin techno that defined N++ and instead drawn inspiration from UK Garage and its many offshoots. UK Garage, a genre known for its melodic, colorful, and often broken beat sound, has given rise to a host of subgenres, including grime, bassline house, and future garage. It's also the foundation for British dubstep, famously represented by artists like Burial and Kode9. This change signals a broader sonic palette, offering players a more varied and dynamic experience.
Ditching Algorithms for a More Human Approach
One of the most notable changes in the development of N Plus Infinity Times Two is the team’s decision to forgo algorithmic recommendations in favor of a more organic, hands-on approach. In the past, Burns explained, Metanet relied on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube to find music that aligned with the game’s aesthetic. However, after a decade of living in an increasingly algorithm-driven world, the team decided to take a step back.
“For this game, we kind of went full organic, free range, and just brute forced it by hand,” Burns said. This meant spending nearly 1,500 hours curating the soundtrack — roughly two hours every evening for two years. During that time, the team listened to a few seconds of nearly half a million songs, exploring every niche and subgenre available on Bandcamp. The result is a soundtrack that the team believes will be truly unique in the gaming world, featuring around 60 tracks spanning multiple modern electronic music styles, all from the 2020s.
Burns described the soundtrack as ranging from “flowy dreamscapes” to “intense bangers.” One of the standout tracks will come from Zorza, a producer based in Toronto — Metanet’s hometown. The game is set to release in 2027, but until then, fans can enjoy the N++ playlist, a collection of tracks that offer a perfect escape from the current music landscape, dominated by AI-generated slop.
