Need Free Sound Effects (and Inspiration) For Your Global Game Jam Projects? Here You Go:

Posted January 31, 2020 by Asbjoern Andersen in Sound community highlights

With Global Game Jam kicking off today, you might be looking for some sound effects for your game development adventures.

And to help you get started, we've found a number of sources of free sounds for you to build from + as a bonus, any order on A Sound Effect right now gets you 6.5+ GB worth of free SFX included. Oh, and we've added lots of guides, tips and ideas to get your creative sound design and recording juices flowing too.

Good luck with the games!

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Want to participate in Global Game Jam, find out more here

34 free sound effects from Spectravelers:
Get 34 free sound effects, courtesy of Spectravelers, here

Dozens of free spectral Buchla effects, from Nathan Moody:
Get many dozen free short spectral Buchla effects, courtesy of Nathan Moody, here (click ‘more’ / ‘download file’ in the Soundcloud menu)

Get a full sound effects library from MatiasMacSD:
Independent SFX creator MatiasMacSD is offering Give – a new sound effects library – for free, featuring 76 sounds here

Get free surround jungle ambiences from Mindful Audio:
Get free surround jungle ambiences from Mindful Audio‘s new Amazon Jungle SFX library, here

[tweet_box]Need free sound effects (and sonic inspiration) for your Global Game Jam projects? Here you go: #GGJ2020[/tweet_box]

Guides and inspiration:
Looking for inspiration and ideas for your own sound design and recording sessions?
Check out these guides:

• How To Design Stellar Spaceship Sound Effects – an Essential Sci-Fi Sound Design Guide
• David Filskov’s Guide To Sound Effects – A guide on how to create your own sound effects from scratch
• Sound effects creation on a shoestring – a Q&A with Stuart Keenan
• The Essential Guide To Recording Weapon Sound Effects – With Watson Wu
• Heikki Kossi on the art and craft of Foley sound
• How to maintain immersion (+ reduce repetition & listening fatigue) in game audio
• 10 Second Technique: Tips to Improve Your Sound Design by Barney Oram
• Recording Adventures: Preparing for a successful field recording trip
• 5 Useful Tips for Creative Urban Field Recording
• How To Design Superb Sci-Fi UI Sound Effects
• How To Design Supreme Sci-Fi Weapon Sound Effects
• Sound Advice: The Key to Outstanding Animation Sound Design

Get free Sci-Fi sound effects from Chase Steele:
Download a selection of sounds from Sound Spark’s sci-fi project video project here – and be sure to check out the full catalog here.

Bonus: You get free sound effects with ANY order on A Sound Effect right now:

• Right now, any order comes with 6.5+ GB worth of premium sound effects included free (180+ mins, 292 files), from Skyes Audio, West Wolf, Mattia Cellotto, MatiasMacSD, & Mindful Audio
• It also includes the free 60+ page Sound Success Guide & the 1-Page Guide to Easy Multi-User Licensing e-books.

3 ways to get even more sounds with your order:
Order for $50 or more to get these extras:
30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Order for $100 or more to get these extras:
379 premium sound effects from PM:SFX • 30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Order for $250 or more to get these extras:
45 days of Soundly PRO access • 379 premium sound effects from PM:SFX • 30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Explore the sound effects catalog here

Need specific sound effects? Search for sounds here:

The much-loved A Sound Effect newsletter gives you free sounds & much more:

The A Sound Effect newsletter features exclusive sound stories and interviews, tips, guides and ideas,
highlights of the best sound effects, new audio job opportunities & audio events – and free sounds with every issue.

Subscribe here for free SFX with every issue

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THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:

A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects CIRCUS Horror Strings Play Track 180 sounds included $0

Strident and Demonic

Expand the timbre of your horror violins and cellos with CIRCUS, a sinister sample pack featuring 180 WAV sounds of screeching or high-pitched string noises, perfect for horror music and dark sound design.

Creative Tension

This collection offers a curated selection of screeches, high-tension tremolo, heavy jeté strokes, dark demonic textures, finger patterns, chaotic string elements, clock loops and bow accents.

Haunting and Experimental

Create haunting atmospheres, perfect for horror, thriller or experimental soundtracks. Every element has been designed to unsettle and disturb, blurring the line between music and noise.

Add to cart
Animal Sound Effects Collections Animal Hyperrealism Vol IV Play Track 2096 sounds included, 78 mins total $153

⏰ For a very limited time:
Add this library to the cart and enter ah4launch in the cart coupon field – to sprinkle an extra launch discount, on top of the current discount!

Animal Hyperrealism Vol IV is a sound library containing animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 2000 individual sounds in 294 files. The sounds were recorded in zoos, and wildlife centers.

The asset list includes but is not limited to: hippos, hyenas, vultures, dwarf mongooses, elephants, African cranes, parrots, tigers, pigmy hippos, rhea ostriches, brown bears, pheasants, wildebeests, African wild dogs and many more. The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K, an Avisoft CMPA and a Sennheiser 8050 for center plus two Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.

The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

15 %

OFF

Add to cart
Animal Sound Effects Collections Animal Hyperrealism Vol I Play Track 290+ sounds included
Rated 5.00 out of 5
$180

Animal Hyperrealism Vol I is a library containing sounds themed animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 1300 individual sounds in 290 files.

The sounds were partly recorded with animals trained for media production, partly recorded in zoos and wildlife centers. The asset list includes but is not limited to: african lions, bengal tigers, horses, donkeys, cows, exotic birds, owls, bobcats, pumas, dromedaries, wolves, dogs, geese, lemurs, gibbons and many more.

All the content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image. All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these four mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.

The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free: This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.

Add to cart

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:

Game Audio Packs - Game Sound Effects Libraries Hybrid Game & UI Elements Play Track 257 sounds included $40

Hybrid Game & UI Elements by Cinematic Sound Design delivers a versatile, high-impact sound effects library crafted to enhance your games, apps, interfaces, and multimedia projects. From satisfying button clicks and menu confirmations to dynamic game events and foley, this collection transforms every interaction into a polished, immersive experience. Inside this library, you’ll find over 250 hand-designed sounds, including UI feedback tones, notification pings, success and error alerts, interface swipes, menu transitions, foley hits, game triggers and more..

Each sound is meticulously recorded, layered, and processed for clarity, punch, and adaptability across any platform or device. Whether you’re designing a mobile app, building a game interface, or producing interactive media, Hybrid Game & UI Elements ensures your project feels responsive, engaging, and professional. With carefully balanced dynamics and optimized mixes, this library provides the perfect blend of functionality and excitement, making every click, swipe, and in-game event satisfying and memorable. Elevate your UI interactions and game experiences with sounds designed to deliver precision, impact, and a touch of cinematic flair.

20 %

OFF

Add to cart
Whoosh Sound Effects Colossal Impacts Play Track 103 sounds included $30

“Colossal Impacts” is a powerhouse sound library built to deliver crushing force and cinematic weight to your projects. Designed for trailers, games, film, and any production demanding larger-than-life energy, this collection brings the raw intensity of massive strikes, explosive hits, and earth-shaking slams right to your sound palette.

Inside, you’ll find an arsenal of meticulously designed audio ranging from thunderous booms, metallic crashes, and bone-rattling smashes to resonant sub drops, heavy stomps, and shattering debris. Each sound is crafted for clarity and impact, layering deep low-end power with crisp mid and high frequencies to ensure they cut through any mix while still delivering body-shaking presence.

Whether you need to punctuate a cinematic reveal, emphasize a game boss encounter, or inject explosive energy into a trailer, Colossal Impacts provides versatile tools that adapt effortlessly to any genre. From dark and tense rumbling hits to sharp, aggressive slams, these sounds are designed to grip attention and elevate storytelling.

Product Details:

• 103 Designed Cinematic Impacts
• 100% Royalty-Free
• 24-Bit/96kHz

23 %

OFF

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User Interface (UI) Sound Effects System & UI Feedback Elements Play Track 107 sounds included $40

“System & UI Feedback Elements” is a massive sound library packed with over 200 dynamic audio elements designed to give life, energy, and clarity to your projects. From polished notification dings, confetti bursts, celebratory rewards and more, this versatile collection covers a wide spectrum of sounds perfectly suited for apps, games, websites, and multimedia productions.

Inside, you’ll discover an eclectic range of professionally crafted effects: warm clicks, futuristic confirms, arcade-inspired coin wins, soft foley textures, mechanical switches, sparkles, zippers, and a lot more. Every file has been carefully mastered for balance and transparency, ensuring that whether you’re designing a mobile interface, building a game level, or editing motion graphics, the sounds will sit seamlessly in your mix.

This library bridges functionality with creativity. You can emphasize success and progression with achievement tones, create tension with horror drones, or enrich user feedback with subtle tactile clicks and natural textures. Each sound is optimized to deliver instant recognition and emotional punch, from playful blops to majestic chimes.

Give your projects a professional edge, captivate your audience, and transform ordinary interactions into memorable experiences with System & UI Feedback Elements.

Product Details:

• 229 Interface Sounds
• 100% Royalty-Free
• 24-Bit/96kHz

17 %

OFF

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City Life Sound Effects South East Asian Kitchen Ambience Play Track 26 sounds included, 189 mins total $30

South East Asian Kitchen Ambience captures the busy and lively atmosphere of a working kitchen in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This collection features authentic sounds of cooking activity—meat pounding, stove crackling, water dripping, blenders whirring, pumps, and the hum of a grater machine—layered with background chatter and the subtle presence of passing traffic.

Perfect for filmmakers, game developers, and sound designers, these recordings deliver a realistic sense of place, transporting listeners straight into the heart of a Southeast Asian kitchen full of movement, energy, and life.

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Ice Sound Effects Deep Ice Play Track 133 sounds included $60

Deep Ice is a unique sound collection capturing the organic power and delicate beauty of ice in motion. Recorded with precision on frozen lakes, this library offers an immersive palette of crystalline cracks, deep impacts, and pure debris.
You will find:
– Under-ice recordings with an Aquarian H2d hydrophone: deep cracks and resonant fractures
– Surface recordings in XY stereo with Schoeps CCM4: sharp impacts, hits, textures, cracks, and debris
These sounds are ideal for films and series sound design, video games, and musicals creations. Each recording has been carefully cleaned and formatted to UCS standards.

Add to cart