diff --git a/assets/music/hacker-track01.mp3 b/assets/music/hacker-track01.mp3
index 911b5e6..665529a 100644
Binary files a/assets/music/hacker-track01.mp3 and b/assets/music/hacker-track01.mp3 differ
diff --git a/data/arcadedark-music.json b/data/arcadedark-music.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e035425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/arcadedark-music.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "tracks": [
+    {
+      "file": "arcadedark-track01.mp3",
+      "artist": "Cthulu",
+      "title": "Press the Button"
+    },
+    {
+      "file": "arcadedark-track02.mp3",
+      "artist": "The Backrooms",
+      "title": "Subconscious Memories"
+    }
+  ],
+  "volume": 0.8
+}
diff --git a/data/hacker-music.json b/data/hacker-music.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1198d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/hacker-music.json
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{
+  "tracks": [
+    {
+      "file": "hacker-track01.mp3",
+      "artist": "Cy-Bro",
+      "title": "Rock the Anomaly"
+    },
+    {
+      "file": "hacker-track02.mp3",
+      "artist": "Nadia",
+      "title": "A time after now, but also before"
+    },
+    {
+      "file": "hacker-track03.mp3",
+      "artist": "DV-8-2303",
+      "title": "Cybercrimes"
+    }
+  ],
+  "volume": 0.3
+}
diff --git a/src/data/assetManifest.js b/src/data/assetManifest.js
index 0e4afd8..7fae37d 100644
--- a/src/data/assetManifest.js
+++ b/src/data/assetManifest.js
@@ -135,8 +135,13 @@ export const MANIFEST = {
   dungeonboss: (scene) => sheetsFrom(scene, 'dungeonboss-artwork',
     ['roomSheet', 'heroSheet', 'spellSheet', 'bossSheet', 'deckBackSheet', 'iconSheet']),
   swdbg: (scene) => sheetsFrom(scene, 'swdbg-artwork', ['cardSheet', 'baseSheet']),
-  balatro: (scene) => sheetsFrom(scene, 'balatro-artwork',
-    ['jokerSheet', 'tarotSheet', 'planetSheet', 'spectralSheet', 'voucherSheet', 'packSheet', 'deckBackSheet', 'bossIconSheet']),
+  balatro: [
+    (scene) => sheetsFrom(scene, 'balatro-artwork',
+      ['jokerSheet', 'tarotSheet', 'planetSheet', 'spectralSheet', 'voucherSheet', 'packSheet', 'deckBackSheet', 'bossIconSheet']),
+    // hacker soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here so
+    // its audio only downloads once Balatro is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'hacker-music'),
+  ],
   // Optional drop-in art — spec in assets/gamedata/peggle/sprites.md. Missing
   // files 404 harmlessly and the game renders procedurally: circles for
   // pegs/ball, gradient starfield for the board background.
@@ -194,6 +199,36 @@ export const MANIFEST = {
     // its audio only downloads once Super Kart is actually entered.
     (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'nintendo-music'),
   ],
+  coloradodefense: [
+    // arcadedark soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here
+    // so its audio only downloads once Colorado Defense is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'arcadedark-music'),
+  ],
+  tempest: [
+    // arcadedark soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here
+    // so its audio only downloads once Tempest is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'arcadedark-music'),
+  ],
+  mastermind: [
+    // hacker soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here so
+    // its audio only downloads once Mastermind is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'hacker-music'),
+  ],
+  hexsweeper: [
+    // hacker soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here so
+    // its audio only downloads once Hexsweeper is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'hacker-music'),
+  ],
+  dotlink: [
+    // hacker soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here so
+    // its audio only downloads once Dot Link is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'hacker-music'),
+  ],
+  '2048': [
+    // hacker soundtrack (see services/soundtrack.js) — lazy-loaded here so
+    // its audio only downloads once 2048 is actually entered.
+    (scene) => musicFrom(scene, 'hacker-music'),
+  ],
 };
 
 // Returns the full (normalized) descriptor list for a slug — including assets
diff --git a/src/games/2048/2048Game.js b/src/games/2048/2048Game.js
index 5d0a54a..9bdb12c 100644
--- a/src/games/2048/2048Game.js
+++ b/src/games/2048/2048Game.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import {
@@ -55,8 +56,8 @@ export default class Game2048 extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   create() {
     try {
-      const music = this.cache.json.get('music');
-      if (music?.tracks) new MusicPlayer(this, music.tracks);
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch (_) {}
 
     this.schemes = this.cache.json.get('colored-playfields')?.schemes ?? [];
diff --git a/src/games/balatro/BalatroGame.js b/src/games/balatro/BalatroGame.js
index 73d53e7..3b613ad 100644
--- a/src/games/balatro/BalatroGame.js
+++ b/src/games/balatro/BalatroGame.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import * as store from '../../services/localStore.js';
 import {
@@ -85,7 +86,10 @@ export default class BalatroGame extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   create() {
-    try { const m = this.cache.json.get('music'); if (m?.tracks) new MusicPlayer(this, m.tracks); } catch (_) {}
+    try {
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
+    } catch (_) {}
     this.art = this.cache.json.get('balatro-artwork') || {};
 
     if (!this.textures.exists('balatro-spark')) {
diff --git a/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseGame.js b/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseGame.js
index 62e248b..7d90215 100644
--- a/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseGame.js
+++ b/src/games/coloradodefense/ColoradoDefenseGame.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import { applyArcadeCRTOverlay } from '../../ui/ArcadeCRTOverlay.js';
@@ -50,8 +51,8 @@ export default class ColoradoDefenseGame extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   create() {
     try {
-      const music = this.cache.json.get('music');
-      if (music?.tracks) this.music = new MusicPlayer(this, music.tracks);
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) this.music = new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch (_) { /* optional */ }
     this.input.mouse?.disableContextMenu();
 
diff --git a/src/games/dotlink/DotLinkGame.js b/src/games/dotlink/DotLinkGame.js
index 959ad18..cf4fed7 100644
--- a/src/games/dotlink/DotLinkGame.js
+++ b/src/games/dotlink/DotLinkGame.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { playSound, SFX, playDotLinkSound, playScifiLaunch } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import {
@@ -94,8 +95,8 @@ export default class DotLinkGame extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   async create() {
     try {
-      const music = this.cache.json.get('music');
-      if (music?.tracks) new MusicPlayer(this, music.tracks);
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch (_) { /* optional */ }
 
     this.buildTextures();
diff --git a/src/games/hexsweeper/HexsweeperGame.js b/src/games/hexsweeper/HexsweeperGame.js
index 9ae79ce..f826cfe 100644
--- a/src/games/hexsweeper/HexsweeperGame.js
+++ b/src/games/hexsweeper/HexsweeperGame.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import {
@@ -44,8 +45,8 @@ export default class HexsweeperGame extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   create() {
     try {
-      const music = this.cache.json.get('music');
-      if (music?.tracks) new MusicPlayer(this, music.tracks);
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch (_) { /* optional */ }
 
     // Right-click should flag, not open the browser context menu.
diff --git a/src/games/mastermind/MastermindGame.js b/src/games/mastermind/MastermindGame.js
index 0147d90..b100e29 100644
--- a/src/games/mastermind/MastermindGame.js
+++ b/src/games/mastermind/MastermindGame.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { createOpponentPortrait } from '../../ui/Portrait.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import {
   makeConfig, createInitialState, setPlayerCode, applyGuess, isGameOver,
 } from './MastermindLogic.js';
@@ -73,7 +74,10 @@ export default class MastermindGame extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   create() {
-    try { new MusicPlayer(this, this.cache.json.get('music')?.tracks ?? []); } catch (_) {}
+    try {
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
+    } catch (_) {}
     this.gs = createInitialState(this.config);
 
     this.buildTextures();
diff --git a/src/games/tempest/TempestGame.js b/src/games/tempest/TempestGame.js
index 2878b39..d3f1200 100644
--- a/src/games/tempest/TempestGame.js
+++ b/src/games/tempest/TempestGame.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT, COLORS } from '../../config.js';
 import { Button } from '../../ui/Button.js';
 import { MusicPlayer } from '../../ui/MusicPlayer.js';
+import { getGameSoundtrack } from '../../services/soundtrack.js';
 import { playSound, SFX } from '../../ui/Sounds.js';
 import { api } from '../../services/api.js';
 import { applyArcadeCRTOverlay } from '../../ui/ArcadeCRTOverlay.js';
@@ -43,8 +44,8 @@ export default class TempestGame extends Phaser.Scene {
 
   create() {
     try {
-      const music = this.cache.json.get('music');
-      if (music?.tracks) this.music = new MusicPlayer(this, music.tracks);
+      const { tracks, volume } = getGameSoundtrack(this);
+      if (tracks.length) this.music = new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
     } catch (_) { /* optional */ }
     this.input.mouse?.disableContextMenu();
 
diff --git a/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js b/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
index bc5b3ff..821aae3 100644
--- a/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
+++ b/src/scenes/PreloadScene.js
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ export default class PreloadScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.load.json('card-backs', 'data/card-backs.json');
     this.load.json('music', 'data/music.json');
     this.load.json('nintendo-music', 'data/nintendo-music.json');
+    this.load.json('arcadedark-music', 'data/arcadedark-music.json');
+    this.load.json('hacker-music', 'data/hacker-music.json');
     this.load.json('rushhour', 'data/rushhour.json');
     this.load.json('puddingmonsters', 'data/puddingmonsters.json');
     this.load.json('shift-artwork', 'data/shift-artwork.json');
diff --git a/src/services/soundtrack.js b/src/services/soundtrack.js
index 63d3fb4..3e8dada 100644
--- a/src/services/soundtrack.js
+++ b/src/services/soundtrack.js
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@
 //        if (tracks.length) this.music = new MusicPlayer(this, tracks, volume);
 export const GAME_SOUNDTRACK_OVERRIDES = {
   superkart: 'nintendo',
+  coloradodefense: 'arcadedark',
+  tempest: 'arcadedark',
+  mastermind: 'hacker',
+  balatro: 'hacker',
+  hexsweeper: 'hacker',
+  dotlink: 'hacker',
+  '2048': 'hacker',
 };
 
 // Resolve the track list (and optional volume override) a game scene's