For decades, video game soundtracks were considered mere background noise, overshadowed by film scores and overlooked by mainstream award institutions. However, as games have evolved into narrative and artistic powerhouses, their music has become an integral part of the storytelling experience. In fact, many modern gaming soundtracks rival — and often surpass — those of Hollywood blockbusters in composition, emotional depth, and innovation.
This begs the question: Why haven’t more video game scores been recognized at the Grammys? With the recent creation of the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media in 2023, the tides are turning. Yet countless deserving soundtracks still remain in the shadows.
Let’s dive into a curated list of gaming soundtracks that deserve a Grammy, either retroactively or in anticipation of future recognition.
The Legacy of Video Game Music
Video game music began with limited sound chips and bleeps — think Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Despite technical constraints, composers like Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu crafted unforgettable melodies that became the heartbeats of their games.
Today, games feature lush orchestral arrangements, dynamic adaptive scores, and collaborations with Grammy-winning artists. Music is no longer an accessory but a narrative and emotional driver.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Koji Kondo, Hajime Wakai, and Manaka Kataoka
Breath of the Wild redefined open-world gaming, and its soundtrack followed suit. Instead of bombastic themes, the music is minimalistic, ambient, and atmospheric — blending piano motifs with environmental sounds to reflect the serenity and danger of Hyrule.
The dynamic score reacts to gameplay in real time, subtly shifting with the player’s actions. It’s a masterclass in emotional pacing and immersion.
2. Journey – Austin Wintory
In 2012, Journey made history as the first video game soundtrack nominated for a Grammy in the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media category. Composed by Austin Wintory, its music was inseparable from the game’s emotional narrative.
The cello-driven theme “Apotheosis” has become iconic. Wintory’s use of evolving motifs mirrors the player’s journey through loss, discovery, and transcendence — a true orchestral odyssey that blurs the line between game and art.
3. The Last of Us Part II – Gustavo Santaolalla and Mac Quayle
This sequel to The Last of Us delivered a haunting and introspective score by Gustavo Santaolalla, known for his Oscar-winning film work (Brokeback Mountain, Babel). Complemented by Mac Quayle’s darker electronic textures, the music captures the psychological turmoil of the characters.
From sparse acoustic guitar pieces to swelling strings and percussive dread, the soundtrack is cinematic in scope and emotionally raw — Grammy-worthy in every respect.
4. Red Dead Redemption 2 – Woody Jackson and Daniel Lanois
Few games embody the American frontier as powerfully as Red Dead Redemption 2. Its music, composed by Woody Jackson with contributions from Daniel Lanois and other legends, blends old-timey folk, blues, and ambient soundscapes.
The soundtrack includes original vocal tracks by artists like D’Angelo and Rhiannon Giddens. Its dynamic implementation, shifting with in-game events and character emotions, rivals that of any Hollywood western.
5. NieR: Automata – Keiichi Okabe
NieR: Automata’s soundtrack is often described as transcendent. Composer Keiichi Okabe crafted a score that is equal parts melancholic, hopeful, and haunting — much like the game’s themes of existentialism and artificial life.
Tracks like “Weight of the World” and “City Ruins” mix choral arrangements, electronic elements, and invented languages, resulting in a unique sonic identity. Critics and fans alike hail it as one of the most emotionally resonant soundtracks in gaming history.
6. God of War (2018) – Bear McCreary
When God of War returned in 2018, it brought with it a new musical direction. Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary delivered a bombastic, choral-heavy score infused with Norse mythology and Nordic folk instruments.
The main theme — brooding, bold, and thunderous — is instantly iconic. The music shifts seamlessly between epic and intimate, perfectly matching the game’s themes of fatherhood, fate, and fury.
7. Hollow Knight – Christopher Larkin
This indie darling from Team Cherry is proof that budget doesn’t dictate brilliance. Christopher Larkin’s score for Hollow Knight is gothic, atmospheric, and deeply emotional.
Using a blend of orchestral strings and ambient textures, the soundtrack evokes a sense of mystery and melancholy that defines the subterranean world of Hallownest. It’s a quiet masterpiece deserving of broader acclaim.
8. Final Fantasy VII Remake – Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Mitsuto Suzuki
The original Final Fantasy VII (1997) already had a legendary soundtrack. The 2020 remake didn’t just remaster — it reimagined. Combining live orchestration with modern production, the music shifts dynamically with gameplay and even features genre-bending remixes of beloved themes.
“Let the Battles Begin!” and “One-Winged Angel – Rebirth” showcase the sheer scale of musical ambition. This is both a nostalgic tribute and a modern musical triumph.
9. Celeste – Lena Raine
Celeste is a game about climbing a mountain — both literally and metaphorically. Lena Raine’s synth-heavy score mirrors protagonist Madeline’s emotional and psychological journey.
From pulsating anxiety in “Resurrections” to calm serenity in “Quiet and Falling,” the soundtrack adapts to the emotional tone of each level. Raine’s work is a testament to how indie games can lead the industry in innovative audio storytelling.
10. Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Gareth Coker
Gareth Coker’s work on Ori and the Will of the Wisps elevates it to a work of interactive art. The lush orchestration, sweeping melodies, and use of leitmotifs create an emotionally powerful experience.
Tracks like “Main Theme” and “Escaping the Sandworm” demonstrate dynamic range — from gentle and lyrical to frenetic and pulse-pounding. Coker’s meticulous attention to narrative through sound is Grammy-worthy on every level.
Honorable Mentions: More Soundtracks That Could Shine at the Grammys
- Bloodborne – Tsukasa Saitoh, Yuka Kitamura
Gothic orchestral horror elevated to high art. - Death Stranding – Ludvig Forssell and licensed artists
Experimental ambient tracks and post-rock collaborations that perfectly mirror Hideo Kojima’s vision. - Undertale – Toby Fox
A deceptively simple chiptune score packed with memorable melodies and emotional punch. - Hades – Darren Korb
A rock-and-mediterranean blend that dynamically adapts to combat and narrative beats. - Cyberpunk 2077 – Marcin Przybyłowicz and others
Dystopian electronica that builds a layered, immersive world.
Why the Grammys Should Open Their Ears
While the addition of the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media category in 2023 is a step in the right direction, it’s still not enough. Video game music deserves to be featured across multiple Grammy categories, from Best Contemporary Instrumental Album to Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Gaming soundtracks are no longer niche. With millions of listeners on Spotify, sold-out live orchestral tours, and global fanbases, they are shaping the soundscape of a new generation.
Conclusion:
As the lines between games, films, and music continue to blur, the time has come to give video game music the industry-wide recognition it has long deserved. These soundtracks don’t just accompany a game — they define it. They resonate with players emotionally, sonically, and culturally.
The Grammys have begun to acknowledge this artistic frontier, but there’s a long way to go. Hopefully, in the years ahead, the composers who shape our interactive worlds will be honored alongside their film and television counterparts.