In a plot twist that feels straight out of a side quest, the 2025 Grammy nominations for video game soundtracks are here, with the usual AAA titans facing off against a classic RPG remake that snuck into the lineup like a rogue at the back of the party.
The big-money heavyweights – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Star Wars Outlaws, are joined by one scrappy contender that nobody saw coming: Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.
Yes, Wizardry, that decades-old RPG grandparent that once taught us how to throw our first pixelated fireball, is back, and this time, it brought along Winifred Phillips, the soundtrack’s secret weapon.
Phillips is no stranger to big scores, having worked on everything from the OG God of War to Assassin’s Creed III and Total War. She’s already scored some early accolades for this Wizardry reboot, with two NYX Game Awards and a Telly Award under her belt. Still, this Grammy nomination is the real deal.
Let’s not ignore the competition because the other nominees bring out the biggest of the big guns. Bear McCreary, master of “epic battle music that makes your laundry folding feel heroic”, is up for his work on God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla.
You’ve heard McCreary’s thunderous scores in countless sci-fi and fantasy sagas, and he’s no stranger to the winner’s podium. Meanwhile, John Paesano’s work on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has us all feeling like web-slinging superheroes, and Wilbert Roget, II, with Star Wars Outlaws, ensures that every TIE fighter sound and orchestral swell would make John Williams proud.
So, yes, Wizardry is the underdog here. But maybe we’ve all got a soft spot for that unexpected underdog win, or perhaps it’s just a good excuse to listen to Winifred’s haunting, nostalgic tracks and feel like we’re back in the ‘80s, except with way better graphics.
As we look forward to the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 2, 2025, where the Recording Academy will decide who takes home the trophy, we’re left pondering: Could this be the year a classic RPG comeback soundtrack wins?
After all, if a wizard can stand up to demigods, superheroes, and space bandits, then maybe there’s a little magic left in the old school, after all.
For the full rundown of the Grammy nominations (and to see what you missed), you can check out the official Grammy website here.
But now I want to know which score you have your money on. Let me know in the comments.