When you think about your favorite gaming moments, chances are the music is doing more heavy lifting than you realize. That epic boss fight? The soundtrack made your heart race. That emotional story beat? The score probably had you tearing up. Video game music has evolved from simple 8-bit bleeps into full orchestral masterpieces, and the GRAMMYs have finally been paying attention.
The 68th annual GRAMMY Awards, set for February 1st, 2026, will once again honor the composers who turn pixels into pure emotion. This year’s nominees for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media represent some of the biggest names in gaming—and one scrappy indie that’s punching way above its weight class.
The contenders making noise
This year’s lineup is stacked with heavy hitters from across the industry. PlayStation’s got skin in the game with Helldivers 2, the co-op shooter that took everyone by surprise when it launched. Composer Wilbert Roget II crafted a score that perfectly captures the chaotic, bug-squashing mayhem that made the game a massive hit on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Ubisoft is pulling double duty with two nominations. First up is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secrets of the Spire, where Pinar Toprak brought James Cameron’s alien world to life through sound. Then there’s Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card & A Pirate’s Fortune, featuring music from Cody Matthew Johnson and—plot twist—Wilbert Roget II again. Yeah, the guy’s having a pretty good year.
Xbox enters the arena with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Bethesda’s love letter to the whip-cracking archaeologist. Gordy Haab handled the score, and if you’ve played it, you know he nailed that classic adventure movie vibe while making it feel fresh for 2024.
The dark horse? Sword of the Sea, an indie title with music by Austin Wintory. It’s proof that you don’t need a massive studio budget to create something that resonates—just talent and vision.
Why this category matters more than you think
Here’s the thing: music in games isn’t just background noise. It’s the invisible hand guiding your emotions, building tension, celebrating victories, and making defeats sting just a little bit more. The fact that the GRAMMYs—one of music’s most prestigious institutions—recognizes this art form validates what gamers have known for decades.
The category itself is relatively new, first introduced in 2023. Since then, we’ve seen some incredible wins. Stephanie Economou made history as the first-ever recipient for her work on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok. The following year, Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab took home the trophy for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Most recently, Winifred Phillips won for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, beating out some serious competition including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla.
The debate is already heating up
As with any awards show, the nominations spark conversation—and let’s be real, some heated debates. Everyone’s got their favorite, and everyone thinks their pick deserves to win. That’s part of the fun. Whether you’re team Helldivers, rooting for the indie underdog, or convinced one of the Star Wars titles should take it, the discussion itself highlights just how far video game music has come.
The ceremony next February will settle the score (pun absolutely intended), but until then, maybe throw on some of these soundtracks while you game. You might just appreciate the artistry even more.