The most beautiful video game vinyl every fan should own

1 November, 2024

Couple playing vinyl music

The perfect soundtrack can elevate even the greatest of video games, with a carefully selected tune raising the tempo for a tense moment or slowing it down afterwards. People love some of these collections so much, they want to hear them even when they’re not smashing buttons on their controllers. And for that, it’s hard to beat the magic of vinyl. Check out our favourite examples below…

This sublime Final Fantasy 9 picture-disc

As well as regular orchestral tours performing the rousing music of the Final Fantasy franchise, developer Square Enix has started offering fans a number of gorgeous vinyl products too. The latest to get the wax treatment was Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth earlier this year – but the online store also hosts a number of “greatest hits” collections, stuffed with heroes, villains and classic synth-y sounds.

Our pick of the bunch is a lush, two-LP picture disc featuring the very best music of Final Fantasy 9. Contained within is pure magic – from the thrilling main theme’s punchy horns to the more mellow strings of opening track ‘Toward Mt. Nibel’. As rumours of a remake begin to stir, there’s no better time to grab it.

How much it’ll set you back: £44.99 (Square Enix)

Rage against the machine with this four-LP Hi-Fi Rush box set

The worlds of music and gaming have been getting more and more entwined in recent years, but no game makes better use of that holy partnership than Hi-Fi Rush. In Tango Gameworks’ rhythm-based action game, you take control of a wannabe rockstar battling an evil corporation.

The soundtrack is suitably ballsy and triumphant. Forty-two celebratory tracks feature on this deluxe, four-LP box set that’ll have you ready to take on The Man in no time. It’s the perfect warm-up for Hi-Fi Rush’s proposed sequel (hopefully coming soon).

How much it’ll set you back: £77 (Laced Records)

This blood-red double-vinyl Doom soundtrack

The Doom soundtrack is a hugely influential mix of twisting, spiky industrial rock and pulsating metal that adds to the stifling intensity of the classic demon shooter. In 2016, the series was rebooted and long-time collaborator of developer Bethesda, Mick Gordon, was tasked with creating a dark masterpiece that lived up to the bloody legacy of the franchise. The result is a pulverising collection of brutal anthems that packs one hell of a punch. What better way to enjoy all that ferocity than with a crimson double-LP set?

How much it’ll set you back: £33 (Laced)

This gorgeous Death Stranding box set

The dark, twisting cyberpunk world of Death Stranding has helped the franchise become a modern classic. Epic but grounded in reality, the story of Sam (Norman Reedus) and Cliff (Mads Mikkelsen) has kept players returning to the game for almost five years now. As captivating as that story is though, it’s the haunted, jagged soundtrack that immerses players most fully. Next time you need some otherworldly escapism, stick on this three-LP special.

How much it’ll set you back: $45 (Mondo)

A pretty reimagining of Pokémon Gold and Silver’s most captivating songs

Nintendo is great at lots of things, but it’s terrible at releasing the various scores from across its colourful history. In 2022, an official sound library for the Pokémon games was made freely available for anyone that lives in Japan. For everyone else, the only way to replay the chirpy, wholesome bangers of stumbling across curious ‘mon and the more menacing encounters with Team Rocket is via questionable YouTube rips or digging out your old GameBoy Color.

Luckily, video game collectible company IAm8Bit has teamed up with composer Braxton Barks for a one-hour, orchestral reimagining of Pokémon Gold and Silver’s best bits. Lush, sprawling and oh-so-pretty, it’s matched only by the gorgeous foil-stamped jacket.

How much it’ll set you back: $42.99 (IAm8Bit)

This heroic collection of anthems from The Legend Of Zelda series

Another reworking of classics from Nintendo. The Legend Of Zelda is one of the most sprawling, majestic franchises in gaming – and the music is just as ambitious. Listening to it outside of the games has always proved tricky, but now Black Screen Records have teamed up with London Music Works for this 18-track collection of its best anthems. There’s the chirpy main theme from 1986’s original as well as more sweeping, dramatic tracks from recent entry Breath Of The Wild, making this an essential purchase.

How much it’ll set you back: €58 (Black Screen Records)

A brilliant, bumper Lies Of P box set

Twisting the usually fantastical fable of Pinocchio into a dark, nightmarish action game, Lies Of P is one of the most intriguing soulsikes of recent years. As well as a brutal universe that’s never shy of a bit of horror, the game also boasts a moody, epic soundtrack. To celebrate the one-year anniversary, developers have teamed up with IAm8Bit for a three-LP box set featuring the entire score alongside a 7” single of ‘Feel’, the track that can be used to force a moment of calm within the game.

How much it’ll set you back: $74.99 (IAm8Bit)

This astounding six-LP compilation of Metal Gear Solid’s greatest hits

There have been a few Metal Gear Solid soundtracks released over the years, but none are as comprehensive as ‘Metal Gear Solid: The Vinyl Collection’. The 53-track, six-LP box set features choice cuts from across the series, starting with the scrappy, intense music from the 1998 original to 2015’s more theatrical Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. There’s also an entire disc dedicated to sneaking around and boss battles. To top it off, the collection comes decorated with beautiful illustrations that celebrate the history of the franchise.

How much it’ll set you back: £110 (Laced Records)

Metal Gear Solid Vinyl collection
‘Metal Gear Solid’ Vinyl collection. CREDIT: Konami

A bumper crop of Stardew Valley songs

For such an intimate game, Stardew Valley certainly has big ambitions. From a live orchestra tour to an official cookbook, the team aren’t afraid of trying new things while the absolutely huge 1.6 update that launched earlier this year sees the game continuing to grow at a blinding rate. It’s helpful to look back sometimes, though, and this four-LP vinyl release is a great example. Bringing together 77 original tracks from the game, divided into four different seasons, it’s the perfect soundtrack to moments of calm. If you want the complete experience, a bonus disc featuring the music introduced with the 1.4 and 1.5 updates is also available.

How much it’ll set you back: $79 (Fangamer)

This majestic Baldur’s Gate 3 collection

From the scale of the game, to the millions of copies it sold and the countless awards the team picked up in the months after its release, everything about Baldur’s Gate 3 is excessive. And its chunky, ferocious, heart-wrenching soundtrack is no different. As well as being turned into an epic orchestral concert, all that gorgeous music is also available to own as a three-LP boxset. Featuring Borislav Slavov’s emotional score accompanied by unique artwork, it’s a suitably grand addition to your vinyl collection.

How much it’ll set you back: €59 (Larian)

This sprawling edition of Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West tasks players with exploring a “majestic but dangerous new frontier that holds mysterious new threats,” according to developers. Of course, such a mega-sounding game needs a soundtrack to match but the team at Guerrilla Games really did outdid themselves. From the soaring ‘Whatever Comes’ to the haunting ‘In The Flood’ via the sprawling ‘Aloy’s Theme’, the Horizon Forbidden West score has it all, and now fans can as well. This deluxe box set features six vinyl presented in two trifold cases alongside two exclusive lithographs, a vinyl mat, and a track sheet.

How much it’ll set you back: £189 (HMV)

This devilish Diablo 4 box set

Diablo 4 is an ever-expanding universe that shows no signs of slowing down. Fans were recently treated to the Vessel Of Hatred expansion and now, creators have teamed up with IAm8bit for a deluxe, four-LP box set. Featuring 47 tracks from the mystical, medieval soundtrack, this package also features artwork inspired by the characters and classes from the series as well as in-game rewards.

How much it’ll set you back: $100 (IAm8Bit)

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