Best Official Video Game Orchestrated Events

While some players will no doubt view a video game’s soundtrack as purely supplemental to the gaming experience, many others form clear emotional attachments to the OSTs of their favorite franchises. While some are available on platforms like Spotify, and some developers such as Nintendo find their musical library is strong enough to uphold an entire application, many franchises have found their OSTs being performed by some of the most well-renowned orchestras in the world.

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Ranging from widely available orchestrated symphonies of titanic franchises to closed-door events later released to the masses, video game music is no longer contained to console hardware.

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Nintendo Live 2024 Concert | The Legend of Zelda

A Truly Accessible Performance Of Some Of Nintendo’s Greatest Tracks

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The Legend of Zelda

Systems

Released

February 21, 1986

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Of all Nintendo properties that have been afforded the opportunity to have their music played in an orchestrated environment, arguably none have been as prolific in doing so as The Legend of Zelda franchise. While most of its scored events are restricted to anniversary celebrations, seemingly most fans of the series have not had the chance to appreciate the classic series’ jump from an in-game OST to the concert hall.

With the release of a cinematic film showcasing the talents of The Legend of Zelda Orchestra in early 2024, the barrier to entry for franchise fans was lowered to effectively nothing. In broadcasting music from across the series’ history – from the original The Legend of Zelda title to Tears of the Kingdom – and allowing unique angles and close-ups due to the filming of the performance, Nintendo allowed fans a rare insight into the intricacies and spectacle of a once-limited event.

An Elder Scrolls-Themed Multimedia Montage Of Orchestra & Gameplay

While the standing of developer Bethesda has fluctuated in the years since its release, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remains a cultural touchstone for not just the RPG genre but the video game industry as a whole. As such, it is arguably no surprise that in celebration of the title’s first decade fans were greeted with the ‘Skyrim 10th Anniversary Fan Celebration & Concert’ that paid homage to the titular game.

While some fans lamented the intersection of orchestrated music with tributes by members of the game’s community, an untouched hour-long performance was also made available on the same day. In performing the themes that are “perfect to get players in a headspace to slay dragons and help villagers”, Bethesda and the London Symphony Orchestra not only produced an easily accessible tribute to the music of Skyrim but to the community that lifted it to its dizzying present heights.

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25th Anniversary of Love and Courage | Fire Emblem

The Quarter-Century Event Celebrating Nintendo’s Tactical RPG Franchise

Although it may be difficult to believe in a time where the Nintendo Switch has multiple titles for players to dive into, it was “the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening that led to a massive boost in popularity, and saved the series”. With relatively gargantuan popularity in Japan and negligible interest in the West until relatively recently, it’s easy to forget that Fire Emblem is arguably as storied a Nintendo IP as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

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However, nowhere is this love of the staple turn-based tactics series more visible than in events such as the ’25th Anniversary of Love and Courage’ Fire Emblem concert. Performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and consisting of 17 songs spread over 5 suites of music, the Fire Emblem franchise was paid tribute by a host of developer talks and scored renditions. Ranging from the series’ original Famicom days to its 3DS renaissance, the Fire Emblem franchise may have stumbled in the past but its sights were clearly set firmly on a vibrant future.

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PAX West 2023 Super Big Band | Super Mario Bros.

A Jazz-Inspired Performance Of Mario’s Most Recognizable Tracks

While the Mario series’ ‘gameplay first’ philosophy may have instilled a sense of weight and fluidity in Nintendo’s flagship plumber’s adventures, that is not to say that the Mushroom Kingdom is void of the emotive flourishes of other titles. From simple yet functional plots to some of the most toe-tapping tunes in the video game industry, Mario is no slouch.

As such, it comes as no surprise – especially with the seemingly bombastic success of the soundtracks of titles such as Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Odyssey – that the jazz orchestra style that permeated those installments has been brought to live audiences. Performed to convention-goers at PAX West 2023, the Super Mario: Super Big Band orchestra translated the chiptune melodies and recorded classics from Mario games past through its signature big band style – in addition, even transmedia projects such as the uber-successful Super Mario Bros. Movie were given time in the spotlight.

4

Symphonic Evolutions Concert | Pokemon

The Generation-Spanning Celebration Of Nintendo’s Pocket Monsters

Although the series is now more than 25 years old and has contemporary RPG adventures on Nintendo’s most cutting-edge hardware, the Pokemon series is one that has “captured players’ ears even with its GameBoy titles” through its original scores. As such – beyond the countless plushes, board games, and other merchandise – in celebration of the global phenomenon’s upcoming 20th anniversary in 2016 the ‘Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions’ orchestrated event started touring worldwide.

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With brand-new arrangements of classic melodies, and relevant footage being showcased above the orchestra itself, the Symphonic Evolutions tour brought a level of spectacle to the series’ OST arguably not seen before or since. With the show divided into seven sections – in accordance with the, then, seven released generations of Pokemon titles – the Symphonic Evolutions show is effectively a sonic timeline for the series; from Red & Green to X & Y.

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Smashing Live! | Super Smash Bros. Melee

The Orchestral Culmination Of Super Smash Bros.’ Cross-IP Endeavors

Systems

Released

December 3, 2001

Although Nintendo’s cross-franchise platform fighter series is a testament to the developer’s renowned creativity, the 25-year-old franchise’s arguably most important role is that of a playable history of the video game industry. With characters, stages, music, and collectibles from gaming’s fledgling beginnings to the most current gaming trends; a Super Smash Bros. title is a place for franchises that are too niche for more robust representation to get their time in the sun.

As such, when the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra recorded a selection of tracks from Super Smash Bros. Melee‘s OST in 2002, franchises such as Star Fox, Pikmin, and Metroid found some of their most recognizable tracks performed on stage for the first time. While music from The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon has been performed multiple times in the years since the ‘Smashing…Live!’ performance remains a groundbreaking orchestral set that celebrates gaming in a way seemingly only Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series can.

2

Distant Worlds – Final Fantasy

An Uber-Successful Multimedia Event That Has Lasted Decades

While there are many franchises that no doubt hope to one day have the brand recognition and musical portfolio to fill a stadium tour of orchestrated sets, arguably none are as well suited as the near 40-year-old JRPG franchise Final Fantasy. As a result of celebrating the series’ 20th anniversary in 2007, the ‘Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy’ event has been utilizing the unique sound of orchestrated vocals and instrumentation to perform a multimedia setlist for nearly 20 years.

Presenting a choreographed selection of HD gameplay and cinematics from across Final Fantasy‘s video games and motion pictures parallel to the orchestra’s performance, ‘Distant Worlds’ is effectively a celebration of the series’ history. Having performed across the globe, and produced numerous CDs and Vinyl records of their music, the ‘Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy’ concert experience is continuing arguably stronger than ever before.

1

PlayStation In Concert – Various

A Hardware-Spanning Success That Sony Is Attempting To Replicate

Although there is seemingly much anticipation for Sony’s upcoming orchestrated event ‘PlayStation: The Concert’, the coming performance is not the first time that the renowned OSTs of some of PlayStation’s biggest titles have been performed. In a seemingly similar vein to ‘PlayStation: The Concert’, the familiarly titled ‘PlayStation In Concert’ debuted in 2018 with nearly 20 minutes of music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

While the upcoming Sony performance is touting the modern first-party offerings of series such as The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon: Forbidden West, ‘Playstation In Concert’ not only featured some of Sony’s legacy IPs but some notable third-party representatives. Ranging from Crash Bandicoot to Resident Evil, the ‘PlayStation In Concert’ lineup was varied and extensive, and remains an incredibly high standard that Sony no doubt wants to meet if not exceed in the near future.

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