International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media

The International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media is an annual award given by the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA). Established in 2007, the award is given to the composer of a video game score based on two criteria: "the effectiveness, appropriateness and emotional impact of the score in the context of the film for which it was written; and the technical and intellectual merit of the composition when heard as a standalone listening experience."[1] The awarding period runs January 1 through December 31 every year, and IFMCA members vote for the winner the following February.

International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media
Logo for the Interantional Film Critics Association, parent organization that presents this award.
International Film Music Critics Association logo
First awarded2007
Most awardsAustin Wintory
Most nominationsAustin Wintory

As of 2022, 52 composers have been nominated for the International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive Media. The first award was given to John Debney for his work on the video game Lair. The most recent recipients were Mark Mothersbaugh and Wataru Hokoyama for their work on the video game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. Austin Wintory has been nominated eight times and won three; he is the only composer to have been nominated twice in the same year, which happened in 2016. Four other composers (Chris Tilton, Bear McCreary, Neal Acree, and Olivier Deriviere) have been nominated four times.

Winners and nominees

In the tables below, winners are marked by a light green background and a double-dagger symbol (‡).

2000s

John Debney (2007 winner) in 2013
James Hannigan (2009 winner)
Awards in the 2000s
YearGame/Interactive MediaComposer(s)Compan(y/ies)Ref.
2007LairJohn DebneySony Computer Entertainment[2][3][4]
BioShockGarry Schyman2K Games
Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareStephen Barton
Harry Gregson-Williams (theme music)
Activision
Medal of Honor: AirborneMichael GiacchinoEA
WarhawkChristopher Lennertz
Tim Wynn
Sony Computer Entertainment
2008Age of Conan: Hyborian AdventuresKnut Avenstroup HaugenFuncom
Eidos Interactive
[5]
AfrikaWataru HokoyamaSony Computer Entertainment (Japan)
Natsume Inc. (North American)
Gears of War 2Steve JablonskyMicrosoft Game Studios
Mercenaries 2: World in FlamesChris TiltonEA
Star Wars: The Force UnleashedMark GriskeyLucasArts
2009Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceJames HanniganEA[6][7]
Assassin's Creed IIJesper KydUbisoft
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Lorne Balfe
Hans Zimmer (theme music)
Activision
Night at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianChris TiltonMajesco Entertainment
Spore HeroWinifred PhillipsEA

2010s

Austin Wintory (2012, 2015, and 2016 winner) in 2019
Joe Hisaishi (2011 winner) in 2011
Grant Kirkhope (2012 nominee) in 2024
Patrick Doyle (2013 nominee) in 2016
Geoff Knorr (2014 winner) in 2017
Awards in the 2010s
YearGame/Interactive MediaComposer(s)Compan(y/ies)Ref.
2010Castlevania: Lords of ShadowÓscar AraujoKonami[8][9]
Dark VoidBear McCrearyCapcom
James Bond 007: Blood StoneRichard JacquesActivision
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hooleWinifred PhillipsWB Games
Lego UniverseBrian TylerThe Lego Group
2011Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White WitchJoe HisaishiLevel-5 (company) (Japan)
Bandai Namco Entertainment
[10]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Brian TylerActivision
The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimJeremy SouleBethesda Softworks
L.A. NoireAndrew Hale

Simon Hale

Rockstar Games
SOCOM 4 U.S. Navy SEALsBear McCrearySony Computer Entertainment
2012JourneyAustin WintorySony Computer Entertainment
Annapurna Interactive (PC, iOS)
[11]
Kingdoms of Amalur: ReckoningGrant Kirkhope38 Studios
EA
Resistance: Burning SkiesJason Graves
Kevin Riepl
Sony Computer Entertainment
StarhawkChristopher LennertzSony Computer Entertainment
World of Warcraft: Mists of PandariaNeal Acree
Russell Brower
Sam Cardon
Edo Guidotti
Jeremy Soule
Blizzard Entertainment
2013Remember MeOlivier DeriviereCapcom[12][13]
Assassin's Creed IV: Black FlagBrian TylerUbisoft
Beyond: Two SoulsLorne BalfeSony Computer Entertainment

Quantic Dream (PC)

Company of Heroes 2Cris VelascoSega
Feral Interactive (macOS, Linux)
PuppeteerPatrick DoyleSony Computer Entertainment
2014Civilization: Beyond EarthGriffin Cohen
Michael Curren
Grant Kirkhope
Geoff Knorr
2K Games
Aspyr (macOS, Linux)
[14][15]
Assassin's Creed UnityChris Tilton
Sarah Schachner
Ubisoft
The Banner SagaAustin WintoryVersus Evil
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Óscar AraujoKonami
World of Warcraft: Warlords of DraenorNeal Acree
Clint Bajakian
Russell Brower
Sam Cardon
Craig Stuart Garfinkle
Edo Guidotti
Eímear Noone
Blizzard Entertainment
2015Assassin's Creed SyndicateAustin WintoryUbisoft[16][17]
Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising TideGriffin Cohen
Grant Kirkhope
Geoff Knorr
2K Games
Aspyr (macOS, Linux)
Everybody's Gone to the RaptureJessica CurrySony Computer Entertainment
Ori and the Blind ForestGareth CokerMoon Studios
RevelationNeal AcreeNetEase
2016AbzûAustin Wintory505 Games[18][19][20]
The Banner Saga 2Austin WintoryVersus Evil
The DwarvesBenny OschmannTHQ Nordic
The Last GuardianTakeshi FurukawaSIE
ReCoreChad SeiterMicrosoft Studios
2017RimeDavid García DíazGrey Box
Six Foot
[21]
DeformersAustin WintoryGameTrust
DivideChris Tilton
Get EvenOlivier DeriviereBandai Namco Entertainment
Valkyria RevolutionYasunori MitsudaSega (North America, Japan)
Deep Silver (PAL region)
2018God of WarBear McCrearySony Interactive Entertainment[22][23]
11-11: Memories RetoldOlivier DeriviereBandai Namco Entertainment
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant KingdomJoe HisaishiLevel-5 (company) (Japan)
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Spider-ManJohn PaesanoSony Interactive Entertainment
TornGarry SchymanAspyr
2019RendNeal AcreeFrostkeep Studios[24][25][26][27]
Days GoneNathan WhiteheadSony Interactive Entertainment
EricaAustin WintoryFlavourworks
A Plague Tale: InnocenceOlivier DeriviereFocus Home Interactive
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderStephen Barton
Gordy Haab
EA

2020s

Michael Giacchiano (2020 winner) in 2017
Ilan Eshkeri (2021 nominee) in 2018
Neal Acree (2023 winner) in 2015
Awards in the 2020s
YearGame/Interactive MediaComposer(s)CompaniesRef.
2020Medal of Honor: Above and BeyondMichael Giacchino
Nami Melumad
Respawn Entertainment
EA
[28][29]
Ghost of TsushimaIlan Eshkeri
Shigeru Umebayashi
Sucker Punch Productions
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ori and the Will of the WispsGareth CokerMoon Studios
Xbox Game Studios
The PathlessAustin WintoryGiant Squid
Annapurna Interactive
Star Wars: SquadronsGordy HaabMotive Studios
EA
2021Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartMark Mothersbaugh
Wataru Hokoyama
Insomniac Games
Sony Interactive Entertainment
[30][31]
Ark: Genesis part IIGareth CokerStudio Wildcard
Call of Duty: VanguardBear McCrearySledgehammer Games
Activision
Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island & LegendsChad Cannon
Bill Hemstapat
Ilan Eshkeri (theme music)
Sucker Punch Productions
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyRichard JacquesEidos-Montréal
Square Enix
2022God of War RagnarökBear McCrearySanta Monica Studio
Sony Interactive Entertainment
[32][33]
Cat BurglarChristopher WillisNetflix
The Faith of the Three KingdomsShigeru Umebayashi
Chad Cannon
Ice Bird Studio
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of HopeYōko Shimomura
Grant Kirkhope
Gareth Coker
Ubisoft Milan
Ubisoft Paris
Ubisoft
A Plague Tale: RequiemOlivier DerivièreAsobo Studio
Focus Entertainment
2023Avatar: Frontiers of PandoraPinar Toprak
Neal Acree
Massive Entertainment
Ubisoft
[34][35]
God of War Ragnarök (Valhalla)Sparks & Shadows
Bear McCreary
Santa Monica Studio
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Hogwarts LegacyChuck Myers
Scott Rakozy
Peter Murray
Avalanche Software
Warner Bros. Games
Planet of LanaTakeshi FurukawaWishfully Studios
Thunderful Publishing
Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorStephen Barton
Gordy Haab
Respawn Entertainment
Electronic Arts

References