5 Wintry Video Game Covers to Get You in the Festive Spirit
There’s so much joy to be had with video game music, especially at this time of year, so here are five wintry covers that will put the magic in your holidays. (I can’t believe this is the fourth time I’ve written one of these articles for GameGrooves. Where has the time gone!?)
“Cool Edge (Day)” by Silent Dreams
Sonic Unleashed has an underrated video game soundtrack, and this “Cool Edge” cover will get you into a festive spirit. The heavy drum beat and delightful melody match surprisingly well in this Silent Dreams remix. It maintains the rock aspect of Sonic’s more modern soundtracks while staying true to the charming nature of the hedgehog’s kid-friendly adventures. I can imagine listening to this during a workout and having a big smile on my face. There’s also a reference to the main theme of “Endless Possibility” in the track.
“Phendrana Drifts” by BG Ollie
One wintry theme that gets an uplift is BG Ollie’s version of “Phendrana Drifts.” The down-to-earth banjo matches up with the atmospheric backdrop, and the percussion is pretty as well. Surprisingly, this instrumental take on this piece doesn’t make me miss the choir from the original version. While this piece isn’t particularly festive, this chill piece could be played in between parties and the hassle of shopping in busy malls, with some hot cocoa.
“Glistening Shard” by Markcato
You may not like Genshin Impact’s repetitive gameplay, but you can’t deny the music is absolutely stellar. The original piece is a magical ride through the frosty area of Dragonspine with its angelic melody and wonderful piano playing. Whenever I hear it, it feels like I’m blissfully walking through a Winter Wonderland. This calming LoFi take adds a fun beat to the track, and the piano also sounds lovely in this remix.
“Dearly Beloved” By Moises Nieto
I love to play the Kingdom Hearts series around this time of the year. The themes of friendship and nostalgia from the Disney movies coalesce into a magical experience. “Dearly Beloved” is the beautiful main theme of the series, and Yoko Shimomura created a Christmas version in 2020. Unfortunately, it has since been deleted from her YouTube channel, but Moises Nieto performed a cover of it.
The main melody is of a higher tone, and the backdrop is deeper and has a darker twist to it. To me, it says that the season can bring wonderful memories, but there is a dark element behind it too. It’s an intriguing take on a classic video game song, and Nieto does a great job of replicating the vibe Shimomura is going for.
You’ll want to listen to GameGrooves’ Kingdom Hearts cover album too. It’s delightful! My favorite track from the album is the “Hollow Bastion” theme.
“Gavotte de Chateau” by The Game Brass
This might be a stretch, but bear with me. When I think of the holiday season, I remember playing Dragon Quest VIII with my father when I was a kid. Dragon Quest VIII has a pantomime feel to it with larger than life characters.
Now that I’ve explained myself, this cover of “Gavotte de Chateau” by The Game Brass is delightful. You can hear the rich tones of the brass instruments, and they all come together nicely, each of them bringing their own personality to the piece. I imagine playing this wonderful cover while eating mince pies and drinking wine with family and friends.
That’s all the festive covers for this year, but if you enjoyed this list, check out these other articles!
More Festive Video Game Covers
CHRIS PENWELL
Chris Penwell is a writer and podcaster who loves to talk about video game music. His favorite soundtracks are from the Kingdom Hearts series, Celeste, Beyond Good & Evil, Gravity Rush, and Final Fantasy X.