
That being said, as soon as I saw RDR2 beat Octopath for best soundtrack I pretty much gave up all hope that the show could have a semblance of taste or sincerity, and not just doling out awards to games just because they are big and popular.Octopath Traveler is a modern classic in the truest sense- a grand journey with a colorful cast of characters a revamped turn-based battle system stunning 2D art and of course a gorgeous soundtrack brimming with melancholy piano pieces, soaring orchestral strings, and overdriven battle themes. So I tend to hold DICE to higher standards than the newer TGA. It’s also been running for like 20 years now. It tends to be more low key and direct and not making a big fuss out of itself which is why you might not have heard about it. It even lists every single member on the website if you’re interested. On the other hand, the DICE awards, which take place in February of the year after (you know, like most award shows) is closer to the Oscars and Grammys in that nominees and winners are determined by an academy of current and former developers from all different kinds and sizes of studios and areas of work. What’s funny is the exact list of justly members can’t even be found on the website. So it’s more so IGN, Giantbomb, Kotaku, etc jerking each other off. It’s stated on the TGA website that the jury is made up of various media organizations that are related to or report on the gaming industry. The person you’re replying to is incorrect in saying that the jury is “industry reps”.

Ultimately the VGAs are total nonsense, both soundtracks are amazing, and I would highly recommend giving either a full listen if you like video game music. When you get to the really intense parts of the game, you feel it at your core, without even realizing why at first in some cases. RDR2 conversely has some of the best atmospheric and tension building tracks I've ever heard in a game. For me, the music is part of what makes the game so fantastic. In OT the music is front and centre, creating a driving force to every scene. The thing that makes the comparison so hard is that RDR2's music is SO much more subtle than Octopath.

It's also immense, with basically an entirely new complex piece of music to accompany every mission/story moment. I've been listening to both OSTs basically nonstop since each respective release, and while Octopath has an amazing OST I think RDR2's OST is equally deserving of any praise it receives. They are so different in tone and use it's a really difficult comparison to make.

As someone with great affection for both games, for me, it's a total tossup.
