Well hello there, and yes, it is time for a super-sized episode of Rhythm Encounter to celebrate many of the excellent RPG soundtracks, arrangements, and more from 2025. That's right, it's Music of the Year 2025 time! With four panelists who each brought on three songs, this is certainly our longest episode in awhile. That's why we're releasing it a bit ahead of schedule, so there's more time to listen before our next episode. So join us for a walk down a very recent memory lane, and be sure to let us know what your favorite 2025 music was!

Featuring: Mike Salbato, Patrick Gann, Matt Wardell, Paul Skevington; Edited by Jono Logan

Tracklist
Pat's Picks
0:03:24 - Battle Theme / Final Fantasy XI (comp. Naoshi Mizuta, arr. Kyota.) - #SQkawaii Sounds -Final Fantasy-
0:17:21 - Field of Hopes and Dreams (comp. Toby Fox, arr./perf. Trevor Alan Gomes) - Deltarune Piano Collections: Volume 1
0:28:33 - Spiritual Rainstorm (Kazuki Yanagawa) - Atelier Yumia ~The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land~

Paul's Picks
0:43:21 - Lune (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
1:01:02 - Doomed City (Darren Korb) - Hades II
1:24:31 - KIKIKAITAI (Murasaki & Kanna Katata) - Urban Myth Dissolution Center

Matt's Music
1:37:11 - Toward Unseen Horizons (Miwako Chinone) - Monster Hunter Wilds
1:50:04 - The Clear Blue Sky (Tsukasa [aka Yosuke Hatakeyama]) - Lies of P: Overture
2:05:22 - Emil (comp. MONACA, arr. Hiroyuki Nakayama) - NieR: Piano Journeys

Mike's Music
2:22:14 - Lavos' Theme (comp. Yasunori Mitsuda, arr. Shogo Nomura) - Chrono Trigger Piano Soundscape Arrangement
2:36:55 - The Baron of Mount Holly (Trigg & Gusset) - Blue Prince
3:00:38 - Roses of May (Dawntrail) (comp. Nobuo Uematsu, arr. Masayoshi Soken) - Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail EP 6
3:24:32 - Group Bonus Track!

Album links for places to buy, stream, and more are available in our post on RPGFan.

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