How to Start Collecting Records and LPs for Game Soundtracks
By Limited Run Games | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: ハウツーガイド
A practical, step-by-step guide to starting a video game vinyl collection: what to buy first, how to store vinyl records, and beginner LP care that prevents costly mistakes.
Quick answer
Start with one or two game soundtrack records you will actually play, confirm the release details and region before ordering, and store each LP upright in an inner sleeve inside a outer sleeve. Buy a carbon-fiber brush and a basic record cleaning kit before your third record, not after you notice noise.
Buying game music vinyl without overpaying for hype
Game music vinyl buying tips start with the release itself, not the cover art. Check whether a pressing is an open pre-order or a fixed limited run, because an open pre-order window means you can plan your budget instead of panic-buying. Region matters too: a region-free release removes the guesswork about whether your player will read it, while a region-locked release ties you to one territory.
Price is a weak signal for quality. A discounted pressing can sound excellent, and an expensive one can arrive warped. Compare the catalog price against the comparison price only to judge whether the deal is reasonable today, then decide based on whether you want the music on a physical format at all. If you are unsure, buy the soundtrack you already know by heart; you will play it more and learn your setup faster.
How to store vinyl records so they stay flat and quiet
Store LPs vertically, like books on a shelf, and never stack them flat in a pile. Heat and uneven pressure are what warp records, and a stack in a warm room is the fastest way to ruin a soundtrack you waited months for. Keep the shelf out of direct sun and away from radiators, and leave a little breathing room at the end of the row so you can pull a record out without dragging its neighbors.
Use the inner sleeve the record came in, or replace a plain paper one with an anti-static inner sleeve. Then put the inner sleeve and record behind the jacket inside an outer sleeve, not inside the printed jacket itself. This keeps seam splits from forming and lets you slide the record out without handling the jacket edges every time.
Simple LP record care for beginners
Clean before you play, not after. A carbon-fiber brush removes surface dust in a few passes, and a wet cleaning kit handles fingerprints and heavier grime. Clean the stylus too, following the manufacturer's instructions, because a dirty needle transfers noise to every record you play afterward.
Handle records by the edge and the label only. Oils from your fingers press into the groove and attract dust, and that grime is much harder to remove once it has settled. When you finish a side, return the record to its sleeve immediately rather than leaving it on the platter or on a table.
Your first six steps into game soundtrack vinyl
- Pick one soundtrack you already know: Choose a game whose music you have listened to outside the game. That familiarity makes it easier to hear whether your turntable, speakers, and cleaning routine are working. Checkpoint: if you cannot hum a track from it, pick a different record.
- Confirm the release type and region: Look for open pre-order windows, fixed limited runs, and whether the release is region-free or region-locked. Open pre-orders let you budget; limited runs require faster decisions. Mistake to avoid: assuming every listing stays available after the pre-order closes.
- Set a per-record budget before browsing: Decide what a single LP is worth to you, then compare the catalog price with the comparison price only as a deal check. Do not let a discount push you into a soundtrack you do not want. Checkpoint: if the price is the main reason you are buying, wait a week.
- Buy beginner cleaning supplies with your second record: A carbon-fiber brush, an anti-static inner sleeve pack, and a basic wet cleaning kit cost far less than replacing a warped or noisy record. Add them before your collection grows past two or three LPs. Mistake to avoid: playing a dusty record 'just once' to test your setup.
- Set up vertical storage before the shelf fills: Use a shelf that keeps records upright with light pressure on both sides. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heat sources, and place each record behind its jacket inside an outer sleeve. Checkpoint: no record should lean at an angle for more than a day.
- Clean the record and stylus before every session: Brush the record, clean the stylus per its instructions, then play. Handle by the edge and label, and return the record to its sleeve as soon as the side ends. Next step: after five records, review which ones you actually replay and let that guide your next purchase.
Catalog facts worth knowing
- Now Playing: The Guide to 1980s and ’90s Movie Games (Hardcover): Now Playing: The Guide to 1980s and ’90s Movie Games (Hardcover) is edited by Kurt Kalata and covers games based on films from those decades, with a catalog price of USD 30.14 against a comparison price of USD 44.99. If you collect game music because of movie tie-in nostalgia, this book gives you the release history behind the games whose soundtracks you are chasing, so you can judge which pressings are worth hunting.
- Riven Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox): Riven Standard Edition is region-free and is an open pre-order for a limited time, with pre-orders closing on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, at a catalog price of USD 28.79 against a comparison price of USD 39.99. Region-free means it plays on your console without territory worries, and the open pre-order window gives you a clear deadline to decide instead of relying on aftermarket prices.
