Best Video Games Books: Our Top 100+ List!

Best Video Games Books: Our Top 100+ List!

best video games books list

To celebrate the release of our book “Video Games You Will Never Play” (published in September 2016), we would like to suggest to you even more amazing video game books you can read while trapped at home during the upcoming cold winter or to buy as a Christmas present for your nerd cousin who loves video games. There are already many “top 10 books” lists with some nice suggestions (such as the ones at Goodreads, Wikipedia, Games Radar, Heavy, PC Gamer and The New Yorker), but those usually don’t have less known titles we love and often they list the same books over and over. We’d like to suggest many more books related to games, with the help of our readers, like you!

This long list with all our favorite games-related books (available in English) was originally meant to be added as a bonus in our own volume, but as we had to cut a lot of content to fit our articles in the 480 pages limit, this “best video game books” list had to be canned too. In the end we decided to still finish this huge article and to publish it on our website, so here it is!

We also asked to some of our favorite authors and gaming historians (such as Bob Pape, Brian Schrank, Chris Kohler, Clyde Mandelin, Felipe Pepe, Gabe Durham, Jeremy Parish, Jesper Juul, John Szczepaniak, Nathan Altice, Nick Montfort, Rob Strangman and Sorrel Tilley) to suggest a book themselves and in the end, we collected more than 100 titles. We would like to add even more videogames books, to create the most complete list ever to help people to find the most interesting ones. Each book is listed with details, price, number of pages, size and average price on Amazon, so you can easily compare them (remember: always check the current price on Amazon, as they often change day by day and could be on sale!).

If you know of other great video game books that should be added, please leave a message below with a short description to explain why you loved that book, so we can include it in our list! Thanks a lot for your help :)

Jump to:

Books about classic and must-play games

Title: 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die
Author
: Tony Mott
Publisher: Universe
ISBN-10: 0789320908
ISBN-13: 978-0789320902
Dimensions: 6.7 x 2.6 x 8.5 inches | 17 x 6.7 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 960
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £13 (Amazon.co.uk) | €23 (Amazon.it) | €19 (Amazon.de) | CDN$22 (Amazon.ca) | €23 (Amazon.es) | €23 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Description: Tony is the editor in chief for Edge magazine and he surely saw a lot of games during his career. In this book you can find a collection of the most important titles that every gamer should try at least once, with a focus on the ones published in the ’90s and ‘oos.

Title: An Illustrated History of 151 Video Games: A detailed guide to the most important games; explores five decades of game evolution
Author
: Simon Parkin
Publisher: Lorenz Books
ISBN-10: 0754823903
ISBN-13: 978-0754823902
Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 inches | 22.5 x 2.1 x 2.1 cm
Number of Pages: 256
Price: $21 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €20 (Amazon.it) | €45 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €53 (Amazon.es) | €18 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Featuring 151 classic games with screens, reviews and curiosities, this book is another nice addition to your collection of video games books. The list is focused on the history and evolution of video games though the ages, with memories and details about their developers, so you will find something for each decade from the ’70s to the 2000s.

Title: The 200 Best Video Games of All Time (Color Edition)
Author
: Kurt Kalata
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1511546530
ISBN-13: 978-1511546539
Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 10 inches | 17.8 x 1.3 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 216
Price: $35 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €33 (Amazon.it) | €33 (Amazon.de) | CDN$64 (Amazon.ca) | €30 (Amazon.es) | €32 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Description: Hardcore Gaming 101 is one of the oldest and best websites for videogames insights and historical articles, to learn more about classic and obscure titles from all around the world. With this volume they choose 200 of their favorite videogames, from the early days of arcades to the modern 3D consoles, to suggest the most important ones that should be played by every gamer.

Title: The Gamer’s Bucket List: The 50 Video Games to Play Before You Die
Author
: Chris Watters
Publisher: Key Lime Press
ISBN-10: 1633531317
ISBN-13: 978-1633531314
Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 139
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £11 (Amazon.co.uk) | €14 (Amazon.it) | €14 (Amazon.de) | CDN$18 (Amazon.ca) | €14 (Amazon.es) | €7 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This book is mostly a collection of images to show you the author’s 50 favorite games,  with just a short description for each one. While the content does not go deep into explaining the full history of those titles, it’s a nice list to remember some classic games you loved or to discover new popular ones that you may enjoy.

Books on popular video game series and genres

05-best-video-games-books-the-crpg-bookTitle: CRPG Book
Author
: multiple authors edited by Felipe Pepe
Publisher: independent publishing
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: 350+
Price: FREE!
Description: The CRPG Book is a crowd-sourced, non-profit project to create a free, easily available ebook on the history of Computer Role-Playing Games. Written by multiple authors over the course of a few years (and they’re still working on it!) this book is massive, with more than 350 pages, over 300 RPGs from 1975 to 2015,  articles on the genre, beautiful screenshots and related content. Did we already mention that is free? Go read it!

06-best-video-games-books-halo-encyclopediaTitle: Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide To The Halo Universe
Author
: Tobias Buckell
Publisher: DK Publishing
ISBN-10: 0756655498
ISBN-13: 978-0756655495
Dimensions: 10.1 x 1.1 x 12.1 inches | 26 x 2.9 x 31.4 cm
Number of Pages: 352
Price: $35 (Amazon.com) | £40+ (Amazon.co.uk) | €32 (Amazon.it) | €54 (Amazon.de) | CDN$80 (Amazon.ca) | €54 (Amazon.es) | €29 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Halo is one of the major gaming icons of the last decade and fans all over the world spent hundreds of hours playing the games and reading about their lore, world and characters. If you are a hardcore Halo fan that read every website, wiki and forum dedicated to Bungie’s classic series, probably you will find nothing new in here, but this encyclopedia will make happy everyone else would like to have a book with detailed info about the Halo series up to ODST.

07-best-video-games-books-hardcore-gaming-101-presents-castlevaniaTitle: Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania
Author
: Kurt Kalata
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1482742187
ISBN-13: 978-1482742183
Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 10 inches | 17.8 x 1 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 158
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €22 (Amazon.it) | €23 (Amazon.de) | CDN$48 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €23 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This book is a must have for even the most marginally interested Castlevania fan.  Spanning from the original Castlevania to the most recent Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 this  book is overloaded with reviews, trivia, spin offs, knock offs, and so much more about the iconic  series. On the fence? Check out the creator’s original website astlevaniadungeon.net for  just a taste of what lies in the book.

08-best-video-games-books-legends-localization-zeldaTitle: Legends of Localization Book 1: The Legend of Zelda
Author
: Clyde “Tomato” Mandelin
Publisher: Fangamer
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: 208
Price: $29 + shipping (Fangamer) | 36$ + shipping (Amazon.com)
Description: How much is lost in translation every time a game is ported from Japanese to English? This is what we can find about in this interesting volume focused on the first Legend of Zelda, written by one of the authors behind EarthBound Central and the Mother 3 translation. Legends of Localization Book 1 is full of details about the world of Zelda and the fascinating errors or decisions that made some of the text much different in the English version of the game.

09-best-video-games-books-silent-hill-terror-engineTitle: Silent Hill: The Terror Engine
Author
: Bernard Perron
Publisher: U OF M DIGT CULT BOOKS
ISBN-10: 0472051628
ISBN-13: 978-0472051625
Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.5 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 172
Price: $27 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €25 (Amazon.it) | €26 (Amazon.de) | CDN$25 (Amazon.ca) | €25 (Amazon.es) | €26 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Fans of the Silent Hill series know it not only for the masterfully crafted horror experience  it delivers but also it’s vague and engaging storyline. This books take a scholarly look into the  history, symbolism, and influences of the series to produce new insights to even the most diehard Silent Hill fan.

10-best-video-games-books-guide-classic-graphic-adventuresTitle: The Guide to Classic Graphic Adventures
Author
: Kurt Kalata
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 146095579X
ISBN-13: 978-1460955796
Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.7 x 9.6 inches | 17 x 4.4 x 24.4 cm
Number of Pages: 772
Price: $27 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €24 (Amazon.it) | €23 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €23 (Amazon.fr)
Description: The world’s first graphic adventure game, King’s Quest, was born in 1984 and it sparked a  new, highly popular, genre in the world of video games. A Guide to Classic Adventures is  Hardcoregaming101’s ambitious attempt to review not just King’s Quest but over 250 other graphic adventure games spanning from 1984 to around 2000. On top of reviews for this  story-heavy puzzle-filled genre the book also contains interviews with some developers who  worked on graphic adventure games.

11-best-video-games-books-the-history-of-sonicTitle: The History of Sonic
Author
: Marc Pétronille, William Audureau
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778561
ISBN-13: 978-1926778563
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.9 x 9 inches | 21.3 x 2.8 x 23.4 cm
Number of Pages: 300
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £28+ (Amazon.co.uk) | €29 (Amazon.it) | €34 (Amazon.de) | CDN$35 (Amazon.ca) | €33 (Amazon.es) | €33 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Description: If you grew up in the ’90s with a Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, you probably played Sonic the Hedgehog, and in this book you will find everything you need to know about this cult series. Not only the book is full of great screenshots, concept arts, sketches and related images, but you will find a lot of details, curiosities and historical facts on the development of Sonic and its developers.

12-best-video-games-books-the-making-of-prince-of-persiaTitle: The Making of Prince of Persia
Author
: Jordan Mechner
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1468093657
ISBN-13: 978-1468093650
Dimensions:  5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches | 13.3 x 1.9 x 20.3 cm
Number of Pages: 330
Price: $17 (Amazon.com) | £12 (Amazon.co.uk) | €15 (Amazon.it) | €13 (Amazon.de) | CDN$22 (Amazon.ca) | €16 (Amazon.es) | €16 (Amazon.fr)
Description: If you’re a fan of the Prince of Persia series, retro gaming, or interested in the inner  workings of the video game industry then this book is for you. Pulled directly from the personal  journals of Prince of Persia’s sole creator Jordan Mechner, this book gives a unique and personal  insight into the creation of an iconic video game series.

13-best-video-games-books-the-unofficial-guide-to-konami-shootersTitle: The Unofficial Guide to Konami Shooters
Author
: Kurt Kalata
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1500737178
ISBN-13: 978-1500737177
Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 10 inches | 17.8 x 0.9 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 152
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €22 (Amazon.it) | €23 (Amazon.de) | CDN$32 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €22 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Exhaustively researched and jam packed with information, this book is a must have for anyone who is a fan of old school Konami shooters such as Gradius or anyone interested in the development history of Konami.   This book discusses little known facts about these games such as the regional differences between domestically and internationally released versions, as well as tons of pictures, reviews, and so much more.

Books on video game history

14-best-video-games-books-a-casual-revolutionTitle: A Casual Revolution
Author
: Jesper Juul
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262517396
ISBN-13: 978-0262517393
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 264
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £11 (Amazon.co.uk) | €14 (Amazon.it) | €16 (Amazon.de) | CDN$19 (Amazon.ca) | €16 (Amazon.es) | €16 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In A Casual Revolution Jesper Juul offers some insightful and thought provoking ideas on the  subject of casual games and casual gamers. He describes the ‘casual’ movement as a  reinvention of video games and explores what this movement can tell us about players, games  and their interactions today. The essays are backed up by interviews, with both developers  and gamers, which can be found in the latter half of the book.

15-best-video-games-books-a-gremlin-in-the-worksTitle: A Gremlin in the Works
Author
: Mark Hardisty
Publisher: Bitmap Books
ISBN-10: 0993012957
ISBN-13: 978-0993012952
Dimensions: 9.2 x 2.4 x 10.5 inches | 23.5 x 6.2 x 26.6 cm
Number of Pages: 572
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €26 (Amazon.de) | CDN$39 (Amazon.ca) | €35 (Amazon.es) | €35 (Amazon.fr) | £30 (Bitmap Books)
Description: This 572 page book is beautifully presented as a set of two hardback volumes housed in a stylish cardboard slipcase. The two volumes chart the success of Gremlin Graphics from its humble beginnings in 1984 to its purchase by Infogrames in 1999. The book is packed full of interviews, game design documents, memorabilia, old letters, staff photos, and way more.

best-video-games-books-atari-inc-business-funTitle: Atari Inc. Business is Fun
Author: Marty Goldberg, Curt Vendel
Publisher: Syzygy Press
ISBN-10: 0985597402
ISBN-13: 978-0985597405
Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.8 x 9.6 inches | 17 x 4.6 x 24.4 cm
Number of Pages: 800
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £19 (Amazon.co.uk) | €23 (Amazon.it) | €23 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €23 (Amazon.es) | €23 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “This book details Atari’s genesis from an idea between an engineer and a visionary in 1969 to a nearly $2 billion dollar juggernaut, and ending with a $538 million death spiral during 1984. A testament to the people that worked at this beloved company, the book is full of their personal stories and insights.”

16-best-video-games-books-atari-to-zelda-japan-videogamesTitle: Atari to Zelda: Japan’s Videogames in Global Contexts
Author
: Mia Consalvo
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262034395
ISBN-13: 978-0262034395
Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.8 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 272
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £22 (Amazon.co.uk) | €30 (Amazon.it) | €29 (Amazon.de) | CDN$41 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €30 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This study of Japan’s contribution to the worldwide video game market is more than just an  exploration of Japanese video games. It is a study of globalisation which confidently argues  that globalisation does not exclusively move from the West outwards by demonstrating the  close links between Japanese and Western game developers and players as well as how they influence each other.

17-best-video-games-books-bible-adventuresTitle: Bible Adventures
Author
: Gabe Durham
Publisher: Boss Fight Books
ASIN: B00UDG4Z0M
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: 99
Price: $5 (Amazon.com) | £3.25 (Amazon.co.uk) | €5 (Amazon.de) | CDN$7 (Amazon.ca) | €5 (Amazon.es) | €5 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “This fascinating book takes a look at the genesis of the infamous game company known as Wisdom Tree, as well as the development process behind its notorious video games. Gabe shares some insight into a side of early video game production that I had never stopped to consider before!” – Clyde “Tomato” Mandelin, author of “Legend of Localization

18-best-video-games-books-commodork-sordid-tales-from-bbs-junkieTitle: Commodork: Sordid Tales from a BBS Junkie
Author
: Rob O’Hara
Publisher: lulu.com
ISBN-10: 1847285821
ISBN-13: 978-1847285829
Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.1 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 168
Price: $15 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €12 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$20 (Amazon.ca) | €12 (Amazon.es) | €12 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “Commodork gives readers an insider’s view of what it was like to be involved in the Commodore and IBM BBS scenes of the eighties and nineties. Rob O’Hara brings the era to life with wit and humor, giving a fascinating look at that subculture to those that weren’t there, and bringing back fond memories for those that were.” – Rob Strangman, author of “Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman

19-best-video-games-books-console-wars-sega-nintendo-battleTitle: Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation
Author
: Blake J. Harris
Publisher: Dey Street Books
ISBN-10: 0062276700
ISBN-13: 978-0062276704
Dimensions: 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches | 15.3 x 4.2 x 23.4 cm
Number of Pages: 576
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £18 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$10 (Amazon.ca) | €15 (Amazon.es) | €12 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Nintendo was the biggest video game company in the early 1990s, dominating the home  console market in the United States. But then Sega, a faltering arcade company, called Tom  Kalinske to turn this scenario around. From a hardly-known company to a toe-to- toe  competitor, this book tells the story of the most famous console war that divided friends  between Sega and Nintendo, family oriented and more adult oriented, Sonic and Mario.  Console Wars lets you know how the two companies battled for domination focusing on the  marketing and sales perspective, not on the actual engineering and specifics of each  company and software development.

20-best-video-games-books-game-over-how-nintendo-conquered-worldTitle: Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World
Author
: David Sheff
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN-10: 0679736220
ISBN-13: 978-0679736226
Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8 inches | 13.3 x 2.5 x 20.3 cm
Number of Pages: 451
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £45 (Amazon.co.uk) | €18 (Amazon.it) | €28 (Amazon.de) | CDN$76 (Amazon.ca) | €18 (Amazon.es) | €17 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Written in an easy to read almost novel like style Game Over aims to tell the complete history  of Nintendo from its humble card manufacturing days to it becoming a giant in the video  game industry. The book does not just concentrate on Nintendo’s games and cute characters;  it also looks at the legal landscape of the 1980s and takes a look at some of the legal battles  that almost led to the company’s bankruptcy.

21-best-video-games-books-it-behind-you-book-bob-papeTitle: It’s Behind You
Author
: Bob Pape
Publisher: independent publishing
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: 138
Price: FREE!
Description: “My favourite game development book is It’s Behind You by Bob Pape. It came out a few years ago. Fascinating insight into the life of a bottom-rung coder in the seedy and unglamourous world of 80s game development. Available free on his website!” – Sorrel Tilley, author of “Monochromatica

22-best-video-games-books-masters-of-doomTitle: Masters of Doom
Author
: David Kushner
Publisher: Random House Trade
ISBN-10: 0812972155
ISBN-13: 978-0812972153
Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches | 13.4 x 2.8 x 19.7 cm
Number of Pages: 368
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £10 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$17 (Amazon.ca) | €12 (Amazon.es) | €10 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Description: This book is much more than the history about how Doom was born, it’s the legend of a small independent studio that revolutionized games in the ‘90s, the tale of the friendship among John Carmack and John Romero, and even a great novel full of interesting (real) characters.

23-best-video-games-books-memoirs-virtual-cavemanTitle: Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman
Author
: Rob Strangman
Publisher: lulu.com
ISBN-10: 131210483X
ISBN-13: 978-1312104839
Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 472
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €23 (Amazon.it) | €24 (Amazon.de) | CDN$23 (Amazon.ca) | €24 (Amazon.es) | €24 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Virtual Caveman takes readers on a trip through some of gaming’s most defining moments as viewed through the eyes of industry veteran Rob Strangman. Unlike most other gaming history books this one is a deeply personal account, however Strangman’s accessible writing style and fun stories make the book easy to relate to. The book also contains a few guest writers and it is capped off by a series of interviews conducted by Strangman with various industry insiders.

24-best-video-games-books-phoenix-the-fall-rise-videogamesTitle: Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames
Author
: Herman Leonard
Publisher: ROLENTA PRESS
ISBN-10: 0964384825
ISBN-13: 978-0964384828
Dimensions: 0.7 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches | 1.9 x 14 x 21.4 cm
Number of Pages: 312
Price: $5 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €25 (Amazon.it) | €25 (Amazon.de) | CDN$9 (Amazon.ca) | €60 (Amazon.es) | €10 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Phoenix is a book about the history of videogames, with its ups and downs, containing  reliable information broken down year by year and it also includes information on consoles  and releases on Japanese and European territories that are usually unknown in the United  States. As the book covers a lot of systems throughout the years, it is more of a collection of  in-depth information about the industry, a must-own for gamers who want to have detailed  information on it.

best-video-games-books-playing-next-level-history-segaTitle: Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
Author: Ken Horowitz
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN-10: 078649994X
ISBN-13: 978-0786499946
Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.8 x 9.9 inches | 17.5 x 2 x 25.1 cm
Number of Pages: 312
Price: $39 (Amazon.com) | £32 (Amazon.co.uk) | €39 (Amazon.it) | €40 (Amazon.de) | CDN$54 (Amazon.ca) | €39 (Amazon.es) | €40 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “Drawing on interviews with nearly 100 Sega alumni, this book traces the development of the company, revealing previously undocumented areas of game-making history, including Sega’s relationship with Tonka, the creation of its internal studios, and major breakthroughs like the Sega Channel and HEAT Network. More than 40 of the company’s most influential games are explored in detail.”

25-best-video-games-books-playing-worldTitle: Playing at the World
Author
: Jon Peterson
Publisher: Unreason Press
ISBN-10: 0615642047
ISBN-13: 978-0615642048
Dimensions: 7 x 1.6 x 10 inches | 17.8 x 4.1 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 720
Price: $26 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €29 (Amazon.it) | €30 (Amazon.de) | CDN$36 (Amazon.ca) | €29 (Amazon.es) | €30 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “This book shows how game history is really about thousands of tiny changes, and that these changes are sometimes are combined into high-level concepts and genres that only later seem obvious and eternal.” – Jesper Juul, author of “Half Real”, “The Art of Failure”, “A Casual Revolution” and many more

26-best-video-games-books-power-up-how-japanese-video-gamesTitle: Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life (2016 ed.)
Author
: Chris Kohler
Publisher: Dover Publications
ISBN-10: 0486801497
ISBN-13: 978-0486801490
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches | 14 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 352
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £10 (Amazon.co.uk) | €19 (Amazon.it) | CDN$21 (Amazon.ca) | €12 (Amazon.es) | €10 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This is a book dedicated to fans of Japanese games, that explains through a thoughtful series of memories, anecdotes and data how Japan became one of the major countries in the gaming industry. If you wonder why most console manufacture and your favorite titles are created in Japan, just read this book to know everything you always asked for, and even more. In October 2016 Dover Publications will release an updated version of the book, with a new chapter and revised material.

27-best-video-games-books-replay-the-history-video-gamesTitle: Replay: The History of Video Games
Author
: Tristan Donovan
Publisher: Yellow Ant
ISBN-10: 0956507204
ISBN-13: 978-0956507204
Dimensions: 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 3.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 516
Price: $19 (Amazon.com) | £13 (Amazon.co.uk) | €15 (Amazon.it) | €19 (Amazon.de) | CDN$24 (Amazon.ca) | €15 (Amazon.es) | €16 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Replay tells the history of the most popular and dynamic forms of art: videogames. Extensive  research and 140 interviews allowed the author to tell how it all started, the vision of the first  game designers and the evolution of the industry from 1965 to 1995. This is a very  informational book containing an in-depth chronology of how the industry developed itself and  the details on the business landscape for gaming. It focuses on the hardware, initial formation  of videogame consoles and formats, and the creation of gaming genres.

28-best-video-games-books-service-games-rise-fall-segaTitle: Service Games: The Rise and Fall of SEGA
Author
: Sam Pettus
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1494288354
ISBN-13: 978-1494288358
Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 2.8 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 480
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €26 (Amazon.it) | €25 (Amazon.de) | CDN$33 (Amazon.ca) | €25 (Amazon.es) | €25 (Amazon.fr)
Description:This Kickstarted book is the definitive word on the history of SEGA spread across 480 pages. It’s a narrative history that begins when SEGA did in the 1950s and ends with the Dreamcast in the early 2000s. The enhanced edition of the book contains all of the descriptions, facts and images from the first edition along with new European specific details, fixed facts and interviews.

29-best-video-games-books-speccy-nation-tribute-golden-age-british-gamingTitle: Speccy Nation: A tribute to the golden age of British gaming
Author
: Dan Whitehead
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1479193925
ISBN-13: 978-1479193929
Dimensions: 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 0.7 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages:124
Price: $6 (Amazon.com) | £4 (Amazon.co.uk) | €6 (Amazon.it) | €7 (Amazon.de) | CDN$8 (Amazon.ca) | €7 (Amazon.es) | €7 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In Speccy Nation journalist Dan Whitehead explores fifty games from the ‘golden age of  British gaming’. The book concentrates on a computer known as the ZX Spectrum which  allowed British gamers to both play and create some instant hits as well as some titles best  summed up as ‘quirky.’ While many people will be eager to hear about some timeless British  classics Whitehead does not shy away from looking into some of the smaller 80s cult hits.

best video game books a-z-cool-computer-gamesTitle: The A-Z of cool computer games
Author: Jack Railton
Publisher: Allison and Busby
ISBN-10: 0749082062
ISBN-13: 978-0749082062
Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.2 x 7.4 inches | 14.7 x 3.2 x 18.8 cm
Number of Pages: 287
Price: $5 (Amazon.com) | £4 (Amazon.co.uk) | €9 (Amazon.it) | €27 (Amazon.de) | CDN$24 (Amazon.ca) | €27 (Amazon.es) | €16 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “The A-Z of cool computer games has a silly-sounding title, but is actually a very comprehensive look at the history of the video games industry, with a focus on the British retro gaming industry. It covers the period up to the first PlayStation and I’d definitely recommend its inclusion on the list.” – Rob Hesketh

30-best-video-games-books-the-bitmap-brothers-universeTitle: The Bitmap Brothers: Universe
Author
: Duncan Harris
Publisher: Read-Only Memory
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: 190 x 240 mm
Number of Pages: 300
Price: £30 (Read-Only Memory)
Description: If you are an old-school gamer you probably know who The Bitmap Brothers are and why they are important for the history of video games. In this book you can finally read a comprehensive collection of memories, interviews and curiosities on this legendary team, other than beautiful screenshots, artworks and photos. If that was not enough, there are also a few canceled games revealed for the first time and a bunch of unused content from their released projects. A must have for Bitmap fans.

31-best-video-games-books-history-nintendo-1889-1980Title: The History of Nintendo 1889-1980 SC
Author
: Florent Gorges, Isao Yamazaki
Publisher: Les Editions Pix’N Love
ISBN-10: 2918272159
ISBN-13: 978-2918272151
Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches | 15 x 1.5 x 21.1 cm
Number of Pages: 242
Price: $40 (Amazon.com) | £36 (Amazon.co.uk) | €45 (Amazon.it) | €31 (Amazon.de) | CDN$70 (Amazon.ca) | €52 (Amazon.es) | €20 (Amazon.fr)
Description:This publication delves into the often forgotten past of one of the biggest video game  companies in the world. It catalogues the company’s product portfolio in astounding detail  beginning with playing cards and moving through board games, electronic toys and more  right up until their home video game consoles.

32-best-video-games-books-the-history-ocean-softwareTitle: The History of Ocean Software
Author
: Chris Wilkins & Roger M. Kean
Publisher: Fusion Retro Books
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: 8.6 x 7 x 0.9 inches | 22.5 x 18.3 x 2.3 cm
Number of Pages: 264
Price: £20 (Fusion Retro Books)
Description: This is a high quality narrative history book which charts the rise and fall of Ocean Software across 264 pages. It contains all of the facts you would expect from such a book along with full colour photographs, images of sprites from Ocean’s games and memorabilia that has never been seen outside of Ocean’s Headquarters before.

33-best-video-games-books-the-story-of-us-goldTitle: The Story of US Gold
Author
: Chris Wilkins & Roger M. Kean
Publisher: Fusion Retro Books
ISBN-10: 0993131530
ISBN-13: 978-0993131530
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: 236
Price: £19 (Fusion Retro Books)
Description: In The Story of US Gold Chris Wilkins and Roger M. Kean chart the entire history of US  Gold – beginning with its founding and ending with its sale to Eidos. The book is a collection  of memoirs from the developers and artists who worked on some of US Gold’s most  successful titles spread across 236 pages, which are packed with full colour, never before  seen pictures.

34-best-video-games-books-the-ultimate-history-of-video-gamesTitle: The Ultimate History of Video Games
Author
: Steven Kent
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
ISBN-10: 0761536434
ISBN-13: 978-0761536437
Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches | 18.8 x 3 x 23.4 cm
Number of Pages: 624
Price: $16 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €15 (Amazon.it) | €16 (Amazon.de) | CDN$22 (Amazon.ca) | €21 (Amazon.es) | €19 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This exhaustively researched book is packed with factual and interesting information ranging  from the Atari to PC. Inside the book you’ll be met with hundreds of facts you didn’t even  realise you needed to know, but you do – such as a look at the time Space Invaders caused a coin shortage, the story of Pac-Man’s design and more.

35-best-video-games-books-the-untold-history-of-japanese-game-developers-volume-1Title: The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Volume 1
Author
: John Szczepaniak
Publisher: SMG Szczepaniak
ISBN-10: 0992926025
ISBN-13: 978-0992926021
Dimensions:  7.4 x 1.2 x 9.7 inches | 18,7 x 3 x 24,6 cm
Number of Pages: 526
Price: $35 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €34 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €34 (Amazon.es) | €35 (Amazon.fr)
Description: John Szczepaniak, already a contributor of various magazines and websites among which the excellent Hardcore Gaming 101, had the chance to go in Japan to interview mostly unknown programmers, game designers, illustrators and musicians, active in that extraordinary video games period that were the eighties and the nineties. The Untold History of Japanese Video Game Developers is a book full of previously unknown and interesting info for fans of retro gaming and obscure Japanese developers.

36-best-video-games-books-untold-history-japanese-game-developers-volume-2Title: The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Volume 2
Author
: John Szczepaniak
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1518655319
ISBN-13: 978-1518655319
Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.7 inches | 18,7 x 3 x 24,6 cm
Number of Pages: 396
Price: $35 (Amazon.com) | £25 (Amazon.co.uk) | €36 (Amazon.it) | €37 (Amazon.de) | CDN$43 (Amazon.ca) | €36 (Amazon.es) | €37 (Amazon.fr)

Description: The first volume was a unique look at the unknown history of old-school Japanese games and with the second volume we can safely claim that the author had made a worthy follow up of the original, both in regards of the content and, especially, of the editing. If you love reading about obscure, curious and strange stories from old-school Japanese gaming studios, The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Volume 2 is a must-have book, that shows how it’s still possible for western journalists to preserve information on the history of Japanese videogames, before it could be forgotten forever.

37-best-video-games-books-video-games-you-will-never-playTitle: Video Games You Will Never Play
Author
: Unseen64 Collective
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1537389025
ISBN-13: 978-1537389028
Dimensions: 7 x 1.1 x 10 inches | 17.8 x 2.8 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 480
Price (Black & White Version): $27 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €27 (Amazon.it) | €28 (Amazon.de) | CDN$31 (Amazon.ca) | €27 (Amazon.es) | €27 (Amazon.fr)
Price (Full Color Version): $62 (Amazon.com) | £45 (Amazon.co.uk) | €62 (Amazon.it) | €63 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €51 (Amazon.es) | €62 (Amazon.fr)
Description: It’s finally here, after almost two years of work: our book about lost videogames! In this volume you can read about more than 200 cancelled games, starting from early ‘90s computers, to 8-bit games and all the way through to the 7th generation of consoles with Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. In this book you can find the most interesting cancelled games from the Unseen64 archive plus a few previously unknown lost games, new screenshots and details. Also included are essays about the preservation of unreleased games, articles about how we do researches for Unseen64 and 20 interviews with museums and developers who worked on lost games. The content of the black & white and full color versions is identical, the only differences are the cover and the interior color.

38-best-video-games-books-videogames-in-the-beginningTitle: Videogames: In the Beginning
Author
: Ralph Baer
Publisher: Rolenta Press
ISBN-10: 0964384817
ISBN-13: 978-0964384811
Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches | 21.4 x 14.9 x 1.9 cm
Number of Pages: 280
Price: $22 (Amazon.com) | £33 (Amazon.co.uk) | CDN$76 (Amazon.ca)
Description: “Inventor Ralph Baer documented everything, including the day when he dreamed up the idea of home videogames. This indispensable autobiography tells the story of how Baer invented the first TV game machine, accompanied by full-page color reproductions of the documentation that he would later use to back up his claim of being the father of home videogames.” – Chris Kohler, author of “Power-Up: How Japanese Videogames Gave the World an Extra Life”.

Books on specific consoles & computers

39-best-video-games-books-game-boy-world-1989Title: Game Boy World 1989 | XL Color Edition: A History of Nintendo Game Boy
Author
: Jeremy Parish
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1532801122
ISBN-13: 978-1532801129
Dimensions: 8 x 0.2 x 10 inches | 20.3 x 0.6 x 25.4 cm
Number of Pages: 104
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £18 (Amazon.co.uk) | €23 (Amazon.it) | €45 (Amazon.de) | CDN$75 (Amazon.ca) | €23 (Amazon.es)
Description: This is the definitive archive of all things Game Boy. The first volume contains an in-depth  analysis of the Game Boy, the people behind it and all of the games released for the system in  1989. On top of a written analysis of each game and an exploration of the companies behind  them the book also features full colour photographs of box art and screenshots.

40-best-video-games-books-good-nintentions-30-years-nesTitle: Good Nintentions: 30 Years of NES: An Unofficial Survey of the Nintendo Entertainment System (Volume 1)
Author
: Jeremy Parish
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 1518717993
ISBN-13: 978-1518717994
Dimensions: 8 x 0.7 x 10 inches | 20,3 x 1,7 x 25,4 cm
Number of Pages: 326
Price: $18 (Amazon.com) | £18 (Amazon.co.uk) | €18 (Amazon.it) | €19 (Amazon.de) | CDN$23 (Amazon.ca) | €18 (Amazon.es) | €18 (Amazon.fr)
Description: A book written with pure love for the Nintendo Entertainment System, full of interesting facts and little know curiosities about the console that revived the videogame industry in USA. Featuring a complete list of all official published NES games in America, insights on the most important ones, details on the Famicom and articles on the current retro revival of 8-bit inspired games and Youtube series.

41-best-video-games-books-monochromaticaTitle: Monochromatica
Author
: Sorrel Tilley
Publisher: N/A
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: N/A
Dimensions: N/A
Number of Pages: N/A
Price: Coming soon!
Description: “Monochromatica is a lovingly put together tome on the original Game Boy, featuring interviews with multiple developers; it documents not only a glorious era which has past us, but an era which future generations will have difficulty comprehending. You can’t go home again, and this makes me weep.” – John Szczepaniak, author of “The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers”

41-best-video-games-books-racing-the-beam-atari-video-computer-systemTitle: Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System
Author
: Ian Bogost and Nick Montfort
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 026201257X
ISBN-13: 978-0262012577
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $19 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €24 (Amazon.it) | €25 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €17 (Amazon.es) | €20 (Amazon.fr)
Title: I Am Error: The Nintendo Family Computer / Entertainment System Platform
Author
: Nathan Altice
Publisher: The MIT Press
42-best-video-games-books-i-am-errorISBN-10: 0262028778
ISBN-13: 978-0262028776
Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.9 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 440
Price: $37 (Amazon.com) | £20 (Amazon.co.uk) | €37 (Amazon.it) | €65 (Amazon.de) | CDN$50 (Amazon.ca) | €73 (Amazon.es) | €39 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “Both belong to the MIT Platforms Studies series and offer highly informed insights into the Atari 2600 and NES consoles, respectively. While they contain a tremendous amount of retrospective material, their real strength is in their exploration of how those systems’ technology shaped the nature of the games that appeared on them, a testament to video gaming’s unique marriage of art and tech.” – Jeremy Parish, author of “Good Nintentions” and “Game Boy World

43-best-video-games-books-sega-mega-drive-genesis-collected-worksTitle: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works
Author
: Keith Stuart
Publisher: Read-Only Memory
ISBN-10: 0957576811
ISBN-13: 978-0957576810
Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.4 x 10.5 inches | 21.6 x 3.5 x 26.7 cm
Number of Pages: 352
Price: £35 (Read-Only Memory)
Description: This book opens with a series of development and concept illustrations for some of SEGA’s  most loved games, original developer interviews and hardware production plans. This is followed by a narrative history of the Mega Drive / Genesis written by Keith Stuart. Capping off the book are 28 interviews with SEGA developers. Complementing the book’s easy to  read style are hundreds of full coloured images dotted throughout.

44-best-video-games-books-xbox-revisited-game-plan-corporateTitle: Xbox Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal
Author
: Robbie Bach
Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group
ISBN-10: 1612548482
ISBN-13: 978-1612548487
Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches | 15.5 x 2.3 x 23.1 cm
Number of Pages: 232
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £17 (Amazon.co.uk) | €23 (Amazon.it) | €22 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €23 (Amazon.es) | €23 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In Xbox Revisited, Microsoft’s former Chief Xbox Officer, Robbie Bach explores the  corporate and civic worlds through the lens of the original Xbox’s creation. He looks at how  the three Ps, which were developed by the Xbox team, were used to revitalise a downtrodden  business and then applies what he learnt to issues in the community.

Video Game Artbooks and Coffee Table books

45-best-video-games-books-art-grasshopper-manufactureTitle: Art of Grasshopper Manufacture
Author
: Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher: PIE Books
ISBN-10: 4756245862
ISBN-13: 978-4756245861
Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.7 x 10.5 inches | 18.4 x 1.8 x 26.7 cm
Number of Pages: 224
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £20 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €31 (Amazon.de) | CDN$45 (Amazon.ca) | €38 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Not familiar with Grasshopper Manufacture? Perhaps you’re more familiar it’s CEO Goichi Suda, AKA Suda51, and his lineup of unique, imaginative, and completely bizarre video games.  This book contains a boatload of both finished and concept art of cult games such as Killer7 and Shadows of the Damned, along with detailed commentary by Suda himself so you can get a glimpse into his controlled madness.

46-best-video-games-books-assassin-s-creed-complete-visual-historyTitle: Assassin’s Creed: The Complete Visual History
Author
: Matthew Miller
Publisher: Insight Editions
ISBN-10: 1608876004
ISBN-13: 978-1608876006
Dimensions: 9.2 x 1.3 x 12.8 inches | 978-1783298822
Number of Pages: 320
Price: $33 (Amazon.com) | £26 (Amazon.co.uk) | €46 (Amazon.it) | €47 (Amazon.de) | CDN$45 (Amazon.ca) | €42 (Amazon.es) | €56 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This is an absolutely 100% must have for fans of the Assassin’s Creed.  This massive hard covered book has an almost daunting amount of content.  Not only do you get pages of high quality concept artwork spanning across all of the different time periods from the first Assassin’s Creed to Syndicate, but you also get just as much developer insight into the historical influences on the games design, the mythology of the game’s world, and so so much more.

47-best-video-games-books-border-break-artworksTitle: Border Break Artworks
Author
: Sega
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1927925274
ISBN-13: 978-1927925270
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.5 x 11.6 inches | 20.8 x 1.3 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 176
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £36 (Amazon.co.uk) | €44 (Amazon.it) | €36 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €39 (Amazon.es) | €39 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Unfamiliar with the Japanese arcade game series Border Break? Don’t worry I was too up until writing this.  However that shouldn’t stop you for one second from getting this beautiful art book, especially if you’re a fan of mechs in general.  Revel in the pages upon pages of awesome mech designs and you might just be inspired to create some yourself.

48-best-video-games-books-capcom-design-worksTitle: Capcom Design Works
Author
: Capcom
Publisher: N/A
ISBN-10: 4757704127
ISBN-13: 978-4757704121
Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches | 26 x 21 x 1.8 cm
Number of Pages: 239
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €42 (Amazon.it) | CDN$47 (Amazon.ca) | €42 (Amazon.es) | €46 (Amazon.fr)
Description: If you find yourself unsure of whether or not to get this Capcom art book take a moment to consider exactly how much content you will be getting.  Not only will you be getting 200+ pages of beautiful illustrations, but you’ll also be treated to a wide array of art styles to match Capcom’s wide array of wildly different games.  From the dark and brooding tone of Resident Evil to the fun and bright world of Megaman you’ll have hours worth of content to sink your teeth into.

49-best-video-games-books-disgaeart-disgaea-official-illustration-collectionTitle: DISGAEArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection
Author
: Nippon Ichi Software, Takehito Harada
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778502
ISBN-13: 1926778502
Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.6 x 11.7 inches | 21.1 x 1.5 x 29.7 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £29 (Amazon.co.uk) | €30 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$35 (Amazon.ca) | €34 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Takehito Harada’s work on the JRPG series, Disgaea. With this book you get everything  from game covers to promotional art to even some more rare and obscure pieces: a must  have for any fan of Disgaea, or anime/manga-style art!

50-best-video-games-books-dark-souls-design-worksTitle: Dark Souls: Design Works
Author
: From Software
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778898
ISBN-13: 978-1926778891
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 11.9 inches | 21.6 x 1.5 x 30.2 cm
Number of Pages: 128
Price: $36 (Amazon.com) | £34 (Amazon.co.uk) | €33 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$48 (Amazon.ca) | €36 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Dark Souls is known as one of the hardest yet most popular games of all time so when an  English version of a critically acclaimed artbook based on the game was released, it was a pretty  big deal. This book is known as Design Works which takes a look at the game’s concept art, along with character and monster designs. Even an exclusive interview with the  game’s creators is included, altogether making this a must-have for Dark Souls fans.

51-best-video-games-books-dawn-the-worlds-of-final-fantasyTitle: Dawn: The Worlds Of Final Fantasy
Author
: Yoshitaka Amano
Publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN-10: 1593078684
ISBN-13: 978-1593078683
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 12 inches | 21.6 x 1.5 x 30.5 cm
Number of Pages: 116
Price: $16 (Amazon.com) | £19 (Amazon.co.uk) | €27 (Amazon.it) | €28 (Amazon.de) | CDN$47 (Amazon.ca) | €28 (Amazon.es) | €28 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This book consents of early concept art for the first 4 Final Fantasy games, from Yoshitaka  Amano himself. The whole book is concept art, no in game screenshots. This means you’ll  get to look into the early stages of development for the game (which, you know, is pretty much what this website’s about)!

52-best-video-games-books-half-life-2-raising-the-barTitle: Half Life 2: Raising the Bar
Author
: David Hodgson
Publisher: Prima Games
ISBN-10: 0761543643
ISBN-13: 978-0761543640
Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.9 x 11.1 inches | 22.6 x 2.3 x 28.2 cm
Number of Pages: 288
Price: $84+ (Amazon.com) | £70+ (Amazon.co.uk) | €96+ (Amazon.it) | €96 (Amazon.de) | CDN$130 (Amazon.ca) | €103 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Probably the current price is a bit too high for this 288 pages long artbook, but if you love Half Life and if you can find this one at the right price, you will get a wonderful collection of concept arts, sketches and curiosities on the development of the two games. Featuring images from unused enemies, characters and level designs, even if there’s not a full history on the changes made to the games before their releases, this is still a fascinating trip down the unseen world of Half Life.

53-best-video-games-books-hyrule-historiaTitle: Hyrule Historia
Author
: Nintendo
Publisher: Dark Horse
ISBN-10: 1616550414
ISBN-13: 978-1616550417
Dimensions: 9.3 x 1.1 x 12.2 inches | 23.5 x 2.8 x 31.1 cm
Number of Pages: 280
Price: $24 (Amazon.com) | £21 (Amazon.co.uk) | €25 (Amazon.it) | €28 (Amazon.de) | CDN$29 (Amazon.ca) | €29 (Amazon.es) | €29 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Pop quiz: what Legend of Zelda game occurs first chronologically, A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time? Don’t know? Didn’t even know the games shared a timeline? These questions and many more can be answered with this book which contains an official timeline and history of Hyrule from the creators themselves along with beautiful concept art, an exclusive manga, and tons more for even the most diehard Zelda fan.

54-best-video-games-books-japanese-game-graphicsTitle: Japanese game graphics
Author
: Works Corporation
Publisher: Collins Design
ISBN-10: 0060567724
ISBN-13: 978-0060567729
Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches | 28.2 x 20.9 x 1.2 cm
Number of Pages: 176
Price: $5 (Amazon.com) | £12 (Amazon.co.uk) | €6 (Amazon.it) | €4 (Amazon.de) | CDN$4 (Amazon.ca) | €15 (Amazon.es)
Description: Japanese Game Graphics will allow fans to go behind the scenes with some of their favourite games to gain insight on their creation. Twenty six games (including Oni Musha 2 and Final Fantasy X2) are covered in meticulous detail each receiving their own individual chapter. Each chapter is fully illustrated and packed full of insightful interviews with those who worked on the games.

55-best-video-games-books-monster-hunter-illustrations-2Title: Monster Hunter Illustrations 2
Author
: Capcom
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 192677888X
ISBN-13: 978-1926778884
Dimensions: 8.2 x 1.3 x 11.7 inches | 20.8 x 3.3 x 29.7 cm
Number of Pages: 400
Price: $35 (Amazon.com) | £45 (Amazon.co.uk) | €52 (Amazon.it) | €46 (Amazon.de) | CDN$50 (Amazon.ca) | €40 (Amazon.es) | €40 (Amazon.fr)
Description: For fans of the Monster Hunter series, this book is definitely a must-have. It covers all the third generation of the Monster Hunter games, so you will have a 400-page book covering the arts of Monster Hunter Tri, Monster Hunter 3G, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd and Monster Hunter Portable 3rd.  This book is complete with all the creature designs, characters designs, weapons, armor and many art sketches. It shows details of the drawings and the evolution from the concept to the actual final, colored art of the game’s assets. There are also with the designers and labels explaining the drawings.  Overall, this is a beautiful book for Monster Hunter fans or for gamers who appreciate the artistic process to produce a video game.

56-best-video-games-books-okami-official-complete-worksTitle: Okami Official Complete Works
Author
: Capcom
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1897376022
ISBN-13: 978-1897376027
Dimensions: 8.2 x 1 x 11.6 inches | 20.8 x 2.5 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 288
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £28 (Amazon.co.uk) | €32 (Amazon.it) | €34 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €36 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Experience Okami like you never have before: the book features 288 full-color pages (all in  English) of art from one of the best cult classics of all time, Okami. A truly beautiful book  from cover to cover (in the most literal sense, even the front and back covers are  awesome!)

57-best-video-games-books-persona-3-official-design-worksTitle:Persona 3: Official Design Works
Author
: Shigenori Soejima
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1927925258
ISBN-13: 978-1927925256
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 11.7 inches
Number of Pages: 144
Price: $33 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €34 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €43 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This is one more example of a great art book featuring the character designs of Shigenori Soejima. Persona 3 fans and gamers alike will be delighted to see not only the character designs, but also rough sketches, storyboards, background and settings created to build the final product. The book also contains commentaries from the game’s creator Katsura Hashino and an exclusive interview with him.  The book is printed on a high quality paper, and it also covers the art of Persona 3 Portable, making it a must-have for anyone who appreciates the series and the art behind a video game’s creation.

58-best-video-games-books-persona-4-official-design-worksTitle: Persona 4: Official Design Works
Author
: Atlus, Shigenori Soejima
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778456
ISBN-13: 978-1926778457
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.6 x 11.6 inches | 20.8 x 1.5 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $28 (Amazon.com) | £36 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €36 (Amazon.de) | CDN$40 (Amazon.ca) | €39 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Delve deeper into the world of Persona 4 than you ever thought possible with this extremely detailed art book. Featuring used and unused concept art of even the most minor characters and demons featured in the game, this book has enough content to enthrall even the most minor of Persona fans.  Creator commentary included!

59-best-video-games-books-senran-kagura-official-design-worksTitle: Senran Kagura: Official Design Works
Author
: Marvelous Entertainment
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1927925479
ISBN-13: 978-1927925478
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.7 x 11.6 inches | 20.8 x 1.8 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 240
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £26 (Amazon.co.uk) | €46 (Amazon.it) | €39 (Amazon.de) | CDN$45 (Amazon.ca) | €43 (Amazon.es) | €44 (Amazon.fr)
Description: one of the most “controversial” game series in the last few years, Senran Kagura made gamers mostly talk about its busty waifus but still managed to gather a cult following of fans thanks to its fast, arcade and super fun hack ‘n slash gameplay. In this artbook you can admire all the girls featured in the game and take a look at their otaku-loved japanese character design.

60-best-video-games-books-shigenori-soejima-art-works-2004-2010Title: Shigenori Soejima Art Works 2004-2010
Author
: Shigenori Soejima
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778324
ISBN-13: 978-1926778327
Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.6 x 11.6 | 29.4 x 21 x 1.4 cm
Number of Pages: 160
Price: $33 (Amazon.com) | £27 (Amazon.co.uk) | €37 (Amazon.it) | €27 (Amazon.de) | CDN$29 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €25 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Shigenori Soejima works on Persona 3 to Stella Deus. The book doesn’t just consist of  beautiful character designs though, it also has a long interview with Shigenori Soejima  himself!

61-best-video-games-books-shin-megami-tensei-iv-official-artworksTitle: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Official Artworks
Author
: Atlus
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1927925584
ISBN-13: 978-1927925584
Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.6 x 11.6 inches | 21.1 x 1.5 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 208
Price: $28 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €29 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$45 (Amazon.ca) | €34 (Amazon.es) | €39 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Even though this book only contains content from one of the games in the long running RPG series it would be a worthy addition to any fan’s collection with it’s stunning array of concept artwork.  It contains pages upon pages of art ranging from character designs to scenery to the multitude of demons encountered in the game.  Creator commentary included!

62-best-video-games-books-super-famicom-the-box-art-collectionTitle: Super Famicom the Box Art Collection
Author
: Stuart Brett
Publisher: Bitmap Books
ISBN-10: 0993012965
ISBN-13: 978-0993012969
Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches | 25.8 x 25.6 x 2.8 cm
Number of Pages: 274
Price: $26 (Amazon.com) | £25 (Amazon.co.uk) | €22 (Amazon.it) | €25 (Amazon.de) | CDN$31 (Amazon.ca) | €24 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr) | £25 (Bitmap Books)
Description: This full colour hardback features a collection of around 250 professionally photographed  packaging images of Super Famicom Packaging accompanied by a critique of the artwork.  Some games featured in the book have never been documented in print before and had to be  sourced from the archives of collector Stuart Brett. The Box Art Collection also features  multiple interviews with collectors who explain their love of their collections.

63-best-video-games-books-the-art-of-alice-madness-returnsTitle: The Art of Alice: Madness Returns
Author
: American McGee, Various
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN-10: 1595826971
ISBN-13: 978-1595826978
Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.8 x 12.2 inches | 23.6 x 2.1 x 31 cm
Number of Pages: 184
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £20 (Amazon.co.uk) | €30 (Amazon.it) | €29 (Amazon.de) | CDN$29 (Amazon.ca) | €29 (Amazon.es) | €29 (Amazon.fr)
Description: If you’re interested in Alice in Wonderland, you should probably check out the video games’  take on this intriguing world. To add, the world is thoroughly examined in the book named after  the second game: The Art of Alice: Madness Returns. You get an exclusive look to all of the art  done for the game (including the scrapped artwork) and input from the makers behind the game.

best-video-games-books-art-atariTitle: The Art of Atari
Author: Tim Lapetino
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1524101036
ISBN-13: 978-1524101039
Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.2 x 11.1 inches | 24.1 x 3 x 28.2 cm
Number of Pages: 352
Price: $25 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €45 (Amazon.de) | CDN$42 (Amazon.ca) | €36 (Amazon.es) | €40 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “ATARI is one of the most recognized names in the world. Since its formation in 1972, the company pioneered hundreds of iconic titles including Asteroids, Centipede and Missile Command. In addition to hundreds of games created for arcades, home video systems, and computers, original artwork was specially commissioned to enhance the Atari experience, further enticing children and adults to embrace and enjoy the new era of electronic entertainment. ART OF ATARI is the first official collection of such artwork.”

64-best-video-games-books-the-art-of-game-worldsTitle: The Art of Game Worlds
Author
: Dave Morris, Leo Hartas
Publisher: Harper Design
ISBN-10: 0060724307
ISBN-13: 978-0060724306
Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches | 21.1 x 1.5 x 23.5 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £18 (Amazon.co.uk) | €22 (Amazon.it) | CDN$37 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es)
Description: The Art of Game Worlds contains magnificent full colour images, from both games and concept art, as well as insightful interviews all spread across 192 pages. The artwork ranges from the purely imaginative worlds that artists came up with themselves to game art based on real-world locations. The interviews take place with both game artists and creative directors.

best-video-games-books-art-oddworld-inhabitantsTitle: The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants
Author: Daniel Wade, Cathy Johnson
Publisher: Ballistic Publishing
ISBN-10: 1921002026
ISBN-13: 978-1921002021
Dimensions: 8.8 x 1 x 11.8 inches | 22.2 x 2.5 x 29.8 cm
Number of Pages: 256
Price: $95 (Amazon.com) | £190 (Amazon.co.uk) | €305 (Amazon.it) | €182 (Amazon.de) | CDN$274 (Amazon.ca) | €135 (Amazon.es) | €187 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years 1994 – 2004 is a high quality art book featuring the artistic journey of the legendary game company Oddworld Inhabitants from its first ten years – from Lorne Lanning’s vision of the first Oddworld hero in 1994 to 2004”

65-best-video-games-books-the-art-the-last-of-usTitle: The Art of The Last of Us
Author
: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN-10: 161655164X
ISBN-13: 978-1616551643
Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.8 x 12.2 inches | 23.7 x 2.1 x 31.1 cm
Number of Pages: 184
Price: $31 (Amazon.com) | £21 (Amazon.co.uk) | €31 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$33 (Amazon.ca) | €38 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Itching to play The Last of Us 2?  Scratch that itch with The Art of The Last of Us, the official art book for the  2013 smash hit.  Inside you’ll find pages of gorgeously detailed concept art of both used and unused character designs, environments, and enemies.  One word of warning, it may include spoilers for those who have not beaten the game.

66-best-video-games-books-the-art-of-the-mass-effect-universeTitle: The Art of The Mass Effect Universe
Author
: Casey Husdon, Various
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN-10: 1595827684
ISBN-13: 978-1595827685
Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.7 x 12.3 inches | 23.6 x 1.8 x 31.2 cm
Number of Pages: 184
Price: $27 (Amazon.com) | £30 (Amazon.co.uk) | €30 (Amazon.it) | €33 (Amazon.de) | CDN$33 (Amazon.ca) | €33 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Art from all three of the deep and compelling story driven Mass Effect games. Experience  the world of Mass Effect like you never had before with 184 color pages: find character  designs to vehicles in this epic hard cover book!

67-best-video-games-books-the-art-of-uncharted-4Title: The Art of Uncharted 4
Author
: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN-10: 1616559276
ISBN-13: 978-1616559274
Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.8 x 12.3 inches | 23.6 x 2 x 31.2 cm
Number of Pages: 184
Price: $27 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €22 (Amazon.it) | €27 (Amazon.de) | CDN$44 (Amazon.ca) | €25 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr)
Description: The Art of Uncharted 4 is a collaborative effort between the studio behind the award winning game, Naughty Dog, and Dark Horse Books. Readers will find a mix of character designs and environmental artwork spread across 176 full coloured pages. There is a lengthy introduction and all of the artwork is placed in chronological order to coincide with the chapters in the game.

68-best-video-games-books-the-eyes-of-bayonetta-art-book-dvdTitle: The Eyes of Bayonetta: Art Book & DVD
Author
: Platinum Games
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1926778421
ISBN-13: 978-1926778426
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.9 x 11.9 inches | 21.6 x 2.3 x 30.2 cm
Number of Pages: 224
Price: $36 (Amazon.com) | £36 (Amazon.co.uk) | €54 (Amazon.it) | €46 (Amazon.de) | CDN$50 (Amazon.ca) | €42 (Amazon.es) | €48 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Bayonetta is one of the most critically acclaimed games released on the seventh generation of  video game consoles. The game features a female protagonist who has the ability to shapeshift,  use magic and dual-wield weapons to help her in making her way through her journey to  regaining her memory. Created to honor this game, the book, The Eyes of Bayonetta: Art Book and DVD is complete with character sketches, CG models, designs for various concepts in the game  and creator commentary.

69-best-video-games-books-the-legend-of-heroes-the-illustrationsTitle: The Legend of Heroes: The Illustrations
Author
: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 192677891X
ISBN-13: 978-1926778914
Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.9 x 11.7 inches | 21.1 x 2.3 x 29.7 cm
Number of Pages: 272
Price: $50 (Amazon.com) | £45 (Amazon.co.uk) | €47 (Amazon.it) | €42 (Amazon.de) | CDN$50 (Amazon.ca) | €46 (Amazon.es) | €48 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Released in 1989, The Legend of Heroes is a Japanese RPG series that spawned out of the  Dragon Slayer series, which is also a fellow JRPG. The Legend of Heroes: The Illustrations  (Legend of Heroes SC) is 272 pages full of content including artwork and early concepts for the  LOH games.

70-best-video-games-books-the-sky-the-art-final-fantasyTitle: The Sky: The Art of Final Fantasy
Author
: Yoshitaka Amano
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
ISBN-10: 1616551607
ISBN-13: 978-1616551605
Dimensions: 11 x 3 x 12 inches | 27.9 x 7.6 x 30.5 cm
Number of Pages: 640
Price: $58 (Amazon.com) | £58 (Amazon.co.uk) | €71 (Amazon.it) | €86 (Amazon.de) | CDN$88 (Amazon.ca) | €72 (Amazon.es) | €85 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This book is an excellent reference to Yoshitaka Amano’s art for Final Fantasy throughout the years. As every series’ fan knows, each installment of the game has its game title background and characters art drawn by Amano. The Sky: The Art of Final Fantasy is a collection of these beautiful hand drawn arts.  It has three separate volumes. The first volume covers the art of the 8-bit generation, Final Fantasy I through III; the second volume covers the characters from the 16-bit generation, IV through VI; and the final volume covers the 3D era of the game, Final Fantasy VII through X.  Keep in mind that this is not an extensive book with all the art of these games, so you will not find a list of weapons, environments and promotional arts. It focuses on the characters and enemies of each game.

71-best-video-games-books-world-professor-laytonTitle: The World of Professor Layton
Author
: Level 5
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
ISBN-10: 1927925460
ISBN-13: 978-1927925461
Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.5 x 11.6 inches | 20.8 x 1.3 x 29.5 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £36 (Amazon.co.uk) | €32 (Amazon.it) | €37 (Amazon.de) | CDN$44 (Amazon.ca) | €27 (Amazon.es) | €39 (Amazon.fr)
Description: The Professor Layton games are for the DS and 3DS handhelds where you solve an assortment of puzzles alongside the professor. The World of Professor Layton book features artwork,  storyboards, interviews, rough concepts, character profiles and commentary right from the  creators. You get all of this content without spoiling a smidgen of the game for yourself.

Books on video game design, theory & social effects

72-best-video-games-books-10-print-chrsTitle: 10 PRINT CHR$(205.5 + RND(1)); : GOTO 10
Author
: Nick Montfort, Patsy Baudoin Professor, John Bell, Ian Bogost, Jeremy Douglass, Mark C. Marino, Michael Mateas, Casey Reas, Mark Sample, Noah Vawter
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262526743
ISBN-13: 978-0262526746
Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.8 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 328
Price: $21 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €19 (Amazon.it) | €22 (Amazon.de) | CDN$26 (Amazon.ca) | €24 (Amazon.es) | €26 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In 10 Print […] ten different authors collaborate to explore the seemingly bizarre title of the  book which is actually a single line of code for the Commodore 64. Each chapter looks at a different facet of the line from mazes and BASIC language to randomness and grids.

73-best-video-games-books-8-bits-of-wisdom-video-game-lessonsTitle: 8 Bits of Wisdom: Video Game Lessons for Real Life’s Endbosses
Author
: Andy Schindler, Michael Schindler, Matt Ibarra
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
ISBN-10: 146632886X
ISBN-13: 978-1466328860
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.4 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 238
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €11 (Amazon.it) | €11 (Amazon.de) | CDN$18 (Amazon.ca) | €10 (Amazon.es) | €11 (Amazon.fr)
Description: To most, video games give the perception that the ones playing them are wasting their time. In  “8 Bits of Wisdom”, this theory is proven wrong. The author, Andy Schindler analyzes video  games of the late 20 th century and explains how we can apply the lessons we learn from them so  we can tackle the hardships of the real world.

74-best-video-games-books-a-game-design-vocabularyTitle: A Game Design Vocabulary
Author
: Anna Anthropy, Naomi Clark
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
ISBN-10: 0321886925
ISBN-13: 978-0321886927
Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 8.9 inches | 17.8 x 1 x 22.6 cm
Number of Pages: 240
Price: $28 (Amazon.com) | £22 (Amazon.co.uk) | €32 (Amazon.it) | €25 (Amazon.de) | CDN$37 (Amazon.ca) | €32 (Amazon.es) | €26 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “There are many game design books, most poorly written, overly technical, or aimed at industry success. Vocabulary focuses on how games communicate by devising and demonstrating a shared grammar that can apply to any game, big or small.” – Nathan Altice, author of “I Am Error”

75-best-video-games-books-avant-garde-videogames-playing-with-technocultureTitle: Avant-garde Videogames: Playing with Technoculture
Author
: Brian Schrank
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262027143
ISBN-13: 978-0262027144
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 232
Price: $30 (Amazon.com) | £19 (Amazon.co.uk) | €32 (Amazon.it) | €31 (Amazon.de) | CDN$44 (Amazon.ca) | €24 (Amazon.es) | €34 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In Avant-garde Brian Schrack argues that mainstream games close players into a predefined  circuit of play while avant-garde games blow that circuit wide open. He firstly demonstrates how different artists use avant-garde. He then closely examines four types of avant-garde  games – radical formal, radical political, complicit formal and complicit political.

76-best-video-games-books-beyond-choices-the-design-ethical-gameplayTitle: Beyond Choices: The Design of Ethical Gameplay
Author
: Miguel Sicart
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262019787
ISBN-13: 978-0262019781
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $28 (Amazon.com) | £24 (Amazon.co.uk) | €29 (Amazon.it) | €27 (Amazon.de) | CDN$42 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr)
Description: As of recent there have been games such as Spec Ops: The Line and Mass Effect that make players question the ethical choices we make in both video games and in real life.  However author Miguel Sicart believes there is still much more that can be said about these issues through the medium of video games, and through intensive research provides why and how this can be achieved.

77-best-video-games-books-death-by-video-game-tales-of-obsessionTitle: Death by Video Game: Tales of obsession from the virtual frontline
Author
: Simon Parkin
Publisher: Serpents Tail
ISBN-10: 1781254214
ISBN-13: 978-1781254219
Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches | 13.5 x 2.3 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 288
Price: $9 (Amazon.com) | £12 (Amazon.co.uk) | €16 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$9 (Amazon.ca) | €16 (Amazon.es) | €12 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Figuring out the reason behind the regular individual’s desire for playing video games is the goal  of Parkin’s “Death by Video Game”. In it, he gives us several anecdotes to follow to really  understand the depth of the roles that video games can play throughout humanity. These stories  emphasize how essential these objects can be to the average player.

78-best-video-games-books-embed-with-games-a-year-on-the-couchTitle: Embed with Games: A Year on the Couch with Game Developers
Author
: Cara Ellison
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN-10: 1846973449
ISBN-13: 978-1846973444
Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches | 12.7 x 1.8 x 19.7 cm
Number of Pages: 136
Price: $14 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €12 (Amazon.it) | €13 (Amazon.de) | CDN$17 (Amazon.ca) | €11 (Amazon.es) | €11 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This is an interesting social experiment and an intimate research about a series of indie  developers, through the eye of a nomad journalist that sent herself all around the world to live  with each one of them for a month. We will learn more about the life of these obscure gaming  developers, their habits, their cities, and what drives them to create videogames.

79-best-video-games-books-extra-lives-why-video-games-matterTitle: Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter
Author
: Tom Bissell
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN-10: 0307474313
ISBN-13: 978-0307474315
Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Number of Pages: 256
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £12 (Amazon.co.uk) | €12 (Amazon.it) | €14 (Amazon.de) | CDN$15 (Amazon.ca) | €15 (Amazon.es) | €18 (Amazon.fr)
Description: As both the quality and popularity of video games has increased dramatically over the years so has the debate over whether they should be considered art, with huge names such as Robert Ebert weighing in on the matter.  Journalist and video game fan Tom Bissel takes a critical, humorous, and utterly relatable look into this matter and the nature of contemporary video games themselves.

80-best-video-games-books-getting-gamers-psychology-video-gamesTitle: Getting Gamers: The Psychology of Video Games and Their Impact on the People who Play Them
Author
: Jamie Madigan
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ISBN-10: 1442239999
ISBN-13: 978-1442239999
Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches | 15.8 x 2.7 x 23.8 cm
Number of Pages: 320
Price: $34 (Amazon.com) | £23 (Amazon.co.uk) | €26 (Amazon.it) | €30 (Amazon.de) | CDN$44 (Amazon.ca) | €22 (Amazon.es) | €37 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Ever wonder what drives your desire to go pick up another video game from the local gaming  store and why you buy the games you do? Psychology is a sizeable factor in each decision you  make, such as what games you purchase. Madigan uses psychological reasoning to figure out  why we are invested in the games we love and why we keep coming back for more. Lastly, he  gives many reasons as to why video games are more beneficial than not.

81-best-video-games-books-hackers-heroes-computer-revolutionTitle: Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
Author
: Steven Levy
Publisher: O’Reilly Media
ISBN-10: 1449388396
ISBN-13: 978-1449388393
Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches | 14 x 3 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 520
Price: $16 (Amazon.com) | £15 (Amazon.co.uk) | €17 (Amazon.it) | €16 (Amazon.de) | CDN$19 (Amazon.ca) | €19 (Amazon.es) | €11 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “Written when being called a computer hacker was a compliment, this is an almost contemporaneous account of the birth of home computer and video game programming by those involved in it. Packed with anecdotes and personal stories about early game coding this often dips into the philosophy of programming and the necessity of free access to data for all.” – Bob Pape, author of “It’s Behind You

82-best-video-games-books-half-real-video-games-between-real-rules-fictional-worldsTitle: Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds
Author
: Jesper Juul
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262516519
ISBN-13: 978-0262516518
Dimensions: 7 x 0.6 x 9 inches | 17.8 x 1.4 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 248
Price: $17 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €19 (Amazon.it) | €19 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €19 (Amazon.es) | €11 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “The book is a detailed look at many different aspects of video games, including how their formal rules (also found in non-digital games) come together with elements of fiction (seen in novels and movies) to make something special and truly new.” – Nick Montfort, author of “Racing the Beam” and many more

83-best-video-games-books-how-to-do-things-with-videogamesTitle: How to Do Things with Videogames
Author
: Ian Bogost
Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
ISBN-10: 081667647X
ISBN-13: 978-0816676477
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches | 14 x 2 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 192
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €14 (Amazon.it) | €18 (Amazon.de) | CDN$19 (Amazon.ca) | €18 (Amazon.es) | €18 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Even in this age when videogames have became a popular entertainment medium on the  same levels of movies, music and books, there are still a lot of prejudices against them.  Violence or isolation are just a couple of the many generalizations that are often related to  videogames and in this book Bogost does a great work to analyze the gaming medium to  explain all of its potential and importance in today’s culture, with philosophical, emotional and  practical uses.

84-best-video-games-books-how-to-talk-about-videogamesTitle: How to Talk About Videogames
Author
: Ian Bogost
Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
ISBN-10: 0816699127
ISBN-13: 978-0816699124
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches | 14 x 1.5 x 21.6 cm
Number of Pages: 208
Price: $17 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €19 (Amazon.it) | €18 (Amazon.de) | CDN$24 (Amazon.ca) | €19 (Amazon.es) | €19 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Clocking in at just 208 pages Ian Bogost’s How to Talk About Video Games takes a witty,  entertaining and informative look at some popular modern games – such as Mario Kart,  Flappy Bird and Medal of Honor – and argues that video games are appliances not art.  Whether you agree or disagree this book is definitely worth the read.

85-best-video-games-books-imaginary-gamesTitle: Imaginary Games
Author
: Chris Bateman
Publisher: Zero Books
ISBN-10: 1846949416
ISBN-13: 978-1846949418
Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.7 x 8.6 inches | 14.1 x 1.8 x 21.8 cm
Number of Pages: 334
Price: $27 (Amazon.com) | £16 (Amazon.co.uk) | €20 (Amazon.it) | €24 (Amazon.de) | CDN$35 (Amazon.ca) | €20 (Amazon.es) | €20 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Like many other books on this list Imaginary Games tackles the question of whether or not video games are art, as well as how video games affect or are a reflection of contemporary society.  One unique difference in this book is that the author utilizes philosopher Kendall Walton’s prop theory, a theory that proposes all interaction with art is in itself a type of “game”, and turns it towards video games as well as tabletop and card games for a different way of looking at the subject.

86-best-video-games-books-introduction-game-analysisTitle: Introduction to Game Analysis
Author
: Clara Fernandez-Vara
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN-10: 0415703271
ISBN-13: 978-0415703277
Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.7 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 288
Price: $49 (Amazon.com) | £26 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €39 (Amazon.de) | CDN$64 (Amazon.ca) | €38 (Amazon.es) | €39 (Amazon.fr)
Description: How do you analyze videogames? While books and movies have a long history of critical  analysis, it’s harder for game writing to look beyond the surface of gameplay, graphic, sound  and re-playability. Is there more to study in games than what years of reviews lead us to  believe? With this book Fernandez-Vara tries to answer to these questions, creating  strategies based on classic textual analysis and providing a specific vocabulary to talk about  the distinguishing characteristics of our beloved videogames.

87-best-video-games-books-killing-is-harmlessTitle: Killing is Harmless
Author
: Brendan Keogh
Publisher: Kindle
IASIN: B00B9P2WP6
Dimensions: 6677 KB
Number of Pages: 161
Price: $5 (Amazon.com) | £3 (Amazon.co.uk) | €4 (Amazon.it) | €5 (Amazon.de) | CDN$5 (Amazon.ca) | €5 (Amazon.es) | €4 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Spec Ops: The Line was celebrated not necessarily for it’s graphics, or even it’s gameplay, but instead it’s compelling storyline that made players question the often violence filled video games that permeate the market today.  Killing is Harmless ventures deep into the themes and imagery in the game to reveal just how much violence in media affects us.

88-best-video-games-books-philosophy-through-video-gamesTitle: Philosophy Through Video Games
Author
: Jon Cogburn, Mark Silcox
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN-10: 0415988586
ISBN-13: 978-0415988582
Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.6 x 9.1 inches | 15.5 x 1.5 x 23.1 cm
Number of Pages: 216
Price: $39 (Amazon.com) | £26 (Amazon.co.uk) | €33 (Amazon.it) | €35 (Amazon.de) | CDN$57 (Amazon.ca) | €34 (Amazon.es) | €31 (Amazon.fr)
Description: As video games have evolved over the past few years, questions about morals in these games have grown into a very hot topic. Philosophy Through Video Games is a book that tackles these very controversial questions and helps readers understand more about the worlds they play in. For first-timers to philosophical theory, this is an easy read and can help even non-gamers understand more about these concepts.

89-best-video-games-books-reality-is-broken-why-games-make-us-betterTitle: Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
Author
: Jane McGonigal
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN-10: 9780143120612
ISBN-13: 978-0143120612
Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8.4 inches
Number of Pages: 416
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £11 (Amazon.co.uk) | €14 (Amazon.it) | €10 (Amazon.de) | CDN$14 (Amazon.ca) | €10 (Amazon.es) | €13 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In Reality is Broken Jane McGonigal looks into the science behind why games are good for  us. She demonstrates how games can help to resolve real world issues such as depression,  obesity, poverty and climate change. However, while she argues that games can be good she  doesn’t say all games are.

90-best-video-games-books-reclaiming-art-age-artificeTitle: Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice
Author
: J.F. Martel
Publisher: EVOLVER EDITIONS
ISBN-10: 1583945784
ISBN-13: 978-1583945780
Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.5 x 7 inches | 10.8 x 1.3 x 17.8 cm
Number of Pages: 208
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £14 (Amazon.co.uk) | €16 (Amazon.it) | €16 (Amazon.de) | CDN$17 (Amazon.ca) | €13 (Amazon.es) | €13 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “Although not specific to games I recommend Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice by J.F. Martel to understand the potential and failures of videogames as a cultural force. Not just mainstream games, how many indie and art games are pornographic kitsch or didactic, dead on arrival? This book provides contemporary, relevant tools for artistic cultivation and criticism of games.” – Brian Schrank, author of “Avant-garde Videogames”

91-best-video-games-books-rise-videogame-zinestersTitle: Rise of the Videogame Zinesters
Author
: Anna Anthropy
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
ISBN-10: 1609803728
ISBN-13: 978-1609803728
Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.9 inches | 13.2 x 1.4 x 20.1 cm
Number of Pages: 208
Price: $15 (Amazon.com) | £10 (Amazon.co.uk) | €11 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$12 (Amazon.ca) | €11 (Amazon.es) | €15 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “The first and most persuasive case I’ve read for why non-programmer normals like me could create my own video games for fun, art, and/or self-expression. She discusses both the “why” and the “how,” making process more accessible and breaking our traditional barriers between creators and players.” – Gabe Durham, author of “Bible Adventures”

92-best-video-games-books-swords-circuitry-designer-guideTitle: Swords & Circuitry: A Designer’s Guide to Role-Playing Games
Author
: Neal Halford
Publisher: Course Technology PTR
ISBN-10: 0761532994
ISBN-13: 978-0761532996
Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches | 23.1 x 18.8 x 3.6 cm
Number of Pages: 544
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £16 (Amazon.co.uk) | €21 (Amazon.it) | €6 (Amazon.de) | CDN$25 (Amazon.ca) | €19 (Amazon.es) | €22 (Amazon.fr)
Description:”Neal Halford is the writer behind Betrayal at Krondor, and in his book he offers an in-depth examination of the RPG genre, from its history to core elements, development challenges, insightful interviews and even design documents from classic games like Fallout and Deus Ex. It’s an old, but clever and expertly written book, for designers and fans alike.” – Felipe Pepe, author of “The CRPG Book

93-best-video-games-books-the-art-failure-essay-pain-playing-video-gamesTitle: The Art of Failure: An Essay on the Pain of Playing Video Games
Author
: Jesper Juul
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262529955
ISBN-13: 978-0262529952
Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.4 x 8 inches | 13.7 x 1.1 x 20.3 cm
Number of Pages: 176
Price: $14 (Amazon.com) | £15 (Amazon.co.uk) | €16 (Amazon.it) | €15 (Amazon.de) | CDN$17 (Amazon.ca) | €13 (Amazon.es) | €14 (Amazon.fr)
Description: The Art of Failure is a book that examines why people continue to invest themselves in video  games though they constantly encounter defeat after defeat. Somehow, it is still entertaining to  keep playing and longing for success. This book is not only for gamers, but for anybody who  regularly confronts failure and is pondering its concept.

94-best-video-games-books-trigger-happyTitle: Trigger Happy
Author
: Steven Poole
Publisher: Arcade Publishing
ISBN-10: 1559705396
ISBN-13: 978-1559705394
Dimensions: 6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches | 23.6 x 15.6 x 2.1 cm
Number of Pages: 256
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £2 (Amazon.co.uk) | €5 (Amazon.it) | €5 (Amazon.de) | CDN$2 (Amazon.ca) | €14 (Amazon.es) | €5 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In Trigger Happy Steven Poole puts together a comprehensive argument on why video  games, just like films and music, should be taken seriously in the world of critical theory. On  top of that Poole also attempts to evaluate what it is that makes some games more engaging  than others and what are the core elements that different genres need to be engaging.

95-best-video-games-books-understanding-video-games-essential-introductionTitle: Understanding Video Games: The Essential Introduction
Author
: Simon Egenfeldt-Nielsen, Jonas Heide Smith, Susana Pajares Tosca
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN-10: 1138849820
ISBN-13: 978-1138849822
Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.9 x 9.9 inches | 17.5 x 2.3 x 25.1 cm
Number of Pages: 286
Price: $40 (Amazon.com) | £26 (Amazon.co.uk) | €38 (Amazon.it) | €32 (Amazon.de) | CDN$65 (Amazon.ca) | €36 (Amazon.es) | €38 (Amazon.fr)
Description: How have video games improved to the point of including motion sensing or even playing with friends in a virtual band? To understand more thoroughly how we got here, we can look at the broad  history of gaming. This book helps with exactly that: it analyzes the commercialization, theories, aesthetics, culture of games and the effects of playing them.

96-best-video-games-books-values-play-digital-gamesTitle: Values at Play in Digital Games
Author
: Mary Flanagan and Helen Nissenbaum
Publisher: The MIT Press
ISBN-10: 0262027666
ISBN-13: 978-0262027663
Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches | 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm
Number of Pages: 224
Price: $20 (Amazon.com) | £16 (Amazon.co.uk) | €18 (Amazon.it) | €19 (Amazon.de) | CDN$26 (Amazon.ca) | €18 (Amazon.es) | €18 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This is almost a philosophical book about the potential for each game, even unintentionally, to  express archetypical human values. By analyzing a series of more or less popular games, the  authors create a framework that can be used by gamers and developers to identify or  incorporate values in everything they play or create. This is the perfect book to show that  games are not a mindless or stupid activity, but they can share the best intentions and ethics.

97-best-video-games-books-what-video-games-have-to-teach-usTitle: What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy
Author
: James Paul Gee
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN-10: 1403984530
ISBN-13: 978-1403984531
Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches | 15.4 x 1.9 x 23.2 cm
Number of Pages: 256
Price: $16 (Amazon.com) | £8 (Amazon.co.uk) | €20 (Amazon.it) | €16 (Amazon.de) | CDN$19 (Amazon.ca) | €15 (Amazon.es) | €21 (Amazon.fr)
Description: In this book James Paul Gee aims to explain how video games – even violent ones – can help  develop us as human beings. He relies heavily on cognitive theories to explain how video  games help people to develop a sense of identity, help them to perceive the world and more.  This 256 page book is a must read – even if you don’t play games – for those who wish to  develop a deeper understanding for how video games influence us.

Fiction books based or inspired by video games

98-best-video-games-books-armadaTitle: Armada
Author
: Ernest Cline
Publisher: Broadway Books
ISBN-10: 0804137277
ISBN-13: 978-0804137270
Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches | 12.9 x 2.3 x 19.8 cm
Number of Pages: 384
Price: $9 (Amazon.com) | £6 (Amazon.co.uk) | €10 (Amazon.it) | €8 (Amazon.de) | CDN$18 (Amazon.ca) | €7 (Amazon.es) | €6 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Zack Lightman always wanted life to be like science fiction books, movies and video games as he spent  his life reading, watching and playing them. He does except that there is a difference between fantasy  and reality; that was until a UFO that looks to be pulled right out of one of his video games flies across  the sky. Now he has to fight for humanity and gets to live his dream of living in a world that’s just like a  video game.

99-best-video-games-books-aspho-fields-gears-warTitle: Aspho Fields (Gears of War)
Author
: Karen Traviss
Publisher: Del Rey
ISBN-10: 0345499433
ISBN-13: 978-0345499431
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches | 15.8 x 2.6 x 17.8 cm
Number of Pages: 400
Price: $13 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €11 (Amazon.de) | CDN$20 (Amazon.ca) | €8 (Amazon.es) | €7 (Amazon.fr)
Description: If you felt you were just thrown into the world of Gears of War without any background  information on the characters, this book can help alleviate your frustrations. Based on the first  and second games, Gears of War: Aspho Fields takes the reader into the midst of war with  Marcus and Dominic, among others, right by their side.

100-best-video-games-books-deus-ex-icarus-effectTitle: Deus Ex: Icarus Effect
Author
: James Swallow
Publisher: Del Rey
ISBN-10: 0345523598
ISBN-13: 978-0345523594
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches | 10.8 x 2.6 x 17.4 cm
Number of Pages: 352
Price: $15 (Amazon.com) | £7 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €8 (Amazon.de) | CDN$13 (Amazon.ca) | €14 (Amazon.es) | €14 (Amazon.fr)
Description: A story about the famous series of games, Deus Ex. The book follows recently suspended  agent, Anna Kelso as she investigates her partner’s death. As she goes deeper and deeper,  she finds out that her partner wasn’t even the target, and she end up face to face with one  of the most dangerous organization ever.

0-best-video-games-books-god-jrTitle: God Jr.
Author
: Dennis Cooper
Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat
ISBN-10: 0802170110
ISBN-13: 978-0802170118
Dimensions: 0.5 x 4.8 x 7 inches | 1.3 x 12.1 x 17.8 cm
Number of Pages: 163
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £7 (Amazon.co.uk) | €10 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$18 (Amazon.ca) | €8 (Amazon.es) | €10 (Amazon.fr)
Description: “God Jr. is the story of Jim, a father who survived the car crash that killed his teenage son Tommy. Tommy was distant, transfixed by video games and pop culture, and a mystery to the man who raised him. Now, disabled by the accident, yearning somehow to absolve his own guilt over the crash, Jim becomes obsessed with a mysterious building Tommy drew repetitively in a notebook before he died. As the fixation grows, Jim starts to take on elements of his son-at the expense of his job and marriage-but is he connecting with who Tommy truly was?”” –  “A beautiful book about loss and the search for profundity where none exists, specifically in a mediocre Banjo Kazooie knock-off.” – B.R.

101-best-video-games-books-halo-boxed-setTitle: Halo – Boxed Set
Author
: Various Authors
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN-10: 0765364670
ISBN-13: 978-0765364678
Dimensions: 4.2 x 3.1 x 7.1 inches | 10.7 x 7.9 x 17.9 cm
Number of Pages: N/A
Price: $21 (Amazon.com) | £16 (Amazon.co.uk) | €19 (Amazon.it) | €20 (Amazon.de) | CDN$27 (Amazon.ca) | €25 (Amazon.es)
Description: In late 2001, the Halo franchise was brought to light. The franchise wound up popularizing  tactical shooters in the video game industry. Over time, Halo branched out to other forms of  media such as books for other forms of story-telling. Within the Halo Boxed Set, we are given  exclusive looks at the ongoing war between Master Chief and the humans versus the Covenant  which is comprised hostile aliens. This box set includes three engaging books: Contact Harvest,  Ghosts of Onyx and The Cole Protocol.

102-best-video-games-books-ico-castle-in-the-mistTitle: Ico: Castle In The Mist
Author
: Miyuki Miyabe
Publisher: Haikasoru
ISBN-10: 1421540630
ISBN-13: 978-1421540634
Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.2 x 8 inches | 13.3 x 3 x 20.3 cm
Number of Pages: 400
Price: $12 (Amazon.com) | £10 (Amazon.co.uk) | €12 (Amazon.it) | €12 (Amazon.de) | CDN$15 (Amazon.ca) | €11 (Amazon.es) | €16 (Amazon.fr)
Description: A story based off the game “ICO” this is a story about a boy whose fate is sealed. After Ico, a little boy,  grows horns over night, he is forever bound to the Castle in the Mist will he will die… but Ico finds a girl.  Together they have one mission, to defy all odds and escape the Castle in the Mist.

105-best-video-games-books-mass-effect-retributionTitle: Mass Effect: Retribution
Author
: Drew Karpyshyn
Publisher: Del Rey
ISBN-10: 0345520726
ISBN-13: 978-0345520722
Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches | 11.3 x 2.6 x 18 cm
Number of Pages: 368
Price: $6 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €6 (Amazon.it) | €8 (Amazon.de) | CDN$10 (Amazon.ca) | €7 (Amazon.es) | €8 (Amazon.fr)
Description: This book expands the already seemingly infinite Mass Effect universe. When Paul Greyson  goes out to study a potently deadly species that’s set on harvesting the resources of many  worlds, the Reapers, he disappears. Project director, Kahlee Sanders teams up with  Captain David Anderson to try to find him, but they aren’t the only ones looking for him.

106-best-video-games-books-ready-player-oneTitle: Ready Player One
Author
: Ernest Cline
Publisher: Broadway Books
ISBN-10: 0307887448
ISBN-13: 978-0307887443
Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches | 12.9 x 2.4 x 19.8 cm
Number of Pages: 400
Price: $9 (Amazon.com) | £6 (Amazon.co.uk) | €8 (Amazon.it) | €8 (Amazon.de) | CDN$19 (Amazon.ca) | €8 (Amazon.es) | €7 (Amazon.fr)
Description: It is the year 2044 and video games have become about real life or death. This is Ready Player  One where the protagonist – Wade Watts – decides to invest himself in a gaming competition  comprised of puzzles that tackle topics dealing with the pop culture of the past. In order to win  this game, players must kill or be killed.

107-best-video-games-books-the-stolen-throne-dragon-ageTitle: The Stolen Throne (Dragon Age)
Author
: David Gaider
Publisher: Tor Books
ISBN-10: 0765363712
ISBN-13: 978-0765363718
Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches | 10.8 x 2.6 x 17.4 cm
Number of Pages: 464
Price: $8 (Amazon.com) | £8 (Amazon.co.uk) | €9 (Amazon.it) | €9 (Amazon.de) | CDN$11 (Amazon.ca) | €9 (Amazon.es) | €7 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Before there was the game, Dragon Age: Origins, there was the book, Dragon Age: The Stolen  Throne. This is a series that features high-fantasy RPG elements wherein the player can choose  to be a mage, warrior or rogue on their journey to defeat the dark forces throughout the world. In  this particular piece, the protagonist must fight for survival against spies, traitors and a foreign  tyrant after his royal mother was betrayed and killed by lords.

108-best-video-games-books-the-umbrella-conspiracyTitle: The Umbrella Conspiracy (Resident Evil)
Author
: S.D. Perry
Publisher: Titan Books
ISBN-10: 1781161771
ISBN-13: 978-1781161777
Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches | 10.6 x 2 x 17.5 cm
Number of Pages: 288
Price: $8 (Amazon.com) | £7 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €8 (Amazon.de) | CDN$5 (Amazon.ca) | €5 (Amazon.es) | €5 (Amazon.fr)
Description: A novel based on the legendary horror games, Resident Evil. The first in two books in the  Umbrella Conspiracy games. This book is a novelization of the first resident evil game.

109-best-video-games-books-you-austin-grossmanTitle: You
Author
: Austin Grossman
Publisher: Mulholland Books
ISBN-10: 0316198536
ISBN-13: 978-0316198530
Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.8 inches | 13.3 x 2.7 x 19.6 cm
Number of Pages: 400
Price: $8 (Amazon.com) | £9 (Amazon.co.uk) | €13 (Amazon.it) | €18 (Amazon.de) | CDN$7 (Amazon.ca) | €10 (Amazon.es) | €10 (Amazon.fr)
Description: Shortly after a video game company by the name of “Black Arts Games” released their breakout game,  one of the workers at Black Art Games, Simon, dies. The reason of his death is clouded in mystery but  Russel, who is Simon’s friend, is determined to find out what happened to him. He joins Black Art Games  while their working on a new next gen game, a mysterious, but devastating, glitch pops up. The more  and more he finds out about the glitch, the worse and worse it seems; and not just for Black Arts Games.

Video Games Books | Random Video Reviews


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26 thoughts on “Best Video Games Books: Our Top 100+ List!

    1. monokoma

      This list would like to be focused on english books, but someone else also suggested to create other lists for books in other languages, so we could try to do it! If you have a book to suggest in another language, feel to write it in here, so i’ll remember about it when / if we’ll create a new language-specific list :)

  1. Ken Horowitz

    I’d like to humbly recommend my book for consideration, “Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games.” which was released on October 30.

    http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-9994-6

    “Drawing on interviews with nearly 100 Sega alumni, this book traces the development of the company, revealing previously undocumented areas of game-making history, including Sega’s relationship with Tonka, the creation of its internal studios, and major breakthroughs like the Sega Channel and HEAT Network. More than 40 of the company’s most influential games are explored in detail.”

  2. mikebo

    Here’s three:
    The newly released The Art of Atari by Tim Lapetino.
    The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants.
    And Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts by Rob Smith.

    1. monokoma

      Thanks for these suggestions! Rogue Leaders was planned to be added to the list too, but it seems impossible to find a copy to buy at a low price, it costs even more than the HL2: Raising the Bar artbook :O

  3. AguyinaRPG

    I have to disagree rather strongly with some of your history suggestions. Service Games, for instance, is utter trash and several of the other ones are more product catalogs than history books. Can’t speak much for the other categories as I have less interest in them, though the promotion aspect of this I find a little suspicious too…

    Ultimately I know this is just as an audience widening thing and I certainly will enjoy the Unseen 64 book, but I don’t think it’s wise to promote shoddy material or to mislabel books.

    1. monokoma

      Is Service Games really that bad? We gather a lot of suggestions and feedback from many people that read these books before to create the list, I know that taste is subjective but if you think it’s a waste of money I’ll be happy to remove it from the list. Let me know about the other ones you do not agree with!
      We made this because when we were working on our book it was really hard to find examples of good video games books to take inspiration from, so we hope it could be helpful to someone else, plus it could contribute to raise awareness about our book too as we don’t have money to promote it or something like that :O

      1. AguyinaRPG

        Service Games is “Sega Visions: The Book”. It’s absolutely not worth anybody’s time when they could go and read Sega Visions on the Internet Archive instead (or Console Wars).

        I’ll agree that, yes, it is difficult to find good video game books. There are at least two that will be coming in the next year or so (one that I have a preview copy of) that hopefully will give us a lot more to chew on.

        As for what’s out now, I recommend “Atari Inc. Business is Fun” by Marty Goldberg and Kurt Vendel, “Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto” by David Kushner, “Generation Xbox: How Video Games Invaded Hollywood” by Jamie Russell, “Stay a While and Listen Book 1” by David Craddock, “Dungeon Hacks” also by David Craddock, “Family Computer 1983-1994” by the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography (it is in English), “Software People” by Doug Carlston (founder of Broderbund Software), and “Nintendo Magic” by Osamu Inoue. I’ve also heard that the “Falcom Chronicle” is pretty good for an art book, but I haven’t been able to see it for myself.

        Certainly if the collaborators feel strongly about some of the recommendations you shouldn’t remove them for my sake. I don’t feel that keen on “Phoenix” for example because I feel it’s too much of a product catalog, but there is some information in there worth reading. My tastes may not always be the most helpful, but I can tell you when something’s shoddy enough to get a negative recommendation.

        1. monokoma

          From what i can read i trust your opinion enough to take in consideration your suggestions, I still did not have time to update this list, but I will do for sure in the next few weeks, i’d like to keep it updated as much as possible!

  4. kiwasabi

    Service Games is NOT trash, at least the expanded edition is worthwhile. That said, that Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works look absolutely amazing. Too bad it’s currently out of stock and also not available on Amazon. Same with the histories of Ocean and US Gold.

    Here are some good books I’ve read that I don’t recall seeing on the list:

    Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: Proven Writing Techniques for Role Playing Games, Online Games, First Person Shooters, and more

    Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design
    Level Design for Games: Creating Compelling Game Experiences
    Atari Inc: Business is Fun
    Buttonless: Incredible iPhone and iPad Games and the Stories Behind Them
    Gamers at Work
    Online Game Pioneers at Work (sequel to above)
    Before The Crash

      1. kiwasabi

        You bet. It’s so incredibly difficult to find these books just by browsing Amazon. I have literally looked for hours at time trying to find new game and game design related books on there. So having lists like this is super helpful. I guess not all gamers are into reading books about games. But I’m also a game designer so I love to learn about the history of games as well as the theories of game design. I have more books than the ones I listed, but those are the ones I really recommend. Alright what the heck, I can’t control myself, here are some more:

        Theory of Fun for Game Design
        Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games
        The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
        Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences
        Nintendo 64 Anthology Collector’s Edition

  5. monokoma

    I have finally added a few of the suggestions to the list, it takes a while to gather all the needed details and formatting the info box in this page, so i’ll keep adding more and more in the following weeks, it will take a while but it’s worth it :)

  6. Leonard Herman

    Thanks for including the third edition of my book, Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames in your list. I just want to note that that edition came out in 2001. The 4th edition, now entitled Phoenix IV: The History of the Videogame Industry, was just published last month.

    1. monokoma

      thanks a lot for the info Leonard! I plan to update this list ASAP, there are a lot of books that i’d love to add but still did not have enough free time to do it (but i will for sure :) )

  7. LHBCITY

    i found a 1997 Fallout Official Survival Guide, does anyone know about it? I can’t seem to find anything online

  8. Ross sillifant

    As a huge ATARI fan, growing up with the 2600,600 and 800XL, 520 STFM, both models of the Lynx and the Jaguar, i was tempted by the Atari Inc book, but customer reviews on Amazon. UK and Amazon. Com put me off.

    My understanding is there’s an awful lot of work gone into interviewing, researching and cross checking etc and it took over 5 years to research, but it badly needed someone with the skill set to take the raw material and work it into something that justifies the price tag.

    For just shy of £19,i don’t expect a paperback book to be full of school boy error typo’s, spelling mistakes, poor grammar etc.

    Nor would I expect poor binding, black and white photographs.

    A professional editor and proof reader could of avoided this and taken the feeling of Vendel and Goldberg presenting their own separate accounts and made it read as if everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet.

    I was looking forward to seeing what lessons had been learned, from the announced second volume, but sadly Jack Tramiel died before the planned interview with him took place.

    Curt Vendel also now no longer with us.

    Sadly many Atari myths will remain just that as the passage of time goes on, people’s memories taken with them.

  9. Ross Sillifant

    I’ve bought a good few of the titles listed, some essential purchases:

    Art Of Atari

    Bitmap Bros Universe

    A Gremlin In The Works

    It’s Behind You

    Dark Souls Design works.

    History of US Gold.

    Some very disappointing:

    Ultimate History of Video Games:felt like a collection of filler.

    Untold History of Jap Game Devs,:fantastic research, but a very dry and tedious read.

    Masters Of Doom:didn’t come away feeling I had discovered anything new, would of liked more info on the console conversions.

    History Of Ocean:Very little new content, if you were a long time reader of Edge, Retrogamer and Gamestm Magazine, those interviewed often used interview to make personal attacks on other Ocean staff.

    Some not mentioned I bought, found poor..

    Both Ashens Terrible Old Games books, click bait, games didn’t fit within stated criteria, unfair at times, unfounded accusations made about software publishers.

    Nostalgia Nerd book, just didn’t do anything anybody else hadn’t done.

    Guru Larry Fact Hunt book:ironic title as it badly needed fact checking, terrible unfounded claims pasesed off as fact, as contributions made by guest writers simply included, not fact checked.

    But all views subjective and i assume books aimed at the more casual reader.

    And as someone who made minor contributions to the Unseen64 book, you know my feelings on the poor choice of writers for some features they weren’t objective and the poor layout with text flowing around photos.

    So I’m hoping I come across as subjective with my comments.

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