10-23-2019, 10:31 PM
Guide: The Best Video Game Books
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<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8298.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/img-8298.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/img-8298.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8298.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>The only thing more fun than playing video games is reading about them, and in the past few years, we’ve seen the number of game-specific books explode as players seek to learn more about the industry and writers strive to catalogue and analyse what has become one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment. It has gotten to the stage where we’ve amassed so many tomes at Nintendo Life Towers that we’ve decided to put together a handy guide to all of the very best books about games money can buy.</p>
<p>As a few of these books are part of wider (and ongoing) series, we’ve lumped some together in categories based on publisher or author – rest assured, however, we only do this when we’re <em>totally</em> sure that each and every book in that range is worth a look. We’ve also updated this guide for 2019 with some new entries from the likes of <a class="external" href="https://www.geeksline-publishing.com/">Geeks Line</a>, <a class="external" href="https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk">Bitmap Books</a> and <a class="external" href="https://readonlymemory.vg/">Read-Only Memory</a>.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, let’s turn the page, shall we?</p>
<h3>The NES Encyclopedia</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="Screenshot 2019 10 23 At 11.04.22" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/91cb084cd1571/screenshot-2019-10-23-at-11-04-22.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/91cb084cd1571/screenshot-2019-10-23-at-11-04-22.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2019 10 23 At 11.04.22"></a></figure>
<p>Penned by highly-respected UK games journalist and Nintendo Life contributor Chris Scullion, <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/05/book_review_nes_encyclopedia_everything_you_wanted_to_know_about_the_nes_but_were_afraid_to_ask">The NES Encyclopedia</a> aims to catalogue <em>every single game</em> released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Yes, Chris really is <em>that</em> crazy. But you know what? He’s absolutely pulled it off and this book is the ultimate resource for anyone even the slightest bit interested in the massive NES library of games. Scullion knows when to lay on the knowledge and when to crack a joke, so it’s a real joy to read, too.</p>
<p class="disclaimer">Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.nintendolife.com/ftc-disclosure">FTC Disclosure</a> for more information.</p>
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<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/9996"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/9996/100x100?v=1e1fa5276c7fa03fdca637044aa94ffa" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
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<h3>Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8304.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/8b8e3e6dfcbcf/img-8304.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/8b8e3e6dfcbcf/img-8304.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8304.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>This delightful release from Bitmap Books is a <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/05/gallery_cover_to_cover_with_super_famicom_the_box_art_collection">compendium of gorgeous cover artwork</a>, all taken from Japanese Super Famicom releases. Each game’s cover is shown via high-quality photography and is accompanied by a short description. This is the perfect coffee table book and a must for all Nintendo fans – especially those who grew up importing weird and wonderful games based purely on their covers alone.</p>
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<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/8042"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/8042/100x100?v=193a268f1aed1352fe3680d0b0ab205a" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
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<h3>Retro Gaming: A Byte-Sized History of Video Games</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 5233" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/16b2f3b178dc3/img-5233.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/16b2f3b178dc3/img-5233.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 5233"></a></figure>
<p>While there are some pretty weighty tomes available that try to exhaustively chart the entire history of the games industry, there’s something to be said for a less-heavy approach – and that’s exactly what erstwhile Nintendo Life scribe Mike Diver has done with this <em>superb</em> coffee table book. Packed with enlightening nuggets of info and loads and loads of lovely images, Retro Gaming: A Byte-Sized History of Video Games is the ideal way to quickly get yourself (or a loved one) up to speed on decades of games, systems and much, much more.</p>
<div class="article-products article-products-list">
<div class="items">
<div class="item">
<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/10737"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/10737/100x100?v=b1a386d83996bc27be674377e2801bd0" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
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<h3>The Visual Compendium Collection</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8300.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/722fd0dba1ee6/img-8300.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/722fd0dba1ee6/img-8300.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8300.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>Published by Bitmap Books, the Visual Compendium series has covered significant home computers and consoles from gaming history and more recently has focused on the <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/03/book_review_the_unofficial_nesfamicom_a_visual_compendium">NES</a> and SNES systems. Packed with screenshots, exclusive interviews and in-depth features, the series has become incredibly popular with retro gamers and collectors alike, and the <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/kickstarter_for_the_sega_master_system_visual_compendium_is_now_live">Master System edition</a> is the first to have official approval from a hardware manufacturer, with Sega coming on board to offer exclusive access to key developers.</p>
<h3>Hardcore Gaming 101 Series</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8302.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/98f5d8a5c0e9f/img-8302.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/98f5d8a5c0e9f/img-8302.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8302.JPG"></a></figure>
<p><a class="external" href="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/">Hardcore Gaming 101</a> is one of the longest-running game history websites on the internet and its utterly invaluable analysis of classic games is a real godsend for players who want to brush up on the history of our beloved pastime. A while back the team behind the site decided to repackage some of its web content in the form of physical books, each one packed with text and imagery. The series has covered individual franchises – such as <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/book_review_hardcore_gaming_101_presents_castlevania">Castlevania</a></strong> – as well as genres, publishers and consoles, and each and every book is worth the asking price several times over. Exceptionally researched yet totally accessible, each and every volume is worthy of a place in your collection. Digital versions are also available.</p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/10/...ame-books/
<div><div class="media_block"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/large.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/small.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></a></div>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8298.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/img-8298.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/ff7ff9d57ce66/img-8298.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8298.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>The only thing more fun than playing video games is reading about them, and in the past few years, we’ve seen the number of game-specific books explode as players seek to learn more about the industry and writers strive to catalogue and analyse what has become one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment. It has gotten to the stage where we’ve amassed so many tomes at Nintendo Life Towers that we’ve decided to put together a handy guide to all of the very best books about games money can buy.</p>
<p>As a few of these books are part of wider (and ongoing) series, we’ve lumped some together in categories based on publisher or author – rest assured, however, we only do this when we’re <em>totally</em> sure that each and every book in that range is worth a look. We’ve also updated this guide for 2019 with some new entries from the likes of <a class="external" href="https://www.geeksline-publishing.com/">Geeks Line</a>, <a class="external" href="https://www.bitmapbooks.co.uk">Bitmap Books</a> and <a class="external" href="https://readonlymemory.vg/">Read-Only Memory</a>.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, let’s turn the page, shall we?</p>
<h3>The NES Encyclopedia</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="Screenshot 2019 10 23 At 11.04.22" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/91cb084cd1571/screenshot-2019-10-23-at-11-04-22.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/91cb084cd1571/screenshot-2019-10-23-at-11-04-22.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2019 10 23 At 11.04.22"></a></figure>
<p>Penned by highly-respected UK games journalist and Nintendo Life contributor Chris Scullion, <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/05/book_review_nes_encyclopedia_everything_you_wanted_to_know_about_the_nes_but_were_afraid_to_ask">The NES Encyclopedia</a> aims to catalogue <em>every single game</em> released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Yes, Chris really is <em>that</em> crazy. But you know what? He’s absolutely pulled it off and this book is the ultimate resource for anyone even the slightest bit interested in the massive NES library of games. Scullion knows when to lay on the knowledge and when to crack a joke, so it’s a real joy to read, too.</p>
<p class="disclaimer">Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.nintendolife.com/ftc-disclosure">FTC Disclosure</a> for more information.</p>
<div class="article-products article-products-list">
<div class="items">
<div class="item">
<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/9996"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/9996/100x100?v=1e1fa5276c7fa03fdca637044aa94ffa" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
</p></div>
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</div>
<h3>Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8304.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/8b8e3e6dfcbcf/img-8304.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/8b8e3e6dfcbcf/img-8304.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8304.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>This delightful release from Bitmap Books is a <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/05/gallery_cover_to_cover_with_super_famicom_the_box_art_collection">compendium of gorgeous cover artwork</a>, all taken from Japanese Super Famicom releases. Each game’s cover is shown via high-quality photography and is accompanied by a short description. This is the perfect coffee table book and a must for all Nintendo fans – especially those who grew up importing weird and wonderful games based purely on their covers alone.</p>
<div class="article-products article-products-list">
<div class="items">
<div class="item">
<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/8042"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/8042/100x100?v=193a268f1aed1352fe3680d0b0ab205a" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
</p></div>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Retro Gaming: A Byte-Sized History of Video Games</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 5233" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/16b2f3b178dc3/img-5233.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/16b2f3b178dc3/img-5233.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 5233"></a></figure>
<p>While there are some pretty weighty tomes available that try to exhaustively chart the entire history of the games industry, there’s something to be said for a less-heavy approach – and that’s exactly what erstwhile Nintendo Life scribe Mike Diver has done with this <em>superb</em> coffee table book. Packed with enlightening nuggets of info and loads and loads of lovely images, Retro Gaming: A Byte-Sized History of Video Games is the ideal way to quickly get yourself (or a loved one) up to speed on decades of games, systems and much, much more.</p>
<div class="article-products article-products-list">
<div class="items">
<div class="item">
<div class="image"><a class="external" rel="nofollow" href="http://nintendolife.com/p/10737"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/products/10737/100x100?v=b1a386d83996bc27be674377e2801bd0" width="100" height="100" alt></a></div>
</p></div>
</div>
</div>
<h3>The Visual Compendium Collection</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8300.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/722fd0dba1ee6/img-8300.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/722fd0dba1ee6/img-8300.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8300.JPG"></a></figure>
<p>Published by Bitmap Books, the Visual Compendium series has covered significant home computers and consoles from gaming history and more recently has focused on the <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/03/book_review_the_unofficial_nesfamicom_a_visual_compendium">NES</a> and SNES systems. Packed with screenshots, exclusive interviews and in-depth features, the series has become incredibly popular with retro gamers and collectors alike, and the <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/07/kickstarter_for_the_sega_master_system_visual_compendium_is_now_live">Master System edition</a> is the first to have official approval from a hardware manufacturer, with Sega coming on board to offer exclusive access to key developers.</p>
<h3>Hardcore Gaming 101 Series</h3>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="IMG 8302.JPG" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/98f5d8a5c0e9f/img-8302.original.jpg"><img class="lazy" src="http://static.nintendolife.com/blank.gif" data-original="http://images.nintendolife.com/98f5d8a5c0e9f/img-8302.900x.jpg" alt="IMG 8302.JPG"></a></figure>
<p><a class="external" href="http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/">Hardcore Gaming 101</a> is one of the longest-running game history websites on the internet and its utterly invaluable analysis of classic games is a real godsend for players who want to brush up on the history of our beloved pastime. A while back the team behind the site decided to repackage some of its web content in the form of physical books, each one packed with text and imagery. The series has covered individual franchises – such as <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/10/book_review_hardcore_gaming_101_presents_castlevania">Castlevania</a></strong> – as well as genres, publishers and consoles, and each and every book is worth the asking price several times over. Exceptionally researched yet totally accessible, each and every volume is worthy of a place in your collection. Digital versions are also available.</p>
</div>
https://www.sickgaming.net/blog/2019/10/...ame-books/