What do you do when you are not slaying demons or exploring mythical worlds but still want to explore the game? Well, that is where video game art books come in. From helping you to further explore the magical worlds of video games to better understanding some of the characters in games, video game art books hold immeasurable treasures. If you are not already in the habit of collecting them, that will change after reading this piece.
So, what is a video game art book? As we explained in our previous post, video game art books are colorful graphic books that contain everything from concept art to character models to world-building and weapon arsenals of every game.
Call it behind the scenes of video games and you won’t be too far from the truth. Flipping through the pages of a video game art book can transport you deeper into the mind and reasoning of some of your favorite characters. It can tell you why a character acts in a certain way. It also often humanizes some of the characters that we would naturally not care about.
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Although some of the information contained in video game art books is often included in the game, gamers will rarely have time to read through them because they will be more focused on beating the game’s main story. With video game art books, you will never miss any important detail in your favorite game again.
How we chose our best video game art books of 2024
While there are lots of video game art books out there, not all of them made our list at this time. This is because we restricted this list to games that were either released in 2023, got a remake or remastered, or a sequel this year. In fact, there was something fresh about the franchise.
However, in instances where the video game art book of the latest release is not yet available, we included the art book of the last release. Also, books that appeared in our previous post will not be repeated here again. We believe it is important to give you a heads-up ahead so that you don’t raise an eyebrow as you scroll down the list.
The video game art book for Atomic Heart should have been on this list. However, we skipped it because it is only currently available in Japanese. However, if you understand Japanese, you can have a go at it here.
Nevertheless, we will talk about each video game art book on this list, talk about the game, and tell you why we deemed it fit for this list. Without further chitchats, let’s dive into our list of the best video game art books of 2024. Let us know which one you will purchase first.
#1. The Art of Marvel’s Spider-Man
Marvel’s Spider-Man was a 2018 release. The game was a stunner by every standard and quickly established Insomniac and Sony as the masters of story-driven RPGs. Swinging in even stronger was the sequel of the game released on 20th October 2023. It brought a slew of characters including Venom and Kraven the Hunter.
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This video game art book gives lovers of the web-swinging franchise an exclusive behind-the-scenes of the creation of the game. According to the description, “Marvel’s Spider-Man: The Art of the Game is packed with hundreds of exclusive full-color images of Spider-Man, his suit and equipment, the allies he relies on like MJ Watson, and Aunt May, and the deadly villains he battles”.
#2. The Art of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Two years after the release of Spider-Man, Miles Morales got his spinoff. In the game, we see Miles trying to learn the ropes as the new Spider-Man and often taking counsel from Peter.
However, things went from bad to worse after he discovered that his best friend was one of those terrorizing the city. The video game art book of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales captured the creative process behind the making of the game.
It “showcases the remarkable concept art and in-game renderings created by the talented development team”. Some of the details you will find in the book include “characters, locations, tech, gadgets, spider suits, and more”.
#3. The Art of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
After the first game and the Miles Morales spinoff, Insomniac launched Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on October 20. It has already become Sony’s fastest-selling game ever, selling over 2 million copies in the first 24 hours. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 featured both Peter and Miles which are used interchangeably.
Dark Horse Books worked with Marvel Games to create a video game art book for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The book took a deeper dive into the story of the new villains in the wall-crawler franchise and their exploits. “From unforgettable characters to extraordinary equipment, breathtaking locales, and thrilling storyboards,” the book has it all and more.
#4. The Art of Diablo III
This was supposed to read The Art of Diablo IV. However, since we could not find a place to refer our readers to purchase that, we decided to stick with Diablo III for now. Diablo IV was released on 5 June 2023 by Blizzard Entertainment. They were criticized by Whoopi Goldberg for not making the game playable on Mac.
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The game surpassed $666 million in revenue after 5 days making it Blizzard’s fastest-selling game. While waiting for the video game art book of Diablo IV to be readily available, it would not be a bad idea to feast your eyes on its predecessor which should reveal a lot about the characters and world.
#5. The Art of Metal Gear Solid I-IV
The Metal Gear Solid franchise was recently remastered for the current generation of consoles which is a great win for those fighting for video game conservation. The Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 was released on 24 October 2023. It includes three games from the PS1 and PS2 eras alongside other extras. Metal Gear Solid remains one of the best tactical espionage franchises.
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This is one of the voluminous video game art books out there because it “contains concept and key art from Metal Gear Solid, MGS2: Sons of Liberty, MGS3: Snake Eater, MGS4: Guns of the Patriots, and MGS: Peace Walker”. It was translated into English for the first time while retaining the original Japanese handwriting.
#6. The Art of Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is the latest entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise and transported gamers back to the roots that focus more on stealth and parkour. Released on 5 October 2023, Mirage has received mostly positive reviews. Mirage is also available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max—which is considered an evolution in mobile gaming.
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The video game art book for Assassin’s Creed: Mirage takes the reader through a visual journey of the 9th-century Bagdad. It features “iconic artwork ranging from stunning settings to dazzling weapons”. It also has an insider’s look at the “back to the roots” of the game, which should give you a better understanding of the protagonist—if you are new to the franchise.
#7. The Art of Final Fantasy XVI
Capcom has continued an impressive financial year, thanks to the release of Final Fantasy XVI on 22 June 2023 and the success of Resident Evil 4 Remake. It was announced then that Final Fantasy XVI would be a PlayStation exclusive for 6 months. It remains one of the most-ranked releases of this year too.
It is not surprising that the official video game artbook of Final Fantasy XVI was one of the most anticipated this year.
This video game art book contains all the details of how the world was brought to life. It has over 300 pages of art, including “the phenomenal work of the Final Fantasy XVI development artists”. It’s definitely a must-have—if you are a fan of the franchise.
#8. The World of Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was not released in 2023—but two things happened. Firstly, the game received a DLC called Phantom Liberty. In addition to that, CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk 2.0 which is basically an upgrade to the base game. It came with a lot of polishes that made the game feel a lot better than when it was first released—and bug-laden.
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The video game art book of Cyberpunk 2077 is more of an extension of the game. It provides “an extensive examination of the rich lore of Cyberpunk 2077”. The book contains everything from the history to the characters and world of the game. It is where you will find answers to everything you want to know about the dystopian metropoles.
#9. The Art of Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 is one of the early releases of 2023—April 21 precisely. It was created by Dambuster Studios and published by Deep Silver as a sequel to the 2011 release. A lot has changed since the first game including the obviously better graphics and more ways to decapitate the mindless zombies. This time, the action takes place in Los Angeles after a zombie outbreak. As of May 2023, it has sold over 2 million units.
The video game art book was also a collaboration with Dark Horse Books. On the pages, you will find “never before seen concept art on each of the Slayers, their gear and weapons, the ruined and iconic streets of post-outbreak Lost Angeles, and the shambling hordes of dangerous undead that call them home”. It also contains insights from the creators of the game.
Before you go
While video games are designed to keep you active—and sometimes on the edge—video game art books are designed to be enjoyed and allow you to relax. Flipping through the pages of a video game art book should punctuate periods of intense gameplay while keeping your focus on the game.
If you record and upload gameplay videos to your community, reading a video game art book can provide you with interesting information that when shared with your audience in your in-game commentary will help you to garner more followers. It can be that spice that adds uniqueness to your channel.
Do you currently own any of the video game art books on our list? Which of them do you plan to purchase next? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
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