Earlier we created a list of 35 video game books that ever gamer should read. It wasn’t an exhaustive list, but it included many of the greats in it. While putting the list together we realized that we needed to create a seperate list of incredible video game art books.
Video Games are the byproduct of brilliant artists who have honed their skill and spent hours creating sketches, 3D renders, illustrations, and more to get the final product that is seen while playing. Many of these games contain art that blows our freaking minds. Fortunately, many game developers have created video game art books to display their work.
Video game art books are perfect for your book collection, coffee table, or book case. Without further ado,
Here’s a list of 24 stunning video game art books.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
The Zelda franchise is a classic that many gamers have fond memories of. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia contains a full history of Hyrule, a chronology of the games, and tons of concept art!
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2. The Art of Overwatch
Part of what makes Overwatch fun is the art style. It’s goofy look gives it character, and helps lighten the mood on an otherwise tense game. Not only does this art book contain concept art, but also delivers commentary from Overwatch’s development team.
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3. Halo Warfleet
Are you a huge fan of the Halo video game series? Halo: Warfleet has everything you could ever want to know about the spacecraft in the Halo Universe. This book has highly detailed full-color cross-sections of the most popular ships (Pillar of Autumn, Truth and Reconciliation, Infinity, and Shadow of Intent). If you’re a Halo fan you’ll love the art and info that this book holds.
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3. The Art of Splatoon
Three hundred and twenty pages of Splatoon art! This includes 2D and 3D illustrations of maps, concept art, weapons, gear design, characters, sketches, and even comics! If you’re a fan of Splatoon you’ll love this video game art book.
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3. The Art of Bioshock Infinite
The Art of Bioshock Infinite is loaded with unused concepts, and contains a visual development of characters and concepts that were included into the game. This art book has multiple versions of the main characters including Dewitt, Elizabeth, and Songbird. The only downfall of this book is that there isn’t any commentary included. It’s still a great piece, but if you’re hoping for commentary this one will not deliver.
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4. The Art of The Last of Us
Me oh my my! The Last of Us is the best Playstation game ever. The gameplay, story, and characters are not only fun, but memorable. Have we said that we love TLOU? We LOVE it, and are eagerly anticipating The Last of Us 2. With this said, the art of The Last of Us is integral to such a brilliant and beautiful game. Think about the Giraffe scene. Beautiful right? Get yourself a copy of this one, you won’t regret it.
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5. The Art of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
6. The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn
7. The Art of Dishonored 2
8. Bloodborne Official Artworks
Bloodborne is the frightening video game where crazy mobs and nightmares hide in the corners of the gothic city. Bloodborne Official artworks shows off the characters, creatures, locations, weapons, and items from this terrifying game.
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9. The Art of Fallout 4
Fallout 4 is one of Bethesda’s brilliant games. The Art of Fallout 4 is 368 pages of never-before-seen designs, concept art, environments, memorable characters, highly detailed weapons, AND commentary from the developers.
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10. Dark Souls II: Design Works
Dark Souls II is a stunning display of art. It’s a full 240 pages with a nice jacket, thick pages, and hard cover. It contains commentary on particular illustrations. You’ll see concept art of multiple game locations including Majula, Drangleic Castle, The Gutter, Forest of the Fallen Giants, and more. There’s a front and back view of bosses, and many illustrations of enemies. The book also contains art from the DLC and an interview with game’s designers. If you’re fan of Dark Souls you’ll love this book!
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11. The Art of Metal Gear Solid I-IV
This is a two book set that contains incredible concept art and design from Yoji Shinkawa – art director and illustrator of the Metal Gear Series. You’ll be able to enjoy the art and design from Metal Gear Solid, MGS2: Sons of Liberty, MGS3: Snake Eater, MGS4: Guns of the Patriots, and MGS: Peace Walker.
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12. The Art of Prey
Superb quality art of environments and concept art from Prey. If you’re a space nerd you’ll love how they connected designs of the future with the present. Hundreds of pieces of art from the game.
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13. The Art of The Mass Effect Universe
Are you a huge fan of the Mass effect games? This art book captures the art of the franchise up until Mass Effect 3. You’ll be able to enjoy incredible art, various sketches, and multiple design changes that the characters underwent. Mass Effect fans will love the superb art and wonderful design elements found in this book.
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14. The Art of Destiny
A exhaustive overview of the game’s world, classes, vehicles, and weapons in illustrated form. This video game art book holds hundreds of Destiny illustrations, images, sketches, and world-building graphic design.
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14. The Art of Metal Gear Solid V
A thick artbook loaded with character designs, environments, development art, and props. More than half the book is on characters, but you’ll also see sketches of mechs. It’s primarily sketches, colored concepts, and every now and then you’ll see a 3D render. Metal Gear Solid fans will love this book, but it should be noted that there is no commentary or captions in this art book.
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14. Assassin’s Creed: The Complete Visual History
The Assassin’s Creed video game franchise has a bold and visually appeasing narrative that covers from the Crusades in Jerusalem, to the seas of the Caribbean, to the French Revolution, and even more. It places players in pivotal moments in history and brings life to interesting characters.
This Assassin’s Creed art book showcases the history of the game, its mythology, and the artwork from the franchise. You’ll see concept and character art, beautiful environments, and even gain insight into the creative process behind settings and characters. This is a thick hardcover with glossy pages that really show off the art.
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15. The Art of Battlefield 1
An enormous art book filled with concept art and early sketches of campaign characters, World War I soldiers in uniform, heavy equipment, and the battleground locations where World War 1 took place. This is one of the best Battlefield games that benefited greatly from its unique art style.
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16. The Art of Titanfall 2
The Art of Titanfall 2 details the development of the beautiful first person shooter with concept art, 3D renders, sketches, and commentary from the development team. This is a must-have for any fans of Titanfall.
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17. The Art of Tom Clancy’s The Division
The Art of Tom Clancy’s The Division is a gallery of art from the engaging video game. This video game art book has over 300 images, sketches, pieces of concept art, and commentary from the designers and artists.
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18. The Art of Gears of War 4
Veteran fans of Gears of War will love this art book that focuses on GOW4. Not only does it have concept art, finished renders, and production art, but it has interesting commentary from the game’s creators.
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19. The Art of Mass Effect: Andromeda
The Art of Mass Effect Andromeda is a hardcover, top quality book filled with art of the game’s characters, weapons, locations, vehicles, and more.
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20. The Art of Deus Ex Universe
The Art of Deus Ex Universe contains art from Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. It’s a massive collection of over 300 images (sketches and concept art). What really makes this one great is the commentary from the art team. Deus Ex fans need this one.
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21. The Art of Doom
From start to finish you’ll be in love with this video game art book. Each page is filled with backdrops, sculptures, and production art from the Doom game.
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22. Rise of the Tomb Raider: The Official Art Book
Any Tomb Raider fan will fall in love with this book. You’ll get a brief summary of the new game, 56 pages of Lara, Jonah, Jacob and other characters, 14 pages of weapons/props, and 110 pages of locations. Art and Tomb Raider fans will get what they paid for and more. The level of detail that went into this game is insane, and you’ll only want to replay the game after looking through this book. This hands down is one of the best video game art books out there.
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23. The Art of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Most of this art book is focused on different styles of environment paintings while the characters and ships have a smaller portion dedicated to them. It’s all 2D artwork with no 3d renders.
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24. The Art of Mafia III
A wide art book with little commentary, but a good amount of character and environmental art from the Mafia III video game.
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