I love games! For me, they’re more than just a way to pass the time—they’re entire worlds waiting to be explored. A crucial part of this experience is the presentation, and even before you start playing, you’re often captivated by the game’s concept through its box art.

I really miss the era of box art and the energy that went into creating it. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the convenience of buying games on Steam (I purchase almost all my games digitally nowadays). However, with everything going digital, something is lost. Even though some games have fantastic key art, they don’t capture my imagination quite like the classic box art did.

This thread is dedicated to honoring the “golden age” of box art. Here are some of the greatest examples that still mesmerize me. The artwork alone makes me want to dive back into these worlds, even if the games are decades old.

Wipeout - Psygnosis Designers Republic

Secret of Mana - Squaresoft Hiro Isono (I can stare at this forever)

Final Fantasy VII - Squaresoft (some times less is more)

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest - Squaresoft (Haven't played it, but I just love the box art)


What's your favorite box art?

    Katamari Damacy is one of my favorites. It was quite unusual and very memorable, kinda like the game itself.

      I always liked the Secret of Mana box art and loved that they used it as title screen ingame (or was it the other way around?)
      But I don't think I have any favourite, or at least I can't remember, it has been a long time..

      xyz Oh yeah, a truly unique game. Love the creativity that went into this one (both art and gameplay)

        kuligs2 I wouldn't say that. Sure, back then, due to limited hardware, the games didn't have the same fidelity as the art. But like @trizZzle mentions, Secret Of Mana art illustrations was used in the game. The Katamari box art I feel captures the game really well. The Final Fantasy Meteor is a key moment in the story of the game.

          From purely graphic design standpoint, I think wipeout series boxes are unsurpassed to this day.

            All of you current game publishers, why you not publish game boxes?

            You could atleast include it with the purchase of the game, so that people who still burn cd's can print out the "official" game box art??

            MikeCL I really miss the era of box art and the energy that went into creating it.

            kuligs2 ..When the game art was nothing like the game inside

            Yep, it's not boxart but close — a print ad in a magazine:

            That's my reference point and inspiration. Usually indie developers try to repeat their favorite games. I, on the other hand, want to develop — repetition is only the first step. To bring into the game what's missing. To bring it closer to the dream and the publicity.

                  i loved the intro to GTA2, its a short movie 😃 nothing like the game itself 😃

                  Tomcat hahaha, to be fair this isn't that far off from some of the real events you can get in The Sims 2

                      housatic to be fair this isn't that far off from some of the real events you can get in The Sims 2

                      To see something like this in The Sims 2-4 usually requires custom mods. Often firms intentionally create problems to modify their games.

                          Really old classics from Konami, but man, these are beautifully crafted. Love the use of vibrant colors in these!

                          Gradius

                          Not sure who the artists are. But I can definitely see some influence from Frank Frazetta and John Berkey in these.

                            To go a couple of hardware generations back, I always loved Zaxxon's aesthetics. This is also one of the rare examples in the 8 bit era where the box cover is actually showing how the game looks. Admittedly it's "un-pixelated" but this is basically what you get in the game. Oh and the logo kicks ass.

                            One a similar note, here's a rare (and good looking) example of using pixelization as a visual aesthetic element in the 80s. This is curious because back then, the only type of game art was pixel art. So it was not perceived as a "style" like nowadays, but merely as a technical limitation. The key artwork is again very close to what's in the game.

                            MikeCL But I can definitely see some influence from Frank Frazetta and John Berkey in these.

                            Was the game industry back then as big as it is today, they probably would have been able to afford actual Frazetta and Berkey 🙂

                              Back to 16 and then 32 bits. Two great "shadows"; Shadow of the Beast 2 for Amiga by Roger Dean and Shadow of the Colossus for PS2.

                              And back again to 8 bits. Stylish designs like this one for Archon were quite rare