I love books about video games, especially the ones that look back at some of the iconic releases and classic consoles I grew up playing.
Then there are those deep-dives into my favourite games of the modern era, focusing on all-time greats like Dark Souls, Nier and Bloodborne.
If you’re looking for some Christmas gift ideas for the video game lover in your life, then I would recommend a good book.
Covering everything from beat-em-ups and shooters, to old-school consoles and arcades, these are ten of the best books for video game fans this Christmas.
If you’re really lucky, you might even be able to grab a discount or two on Black Friday.
Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-em-Ups
Starting off with a bang (as well as a crash and wallop), Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-em-Ups is exactly what it says it is. This really is the ultimate guide to a genre that has entered a new renaissance period thanks to the likes of Streets of Rage 4 and River City Girls.
This stunning book covers arcade favourites such as Final Fight and The Simpsons, to console juggernauts like Streets of Rage and Golden Axe. That’s on top of some of the more obscure oddities from the genre, including the hilarious Knuckle Bash and Sonic Blast Man.
You can pick up a copy for £34.99 from Bitmap Books.
(Image: BITMAP)
Atari Archive Volume 1: 1977-1978
Ever since Digital Eclipse released the fascinating Atari 50 Anniversary Celebration on PC and consoles, I haven’t been able to get enough from this hugely influential industry heavyweight.
Atari Archive Volume 1: 1977-1978 looks back at one of the most important years in the company’s history, focusing on the games and hardware that launched during this period.
The book is packed with screenshots, artwork and in-depth articles about Atari games, many of which are still playable today thanks to titles like Atari 50 and releases like the Atari 2600 .
You can pick up Atari Archive Volume 1: 1977-1978 from Amazon for £26.74. I would also recommend the similarly priced Art of Atari by Tim Lapetino.
(Image: PRESS RUN)
Dark Souls Beyond the Grave
Perhaps fittingly considering the source material, Dark Souls: Beyond the Grave is a dense tome that’s short on flashy artwork, but big on insight.
The book takes an in-depth look at the original Dark Souls, its sequel Dark Souls 2, and the game that started it all (unless you count King’s Field), Demon’s Souls.
The authors explore the creation of the series, the gameplay mechanics, the themes present in each release, and the legacy of the franchise as a whole.
Dark Souls Beyond the Grave is available from Amazon for £25.04. You can also purchase a Kindle edition.
(Image: THIRD EDITIONS)
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
With nearly 20 games in the mainline Legend of Zelda series, keeping track of the overarching timeline is a difficult task.
Fortunately, this beautifully presented books gives fans a chronological breakdown of the history of Hyrule, beginning with an extended look at the world of Skyward Sword, followed by The Minish Cap and Four Swords.
Things get a lot more complicated when the timeline breaks following the events of Ocarina of Time, which is why this is such a useful guide.
While the story explanation is my favourite part of the book, Hyrule Historia also contains a boatload of artwork and profiles for some of your favourite locations, monsters and characters.
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is available from Amazon for £25.99.
(Image: DARK HORSE)