Go On a European Holiday in the Spires and Tires Update for Mini Motorways!
Square Glade Games Presents 'Outbound' Fully Funded on Kickstarter Set for 2026 Release!
Description
#Outbound @SquareGlade is an open-world exploration game set in a utopian near future. Start with an empty camper van and turn it into the home of your dreams - alone or together with your friends. Build and explore at your own pace. Scavenge materials, craft, and build in and on top of your vehicle with modular parts. Advance in technology and efficiently use energy to power your home. Adjust your playstyle to adapt to new landscapes and changing environmental conditions.
Features
Source Energy - Power your electric camper van with energy from the sun, wind, or water.
Build - Build your moving base with a modular building system. Customize your vehicle with paint, decorations, and furniture to create your own perfect cozy place.
Craft - Craft workstations and tools from resources provided by Mother Nature. Research advanced technology to refine and combine them into new materials.
Grow - Create gardens to nurture delicate and delicious plants and mushrooms. Eat them raw or cook delicious meals to refill your needs.
Play together - Explore a colorful open world with a variety of biomes, resources, and secrets, together with your friends. Play Outbound alone or with up to 4 players cooperatively.
Game Information
Title | Outbound |
Developer | Square Glade Games |
Publisher | Square Glade Games |
Genre | Cozy Open World Crafting-Exploration Game |
Platforms | Windows, Xbox S/X, other consoles |
Stores | Steam, Xbox |
Alpha launch | April 2025 |
Planned Release | H1 2026 |
Road Map
About the Developer
Square Glade Games is a small independent game studio co-founded by two developers: Tobi and Marc. The team is based in the Netherlands.
Tobi started the journey of developing his first commercial game, Above Snakes in 2021 as a solo project. Marc joined the team in 2022 and, together, they formed Square Glade Games. Above Snakes is their debut title and it sold more than 60.000 copies within six months.
After Above Snakes has been released, the studio has been building various game prototypes. One of those prototypes was Outbound, which has been further developed by the team for a couple of months. The game was revealed to the public in February 2024. Square Glade Games ran another successful Kickstarter campaign for Outbound in 2024 which raised over 250.000€. Outbound is under the top 50 most-wishlisted games on Steam and is set to come out in the first half of 2026.
For more information you can contact them via their official website, X (Formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and join their Discord. Don't forget to wishlist it on Steam!
Article by: Valerie
Open-World Detective Thriller Receiving a Free Remaster for Existing Owners
THE SINKING CITY REMASTER
- Game fully relit in Unreal Engine 5
- Enhanced locations with additional levels of detail and objects
- 4K textures and improved reflections
- Addition of a Photo Mode
- Support for DLSS, FSR and TSR upscaling
Decorate Competitive Venues with Style in Sports Renovations Today!
MAIN FEATURES
- Renovate dilapidated sports facilities;
- Immerse yourself in a wholesome storyline and complete side quests;
- Buy new tools and upgrade the equipment you already own;
- Earn money for your renovation jobs and use it to expand your base of operations – each room unlocked will add some perks;
- Buy cosmetic items you can place around your office;
- Collect memorabilia in your Trophy Showcase and discover the history of sports.
About Goat Gamez
About Dear Villagers
Mech-Themed Tactical Roguelike StarVaders Coming to Steam April 30th!
“It's always great watching someone play the game and discover a new combo I didn't even realize and then pretend it was all planned. I’m looking forward to seeing what players come up with when they put their hands on the release version and see all the cool stuff we added.” - Eddie Cai a.k.a. axolotl, Lead Designer.
Main Features:
- 3 Mechs with completely distinct mechanics;
- 10 Pilots with unique playstyles and their own stories;
- 268 Cards to craft your deck with;
- 153 Artifacts that change the rules of the game;
- 10 Packs that are randomly added to the card pool to keep runs fresh;
- 9 Bosses that will test your limits;
- 50 Invaders each with their own abilities;
- Story Campaign & Secret Finale;
- Ascending Difficulties each with new gameplay mechanics;
- Challenge Run & Daily Run game modes.
About Pengonauts
About Joystick Ventures
Indie Comics Inspired Game 'Wednesdays' Available on PC, Mac, and itch
A fragmented, choral narrative
“Each memory is an opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of someone close to you: a friend, a girlfriend, a schoolteacher... We're not playing Tim or his abuser, but the people 'around' him, of which we're all a part.”
A journey between comics and video games
Memories come to life thanks to comics writer Exaheva (Mekka Nikki, Still Heroes): “Having already experimented a lot with interactive comics, I was able to think about a hybrid form between what I'd done previously and a more classic visual novel. The art direction had to evoke an intimate comic strip, both through the colors, but also through the framing approach, adapted according to the vignette. I tried to have a similar approach to my work in comics, with different staging for each memory.”Nico Nowak (There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension) designed the theme park, the gateway to Tim's memories: “The theme park acts as a link between the various scenes and stages of the story. Within this universe, the game exists, and the character played it as a child. It had to be realistic and familiar, like a real game from the 90s, but also consistent with the vignettes created by Exaheva. I therefore chose to work with two dominant colors, as in the rest of the game. This imaginary park is very nostalgic, both within the story and for the player”, she says.
“The hardest part is not to speak up. It’s being heard.”
MAIN FEATURES OF THE GAME:
- The player discovers the intimate story of Tim and those around him. Through 17 narrative vignettes, he embodies some fifteen characters from different eras and family backgrounds including his mother, his father, his grandmother, his grandfather, his teacher, his childhood friends, his high school sweetheart, his ex-girlfriend…
- With its handmade visuals and indie-comics-inspired style, Wednesdays leads players to question the consequences of domestic sexual violence and sexual abuse in an authentic, enlightening story.
- The player manages his theme park to unlock more than 17 memories. In these colorful pixel-art sequences, the player can take a break to relax between vignettes and step back from the story of the characters and the bonds that unite them.
- Wednesdays is designed to be accessible: the game requires no special skills or knowledge of video games. Customizable accessibility settings (visuals and controls) allow all types of players.
About ARTE
About The Pixel Hunt
About Pierre Corbinais
About Exaheva
About Nico Nowak
Star Overdrive Releases on Nintendo Switch April 10th!
“As lifelong fans of Nintendo, we are thrilled to have had the chance to collaborate with them to bring our game to their platform, it's a dream come true!” said Tommaso Bonanni, CEO of Caracal Games.“We can't thank them enough for their continued support and the opportunity to share our passion with fellow Nintendo players!”
KEY FEATURES
- Hoverboard Navigation and Racing: Speed through vast landscapes, perform incredible tricks, and gain the edge in intense combat.
- Emergent Physics-Based Gameplay: Unleash and combine powers to battle enemies, bend the laws of physics, and solve intricate puzzles.
- Mysterious and Diverse Alien World: Journey through four uniquely distinct biomes, each brimming with challenges and secrets to uncover.
- Epic Battles Against Creatures of All Sizes: Engage with unique creatures, from small-scale rivals to towering bosses, each requiring strategy and skill to overcome.
- https://www.instagram.com/star_overdrive_dev/
- https://bsky.app/profile/caracalgames.bsky.social
- https://x.com/CaracalGames
About Caracal Games
About Dear Villagers
Memorable Music in Gaming #63
Today’s theme is rather unique. We’ll be looking at five famous tracks that sample “Is That the Door?” by Zero-G Ltd, from their album “Cuckooland - Ghost in the Machine”.
(Note: I’ve already talked about “Radio” (one of the two most well-known examples) from Half-Life 2 in MM #57. Be sure to read that, too.)
Sampling is when a musician lifts a segment from another song and works it into their own composition, either untouched or heavily altered. Companies like Zero-G Ltd specialize in sound libraries—pre-recorded sound effects and music loops that anyone can use.
Max Payne | PC | Max’s Nightmare
The original two Max Payne games were something else, weren’t they? Easily the best IP to emerge in The Matrix's immediate aftermath, the first Max Payne is unmatched in its gritty realism, heavy cynicism, and top-tier production.The nightmare section? Just that—an absolute nightmare. It’s one of the most cerebrally depressing and nerve-wracking sequences ever put into a video game. The repetitive, thumping notes in the background do nothing to ease the discomfort of this sequence.
Max Payne - Max's Nightmare
Lands of Lore III | PC | Die Unterwelt
I’ve played quite a few Westwood Studios games—Blade Runner and C&C: Tiberian Sun immediately come to mind. I’m not too familiar with their Lands of Lore series, but one thing’s for sure: their soundtrack is fire.Die Unterwelt (German: "The Underworld") is a fantastic fusion of sci-fi and high-fantasy soundscapes. Think DOOM meets Lord of the Rings, and you’re on the right track.
Lands of Lore 3 Soundtrack - Die Unterwelt
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories | PSP | Ice
What happens when an already foreboding piece of music lands in the majestic hands of Akira Yamaoka? You get an absolute masterpiece, that’s what.You know the phrase, "If you’re going through hell, keep going"? I imagine this is what plays at the end of that ordeal.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [Music] - Ice
Vanishing Point | PS1 | Peregone
Oh, I’m no stranger to racing games surprising you with their music. I learned it a long time ago when I heard Joyrider by Jug, which I’ve talked about all the way back in MM #27.Frankly, this one’s a personal favorite. I love how it shifts from a haunting melody to a full-blown club rave beat. Whoever thought this transition was fitting for a racing game must’ve been in… an interesting state of mind, to say the least.
Vanishing Point (2001) Soundtrack #4 - Peregone
Postal | PC | Central Park
I have no plans to ever play any of the Postal games. There are some pieces of media I can live without, thank you very much.That said, Central Park is perhaps the most well-known example of this sample in gaming circles, so it would’ve been remiss of me not to include it here.
POSTAL Redux OST - Central Park
Path of Fury Episode 1: Tetsuo's Tower Implements bHaptics Support to the Game!
"The implementation of the bHaptics feature really does add a lot, we collaborated directly with the bHaptics team to ensure that the effects were a perfect blend between realistic and satisfyingly responsive, and I think it turned out great." - Leonard Menchiari (Game Director)
David vs. Goliath
Why Play Path of Fury?
GAME FEATURES
- Experience the essence of Kung Fu. The goal is to deliver the most powerful strikes and achieve quicker knockouts with the least effort possible, players will feel the progression after playing more and more sessions.
- Linear experience but feels different each time. With a strong backstory, the game is designed to be very straightforward and to still surprise the player with new details and progression elements each time they play.
- Essential training tool component. Patience pays off. Every enemy has a weakness that can be exploited, so the more you practice, the faster you’ll beat them.
- The combat is in the sweet spot between authenticity and accessibility, designed with everyone in mind, with a focus on striking, while rewarding resistance precision and speed instead, just like in Kung-Fu.
The Lore Behind Path of Fury - Meet Tetsuo
Useful Links:
About Leonard Menchiari
About Abonico Game Works
50 Great Videogame Covers / Box Art - Gaming Thoughts
Long ago, in the distant pre-Covid age of 2016, I wrote an article on my Top 10 Beautiful Video Game Covers. In it, I rambled about how beauty is in the eye of the beholder—one person’s masterpiece might be another’s head-scratcher.
This time around I increased the number to 50 and set a few ground rules for myself. I deliberately excluded the usual suspects—WipeOut, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami—as well as some heavy-hitting franchises like Final Fantasy & Metal Gear Solid. As stunning as their covers are, they’ve been discussed to death. I have nothing original to add, nor do I wish to churn out yet another list identical to a dozen others on the Internet.
Instead, I want to highlight some lesser-known gems—often regional variants that, for whatever reason, didn’t get much attention. This is an unranked list based on personal taste, so let’s keep it civil in the comments.
All images courtesy of MobyGames.com
Resident Evil / Biohazard
Platform: PS1 // Region: NTSC
Resident Evil cover or packaging material - MobyGames
If Resident Evil sounds better, Biohazard looks better. Any cover using the latter name instantly becomes my favorite.
This cover works because it’s deceptively simple yet deeply intriguing. The way the drop of blood actually interacts with the eye is a subtle but effective touch—making it very clear that this game is not a safe space.
Resident Evil 4
Platform: PC // Region: PAL
https://www.mobygames.com/game/16373/resident-evil-4/cover/group-31702/cover-85381/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/52872/resident-evil-4/cover/group-20236/cover-49347/
The Resident Evil series has a long history of varied covers—I’m still finding alternate versions of older titles even in 2025.
The NTSC covers of RE4? They’re… fine. Leon S. Kennedy in a mid-action pose. Nothing original.
But the PAL covers? That’s where it gets interesting. I call these the “forest” and “woods” variants.
The Woods cover is starkly violent—the infamous Chainsaw Man is front and center, ominous and unrelenting. The Forest cover is more subdued, but the ominous red/black combo still oozes tension.
Both are perfect for a series inspired by B-movies and 50s/60s zombie flicks. They capture a vintage horror aesthetic that I love.
Ultima: Blackgate
Platform: DOS // Region: NTSC
Ultima VII: The Black Gate cover or packaging material - MobyGames
This may look like a joke entry, but I assure you—it’s not.
Most Ultima games have solid covers (The False Prophet, Serpent Isle, Labyrinth of Worlds), but Black Gate? It’s next-level.
Why? Raw, unapologetic confidence. By this point, Ultima was already one of the biggest names in gaming. They didn’t need flashy art.
If Metallica and The Beatles could pull off a minimalist album cover, why couldn’t a video game?
Another World
Platform: // Region: PAL
https://www.mobygames.com/game/564/out-of-this-world/cover/group-15249/cover-136753/
Almost every variant of this cover features a different logo typography, but this particular one feels much more complete to me. Its logo is as alien-esque as the wonderful painting itself.
One thing I've observed—but never received any confirmation for—is that Lester’s open-armed stance and the light in the distance seem to mirror each other. Is there any significance to that?
Gran Turismo
Platform: PS1 // Region: NTSC & PAL
Gran Turismo cover or packaging material - MobyGames
https://www.mobygames.com/game/3909/gran-turismo/cover/group-25405/cover-65056/
One of the rare instances where I prefer the NTSC cover over the PAL one.
The NTSC cover is confident, mysterious, and subtly hints at the unconventional direction the series takes. Remember, this is a racing franchise that chooses jazz and lounge music when others go for electronic and rock.
The PAL cover is equally fantastic—a close-up of a tire with the logo embedded into it. A simple but powerful way of saying: This game does one thing better than anyone else—and we take pride in it.
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
Platform: PS2 // Region: PAL
Gran Turismo 3: A-spec cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Gran Turismo 3: A-spec cover or packaging material - MobyGames
I’m torn on this one.
The NTSC cover is stunning—the cool blue tint and the way they turn the logo into a car badge is such a clean touch. It gives off a calm, inviting vibe.
The PAL cover, though? Entirely different story. It’s sharp, high-contrast, and features a car’s headlight bathed in sporty red. This one doesn’t say Sunday driving simulator.
Both are great, but if I had to pick one? The red version takes it.
Gran Turismo 4
Platform: PS2 // Region: Worldwide
Gran Turismo 4 cover or packaging material - MobyGames
There are two types of people in this world:
Those who immediately recognize the beauty of a Ford GT40 and smile at this cover.
Those who learned to appreciate the beauty of the Ford GT40 because of this cover.
Either way, this is a sleek, perfect composition. I wish more racing games had this level of confidence in their cover art.
Madworld
Platform: Wii // Region: Worldwide
MadWorld cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Do you know why I love PlatinumGames? Because they unapologetically prioritize style over substance, and I adore them for it.
Honestly, they might be the only game company I’d seriously love to work for.
I was going to write about No More Heroes, but that game already gets plenty of attention. So I swapped it out for MadWorld—which, if you’re into highly stylized aesthetics like Sin City or Hellboy, is an absolute banger of a cover.
Cannon Fodder
Platform: Amiga // Region: PAL
Cannon Fodder cover or packaging material - MobyGames
This one is iconic, so I won’t elaborate much.
However, I do remember reading a comment—years ago—about how the cover contains a series of cleverly hidden middle fingers. Maybe it was just self-imposed pareidolia, but a friend swore he spotted a few. I, too, vaguely made out at least one.
But looking at it now? I was grossly mistaken. Either the comment was about another game, or my brain was playing tricks on me.
Ecco the Dolphin
Platform: Genesis & Mega Drive // Region: PAL & NTSC
https://www.mobygames.com/game/6677/ecco-the-dolphin/cover/group-12449/cover-30671/
Ecco the Dolphin cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Movies aren’t the only medium where every frame can be a painting—video games qualify too. The original Ecco the Dolphin certainly does. Its audio-visual fidelity is quintessential seapunk.
The Sega Genesis cover is the closest I’ve come to experiencing the Mandela effect. Thanks to its airbrush style and grid paper pattern, I was convinced I had seen this artwork on a coil notebook as a kid.
It wasn’t until my early 20s, when I got into vaporwave, that I learned Ecco was a video game series—and that maybe, just maybe, I had never actually seen this art on a notebook at all.
The Mega Drive cover? Just as picturesque.
God Hand
Platform: PS2 // Region: NTSC
God Hand cover or packaging material - MobyGames
For the longest time, I only knew about the NA cover, which features a heavily tattooed arm punching another tattooed person. I assumed this was the definitive cover for the game.
Then I saw the Japanese cover. Stylish, aggressive, and bursting with kinetic energy. Are we seeing the punch being charged up? Or is it already mid-air? No matter how you interpret it, this visual perfectly matches the game’s equally absurd title.
Grand Theft Auto
Platform: PC // Region: PAL
Grand Theft Auto cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Show of hands—how many of you knew about this? Long before Grand Theft Auto adopted its iconic disjointed panel design, the original game did something quite similar.
The NTSC cover, featuring a fisheye photograph of Trump Tower, is serviceable, but the PAL cover just nails the tone. The use of real photos combined with a vintage two-tone treatment makes it feel almost like a documentary. Even the title—written in full with ellipses and quotation marks—adds to the effect.
If you hear John Larroquette's Texas Chainsaw Massacre narration in your head while reading it, the cover has done its job.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Platform: NES // Region: NTSC
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Before Zelda covers became gorgeous, somewhere around the mid-’90s, Nintendo had a habit of giving its older titles the beige treatment.
I think this color is underrated. When used right, it’s warm, inviting—have you ever wondered why your favorite mocha café feels so cozy?
Here, the ruby-adorned Magical Sword set against a beige background gives it an aura of quiet dignity.
Perfect Dark
Platform: N64 // Region: NTSC
https://ia802804.us.archive.org/21/items/PerfectDark.cover/Perfect%20Dark.cover.jpg
The North American box art is iconic—a close-up of Joanna Dark, her face shrouded in dramatic lighting, setting the perfect action-espionage tone. It does its job well.
For years, I had no idea a Japan-exclusive version existed. This one is completely different—moody, subdued, with Joanna Dark reclining on a sofa. The cool composition and red color palette give it an entirely different, neo-noir energy. Love it.
Test Drive
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
Test Drive cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Ask any gearhead—seeing a lineup of legendary supercars is always a beautiful sight. Stack them vertically, bathe them in a striking red negative, and suddenly, you have something worthy of framing on your wall.
From top to bottom:
1987 Lamborghini Countach
1987 Lotus Esprit Turbo
1987 Chevrolet Corvette C4
1987 Porsche 911 Turbo
1987 Ferrari Testarossa
The Duel: Test Drive II
Platform: DOS // Region: NTSC
The Duel: Test Drive II cover or packaging material - MobyGames
By its very nature, racing is a duel between opponents. So it only makes sense that racing games should depict two or more cars in aggressive competition—usually from a low angle or head-on perspective.
The Duel takes a different approach, showing an aerial view of a blazing Ferrari F40 and a Porsche 959. Instant classic.
Test Drive III: The Passion
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
Test Drive III: The Passion cover or packaging material - MobyGames
The third and final of the truly great Test Drive covers.
Anyone who understands marketing knows that the best way to convey the passion for driving isn’t through the machine—it’s through the human element.
This cover gets it. The sunset color grading. The effortless swagger of the driver. The sense of speed.
Even the light script typography convinces you it’s finally time to get a convertible and let ‘er rip.
Daikatana
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
https://www.mobygames.com/game/1678/john-romeros-daikatana/cover/group-19313/cover-46975/
When Marvin Gaye sang about “death, taxes, and trouble” being life’s only certainties, he clearly forgot to consult a graphic designer. There are actually two more: red/black and yellow/black color combos. Even the most basic designer can use these to turn something ordinary into something striking.
I love how this cover neatly arranges its text in a bento-box layout. It’s structured, clean, and visually engaging.
SSX On Tour
Platform: PS2 // Region: Worldwide
SSX on Tour cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Unlike the other entries, this one goes for a doodle-heavy, hand-drawn aesthetic.
Honestly? Smart move. Slam books and personalized Hi5 / MySpace pages were still a thing back then, so this fit right in.
Out of all the covers in this list, this one brings the most nostalgia. You were good, EA Sports Big. You will be missed.
Driver
Platform: PS1 // Region: PAL
Driver cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Driver was too ahead of its time. It was also too difficult—both for its time and any time.
The art direction still holds up today. It carries a distinct flavor of ‘90s edginess and soul of ‘60s and ‘70s car movies. If you’ve seen the likes of Bullitt and French Connection, you know what I’m talking about.
This cover is minimal and timeless—the kind of design that only works for something generically titled.
The Dig
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
The Dig cover or packaging material - MobyGames
The Dig often gets overshadowed when discussing LucasArts adventure games, which is unfair. It’s a visually stunning experience with a heavy emphasis on exploration and mystery—three elements the cover art captures perfectly.
Future Wars: Adventures in Time
Platform: DOS // Region: PAL
Future Wars: Adventures in Time cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Instantly striking. The dripping paint acting as a portal to outer space is peak aesthetic. This cover satisfies me to no end. The uncommon low-angle perspective and beautiful airbrush style really make it a lovely piece of art.
Myst
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
Myst cover or packaging material - MobyGames
At once nostalgic and worthy of framing on your wall. The cover depicts an isometric bird’s-eye view of the Myst island—including a full look at the infuriating Channelwood Age tree.
I swear, if I’d properly examined the cover before my first playthrough, I wouldn’t have wasted 30 minutes trying to find it.
Heiankyo Alien
Platform: Game Boy // Region: NTSC
Heiankyo Alien cover or packaging material - MobyGames
As far as Game Boy covers go, this one stands out—once you get past the initial confusion of realizing it’s a negative image of some alien-thing with arms sprouting from its forehead.
I just like it, okay?
American McGee’s Alice
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
American McGee's Alice cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Both Alice and its sequel, Madness Returns, are some of the most stylish and artistically chef’s kiss PC games ever made.
Game covers featuring in-game models tend to age poorly due to evolving technology. Yet, despite releasing in 2000, this cover still holds up. Why? Because brilliant art direction is timeless.
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
Platform: PS2 // Region: NTSC
https://www.mobygames.com/game/5594/dave-mirra-freestyle-bmx-2/cover/group-1299/cover-174173/
Understated and clean. Unlike most extreme sports covers, which tend to be loud and aggressive, this one is refined. The ramp-style line art and list of tricks suggest an actual design philosophy rather than just throwing in a chaotic collage of “cool” things.
Limbo
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
Limbo cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Limbo’s art style—both in-game and on the cover—is deeply rooted in German Expressionism.
Even the jagged typography is a nod to the movement, bringing to mind Fritz Lang’s films—specifically M and Metropolis.
Ikaruga
Platform: Dreamcast // Region: NTSC
Ikaruga cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Ikaruga was developed as a spiritual successor to Radiant Silvergun—by then, a giant in the shmup genre. Naturally, it had a lot to live up to.
Like many titles on this list, Ikaruga has several regional cover variants, each adorned with distinct artwork by the incredibly talented Yasushi Suzuki.
Out of all of them, the NTSC Dreamcast cover is my personal favorite. Its dramatic, desaturated composition and warm color palette give it a feel of power.
Karous
Platform: Dreamcast // Region: NTSC
Karous cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Why do falling feathers - or wings for that matter - make for dreamlike, pretty imagery? SimAnt did it. Sine Mora does it, too. What gives?
Sine Mora
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
https://www.mobygames.com/game/94106/sine-mora-ex/cover/group-302188/cover-748312/
This one’s got it all: a serious-sounding Latin phrase, blood brush splatter, and falling feathers. One look at it, and you just know you’re in for a no-nonsense, stiff-upper-lip experience.
R-Type Final
Platform: PS2 // Region: PAL
R-Type Final cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Vehicle line-ups will never not be cool.
Not the biggest fan of the logo, but seeing some of the major R-Type ships lined up on a reflective floor against a stark white background? That does something nice to the good ol’ monkey brain.
Beneath a Steel Sky
Platform: DOS // Region: PAL
Beneath a Steel Sky cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Another example of stark confidence in design.
It’s simply the game’s logo set against a black background—but when the logo is this good, that’s all you need.
I gave it an equally minimalist animation, which was actually praised by Mr. Cecil himself.
Quarantine
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
Quarantine cover or packaging material - MobyGames
A perfect marriage of copywriting and design. This cover is a case study in why, when discussing video games as an art form, the cover art should be included in that discussion.
I even had a go at animating the cover.
Jet Grind Radio
Platform: Dreamcast // Region: NTSC
https://www.mobygames.com/game/4126/jet-grind-radio/cover/group-2652/cover-7146/
A good part of me wishes the Dreamcast had won the early-2000s console wars—because then, we’d see more covers like this.
Endearing. Pleasing. Full of life. A perfect encapsulation of Jet Grind Radio’s attitude, energy, and rebellion.
Hired Guns
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
Hired Guns cover or packaging material - MobyGames
How many game covers do you know that feature a first-person perspective?
This composition immediately pulls you in. Despite featuring four characters in-frame, it never feels cluttered—and the art style? Fantastic.
Silent Hill
Platform: PS1 // Region: NTSC
https://www.mobygames.com/game/3564/silent-hill/cover/group-299926/cover-743695/
The best Silent Hill cover ever.
It’s clearly a close-up of a bathroom tile wall—a supposedly safe and sterile space. But the smeared blood suggests that not even that is safe anymore.
Silent Hill 2
Platform: PS2 // Region: NTSC
Silent Hill 2 cover or packaging material - MobyGames
This cover gives me the same sinister energy as The Red Ceiling, a famous William Eggleston photograph.
There’s something inexplicably terrifying about it—like some horror lurks just beyond the frame.
Patapon
Platform: PSP // Region: Worldwide
https://www.mobygames.com/game/33072/patapon/cover/group-49689/cover-133889/
Patapon 2 cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Patapon 3 cover or packaging material - MobyGames
We’ve all collectively forgotten about Patapon, haven’t we?
It’s been ages since I’ve heard anyone gush about this series, so maybe showcasing all three excellent covers in this article can help make up for that.
Scurge: Hive
Platform: GBA // Region: NTSC
Scurge: Hive cover or packaging material - MobyGames
The Game Boy Advance library never disappoints. This game is among the best on the handheld. The yellow/black color scheme is used to great effect here—it’s a fantastic cover.
Tactics Ogre
Platform: SNES // Region: NTSC
https://www.mobygames.com/game/8367/tactics-ogre/cover/group-22052/cover-54873/
Everything about this cover is majestic—the art style, the characters’ battle-ready composure, their costumes, the giant flag in the background, and that gold-plated logo at the bottom.
It’s no secret that Japanese cover art can be stunning, but this one takes the cake.
The Guardian Legend
Platform: SNES // Region: NTSC
The Guardian Legend cover or packaging material - MobyGames
If Sarah Kerrigan from StarCraft got the Hajime Sorayama treatment, I imagine the result would look something like this.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Platform: PC // Region: NTSC
Need for Speed: Most Wanted cover or packaging material - MobyGames
I’ve already written my thoughts on this cover in a previous article - Top 10 Beautiful Video Game Covers.
BioForge
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
BioForge cover or packaging material - MobyGames
I’ve already written my thoughts on this cover in a previous article - Top 10 Beautiful Video Game Covers.
Wasteland
Platform: DOS // Region: Worldwide
Wasteland cover or packaging material - MobyGames
I’ve already written my thoughts on this cover in a previous article - Top 10 Beautiful Video Game Covers.
Unrest
Platform: PC // Region: Worldwide
https://www.mobygames.com/game/74307/unrest/cover/group-116957/cover-309637/
I’ve already written about this game - more specifically the logo - on my Top Video Game Logos Part 2.
Dune II: Battle for Arrakis
Platform: Amiga // Region: PAL
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Foreboding. Very few covers grab your attention and curiosity as quickly as this one.
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Platform: Dreamcast // Region: NTSC
https://s.pacn.ws/1/p/u/elemental-gimmick-gear-e-g-g-15165.4.jpg?v=rt1iqh
If you told me this was a panel from Berserk, I’d believe you.
Resistance 3
Platform: PS3 // Region: Worldwide
Resistance 3 cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Instantly iconic. Nothing more to be said.
Snatcher
Platform: SP1 & MSX & Sega CD // Region: NTSC
Snatcher cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Snatcher cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Snatcher cover or packaging material - MobyGames
Even though this list is unranked, I saved my favorite two for last. These six covers are, to me, where flawless art direction and composition peaked. If anyone were to ask me now about my favorite cover of all time, I’d collectively rank these at the top spot.
Long before Kojima-san reinvented gaming with Metal Gear Solid, he made the equally cinematic and superb Snatcher. Basically a playable adult anime, Snatcher wears its inspirations on its trench-coat sleeves—namely Blade Runner.
MSX Cover: Pure neo-noir perfection. The golden glow on the lightly embossed logo looks like it was photographed inside Tyrell’s building during Blade Runner’s iconic sunset sequence.
PS1 Cover: A stunning watercolor-esque illustration. I love the blend of hard outlines and soft colors, not to mention the cinematic allusion to the poster of The Driver (1978, Walter Hill). Stylish and timeless.
Mega CD Cover: A bold cyberpunk statement. The artwork feels like a 007 gun barrel sequence, reimagined with a futuristic, neon-drenched aesthetic.
NiGHTS into Dreams...
Platform: Saturn // Region: Worldwide
NiGHTS into Dreams... cover or packaging material - MobyGames
https://www.mobygames.com/game/7437/nights-into-dreams/cover/group-7454/cover-169236/
https://www.mobygames.com/game/7437/nights-into-dreams/cover/group-35450/cover-96557/
Here we are—the final entry. These three NiGHTS into Dreams... covers are simply unmatched in their dreamlike quality.
For a game with such a surreal title, the artwork had to match its energy. Fortunately, the long-box covers deliver:
PAL Cover: NiGHTS strikes a Pied Piper-like pose against a starry, celestial backdrop.
NTSC Cover: A more futuristic take, with NiGHTS gliding through a sleek, airbrushed cityscape.
This is where the concept of dreamwave—a microgenre that embraces nostalgic, floaty subconscious imagery—comes into play. A joint album by vaporwave artists Luxury Elite and Saint Pepsi perfectly embodies this aesthetic, blending hazy synths with visuals reminiscent of Mac Tonight, McDonald’s surreal 80s/90s mascot.
Whenever I see these covers, my brain immediately starts playing Saint Pepsi’s Private Caller. Had it been up to me, NiGHTS—not Mac Tonight—would be the official mascot of dreamwave.
Then there’s the square jewel case cover, which takes a completely different approach. Instead of dreamy surrealism, it leans into pure 90s graphic design: bright colors, meticulously arranged elements, a clean layout—even the text aligns perfectly with the perspective of the key visual.
These covers hit all the right notes.
Article by:
Hamza