25 Greatest Video Game Box Art Of All Time

They say you should never judge a book (or anything, really) by its cover, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. More often than not, the worst games have the prettiest covers – and the best games have the ugliest. So, how are you supposed to know what’s worth playing, if cover art is no indication of actual quality?

That said, cover art is meant to sell us an experience, sometimes overselling or exaggerating aspects which are uncharacteristic of that experience in order to enhance a game’s commercial appeal. Cover art can even help us neglect fundamental issues with a particular game that would otherwise be deal-breakers – and in the case of older games – provide crucial information not communicated through the game’s dated visuals, bringing the entire thing to life before our eyes.

It’s a difficult balancing act – most games falling flat on their faces, and others succeeding in tremendous fashion, capturing the spirit and personality of the games in question with tremendous effectiveness. As such, here are twenty-five examples of awesome box art that really screamed: "Buy me!"

Phoenix – an innovative shooter, somewhat inspired by Space Invaders – features a somewhat unrepresentative, yet arresting cover, illustrated by Burrell Dickey, better known for his work on Centipede (1982). Aptly, it captures the spirit of the game – albeit in exaggerated fashion – depicting a single, solitary spaceship in combat with multiple enemies, and an enormous monument in the distance looming over the entire scene, adding a much needed sense of dread, or apprehension.

Atari are famous for their striking cover designs. This is one of the better examples, but not the last to be featured on this list.