20 Best Game Informer Magazine Covers of All Time

Highlights

• Game Informer’s sudden closure brings about a wave of nostalgia and mourning for the beloved gaming magazine on social media.
• Efforts made to archive magazine content show dedication to preserving the video game medium’s heritage despite cover hype and unfulfilled announcements.
• Each unique cover design, from handcrafted homages to minimalist themes, has left a lasting impact on the magazine’s readers throughout the years.

After 33 years of publication and 367 issues circulated, Gamestop has ceased publication of the much-loved gaming magazine Game Informer. After the subscription’s sudden shuttering, many gamers, developers, and former writers have lamented the loss on social media.

As the Game Informer website and digital archive have been similarly shut down, efforts by enthusiasts have been made to archive the magazin and prevent the possible loss of media. Although some covers may hype up some questionable titles, and some software announcements may not come to be, every issue is a part of the video game medium’s heritage.

20 Issue 320 (December 2019)

A Handcrafted Homage To Blizzard’s IPs

Game Informer’s December 2019 cover was created in celebration of the “unprecedented unveiling of new titles and updates” from that year’s Blizzcon showcase. Detailing some stunning artwork surrounding Blizzard IPs such as Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch, four other collectible covers were released showcasing the franchises individually.

19 Issue 117 (January 2003)

Moody, Washed-Out Tones Depict A New Xbox IP

Game Informer issue 117’s cover image is a celebration of Fable’s reveal from the placeholder tile of ‘Project Ego’. Providing exclusive closed-door coverage on the title, the cover’s dark and mystical tones set it apart from the somewhat direct covers of some other issues.

18 Issue 200 (December 2009)

An Extremely Minimalist Design Celebrating 200 Issues

In celebration of Game Informer’s 200th issue in December 2009, the magazine released eight collectible covers themed around their top choices for the 200 best games of all time. The minimalist white background and central sprite or model create a dynamic cover image that draws readers’ eyes to the paperback.

17 Issue 344 (March 2022)

Fluid Motion and Intricate Details Promote A New Square Enix RPG

Placing their coverage of Square Enix’s new IP Forspoken on the cover of Gamer Informer’s March 2022 issue, the issue boasts a 14-page cover story. Featuring a dynamic illustration by Forspoken art director Yuuki Matsuzawa, this cover is an intricate yet impactful showcase of the game.

16 Issue 181 (May 2008)

Alternate Covers Promote Epic Games’ Returning Third-Person Franchise

Promoting Game Informer’s exclusive coverage of Microsoft’s first-party sequel Gears of War 2, May 2008’s cover is a minimalist two-tone design. With grayscale and contrasting red-black alternate covers, series protagonist Marcus Fenix stands silhouetted against the blood-spattered background.

15 Issue 290 (June 2017)

A Dynamic Collage Showcases The Magazine’s JRPG Rankings

Game Informer’s June 2017 issue promoted the magazine’s ‘Top 100 RPGs Of All Time’ list. To honor this, the cover is designed as a diorama showcasing the protagonists of the industry’s greatest role-playing games. Geralt of Rivia, Pikachu, and Cloud Strife all make appearances among other RPG hall-of-fame stars.

14 Issue 104 (December 2001)

A Comic-Book Style Provides An Alternative Look For Metal Gear Solid 2

To prepare readers for their six-page coverage of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Game Informer decorated its December 2001 issue with a comic book-inspired piece of artwork portraying Solid Snake himself. Despite no mention of the game’s true protagonist Raiden, perhaps due to an embargo, the cover is a varied take on the magazine’s usual design.

13 Issue 212 (December 2010)

Ten Years Of Protagonists Depicted In A Handcrafted Mural

As Game Informer ventured into a new decade, artist Sam Spratt was commissioned to illustrate a mural of the magazine’s picks for the 30 characters that defined the 2000s. With appearances from Master Chief, Glados, and John Marston, these covers are so precisely designed that they can be placed side-by-side to create a dynamic diorama.

12 Issue 20 (December 1994)

DOOM’s Chaotic Cover Lends Itself To Game Informer

Game Informer’s December 1994 cover is not its own unique artwork. However, it’s a testament to the creativity and flexibility of Don Ivan Punchatz’s original DOOM cover art that it can still make such an impact even when simply promoting the game’s Sega 32X port.

11 Issue 321 (January 2020)

A PlayStation Anniversary Promoted Through Minimalist Design

In celebration of PlayStation’s 25th anniversary, Game Informer decorated their cover with minimalistic, semi-grayscale depictions of some of the platform’s greatest first-party mascots. From Crash Bandicoot and Sackboy to Kratos and Ratchet, a quarter-century’s worth of IPs are on creative display in the magazine’s January 2020 issue.

10 Issue 155 (March 2006)

Bioshock’s Dire And Damp Aesthetic Are Promoted With Shades Of Blue

Promoting Game Informer’s exclusive first look at Bioshock, the magazine’s March 2006 issue displays some dynamic artwork showcasing the title’s Big Daddy pseudo-boss characters. Alongside some brooding dark tones, this issue details the cover story by portraying the world of Rapture through one single image.

9 Issue 33 (January 1996)

A Close-Up Of 3D Mario Is All Gamers Needed in 1996

January 1996’s Game Informer cover illustrates just how dynamic the shift from 2D to 3D was for the video game industry. As such, a simple 3D model of Mario, with a (then still titled)N intendo Ultra 64 in his eyes was enough to make for a creative cover image.

8 Issue 168 (April 2007)

Naughty Dog’s Uncharted Series Debuted With A Handpainted Cover

Promoting the magazine’s 10-page deep-dive of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, a hand-drawn illustration of the titular character in perilous danger is emblazoned on the cover. Despite showing early footage that portrays companion and love interest Elena Fisher in a different guise than the retail release, the coverage was enough to promote one magazine’s cover page.

7 Issue 253 (May 2014)

Before It Established A Genre, Fornite Was Promoted In Colorful Chaos

Before Epic Games’ third-person shooter became the blueprint for an entire genre of Battle Royale video games, the title was originally a simple base-building horde game. In promotion of the magazine’s cover story regarding Fortnite, the May 2014 cover image is a colorful and engaging piece of art.

6 Issue 311 (March 2019)

An Art-Deco Illustration Details The Outer World’s Aesthetic

Game Informer’s March 2019 cover image is in promotion of the magazine’s deep-dive of Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds RPG. Specifically looking into the combat, role-playing elements, and setting, this pseudo-art deco aesthetic is carried over to the magazine’s pastel orange hue.

5 Issue 148 (August 2005)

A Watercolor Ape And Transparent Logo Promote A Movie Tie-In

Game Informer’s August 2005 issue is decorated to promote the magazine’s world-exclusive content. Detailing Peter Jackson and Ubisoft Montpelier’s collaboration on a King Kong licensed video game title, their interviews are showcased through a pseudo-watercolor depiction of the titular gigantic ape alongside the magazine’s first use of a transparent logo. ​​​​​​​

4 Issue 312 (April 2019)

The Abstract Design of Control Pairs With Game Informer’s Minimalist Ethos

Game Infomrer’s April 2019 cover is a dynamic collaboration between the Remedy title and the long-running magazine. The cover portrays Control‘s abstract, geometric aesthetic with Game Informer’s then-established minimalist design. Making great use of the game’s red and black central colors, the magazine’s cover image is an eye-catching piece of creativity. ​​​​​​​

3 Issue 334 (March 2021)

Deathloop’s In-Universe Design Envelops The Magazine’s Aesthetic

Game Informer’s March 2021 issue is not the first of the magazine’s covers to be effectively redesigned in collaboration with a particular game’s release. However, in celebration of their cover story detailing Arkane Lyon’s timed-exclusive FPS Deathloop, Issue 334 has been completely redecorated in the game’s style, showcasing the playable characters Julianna and Colt. ​​​​​​​

2 Issue 78 (October 1999)

Cautiously Promoting the Ill-Fated Dreamcast

In a unique display for Game Informer’s cover artwork, the magazine’s October 1999 issue showcased the Sega Dreamcast in a live-action environment surrounded by dynamite. Exercising cautious optimism, the magazine details how the Dreamcast could be the manufacturer’s greatest achievement or a somber swansong for the Sonic creators. ​​​​​​​

1 Issue 273 (January 2016)

2016 Is The ‘Year Of VR’

In its January 2016 issue, Game Informer decreed that year as ‘The Year of Virtual Reality’. Navigating VR development through Oculus, Valve, and PlayStation, the magazine is also emblazoned with a simplistic, yet impactful cover design. As the cover story proceeds to “dive deep into the platforms, the games, the promise, and the challenges facing this nascent technology” its groovy alt-future aesthetic sets it apart from so many other covers.