Video Game History
Ongoing coverage on Video Game History.
Latest coverage
How Batman Games Endured The Dark Knight’s Toughest Era
This article discusses how Batman video games navigated a challenging period in the late 1990s, balancing the legacy of The Animated Series with the less successful Batman and Robin film. Lego Batman is highlighted as a joyful retrospective of the character's gaming history.
Batman Games Begin: The Origins of the Dark Knight in Video Games
This article explores the 40-year history of Batman video games, focusing on the peculiar origins of the Dark Knight's early appearances in the medium. It contrasts these early, stranger titles with more recent interpretations like Lego Batman.
Evening Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article touches on two distinct topics: the animation work done by a Jim Henson Company puppeteer for Valve games, and a historical overview of James Bond video games. It highlights contributions to game development and the legacy of a specific franchise.
Best games you won’t believe are turning 25 in 2026
Several iconic video games released around the turn of the millennium are celebrating significant anniversaries, with many turning 25 in 2026. Titles like Gran Turismo 3, Devil May Cry, Halo: Combat Evolved, Metal Gear Solid 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Final Fantasy X, Silent Hill 2, Ico, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and Grand Theft Auto 3 are highlighted for their lasting impact and influence on the industry.
Best games you won’t believe are turning 25 in 2026
Several iconic video games released around the turn of the millennium are celebrating significant anniversaries, with many turning 25 in 2026. Titles like Gran Turismo 3, Devil May Cry, Halo: Combat Evolved, Metal Gear Solid 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Final Fantasy X, Silent Hill 2, Ico, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and Grand Theft Auto 3 are highlighted for their lasting impact and influence on the industry.
The Complete History of James Bond Games
This article chronicles the 40-year history of video games based on the James Bond franchise. It covers the evolution of these titles from their inception to the present day.
2011 was packed with iconic games: Can you guess which ones we reviewed from a quote and the score?
PC Gamer is testing readers' knowledge of iconic games from 2011 with a quiz. Players must identify 17 reviewed titles based on a single quote and their score from the magazine's archives. The article also highlights other PC Gamer quizzes available on various gaming topics.
Uncharted 4's binned original version would have had a much bigger role for Nathan Drake's love interest, Elena Fisher
A deep dive into the original vision for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, created by series creator Amy Hennig, reveals significant differences from the final game. Hennig's version would have featured a larger role for Elena Fisher and a different narrative structure for Nathan Drake and his brother Sam. The game's development shifted significantly after Hennig's departure from Naughty Dog.
See the Alternate Version of Uncharted 4 You Never Got to Play in Eye-Opening Video
A documentary video explores the alternate version of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End that was developed under Amy Hennig before her departure. The video showcases significant differences in plot, characters, and environments compared to the final 2016 release, backed by gameplay footage and concept art. It also touches upon the game's troubled development and Sony's potential funding withdrawal.
Original Sonic designer shows off his design for Sonic’s 35th anniversary
Original Sonic the Hedgehog designer Naoto Ohshima has shared a design he created for SEGA to celebrate the franchise's 35th anniversary. The artwork features Sonic in various classic poses. Ohshima also previously revealed details about Michael Jackson's potential involvement in the music for Sonic 3 and discussed the origins of Sonic's design at GDC 2018.
It's time to set the record straight: Doomguy's armor does not have a tummy window, his shirt just got ripped
This article clarifies that Doomguy's iconic armor from the original Doom does not feature a deliberate 'tummy window,' but rather a ripped shirt exposing his abs, a detail stemming from Don Punchatz's cover art. While subsequent games and fan art have often depicted this as an intentional design choice, John Romero confirmed that the torn shirt was an artistic decision by Punchatz, not an in-game feature.
Snake – den finska ormen drog igång mobilspelandet
The article reflects on the historical significance of the mobile game Snake, originally released on Nokia phones in the late 1990s. Developed by Taneli Armanto, Snake was a pioneering title that helped establish mobile gaming as a popular form of entertainment. Its simple yet addictive gameplay made it a global phenomenon, influencing the future landscape of mobile games.
Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
A retrospective on the history of James Bond video games is presented, alongside confirmation that the planned revival of the NFL 2K series did not proceed due to creative differences, six years after its initial announcement.
Pac-Man: Snack Breaks Animation Debuts on PAC-MAN Day May 22; Live Events Throughout May | Console Creatures
Bandai Namco Entertainment is celebrating Pac-Man's 46th birthday throughout May with "PAC-MAY" and a "Connect the Dots" theme. This includes live events in major cities, a Fruit Ninja x Pac-Man crossover, and the debut of the new YouTube animated short series, Pac-Man: Snack Breaks, on May 22. The series, created with Cartuna, follows Pac-Man in New Pac-City and features a retro anime visual style.
POKEBOOK Is Taking You Back To Kanto For Pokémon's 30th Anniversary Year
Ninty Media has launched a Kickstarter campaign for 'Pokebook,' a hardcover book celebrating the first generation of Pokémon games and coinciding with the franchise's 30th anniversary. The book will cover Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow, along with related titles like Pokémon Stadium and the anime. The campaign aims to fund delivery by August, with various pledge tiers offering additional merchandise.
Quiz – Diablo! Warcraft! Starcraft! Vad kan du om Blizzards guldålder?
This quiz tests knowledge of Blizzard Entertainment's most successful period, focusing on iconic franchises like Diablo, Warcraft, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft. Players are invited to log in to participate and see how much they remember about the company's golden age.
Today Is Nintendo Legend Yoshiaki Koizumi's 58th Birthday
Nintendo legend Yoshiaki Koizumi celebrated his 58th birthday on April 29, 2026. Koizumi, currently Senior General Manager at Nintendo EPD, has been with the company for 35 years and has contributed to numerous iconic titles including Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Super Mario Odyssey.
Snabbkollen – Blizzards bästa?
This article asks readers to vote for their favorite Blizzard Entertainment game series, highlighting the company's significant impact on gaming history since the 1990s. Popular franchises like Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch are presented as options, with an invitation for write-in suggestions.
Talking Point: Is Legend Of Zelda's Link Left Or Right-Handed? Let's Look At The Evidence
The dominant hand of Link, the hero of The Legend of Zelda series, has been a subject of debate among fans for decades. While Link was predominantly left-handed in early titles, including the original The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, later games like Twilight Princess (Wii version), Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom have featured him as right-handed. This shift is often attributed to design choices related to motion controls and controller layouts, though the character's ambidexterity remains a point of discussion.
Tre guldkorn från Blizzards tidiga år
This article looks back at the early years of Blizzard Entertainment, when the company was known as Silicon & Synapse. It highlights three Super Nintendo Entertainment System titles: The Lost Vikings, Blackthorne, and Rock n' Roll Racing, showcasing Blizzard's early genre diversity and design philosophy before their major success with PC titles like Warcraft and World of Warcraft.