Back When Gaming Had Gloss
Before instant updates and digital downloads, gaming knowledge was passed along in a far more archaic fashion: magazines. Each cover meant discovery, and every column offered a sense of community. These relics defined gaming as much as they documented it and were the go-to place for gamers to learn about upcoming releases, tips, and which games to shell out money for. It's time to revisit 20 integral gaming publications that helped shape the culture as we know it.
FULL Nintendo Power Magazine Collection by Nintendo Collecting
1. Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM)
Published in 1989, EGM reported on games and created gaming legends. You'd flip through it and find April Fool's pranks so convincing they fooled pros. Known for its “Review Crew,” it sparked debates in arcades, living rooms, and other gaming settings.
2. GamePro
Remember those over-the-top facial expressions beside every review score? That was GamePro’s signature, and it made every issue feel like a friend was yelling opinions at you. It launched in 1989 and ran till 2011, helping us survive pre-Internet gaming with ‘ProTips’ that were anything but subtle.
Browsing GamePro Magazine From August 1993 (SO Much 90s Attitude!) by Retro Game Attic
3. Nintendo Power
Launched in 1988 by Nintendo itself, this magazine was a portal to the world of its creators. Packed with cheat codes and Super Mario trivia, it made you feel like an insider. Some fans still hoard copies like sacred scrolls.
FULL Nintendo Power Magazine Collection by Nintendo Collecting
4. Computer Gaming World
CGW debuted in 1981 and was a digital deep diver before the term existed. From DOS setups to obscure RPGs, nothing scared this publication. You'd learn to tweak settings and debate strategy games like a tactician. PC gaming's intellectual roots were planted in these pages.
Computer Gaming World Aug. 1996, NO.145 by The Cold Boot
5. Next Generation
As for Next Generation, they gave you the “why” behind games. Launched in 1995, it covered developers’ insights and industry shifts with elegance. When you read it, you felt smarter afterward. The magazine ended in 2002, but its approach was way ahead of its time.
The Next Generation Generation by Scott & Frogpants
6. GameFan
GameFan (1992–2000) came with saturated screenshots and imported game love and spoke to the anime-obsessed gamer in you. It wasn't polished, but it was passionate. With unfiltered opinions and niche titles, it gave Japanese RPGs and arcade gems the spotlight long before they were cool.
Gamefan Magazine: Look Through - Issue October 1995 by Ultim8 Gaming Chat
7. Tips & Tricks
Your cheat-code bible from 1995 to 2007 was Tips & Tricks. No time for reviews or fluff over here. Just secrets, combos, and unlocks. You'd scribble codes into notebooks like secret formulas. The magazine was wrapped in bold fonts and unforgettable utility.
Ep 198 - Tips & Tricks Magazine Issue 39 Revealing by CruznMJD Productions
8. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM)
Think demo discs, and this magazine comes rushing back. Running from 1997 to 2007, OPM provided monthly previews that you could actually play. Besides the content, the demos offered tangibility. You didn't just read about Metal Gear Solid, but you felt it under your thumbs.
9. Game Informer
Though Game Informer only recently closed (1991–2024), don't underestimate its print impact. Backed by GameStop, it evolved from a promo tool into an editorial powerhouse. Developer interviews and annual game rankings made it essential reading. It outlived nearly everyone else, for good reason.
Gaming Collection: Game Informer Magazines by The Universal Gamer
10. Mean Machines
Before fanboy wars became digital, Mean Machines (1990–1992) fueled playground debates between Sega and Nintendo fans. This UK import's loud layouts and blunt reviews made it irresistibly entertaining. Even non-Brits got hooked. It was short-lived but never felt small.
11. Play Magazine (U.S.)
Anime art splashed across every issue of Play Magazine (2001–2010) and signaled readers that they were in for something stylish. With elegant layouts and niche Japanese game coverage, it catered to players craving more than blockbusters. Anyone who missed it missed an entire genre's golden phase.
Ep 612 - Play Issue 191 Magazine Revealing by CruznMJD Productions
12. PSM3
Boldly tackling PlayStation’s rise, PSM3 (2000–2012) carved a niche with a cheeky tone and deep-dive reviews. You’d laugh and learn from the same page. It offered gritty previews and post-launch honesty. Only a few mags nailed personality and precision like this one did.
2008 PSM3 magazine full look back at 10 years ago by Tyneside Reviews
13. Game Players
Game Players launched in the late ’80s and stood out with its humor and multi-platform spread. Editors often broke the fourth wall by dropping jokes between tips and reviews. As you read it, you bantered with it. Before sarcasm became mainstream, it lived here.
Game Players Magazine August 1994 Look Through - NEStalgiaholic by NEStalgiaholic
14. Computer And Video Games (CVG)
From 1981 to 2004, CVG was a British gaming juggernaut. People enjoyed import news months before U.S. readers saw it. The mag championed coverage of both PC and consoles long before cross-platform was trendy. Think of it as the UK’s gaming newsreel before YouTube existed.
Computer and Video Games magazine Ep50 by Betty Horde Clinic
15. GameNOW
What started as Expert Gamer morphed into GameNOW (2001–2004) and targeted younger players with punchy layouts and pop-culture references. The articles were flashy and full of screenshots. You might’ve learned a cheat, then caught an offbeat comic—either way, it never overstayed its welcome.
Gaming Magazine Collection Tour by Gaming The Systems
16. Gamers’ Republic
Created by former GameFan minds in 1997, Gamers’ Republic brought high art to glossy game pages. Import games and deep essays filled its slender runs until 2001. Readers got previews with poetry and layouts that felt like museum displays. You were holding prestige.
Ep 224 - Gamers Republic Magazine Issue 31 Revealing by CruznMJD Productions
17. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (VG&CE)
VG&CE delivered strategy and commentary across platforms before niche loyalty ruled. It contained tips for PC quests and NES adventures side by side. There were no favorites as it covered everything. That cross-platform DNA seeded the modern multi-format coverage readers expect today.
Gaming Magazine Collection Tour by Gaming The Systems
18. Ultra Game Players
Game Players had a makeover, and this was it. Ultra Game Players (1996–1998) amped up the attitude. It was disruptive and funny, and it could joke about Mortal Kombat fatalities while previewing RPGs. The tone? Wild. The insight? Surprisingly sharp. You never skimmed this one.
Ultra Game Players Magazine Issue 96 April 1997 Read Through by GameWired
19. Dreamcast Magazine (Official U.S.)
Every month, Dreamcast Magazine (1999–2001) was a beacon of hope during Sega’s turbulent console era. Fans got demo discs and development scoops with diehard optimism. It stood by a doomed console with grit and flair. Even in its final issues, it never sounded like it was giving up.
Gaming Magazine Collection Tour by Gaming The Systems
20. Sega Visions
Published by Sega from 1990 to 1995, this mag was the company’s answer to Nintendo Power. You got insider exclusives wrapped in bold, punchy layouts. There were comics and console rivalries on every page. For Genesis fans, this was a monthly badge of pride.
Sega Visions Magazine - Gaming Historian by Gaming Historian
