The SEGA Corporation dominated the video game industry in the early 1990s, with their box art often being the most popular and well-known. This was especially true in the early 1990s, when Sega released their popular console, the Genesis. The company’s dominance was further cemented by their success with video games such as Sonic Adventure 2 and Street Fighter II. In 1992, SEGA released a new console called Super Nintendo, which helped them regain some of their lost ground in the video game market. They would continue to dominate this industry for many years to come.
Sega’s marketing strategy was to make games look bad-ass and appeal to older audiences. This helped them reach out to a wider audience.
After the long and arduous conflict known as the “war,” gamers everywhere can finally take a breath and enjoy some of the most beautiful box art ever created. From new releases to classics, these games are sure to please any fan of video games. ..
The best in everything.
25. Grind Stormer (1993)
Grind Stormer is a great vertical shooter that unfortunately didn’t achieve the commercial success it deserved. ..
The cover art for “The Hobbit” is amazing. The artist has perfectly captured the perspective of the ship, making it look as if it is about to pop out of the box. ..
The ship’s design is excellent, especially its guns.
The artist made sure to include two small drones that follow you around in-game, which is a nice touch.
24. Kolibri (1995)
In the 1990s, parents were concerned about their children’s gaming habits. They worried that they were being addicted to video games and that this was leading to bad habits like violence and delinquency.
Kolibri is a game development studio that uses creativity to bypass parents and deliver excellent gaming experiences to young gamers.
The game’s box art tries to communicate the excitement and dynamism of the gameplay through its cool font and angry-looking hummingbird while still appeasing parents with its bright scenery.
This is a great game for introducing your eight-year-old to old-school side-scrolling shooters. It’s easy to play, and the graphics are cute and colorful. ..
23. Splatterhouse 2 (1992)
The cover of Splatterhouse 2 features a design that looks like a horror movie poster. However, there are no victims in the image. This is likely due to the use of bright colors and an overall gothic look.
Rick’s fight against the Xenomorph and the ghost feels more like a monster battle royale than a hero struggling for survival.
Despite the violence, the scene retains a certain goofy quality that reminds me of old B-movies.
It’s a colorful blast from the past that I can’t help but enjoy.
22. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie
The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie is a beat-em-up game that was pretty popular back in the day. It’s the best of the bunch, especially compared to the SNES release.
The Xbox One has better box art than the PlayStation 4.
This one featured an exciting composition with every ranger’s profile.
The Power Rangers are all about teamwork, and everyone has their favorite. The smart move was to include them all – plus, the dramatic effect it achieves makes you feel like you’re in for something epic. ..
21. Fire Shark (1990)
Fire Shark is a vertically scrolling shooter that was first released in arcades in the early 1990s. The game is a solid experience, with tight controls and an interesting gameplay mechanic that allows you to fire sharks at other players.
The game is a WWII-based shoot-em-up, though it doesn’t actually take place in this dark period in history – it’s just remarkably similar in looks and technology.
The cover art on this book is accurate in that it shows a young girl with long hair and a bright smile. However, the cover art is misleading because it does not show the girl’s true face. The girl’s face is hidden behind her hair.
On the other side you see a giant shark figure in the back, spitting fire and a ton of enemy aircraft in the background.
The game is meant to simulate the feeling of being a flying shark, but I found the lack of actual giant airborne sharks to be a disappointment.
20. MERCS (1991)
I’m looking for a firearm that is designed from the ground up to be as reliable and efficient as possible. This means having a gun that can handle whatever you might encounter on your hunt.
The American Revolution was a time of great change. It saw the first use of firearms, and also the first large-scale explosions. This led to a new way of life, where men could be more manly and powerful.
The cover art for MERCS advertises a new, innovative product that can help you make money.
The cover features a group of people who are all roided up and carry machineguns. They all have the balls to go up against tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets by themselves.
I really like the look of this product, and I think it would be a great addition to my collection.
19. Wolfchild (1992)
Next up, we have Wolfchild, a great action platformer where the player can become a werewolf once enough energy is collected. The game features an interesting mechanic where the player must collect energy in order to transform into their wolf form.
In the game, you play as a wolf for the entire game.
The animal in the photograph is very aggressive and its stare is sharp. The drool on its lower lip makes one think of animalistic savagery.
This is a violent game.
18. Mortal Kombat (1993)
I’m speechless. ..
No matter what you do, you can’t beat the classics. They are timeless and will always be popular. ..
Making games recognizable at the store is important, especially when they need to be bought.
The MK dragon seal is a symbol of gaming violence. It is often tattooed on the bodies of people who play video games, and it has become a popular symbol in the general public.
17. Galaxy Force II (1988)
The game features a new “super scaler” technology that allows it to more accurately represent depth by dynamically scaling the game’s sprites and backgrounds. This makes for a more immersive experience, as players are able to see the world in a more lifelike way.
The box art for the new game, “Destiny,” was designed to showcase perspective and depth. By showcasing different angles and perspectives, the developers were able to create a more immersive experience for players.
We can see a swarm of flying objects heading toward what appears to be a mothership hovering over a field of lava. ..
In a bid to emulate the game’s pseudo-3D look, many items were represented as being at varying distances from the viewer. This was done in an attempt to create a more immersive experience for viewers.
16. Disney’s Aladdin (1992)
Tie-in games are often criticized for their unfair gameplay mechanics. ..
Disney’s Aladdin was a huge success on the Genesis console, and helped to revive the company’s fortunes.
The best-selling game on the console, according to sales data, is undoubtedly “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.” It’s a well-made game that has received critical acclaim, and it deserves to be praised for its innovative design and its ability to keep players engaged for hours on end.
The game is a great addition to any movie fan’s collection. The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is solid. The only downside is that it looks just like the movie!
The box art for “Mass Effect 3” is absolutely stunning. The colors are intense and it includes all of the major characters in the game. This makes it a must-have for any fan of the series. ..
The scene of Aladdin swinging his scimitar against Jafar is a great way to reflect the gameplay well, and it would get anyone excited to get home and start cutting down some bad guys.
15. Tom Mason’s Dinosaurs for Hire (1993)
The cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone features a photo of President Donald Trump with a clown’s face superimposed on his. The headline reads “Donald Trump, America’s Clown Prince.” The cover is unapologetic and crazy, and it’s a great representation of the magazine’s overall tone. ..
People want boxes that look cool and make sense.
People were more forgiving back then.
You wanted something that would make you feel like a star.
A team of muscular, weapon-wielding dinosaurs was able to take down a large, dangerous creature.
The game is based on a classic American comic book series from 1988, so the developers could have chosen any setting they wanted. However, the hyper-masculinity of the cover was typical of this era in gaming, and we’re not likely to see anything quite like this again.
14. Final Zone (1990)
In Final Zone, you play as a mercenary who is hired to help take down the evil corporation that has been terrorizing the world for 100 years. The game is set in a unique isometric view, and features an awesome mech known as the New Age Power Suit. You must use your skills and firepower to take down your enemies, and use the environment to your advantage.
The cover of the new issue of The NAPS Journal features a striking image of the organization’s president, Dr. Naps, front and center in contrasting blue and crimson colors. ..
The new cover for the game “Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia” features a more subdued Eastern aesthetic, in contrast to the more militaristic look of the original Japanese launch. ..
13. Alisia Dragoon (1992)
Some things that never change in the fantasy genre are the love story, the adventure, and the magic.
One of the dragons is a big, scary creature.
The scaly beasts have become synonymous with the genre, but somehow, we don’t seem to grow tired of them. Zombies are a fad, vampires are a fad, and wizards are a fad – but dragons? You gotta have them!
Dragoon’s cover mixes our love of fire-breathing dragons with our appreciation for well-toned bodies. Seen on the heroine and her enemies as well, Dragoon’s cover is a popular choice for those who want to show their love of both fire-breathing dragons and well-toned bodies. ..
The covers of popular magazines are often very buff-looking people. This is likely because the editors want to appeal to a wider audience and make the magazine more visually appealing. ..
12. Ghouls’ n Ghosts (1989)
The game is set in a new world, where the player must explore and fight off ghosts and goblins in order to save the day. The game features a new control system, which allows players to use their left hand to control the ghosts and right hand to control the goblins.
I don’t like their marketing strategy.
Capcom’s new game, Resident Evil 7, set the company apart from its predecessor and appealed to a more mature audience. ..
The game’s box art for the Sega Genesis version of “Demon’s Souls” follows this logic, replacing the cartoony style of the original with a more realistic, badass scene of a golden-clad knight with a large lance ready to slay the headless demon that looms over him.
11. Herzog Zwei (1990)
Herzog Zwei, an early real-time strategy game, is a title that fans of MOBA games like League of Legends or Smite should pay respects to. ..
The box art for the game accurately portrays many elements present in the game, such as fighter jets, giant mechas, tanks, and more. This makes it a great choice for any RTS fan looking for an accurate representation of the game.
The artist’s mastery of perspective is exquisite. The scene of jet fighters, ground-based forces, and colossal robots shooting it out couldn’t be more exciting.
10. Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The first Sonic the Hedgehog game was released in 1991 and it was a huge success. The mascot, Sonic, had a lot of success and people started to recognize him. The cover art for the game helped to create that brand name for Sonic.
Sonic’s design is designed to appeal to children. The composition is also very colorful, and Sonic’s finger-wagging pose has a certain 90s bravado that seems to say, “I’m a super-fast hedgehog. Get on my level.”
Many people remember the game fondly. It was recognizable, and it wasn’t as exciting or dynamic as the game itself. ..
The developers at Nintendo included a 360 loop in the background of Green Hill Zone to give players a sense of how they’re playing the game.
9. Forgotten Worlds (1988)
Destiny is an online-only first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Activision. It was released on September 9, 2014 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is based on the Halo franchise and its gameplay incorporates elements of role-playing games. Destiny received mixed reviews from critics; while some praised its presentation and setting, others found its gameplay repetitive and criticized its lack of a singleplayer campaign. ..
I noticed that the aesthetic of this box and the favorite looter-shooter look strikingly similar. These two cool space marines look surprisingly like Guardians, and the giant planet behind them might as well be the Traveler.
I’m drawn to the aesthetics of Destiny, and I’m playing it right now because of it. ..
I’m not sure if I’m the best player in the world, but I can sure lay down some serious firepower. My biceps are huge, and my sunglasses make me look like a badass. If I don’t have good control of the game, they’ll be able to take care of themselves.
8. ESWAT: City Under Siege (1990)
In the old days, movies were made with hand-drawn graphics and special effects that were often quite crude.
If you wanted a realistic sci-fi cover, you couldn’t just make 3D models – you had to hire an artist with a detailed, photorealistic art style and have them draw your wildest fantasies. ..
ESWAT, an upcoming game developed by French studio Spiders, features a cover that pays homage to classic movie and video game art. The style is unique and can be seen in full display on the game’s cover. ..
The story is very dramatic and intensely appealing.
It’s a relic from the early 1990s that transports you back to the early 1990s.
7. Phantasy Star II (1989)
The latest in the Phantasy Star JRPG series, Phantasy Star Online 2, has a cover that is sure to turn heads. The game’s developer, Bandai Namco Entertainment, released the cover on October 25th and it features a beautiful and futuristic world. The image is full of detail and makes for an amazing addition to any gamer’s collection.
The second game in the series is a standout release among Western games. ..
The setting is a space opera adventure, and the art style is gorgeous. The scene sells you a space opera adventure the likes of which you’ve never seen before. There are futuristic weapons, bizarre insect-like alien critters, and a city overlooked by what looks like a giant eye lies in the distance.
The 6GB memory sticker is also a big win. ..
The cartridge was so advanced that it promised an extensive adventure. There was also a guide, which was a godsend back when the Internet wasn’t there to help you out.
6. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (JP) (1993)
This is especially true when it comes to the popular JRPGs that have been around for years. Japanese developers often create beautiful and innovative box art that sets the tone for the game itself. This is why it’s so impressive when a JRPG like Dragon Quest XI features stunning artwork that perfectly captures the feel of the game world and its characters.
The Chinese government has been known for its innovation and for its willingness to experiment with new cover designs. But recent years have seen a shift in the way Chinese publications cover themselves, away from traditional covers that are typically associated with Western countries. Instead, they are increasingly using covers that are more in line with China’s own culture and history.
The result is a beautiful, nostalgic look at classic anime and manga from the 80s and 90s.
In Phantasy Star IV, the player controls a party of characters as they journey through an 8-bit world of dreamlike creatures and fantastical landscapes. The game features an innovative battle system that allows players to control up to four characters at once, and its unique graphics and sound design set it apart from other console RPGs.
The robot arm on the dangerously scantily-clad pink-haired lady on the back of the box is unapologetically Japanese art style. It’s detailed and shines when used to create machinery like the robot arm.
I love the look of the giant alien demon lord looming over the heroes on the front. It’s badass in a way most Western illustrations just didn’t achieve at the time. ..
5. Altered Beast (1988)
Altered Beast was a pack-in game for the Sega Genesis – and it was a fantastic way to get started with Sega’s latest console. The game is set in a world of beasts, and you play as one of three characters: A warrior, a wizard, or a sorceress. You’ll have to fight your way through hordes of enemies in order to save the world from an evil sorcerer. Altered Beast is one of the best games on the Genesis, and it’s well worth your time to check it out. ..
The cover of this book is very eye-catching and it definitely promises a wild (and violent) ride when you start reading. ..
The game’s dark and moody color palette sets the tone for the brutal beat-em-up gameplay that awaits you. ..
In a beat-em-up, the player’s character is a werewolf who can turn all the other creatures in the game into terrified zombies. This sells the power fantasy to the player, making it an essential part of the game.
4. Streets of Rage (Mega Drive) (1991)
I’m not ranking these games based on their quality, but some of the best Genesis titles have amazing cover art.
Mega Drive games are some of the most popular console games of all time. They’re simple to play, but offer a lot of content and features that make them great for gaming enthusiasts.
The European release of Streets of Rage features a cover that is much better than the NA release.
The new game in development at Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts III, is a lot more dynamic and just plain cool. It showcases some of the fighting moves you’ll use in-game, and I find the green man looking out from under the manhole hilarious. ..
3. Toki: Going Ape Spit (1992)
The game is an absurd, unbound experience that feels like a fever dream from beginning to end. The setting is absurd, the main character’s powers are bizarre, and the entire game feels like one giant experiment.
The cover of the game features a monkey-man with energy balls coming out of his mouth. This suggests that the game is about shooting energy balls at animals. ..
The cover of the latest issue of Toki Magazine features a photo of the bad guy, Toki. You’d be forgiven for thinking that he’s the bad guy because his facial expression is not that of a hero.
If someone kidnaps your bride-to-be, you would be pretty bloodthirsty. ..
2. Golden Axe II (1991)
In the early 1990s, everyone was completely jacked in video games. At least in those that I could find.
In And Golden Axe II, the main focus of the cover art was on the muscles of the characters.
The game offers a power fantasy for anyone who plays it. It’s a way to feel powerful and in control.
The three women are all wearing very revealing clothing that is sure to turn heads. They are all working out hard and their muscles are on display. It’s a great show of strength and power.
It’s nonsensical.
Nobody really cares about the economy.
We’re here to feel powerful as we beat up hordes of minions of evil. ..
1. The Super Shinobi II (JP) (1993)
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master is an incredible hack-and-slash platformer that has my single favorite cover art in the entire Genesis archive. The game is a must-play for any Genesis fan, and it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.
While the US release of Naruto has an acceptable Western-styled cover depicting ninja and samurai wielding their weapons of choice, it doesn’t have a tenth of the impact of the Japanese one.
In the middle of a battle, the shinobi are using their swords to fight.
The dark figure looms over the young man, who stands his ground against it. We can only see a glimpse of the figure in the lower edges of the frame, but it’s clear that he’s hurt. ..
The detail in the cover is incredible, and the inclusion of a giant moon makes it stand out. ..
The scenery in this film is dark and dismal, but it’s also full of beauty. The addition of a bright light makes the darkness more oppressive, and it’s a great way to add contrast.
