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The Complete History of Video Gaming From Mario to Minecraft
Erwan Cario(Author)
Ilex (Publisher)
Published on 25. September 2025
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-84091-885-4 (ISBN)
Description
FULLY ILLUSTRATED AND UPDATED - THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VIDEO GAMING HISTORY
Pac-Man, Mario, Tomb Raider, The Sims, GTA, Minecraft, Fortnite... Video games are now one of the pillars of popular culture. This comprehensive, visually rich book chronicles the history of video games from their earliest roots in 1958 up to the present day, from simple pixels to the stunningly realistic visuals of modern blockbusters.
Explore the evolution of the industry through the iconic artworks, stories, and characters that have defined gaming across generations. Rediscover the classics titles from Nintendo Switch's Animal Crossing and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, to Elden Ring and God of War on the Sony PlayStation 5, as well as a multitude of independent gems and record-breaking franchises.
This newly updated edition highlights the standout games and key milestones over more than 50 years, diving into the creative and technological lore that have made video games what they are today. Filled with nostalgia, insights, and rich artwork, this book is a must-have for any video game fan, offering a captivating journey through the vibrant history of gaming and the titles that have captivated millions worldwide.
Pac-Man, Mario, Tomb Raider, The Sims, GTA, Minecraft, Fortnite... Video games are now one of the pillars of popular culture. This comprehensive, visually rich book chronicles the history of video games from their earliest roots in 1958 up to the present day, from simple pixels to the stunningly realistic visuals of modern blockbusters.
Explore the evolution of the industry through the iconic artworks, stories, and characters that have defined gaming across generations. Rediscover the classics titles from Nintendo Switch's Animal Crossing and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, to Elden Ring and God of War on the Sony PlayStation 5, as well as a multitude of independent gems and record-breaking franchises.
This newly updated edition highlights the standout games and key milestones over more than 50 years, diving into the creative and technological lore that have made video games what they are today. Filled with nostalgia, insights, and rich artwork, this book is a must-have for any video game fan, offering a captivating journey through the vibrant history of gaming and the titles that have captivated millions worldwide.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lewes
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Octopus Publishing Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 259 mm
Width: 194 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
1198 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84091-885-4 (9781840918854)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
09/2025
Ilex Press
€2.99
Available for download
Person
Journalist Erwan Cario has been writing about video games since 2001 for the newspaper Liberation. He is also responsible for Ecrans.fr, a subsidiary site of Liberation.fr dedicated to digital culture, and hosts the weekly online podcast "Silence, on joue!" which covers video game news. He is the author of L'Annee du jeu video 2004, published by Calmann-Levy.