British publisher Bitmap Books has announced the return of four of its best-selling video game publications, bringing previously released titles back into print for collectors and gaming enthusiasts. The reprints, announced October 13, 2026, include ARTCADE: The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art, The Games of a Lifetime, The Art of the Box, and Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups.
All four hardcover books are available to purchase, with U.S. prices ranging from $41 to $48.
Bitmap Books Expands Availability of Popular Gaming Publications
The London-based publisher specializes in illustrated books documenting video game history, artwork, developers, and influential gaming franchises.
Its latest reprint announcement restores availability to four previously successful titles covering arcade culture, gaming journalism, packaging illustrations, and side-scrolling action games.
The books feature archival materials, interviews, original illustrations, and historical information spanning several decades of the video game industry.
ARTCADE: The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art – $41
ARTCADE: The Book of Classic Arcade Game Art (Extended Edition) examines the visual design of arcade machines from the 1970s through the 1990s.
The hardcover publication features hundreds of examples of arcade marquee artwork and cabinet illustrations associated with games such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Street Fighter II, Out Run, R-Type, Double Dragon, and Bubble Bobble.
The Extended Edition introduces expanded written material and additional features.
Among its additions is an exclusive interview with artist Larry Day, whose work includes Moon Patrol and the pinball game Catacomb.
The book also includes a chapter developed with contributions from Escape Pod, examining the restoration of classic arcade artwork.
A glow-in-the-dark protective slipcase accompanies the hardcover edition.
U.S. suggested retail price: $41.
The Games of a Lifetime Chronicles Decades of Gaming History
Jaz Rignall Reflects on His Career in Video Game Journalism – $44
The Games of a Lifetime is a 420-page retrospective written from the perspective of veteran gaming journalist Jaz Rignall.
Rignall won the 1983 UK National Arcade Championships before establishing a career in video game journalism.
He helped launch and edit influential publications including ZZAP!64, CVG, and Mean Machines, documenting the industry’s growth from early home computers to modern gaming platforms.
The book examines his experiences with systems ranging from the Atari 400 and Commodore 64 to the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Amiga, and PlayStation 5.
It also explores his role in introducing Japanese games and imported consoles to Western audiences.
Richard Leadbetter of Digital Foundry provides the foreword.
The publication includes archival photographs, screenshots, vintage advertisements, magazine imagery, and specially commissioned illustrations by Wil Overton.
Its cover features artwork from pixel-art specialists Army of Trolls.
U.S. suggested retail price: $44.
The Art of the Box Explores Video Game Packaging Design
564-Page Hardcover Features 26 Artist Biographies – $48
The Art of the Box documents the history of video game packaging illustrations and the artists responsible for creating them.
Before digital storefronts became widespread, box artwork played a significant role in attracting customers to games displayed in retail stores.
The publication examines how artists developed illustrations for early video games, often working with limited information about the finished products.
Its 564 pages contain more than 100,000 words and over 350 full-color images.
The book features biographies of 26 artists, including Bob Wakelin, Steve Hendricks, Ken Macklin, Tom DuBois, Steinar Lund, Marc Ericksen, Julie Bell, and Susumu Matsushita.
Covering artists from North America, Europe, and Japan, the publication traces the evolution of packaging design from Atari’s early consoles to contemporary video games.
Artwork is presented without conventional packaging logos and retail elements, allowing readers to examine the original illustrations.
The hardcover includes glossy paper and a ribbon bookmark.
U.S. suggested retail price: $48.
Go Straight Revisits the History of Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups
Dave Cook’s Book Covers More Than 200 Games – $48
Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups explores the development of side-scrolling fighting games across 37 years.
Written by award-winning author Dave Cook, the book begins with a foreword by Double Dragon creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto.
The publication covers more than 200 games, beginning with Irem’s 1984 arcade title Kung-Fu Master and continuing through later releases such as Mother Russia Bleeds and Streets of Rage 4.
Major franchises featured include Double Dragon, Golden Axe, Final Fight, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The book also examines lesser-known titles, including Denjin Makai, Shadow Force, and Gaia Crusaders.
Across more than 450 pages, readers will find game reviews, gameplay tips, enemy guides, screenshots, character sprites, and level maps.
The hardcover features lithographic printing and cover artwork by Jorge M. Velez.
U.S. suggested retail price: $48.
Four Bitmap Books Reprints Available Now
The four reprints cover distinct areas of video game history, from the visual culture of arcade machines to the development of gaming journalism and action game design.
With prices starting at $41 in the United States, the publications offer collectors and readers another opportunity to obtain titles from Bitmap Books’ existing catalog.
Their return also reflects continued interest in preserving the artwork, personalities, and creative history of the video game industry.
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