Well folks, we’ve done it. Today marks 1 year since starting this crazy newsletter project. Since then, I’ve covered over 1,000 Video Game Book announcements and releases, I’ve interviewed dozens of authors, and I’ve been humbled by the over 3,000 amazing subscribers (and 5,000 followers). But that’s just the start! This past year, I also brought on many new volunteers, growing our team to 10, who’ve helped add thousands more books to the website. I’ve had to add another bookshelf to hold all the amazing contributions and donations. And we’ve seen triple the traffic coming in from outside North America.

Needless to say, this past year was a huge success to the Video Game Library. And, as if planned, this week makes up the biggest news week since starting the project. Nearly 40 announcements and releases to share with you all.

Reminder that, over the next few weeks, I’ll be taking a short break from the newsletter, and Social Media in general, leaving the site in the capable hands of the volunteer team.

Be sure to share your most anticipated reads in the comments below or over in our Discord. Now, let’s get started!

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📰 News & Highlights

• To kick thing’s off Lost in Cult’s A Communal History of Metroidvania Video Games has been announced as the first entry in its new writer-led genre-history series. The book promises a 50-year survey that ranges from pre-Metroid roots like Below the Root and Xanadu to modern landmarks and lesser-discussed Japanese indies. Loving all the Metroidvania we’ve been getting this year!

  

• Also from Lost In Cult, Itchy, Tasty is returning in a revised edition. This one treats Alex Aniel’s Resident Evil history as more than a straight reprint, adding updated content, a new cover, and ten interior illustrations by Jean deMers, with a signed special-edition hardcover limited to 500 copies.

  

• Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has now been novelized in English thanks to Anna Kashina and is the second volume in Dragonwell Publishing’s Books of Ys line. It is officially licensed through Nihon Falcom, and the setup follows Adol Christin’s arrest in Balduq and his transformation into a Monstrum after an encounter with the mysterious White Cat.

  

• In some of the most exciting news (for me) the newly announced Indie Game Works looks like another of this year’s love letters to indie games. Nathan P. Gibson’s book runs 288 pages with 350 color illustrations and spotlights 50 games, including titles such as Tunic, Gris, Dredge, Planet of Lana, and 1000xResist. Read-Only Memory has the limited editions on sale now, with the general Thames & Hudson launch happening next month.

  

• Dark Horse’s The Witcher Omnibus Volume 3 is now out in paperback, collecting the comics Witch’s Lament, The Ballad of Two Wolves, Wild Animals, and Corvo Bianco. The Witcher is always a weird one; is it based on the games or the books? Either way, this third omnibus is a particularly useful catch-up volume for readers who have missed the recent miniseries.

  

• Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #3 reached shelves this week, again from Dark Horse, continuing the current Lara Croft miniseries by Casey Gilly and Antonio di Caprio. This chapter sends Lara deeper into the hunt for the titular relic which may hold world-altering power. It’s up to Lara to reclaim it before a secretive and familiar cult unleashes its true potential!

  

• Street Fighter Masters: Karin, written by David Lumsdon with art by Tovio Rogers, puts Karin Kanzuki at the center of the Udon Entertainment’s long-running character-focused spinoff line. Karin has always sat at the top of high society... but now punk rock Silat fighter and fellow heiress Olive Ong threatens to take her down a peg! It’s a rich girl showdown in the Swiss Alps!

  

• Thanks to Square Enix Books, this week we saw the English release of Dragon Quest: The Mark of Erdrick, Vol. 3. Join Prince Arus across over 250 pages in his fight against Lord Imagine one hundred years after the events of the iconic Dragon Quest III video game. Volume 4 is coming up in June, so get ready for another awesome year for Dragon Quest fans!

  

• Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 8 has now joined Yen Press’s English line, continuing Nikiichi Tobita’s gag-manga take on FromSoftware’s bleak fantasy. This entry follows close behind the recent Italian and Portuguese translations that I spotlighted in

  

• Pro Gamer Presents: Best Ever Guide to Roblox is one of the week’s more overtly kid-facing game books. Continuing the long-running Pro Gamer Present… series from Pillar Box Red, this one is positioned as a tips-and-tricks guide built around popular Roblox experiences, complete with quizzes and fun-facts throughout.

  

• A practical new addition to the gamedev shelf this week came in the form of Michał Mycka’s Games User Research Cookbook: Tools and Techniques for Better Player Experience. Rather than arguing for user research in the abstract, it’s framed as a methods book, collecting techniques and workflows aimed at improving player experience through testing and observation.

• Generative AI for Game Development: Crafting Narrative Worlds with Machines is also out now from Apress. The book focuses on dynamic narrative design, procedural worldbuilding, and integrating generative AI into game development workflows with tools such as C# and Unity. This is definitely a hot topic these days, so I expect a lot more of these types of books to be rolling out this week.

  

• PC Gamer Magazine #421 (UK) / #409 (US) has released this week. It leads with a cover feature on Star Wars Zero Company. The issue also folds in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, Resident Evil Requiem, 1348 Ex Voto, Darkhhaven, Mixtape, a feature on the best “Pubs” in PC games, and hardware coverage that includes AMD’s Ryzen 7 9850X3D and a group test of PC cases.

  

• Heading over to France, Third Editions has announced their latest book Les Choix de Life Is Strange: L’empathie Par le Jeu from Léon Cattan. This book, scheduled to release in August, sets out to frame the series through empathy since the games’ identity has always rested as much on emotional and ethical perspective as on branching choice design.

  

• Third Editions has also announced that they’ll be publishing the catalogue for the Philharmonie de Paris Musée de la Musique exhibition Video Games & Music. The exhibition runs from April 2 to November 1, 2026, and this illustrated catalogue brings together France’s leading specialists on the subject: Aurélien Simon, Fanny Rebillard, Jérémie Kermarrec, Pierre-Alexandre Rouillon, 440 Hz, and Valentin Chauvin.

  

• Originally published as a 30th Anniversary one-shot by IDW, Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy Rose released in French by Vespa this week. Written by Ian Flynn, accompanies by the talents of Aaron Hammerstrom and Reggie Graham, this issue as Metal Sonic interrupting Amy’s picnic, and Amy using her fortune cards to rescue her friends and foil Dr. Robotnik before teatime slips away completely.

  

• Total Jeux Vidéo #33 is loaded with spring preview goodness, anchoring the issue with a Saros cover and a feature on 40 upcoming games. It also folds in articles on Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Castlevania, Tomb Raider, and Echo Aviation, alongside review coverage that includes Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon, Pokémon Pokopia, and Monster Hunter.

  

• And wrapping up our French news this week, Jeux Vidéo Magazine’s April 2026 issue released, putting Assassin’s Creed up front, using the cover story to look at the series’ future and Ubisoft’s direction. Also inlcuded is a feature on 40 years of Zelda, current Pokémon coverage, Starfield’s prospects on PS5 through updates and DLC, and previews and reviews of Pragmata, Crimson Desert, Resident Evil Requiem, and Marathon.

  

• While Cinco Duros: La historia del videojuego en España para todos Vol. 3 officially releases in April, people are alreadys starting to get their hands on this one, so figured I’d cover it before heading off on vacation. Diego Vargas Pardo’s latest volume covers the years 1990 to 1993, continuing Dolmen’s detailed reconstruction of Spanish video game history in an accessible, year-by-year format.

  

• Heading across to Spain, Panini Books has now released Christie Golden’s World of Warcraft: Midnight – Lazos de Sangre in Spanish. Great to see this Warcraft novel continue to reach more readers across the globe!

  

• And over in Italy, Star Comics keeps its Italian Minecraft manga line moving with Minecraft: Viaggio ai Confini del Mondo Vol. 8. In this volume, Nico and his friends finally reach the fearsome Ender Dragon. Will they be able to claim victory!?

  

• Speaking of Minecraft in Italy, LEGO Minecraft: L’Avventura Nell’End is the Italian translation to the Seek & Find Sticker book, and the next in a line of translations. We even got a Bulgarian translation coming in the next 2 weeks.

  

• Pokémon Universe #16 from Panini Press in Italy released this past week, marking the 2nd release of the year. Umbreon and Pikachu grace the cover, and in addition to 32 pages of Pokémon goodness, readers can also look forward to a Squishy Diary gift, shiny Pokémon cards from the Scarletto e Violetto: Corona Astrale set, and 2 posters.

  

• And rounding out the Italian news, this week’s Retro Gamer Italia April-May 2026 issue goes heavy on Capcom’s fighting-game legacy, tracing the company’s impact from Street Fighter II to Capcom vs. SNK. Other features include Shadow of the Colossus, Diddy Kong Racing, Final Fight, Half-Life, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, Mastertronic, classic PC gaming, and Stuart Whyte’s journey from X-COM to Fable.

  

• The new play5 #229 for May has arrived as the latest installment of Computec’s PlayStation-focused monthly. As usual for the magazine, the emphasis is on the PS5 ecosystem, with the focus on the new Crimson Desert, as well as Resident Evil Requiem and Star Trek: Voyager.

  

• PC Games Hardware 05/2026 is also out now from Computec for German readers, continuing the publisher’s long-running focus on enthusiast PC components. I’d attempt to provide some helpful context, but this is an area of gaming I know NOTHING about, and that cover looks pretty self-explanatory.

  

• Polish gaming magazine CD-Action has opened pre-orders for a new special issue devoted entirely to RPGs. The standalone edition runs 144 pages and promises all-new material on series including Baldur’s Gate, The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, Cyberpunk, Fallout, and Mass Effect.

  

• And while we’re in Poland, worth noting the Boss Fight Books love. 3 new entries in the “Game Story” series from publisher Open Beta have been released, covering Mike Drucker’s “Silent Hill 2”, Darius Kazemi’s “Jagged Alliance 2” and (one of my favourites) Reyan Ali’s “NBA Jam”.

  

• Minecraft – Rudit – Kniha samolepek is the latest Czech Minecraft children’s title from Albatros Media. As the subtitle makes clear (to all the Czech speakers out there), this one is a sticker book, complete with over 100 items, mobs and characters from the game.

  

• Sweden’s Robot No. 2/2026 is another bright, all-ages gaming magazine with a broad Nintendo-and-beyond spread. This issue includes Mario sports coverage, tips for building a Pokémon paradise in Pokopia, 25 Fortnite tips, Minecraft’s cute new animals, features on Animal Crossing and Mega Man, a Virtual Boy piece, and posters for Mega Man, Minecraft, Pokopia, and Mario.

  

• Pokémon: Virallinen Pelilehti 2026-02 is the latest Finnish installment of the official Pokémon magazine line. Like its sibling editions elsewhere in Europe, it sits in the child-friendly licensed-magazine space, combining short features, activities, and collectible-style extras around current Pokémon branding.

  

• Bunny Garden & Hebereke Bunny Garden Official Visual Fan Book is an illustration collection from Kadokawa built around the two Bunny Garden games. Alongside key visuals and new cover art by Kazune Inui, the book includes character-setting drawings, casual outfits, swimsuit and Golden Bunny costume material, and stills from notable scenes.

• Also from Kadokawa, Guardian Tales Official Character Collection has finally arrived this week after slipping from its earlier schedule. Framed as a fourth-anniversary book, it gathers character visuals from the game’s first four years, packed with visuals of 170 characters. This is a must-have book for fans of Guardian Tales.

• The Kadokawa train continues with Heaven Burns Red Official Artworks Vol. 3, a substantial new art book for the mobile game, covering style illustrations and setting art from August 2023 through December 2025. It also adds more than 50 extra pieces, including exhibition and collaboration artwork, and the print edition comes with an in-game serial-code bonus.

  

• takt op. 運命は真紅き旋律の街を Official Artworks preserves the visual side of a game that has already gone offline. The book collects artwork from the smartphone title, including character illustrations by LAM and previously unreleased material featuring additional Musicarts.

  

• PSO2 ニュージェネシス せんとらるっ! 4 from publisher MUGENUP continues the official comic spinoff for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis. This volume keeps its focus on the lighter daily-life antics of the Central girls and NPC cast, and the print edition includes item-code bonuses such as lobby actions and stamps.

  

• はる! ガーテンオブバンバン: はってはがせるシールブック is being billed as Garten of Banban’s first sticker book in Japan. It includes more than 200 reusable stickers and activity pages built around locations and motifs such as restaurants, the sea, car racing, and dress-up play.

  

• And finishing off with a Japanese mainstay that’s appeared in all of the newsletters - Famitsu #1941 (Apr. 9, 2026). This issue is led by a big cover feature on Hyperdimension Neptunia ∞ (Unlimited), introducing its new goddesses, world, and gameplay details. It also includes release features for Etrange Overlord and Okayu Nyumu! R, plus additional coverage of Life is Strange: Reunion, Winning Post 10 2026, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion, Shadow Labyrinth, Elden Ring: Nightreign, Super Robot Wars Y, Curse Warrior, Screamer, and Until Then.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

First thing’s first! I mentioned above that our volunteer team has grown, and I want to make sure all of you fellow readers head on over to the About Page on our site to learn more about these amazing folks who keep the site growing. What a team!

The Discord community was busy this week with recommendations, and one in particular (from community member, “MPX”) took up the better part of my week. A flurry of Slavic-language books; from Slovak to Slovene and Croatian to Serbian. Loved getting these catalogued.

While working on those, I realized that I missed out on cataloguing the Sonic the Hedgehog IDW graphic novels in Bulgarian. So those got added as well!

Speaking of Sonic…Stephen on our volunteer team continued down the IDW single issues, making it all the way down to #47. I don’t know the entire roster of Sonic characters, but I do get excited every time I see The Chaotix on the covers!

Alex is our resident Megaten guru, and has been hard at work cataloguing some guidebooks and art books from the series. I still haven’t played Persona 2, but I’m VERY interested!

Just when you think we’ve catalogued every single EverQuest Prima Guide, Fran finds more. Another wave added just this week!

The Portuguese train continued this week, of course thanks to João, who did an amazing job with the Old!Gamer books! Dozens of books added to the site yet again! João is an absolute machine.

Nathanial was all about the Pokémon manga this week, cataloguing the “Sun / Moon” and “Alpha / Sapphire” runs. These colorful covers make for gorgeous additions to the site.

And a big thanks to Justin for his continued push on the Sierra front, discovering even more point-and-click guidebooks from yesteryear to catalogue.

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

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And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next time — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

I’ll be honest, my reading has taken a bit of a hit lately thanks to a stack of games and a very busy few weeks. The good news is that I’ve got a vacation coming up, and I’m very much looking forward to using that time to catch up on some reading. So, with that said, a little housekeeping before we dive in:

Next week marks one year of these newsletters and four years of TheVideoGameLibrary.org. That’s a milestone worth celebrating. After that, I’ll be away for a few weeks, leaving the site in the capable hands of my incredible group of volunteers, who will be keeping things running while I’m gone. Once I’m back in late April, look out for Season 2 of the newsletter, and I’ll do my best to round up any books that appeared during the break.

As for this week, there’s still plenty to be excited about. M.J. Gallagher’s upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics books lead the way, but that’s just the start. Between some fantastic French releases, Japanese magazines, and a double hit from Udon Entertainment, it’s another packed week of reveals, announcements, and exciting additions to the library.

Be sure to share your most anticipated reads in the comments below or over in our Discord. Now, let’s get started!

Subscribe now

📰 News & Highlights

• Don’t often start with a “Book Cover” reveal as headline news, but if you’ve been reading these newsletters, you’ll know how much of a fan I am of M. J. Gallagher’s work. Myths & Traditions That Inspired Final Fantasy Tactics is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter on April 5th, and this week, we got the cover design by Cael Lyons.

  

• A double-whammy of Udon Entertainment news this week, starting with Mega Man X #2, the next comic issue in their newest Mega Man run. X's hunt for Mavericks has lead him to the Weapons Factory, and right into the clutches of Flame Mammoth! Will X's new armor parts be enough to take down the pyromaniac pachyderm?

  

• And some great news that a (very expected) English version of The Art of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be heading our way thanks to Udon in partnership with Pix’n Love. I still haven’t stopped thinking about this game since finishing it last year, and am very keen to add this one to our shelves.

  

• From the folks over at Dark Horse Books, we saw the release of Cyberpunk 2077 Library Edition Volume 2. A compilation of previously released comics like the first installment, Volume 2 collects Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO #1–#4, Cyberpunk 2077: Kickdown #1–#4, and Cyberpunk 2077: Psycho Squad #1–#4, and features a cover gallery and expanded sketchbook section!

  

• Marvel Rivals continues to get the literary treatment, with the latest release, Marvel Rivals: Timestream Adventure. Serving as a prologue to the game, reader’s can join Psylocke, Mantis, Jeff the Land Shark and many other characters as they escape from the Collector’s Museum.

  

• Titan Comics makes an appearance this week with the release of their Dark Souls: Mother of Mourning #3. For some reason I have such a hard time finding reliable information on the release dates for this run, so I’ll be glad once these are all out and I don’t have to worry about it anymore. In the meantime, more Dark Souls comics is always a good thing.

  

• The legacy of Plants vs. Zombies continues this week with the latest Zomnibus! At nearly 250 pages, Plants vs. Zombies: Zomnibus Vol. 4 collects some other graphic novel compilations including Plants vs Zombies: Rumble at Lake Gumbo, Plants vs Zombies: War and Peas and Plants vs Zombies: Dino-Might.

  

• EDGE #422 released this week, with a deep dive into Remedy’s new Control: Resonant and 2 gorgeous covers. Also inside, an interview with Bennett Foddy talking through his journey from philosophy to the challenging slopes of Baby Steps, how IO Interactive deviated from the stealth of Hitman for the squad-based shooting of Freedom Fighters, and how can videogame developers get closer to delivering decent proposals for virtual romance?

  

• Also from EDGE Magazine, a brand new book called Playmakers: The Inside Stories of 30 Iconic Videogames, From Pong to Baldur’s Gate 3 has released. This 200+ page hardcover lifts the lid on some of the world's most revered studios and speaks with many of the industry's most celebrated designers, offering unrivalled insight into 30 influential, acclaimed and bestselling games that helped shape the medium.

  

  

• Shenmue III is getting a few collector’s bundles in the form of Shenmue III Enhanced Special Edition and Shenmue III Enhanced Collector’s Edition. While both come with a bunch of really cool collectibles, the books of note are the Shenmue III Enhanced Art Book and the The Making of Shenmue III Enhanced. Bummer that you need to grab both editions to round out your bookshelves, but they do look really cool.

  

• Heading over to France, Pierre Lovati’s long awaited La Saga Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was released. Following up to his 2023 “Remake” book, invites readers to explore this second chapter of the trilogy, from verdant grasslands to iconic cities, tracing the narrative choices and character development. A journey into the heart of the unexpected, between legacy and rebirth, to understand how the game reinvents a legend without ever betraying it.

  

• And for Nintendo fans, Le livre d’histoires d’Harmonie (the French translation of Rosalina’s Storybook) launched thanks to Soleil Manga. This one will no doubt be getting translations in all sorts of languages over the next year.

  

• Dragon Quest also made a few appearances for French readers this week, with both Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - The Hero Avan and the Dark Lord of Hellfire #6 and Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai #14. Both continue to get translations all across Europe, with these French editions thanks to DELCOURT.

  

• Heading to Spain, Gamepress has released their latest tome. Memories de Game Boy is a 200+ page love-letter to Nintendo’s iconic handheld. Through anecdotes, reflections, and a deep love for the 8-bit, monochrome classic, the authors reconstruct in these pages what Game Boy meant to an entire generation.

  

• The first issue of Revista LOOP is now out (digitally), with physical copies on pre-order. Titled LOOP#Religión: Del caos al credo. Ritos y leyendas it’s a 236-page issue that explores how religion, myth, folklore, superstition, and faith shape video games, with contributions from more than fifty writers and illustrators.

  

• The hit Italian coloring magazine, Pokémon Colora has released its 6th volume this week. These have been coming out every 2 months thanks to Panini’s magazine imprint Panini Magazines. They suggest for ages 6 and up, so they’re great for kids!

  

• Polish gaming magazine, CD-Action has released its latest issue this week with CD-Action 02/2026. Its a celebration of the Top 30 FPS games ever released, with a really cool cover. All of these deserve to be on the list. But which ones should be the Top 5? Comment below!

  

• CD-Action has also announced CD-Action Retro #10, slated to release on Apr. 29. This issue reflects on 30 years of Tomb Raider, the legacy of Vooodoo cards, and a dive into the Polish RPGs of yesteryear.

  

• Nearly 10 years after its original Japanese publication, Russian readers can now finally enjoy the NieR: Automata World Guide Vol. 1 which released as Путеводитель по миру NieR: Automata. Результаты исследования руин города this week. Explore the world of NieR: Automata through maps, character biographies, short stories, concept art, commentary, and more!

  

• Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is back in the headlines - this time with Volume 2 of the Chinese translation, 寶可夢SPECIAL 朱‧紫(02). Like others that we’ve seen, this volume actually collects both Volume 3 and Volume 4 that we saw here in North America.

  

• Heading over to Japan, we have a really cool box set from Namco’s Valkyrie series. This 40th Anniversary Official Complete Works is a four-book boxed set collecting rare development documents, artwork, interviews, and historical materials from the Valkyrie game series, including previously unpublished content.

  

• You can’t look at this cover without humming the theme in your head… We’ve known about Katamari Damacy: Find the Prince for a while, and this week, the TV Game Magazine special hit shelves. Played a lot of Katamari with my sister when it first came out, and have a soft spot for it. Definitely gonna try to get my hands on this one.

  

• The hit Japanese franchise Ride Kamens got the Ride Kamens Official Memorial Book this week, filled with illustrations, short stories and settings materials. Admittedly I thought this was an old Kamen Rider anime reboot, but apparently it’s a mobile game. For all the fans of the series, sounds like this is a must-have for the collection.

  

• And in other Japanese news, Urban Myth Dissolution Center - The Novelization Vol. 2 released this week from Shueisha and Matsuzawa Kureha. This is the final chapter, with the first being released just last month.

  

• As usual, we’ll kick off the Japanese magazine section with the latest Famitsu Weekly, because I am consistently in love with the covers. 週刊ファミ通 2026年4月2日号 No.1940 features a 39-page special on Pokémon feat. Hatsune Miku Project VOLTAGE (PokéMiku). It also marks the 30th anniversary of Resident Evil with a retrospective on the series’ major incidents and the history of Raccoon City, offering added context for Resident Evil Requiem. Also included is a launch feature on Crimson Desert, covering its open world, cinematic story, battle system, developer interview, and writer impressions, along with a special poster.

  

• Japan’s Minecraft craze continues on with Switchマイクラ都市計画シリーズVol.02. This is the second volume of Socym’s Minecraft City Planning series, with the first being released way back in September 2024. This volume focuses on building a working theme park (called “Microland”) win the game.

  

• Another month, another issue of Nintendo Dream. The May 2026 issue (Vol. 384) features Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, but also looks at Mario Tennis Fever, Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition), Pokémon Z-A, Kirby’s Air Rider, and a few other hit titles.

  

• B’s-LOG May 2026 issue hit Japanese shelves this week. This issue leads with an extensive Ensemble Stars!! special on ‘MELLOW DEAR US,’ featuring character and cast content plus behind-the-scenes staff coverage. Additional pages highlight other otome, character, and multimedia game titles, including Paradox Live, FOURe Project, Handsome Laundering, Sins of Kameido, ZERO RISE, Re:cord Noah, Le Mirage Mystique, and more.

  

• And here’s a new one for the Newsletter. Weekly Japanese woman’s lifestyle magazine, An An, has released a Pac-Man special. In celebration of the character’s 45th anniversary, An An #2488’s overall special theme ties into health and wellness, positioning PAC‑MAN’s energy as a fun motif for feeling well and energetic.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

As much as I selfishly love seeing more English books make their way into the world, one of the things I’m proudest of is that the site continues to grow as a truly global resource. That means the weeks where we get to spend extra time highlighting books in other languages feel especially rewarding.

In that vein, I want to give a huge shoutout to our newest volunteer from Brazil, João. In his first week, he’s already catalogued nearly 100 books, most of which are Portuguese. From the Old!Gamer Console Collection to GameStudies and Game Development handbooks. Honestly, it’s been incredible to watch him work so quickly and so effectively. We are unbelievably lucky to have him on the team.

Also want to thank volunteer Geneviève for bolstering our French catalogue with some really cool books from the backlog.

The rest of the volunteer team has been just as impressive. Alex shifted gears this week from Devil May Cry to track down some of the missing Roblox Annuals. Fran kept the fantasy guidebook streak alive by diving into EverQuest. Nathanial brought in a little N64 nostalgia with a pair of Wonder Life Specials straight out of Japan. Rex continued spotlighting excellent guidebooks from the point-and-click classics of yesteryear. Stephen, true to form, raced ahead down to Issue #52 of Sonic the Hedgehog. And Tommy rounded things out with another impressive stack of academic books.

A quick reminder: I’m still looking for one final volunteer who can commit time each week to help us catalogue the archive. If that sounds like you, get in touch!

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

Share

And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

We’ve covered over 200 books so far in 2026, which is pretty insane. Easily the biggest start to a year yet, and I’m losing track of the books on the horizon! I hope you’ve all been enjoying the global coverage of these weekly releases. Our subscription count has just blown past 3,000, so I have a good feeling you are! A sincere Thank You for the amazing support.

This week is a great snapshot of how dynamic the global publishing landscape is. On top of the usual English releases, we have releases in French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Manga and magazines make up most of the news, but there’s also a few fun books to call out.

And it’s another huge week in volunteer contributions. Stay tuned below to learn what the crew have been up to. Remember, we’re still looking for 1 more dedicated volunteer!

So, no matter where you are in the world, grab your drink of choice and let’s dive in!

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📰 News & Highlights

• IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog #85 arrived on March 11, with Ian Flynn and Evan Stanley sharing script duties and Min Ho Kim on interior art. And of course, our local Sonic guru, Stephen, was quick to get it catalogued on the site. This issue pushes the current Metal Sonic thread forward by trapping Sonic, Belle, Motobud, and Sage in a zone where someone has been repurposing stolen Eggman technology.

  

• The English release of Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga – Book of Scarabia, Vol. 1 brings the next arc of the Disney mobile game adaptation into paperback. Yana Toboso is credited alongside MAJIKO!, and the 184-page volume keeps following Yu’s misadventures at Night Raven College after the earlier Heartslabyul books.

  

• Minecraft: The Manga, Vol. 5 has now joined VIZ’s English lineup as a 184-page paperback by Kazuyoshi Seto. This time Nico and his party finally make it into the Nether, so the new volume shifts from the series’ early wanderlust into a more hostile stretch of the journey.

  

• Retro Gamer Magazine #283 is out this week, and is a celebration of the evolution of God of War. Fitting, considering all the news we just got about the upcoming remake of the original trilogy. Readers will also be treated to a guide to Pnazer Dragoon, and an R-Type III: The Third Lightning feature.

  

• Congratulations to Fusion Retro Books for their successful Kickstarter of Ocean: The History Gold Edition. Originally published in 2013, this “Gold Edition” hardback book has over 40 memoirs from those who worked at Ocean thus giving a unique insight into what it was like working for one of the largest software houses in the 80s and 90s.

  

• And speaking of Kickstarters, CONTINUE: A Defiant, New Videogames Magazine has just launched. This Australian print magazine brings together journalists, developers and artists with a focus on Australian games and Australian developers. Definitely has the feel of A Profound Waste of Time, and I’m very intrigued!

  

• Also need to shout out Debug #14 which just arrived on March 14. Vince Pavey dives into Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth with the team at Hyper Games as the feature, alongside new, previews, interviews, art spotlights and more on creative indie titles. Expect appearances from Mewgenics, Cairn, and Into the Grid.

  

• Video Games and Mental Health: Perspectives of Psychology and Game Design is one of the week’s more academic arrivals, published in paperback by transcript. Edited by Federico Alvarez Igarzábal, Emmanuel Guardiola, Carmen Johann, and Katharina Tillmanns, the 228-page collection looks at games and mental health through both psychological and design perspectives rather than treating the subject from only one side.

  

• Cult of the Lamb Vol. 1: The First Verse has now appeared in French as Cult of the Lamb: Premier verset. The edition is credited to Alex Paknadel and published by Komics Initiative, carrying over the comic’s take on the Lamb’s resurrection and the rise of a new cult from the game’s Old Faith setup.

  

• Revista Loading is back in Spain after a 26-year absence, with the relaunch making its first public appearance at Retro Parla through Game Press. Details on the new issue still seem fairly tight, but even in preview form its return matters as the revival of a long-dormant independent Spanish video game magazine rather than a one-off nostalgia stunt.

  

• Game Press also started handing out early copies of Memorias de Game Boy at Retro Parla ahead of its formal release. A nostalgic deep dive into the Game Boy, the handheld that changed gaming forever. With 120+ game reviews and 800+ images, Game Boy Memories celebrates the console, its history, and the generation it defined. The hardcover book runs 228 pages with Sergio Martín, Enrique Luque, Daniel Acal, and Miguel Ángel Sánchez credited as authors

  

• And finally in Spanish news, GTM has revealed the first of (likely 3) covers for their April issue. Saros from Housemarque graces the cover.

  

• Missed this one in last week’s newsletter, but looks like Keza MacDonald’s Super Nintendo has also reached Italy through TEA, in a translation by Elena Ravera titled “Nintendo. La storia. Da Super Mario a Zelda ai Pokémon”.

  

• Star Comics has published Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai 12 in Italian, continuing the long-running manga by Riku Sanjo and Koji Inada with Yuji Horii credited on the original work. The volume is a chunky one at 320 pages, and its plot moves the armies of the human kingdoms toward the Deadlands while Avan’s disciples prepare for the decisive battle.

  

• Dutch readers have picked up Pokémon eerste leespret – De eerste schooldag van Liko, a 32-page hardcover from Centrale Uitgeverij Deltas. It adapts Liko’s first day at Indigo Academy, where the pendant she carries draws unwanted attention before she has even settled into school life.

  

• A second Dutch beginner-reader Pokémon title followed right behind it with Pokémon eerste leespret – Waar is Terapagos? Also published by Centrale Uitgeverij Deltas as a 32-pager, it centers on Terapagos wandering around the airship and getting into danger while Liko tries to track the little Pokémon down.

  

• And rounding out the Dutch news, Power Unlimited Magazine #370 is out this past week, complete with a whole new logo. The cover story is a celebration of Rayman’s 30th anniversary, featuring discussions with Ubisoft and Digital Eclipse for their upcoming remastered compilation.

  

• Greek readers got a treat with Sonic the Hedgehog: Σούπερ Αποστολές this week from Anubis. It is a 30-page activities book translated by Christos Tselios, so this one sits in the puzzle-and-games corner of Sonic publishing rather than comics or prose fiction.

  

• Turkey’s latest Minecraft translation is Minecraft - Yabancı, the Turkish edition of Danica Davidson’s official novel Minecraft: The Outsider. Listings give it 248 pages and name XLibris as the publisher, continuing the steady overseas rollout of the Minecraft books.

  

• Sweden’s Tomus 100 bästa Robloxspel is a neatly specific kind of kids’ game book: Tomu and Yumi’s pick list of 100 Roblox games, published by Bonnier Carlsen with illustrations by Gustaf Lord. The 80-page volume ranges across obbys, tycoons, building worlds, minigames, and role-playing titles.

  

• Taiwan got a double Minecraft manga release this week with Minecraft漫畫: 探索世界的盡頭 8 and 9 from Sharp Point Press. Both books are credited to Kazuyoshi Seto, translated by Lin Ke-hong and Hong Wei-yue, and published on March 10; volume 8 pushes toward the Ender Dragon showdown, while volume 9 begins a new arc after that first major peak.

  

• Korea has now received an official edition of Touhou’s Whispered Oracle of Hakurei Shrine as 동방환존신첨. YES24 lists ZUN as author, Moon Seong-ho as translator, and AK Communications as publisher, with the Korean release also carrying first-print extras including an illustration card and bookmark.

  

• Korean magazine GamerZ is back for March 2026 with another very guide-heavy issue. YES24 lists the issue at 448 pages, and the contents call out coverage for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Nioh 3, Dispatch, Pokémon Legends Z-A, and Arknights: Endfield, plus a feature on Crimson Desert.

  

• Koei Tecmo’s Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake launched in Japan with a Special Collection Box that includes more than the game itself. The set packs in an official setting-materials collection and a newly written novel, The Secret Festival Records of Minakami Village / The Forest Where the Promise Vanished, which gives collectors an unusually lore-focused bonus item.

  

• Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko’s latest Kirby novel is Kirby and the Forgotten Land: The Starlit Meteor World Arc, a March 11 Japanese release tied to Star-Crossed World. The setup sends Kirby into a New World being crystallized by the falling “Dark Star,” making this one a novelization built around the new meteor-focused scenario rather than the base game alone.

  

• The Battle Cats: The Nyanko World You Might Not Know has arrived in Japan as a Kadokawa Game Mook, and it sounds exactly like the sort of fan-book oddity the series thrives on. At 80 pages, it mixes behind-the-scenes material with a strategy section called the “Battle Sure-Win Handbook,” and it also includes an oversized height-chart poster.

  

• This week’s Famitsu, No. 1939 dated March 26, 2026, runs 208 pages and leads with two substantial anniversary features. The first celebrates Granblue Fantasy’s 12th anniversary with a main-quest catch-up, producer interview, and a 4,700-player survey, while the second marks Nihon Falcom’s 45th year with new looks at Trails in the Sky the 2nd and Kyoto Xanadu plus an interview with president Toshihiro Kondo.

  

• B’s-LOG HEAVEN フェティシズムの虜 is a new digital-only magazine from KADOKAWA Game Linkage, and its first issue is very clearly pitched at an adult audience. The launch theme is “fetishism,” the magazine is explicitly marked R-18, and the debut issue includes original illustrations and short stories, with Nu: Carnival getting a 16-page lead feature.

  

• Comptiq’s April 2026 issue leans hard into Uma Musume Pretty Derby for the game’s fifth anniversary. Kadokawa lists the issue at 292 pages, and its marquee extras include a retrospective on the game’s first five years, an interview with Kaori Ishihara as Almond Eye, and a special clear poster of the character.

  

• The new TV Game Magazine - Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix Deluxe is a strategy mook for arcade players. It comes with three major bonuses: a DVD demonstrating techniques such as Dragon Drift, a 100-page data booklet covering characters, karts, and item effects, and special codes for the Hamburger kart and an Omoshiro Pack.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

I continue to be blown away by the amazing work of the volunteer crew here at The Video Game Library. Every morning I wake up…new books! Every lunch break I check….new books! Every evening before bed…new books! These guys have been amazing, and I’m really loving how every day we’re getting closer to a complete catalogue of EVERY VIDEO GAME BOOK!

Nathanial has been working through the Pokémon X•Y manga this week, wrapping up all 12 volumes. Minecraft is easily the frontrunner for most books on the site, but between Nathanial and Geneviève, I think Pokémon is getting pretty close!

Alex continues to find Devil May Cry books that I overlooked, and this trilogy of comics from Dreamwave is a perfect example, newly added this week. Some of the alternate covers are very cool as well.

Fran and Rex are absolutely killing it in the Game Guides department, knocking out over a dozen more Prima books this week. Information on some of these is so hard to come by, and I get so excited every time I see more of them grace the library.

We’ll be through the IDW collection of Sonic comics in no time, and that’ll be entirely thanks to Stephen. Another 8 issues down, getting into some of the great Knuckles issues.

Another Persona manga run in the books, thanks to Fallon! Not sure why I procrastinated on these for so long, but feeling good about finally getting them on the site.

You figure after 4 years of research, we would have found all the CRC Press books by now. But Tommy continues to discover more each and every week. Here are the latest 4 he’s added to the site.

And finally, Jamie has been an absolute champion of the Dragon Quest manga series, finishing up all 25 volumes of the Adventure of Dai run. So many more to go, but having these catalogued really helps since they are consistently getting localizations in other languages.

Reminder, that I’m still looking for 1 final volunteers who can commit time and help us catalogue each and every week! If that’s you, reach out!

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

Share

And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

Thanks for tuning in this week! If you’re anything like me, the allure of Pokémon Pokopia is likely weighing heavily on you right now. And here we are, Monday evening, scrambling to get this newsletter finalized while my Poké-villagers are hard at work building homes.

February was a pretty insane month, and we easily have more than enough books on the horizon to keep us busy for the rest of the year. And since we’re coming up on our 1-year anniversary of this send-out, I might look at a recap of some of my favourites in the coming issues.

In the meantime lots to talk about again this week. French readers have a dozen new books to explore, Dark Horse has a trio of headlines that are sure to please, and there’s some great gaming magazines hitting shelves all across the globe.

So, let’s dive in!

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📰 News & Highlights

• To kick things off, one of the most popular pickups I’ve seen in the community this week is Jeremy Parish’s The History of Metroidvania - Decade One: 1980–1990. Rather than jumping straight to the genre’s re-emerging modern canon, this first volume traces the form through the 1980s and the 8-bit era, following how exploratory action design took shape before “metroidvania” was a term anyone was using.

  

• Dark Horse hit us with a double-whammy this week, not only publishing the aforementioned Metroidvania book, but also releasing Castlevania: Nocturne - The Art of the Animated Series. A full-color hardcover art book containing hundreds of pieces of never-before-seen concept artwork, production design, and stunning storyboards featuring characters, environments, monsters, and more, all from the first two seasons of the lauded Netflix horror series!

  

• And if that wasn’t enough, Dark Horse (again) has also announced that The Art of Octopath Traveler: 2020-2023, coming in July! This comes after the 2023 Japanese release of the book, capturing the beautiful vistas of Orsterra from Champions of the Continent and Octopath Traveler II.

  

• I had to triple check, as I had sworn this book had already released, but alas, it’s just been in pre-order purgatory for the past while. Elden Ring: Official Art Book Volume III: Shadow of the Erdtree released this past week, from Udon Entertainment. The 3rd book in the series that collects all the fantastic artwork from the DLC Expansion across 320 pages.

  

• White Owl have been giving us lots of great stuff lately, and I’m particularly excited for their latest official announcement - Beyond Fear: Inside Action Horror Games. Author Nick Akerman peels back the skin of genre to reveal emotional stories and the decisions that can make or break the people behind them.

  

• These “Cover Reveals” from Square Enix always make me laugh. 99% of the time, they are identical to the Japanese counterparts…but I suppose it’s a good excuse to promote the books. Like The Art of Final Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Rising Tide, which is scheduled to go on sale in May!

  

• Big thanks to The Artbook Collector for this latest tip-off. Looks like Trigger, the animation studio behind Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is publishing The Art of Edgerunners, with the book hitting pre-orders this week. Head over to the great writeup here to learn more.

  

• For Minecraft fans, the official novels from Mojang Studios continues their releases, with the latest, Minecraft: Adventure School, releasing earlier this week. In this next blockbuster Minecraft novel, a young adventurer must test their skills as a hero while navigating new challenges, friendships, and rivalries.

  

• IDW’s Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds one-shot arrived as a prequel tie-in to Sega’s new racer, with Iasmin Omar Ata writing and Ryan Jampole handling the main cover and interior art. The setup sends Sonic and company racing through dimensions with Dodon Pa’s travel rings.

  

• Panini Manga’s English edition of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Vol. 1 is out now, bringing the game’s story into manga form. Written and illustrated by Mangado and Sideranch, the first paperback runs 192 pages and adapts Cal Kestis’s post-Order 66 story from the 2019 Respawn game

  

• Bendy and the Silver Screams is a new 160-page original graphic novel from Scholastic, written by Dave Scheidt and illustrated by Alex Arizmendi. That makes it a fresh standalone Bendy story rather than a direct tie-in, and Scholastic is shelving it for readers 12 and up.

  

• And wrapping up the comic cavalcade for the week, Cult of the Lamb: Last Sacrament Special #1 just released on digital shelves from Oni Press. This double-sized, 48-page special is the epic culmination of Cult of the Lamb’s groundbreaking comics expansion from esteemed creators Alex Paknadel and Troy Little.

  

• Celia Hodent’s The Gamer’s Brain returned in a second edition from CRC Press this week, expanding the 2017 game-UX staple into a 330-page revision. Hodent has also said the new edition adds two chapters, covering ethics and new technologies, which makes this more than a cosmetic reissue.

  

• Books on “parenting” are becoming a prominent sub-genre on our site, with lots of great literature covering all perspectives. Well, this week, author Andrew Fishman reached out to share his new book Parenting A Gamer. Set to release this April, it’s a practical, research-based guide helping parents understand gaming, set healthy limits, and support kids without constant conflict.

  

• Now in paperback, Ben Egliston’s Cryptogaming: Blockchain and the Financialization of Videogames remains a slim but pointed study at 87 pages. Published in Palgrave Macmillan’s Games in Context line, it examines how blockchain game developers and venture capital firms framed promises around player income, ownership, and new value chains.

  

• Insight Editions’ Video Games in 100 Objects takes the museum-catalog approach, compressing fifty years of game history into 176 pages of hardware, peripherals, memorabilia, and other artifacts. Very impressed with the roster of contributors, with Joe Funk joined by Dan Hsu, Dean Takahashi, John Davison, Van Burnham, and Josh Harmon.

  

• Orders are now up for Nintendo Force #82 March/April. This issue is all about Capcom, with games like Resident Evil: Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories: Twisted Reflection, Pragmata, The Disney Afternoon Collection and Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection getting featured.

  

• UK gaming magazine, 110% Gaming, has been nearing its 150th issue milestone, and this week, it got one step closer with 110% Gaming Magazine #143. This issue comes complete with a 75-question gamer quiz, a section on favourite Minecraft hacks, and an exciting LEGO Fortnite board game. And for all you artists, out there, try your hand a drawing your favourite video game character for a chance to win £250.

  

• French Pokémon readers got a whole wave of amazing Pokémon reads this week. Starting with the Color Your Pokédex books, with separate paperback volumes for Galar, Sinnoh, Paldea, Unova, Kanto, Kalos, Johto, Hoenn, and Alola. The Hachette Jeunesse line includes each Pokémon’s type, weaknesses, category, and evolutionary path.

  

• Also newly available in French is Pokémon: Bienvenue à bord!, Scholastic’s 32-page Level 2 early reader by Christy Webster. It is aimed at ages 6 to 8, so this one sits firmly in the beginner-reader lane rather than manga or fiction for older fans.

  

• Continuing the onslaught of French Pokémon books and magazines, Panini Kids’ Booster Mag! #7 just hit store shelves. While not exclusively video games, this special edition magazine focuses heavily on the world of Pokémon, and even comes packed with some trading cards.

  

• And finally from Panini Kids, Aventure Pokémon #5 released this week. In this issue, Rhod and Fuecoco (Chochodile) discover the joys of winter. But the climate of Glaseado Mountain (Mount Nappé) can be unpredictable. And our friends will find themselves facing the harsh elements… On the video game front, get all the information you need about Pokémon Legends: ZA and discover, for the TCG, a themed deck featuring Mega Charizard X-ex. Finally, test your Pokémon knowledge with some games. Happy reading, young Trainer!

  

• Mana Books has brought us Warcraft: Le Puits de Soleil Vol. 1 – La Chasse au Dragon, reviving the first volume of Richard A. Knaak and Jae-Hwan Kim’s Sunwell trilogy for French audiences. The original manga-style series debuted through Tokyopop in the mid-2000s, so this is very much a return of an older Blizzard tie-in rather than a brand-new comic.

  

• And speaking of “Soleil”…Soleil Manga has been busy with video game releases this past week! First, French readers can now enjoy Animal crossing - new horizons : Mon île de rêve Tome 4. Translated from the Animal Crossing: The Bestest Island manga series, this is the 4th entry in a 5-volume run that has been getting an early French treatment before hitting other languages. Always great to see!

  

• We also have a new Kirby manga in the form of Kirby Fantasy: Gloutonnerie à Dream Land Tome 12. The series is a celebration of the pink puffball’s 25th anniversary, and is straight from the talents of Ibuki Takeuchi. Great to see this continue for French fans!

  

• Italy has been a little quieter lately, but this week they got a new FNAF book with Five Nights at Freddy’s. Gli incubi del Fazbear #11. This translates all three bone-chilling novellas from the 2021 English release “Prankster”.

  

• Heading over to Japan, first up we got Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Official Setting & Concept Art Collection, a 256-page paperback credited to the Famitsu Book Editorial Department and published by Kadokawa/Famitsu. The book pulls together released illustrations, character materials, early design drafts, environment art, equipment designs, and story reference material for Marvelous’s latest Rune Factory.

  

• ドラゴンクエストVII Reimagined 公式ガイドブック followed close behind the Dragon Quest game itself as Square Enix’s official guidebook for the remake. It even include developer interviews, and features Yuji Horii himself.

  

• For The Battle Cats fans, ネコテン 1 collects the first volume of PONOS’s comic into a 128-page paperback from Poplar Publishing. Even before the book release, ネコテン had already shown up as a recognizable side branch of the brand in merchandise and promotional material, so seeing it graduate to a collected volume makes sense.

  

• The Battle Cats also picked up a picture book with The Monkey and the Crab Battle – The Battle Cats Original Picture Book, published in Japan by Poplar. Written by Haritora and illustrated by Tagawa Hideki, the 32-page paperback reworks the folktale “Sarukani Gassen” into an original Battle Cats story and is billed as the franchise’s first picture book.

  

• This week’s Famitsu is the March 19, 2026 issue, No. 1938, a 144-page issue from Kadokawa. Its lead feature is a pre-release package on Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twin Dragons of Fate that rounds up the game’s setting, characters, monsters, battle systems, new mechanics like the “dragon energy gauge,” and a developer interview; the same issue also includes a feature on mountain-climbing games and a launch special on Pokémon Pokopia.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

I know I sing my praises for the volunteer team every week, but this week in particular was notably impressive. Nearly 100 more books catalogued on the site.

To kick things off, let’s start with Justin, who was an absolute machine this week, getting all of the outstanding Sierra Hint Books catalogued. Some amazing point+click adventure games from yesteryear that are definitely pulling at the ol’ nostalgia strings. Anything here resonate with you?

Tommy continued to get more CRC Press and Routledge books catalogued this week, ensuring the GameStudies and GameDev continue to be the 2 largest collections on the site. Also special shoutout to getting Beyond Fear up just in time for this newsletter…thanks Tommy!

Alex just joined the team, and has already made a mark with the cataloguing this week. He’s been working through some Devil May Cry manga and novels that we were sorely missing from the site. Giving me flashbacks to Easter 2022 when I picked up DMC1 for the PS2… Such a great game!!

I said at the beginning of the year that I really wanted to focus on Prima Strategy Guides, since the backlog is so huge. Well, week-after-week, Fran has been driving us towards our goal. Some special love to “D” this week with Devil May Cry, Dark Age of Camelot and Dead or Alive.

When I saw these French Pokémon books, I thought…oh no…9 books to catalogue ahead of the newsletter. Then I remembered…we have a French-speaking Pokémon pro on our team! Geneviève working miracles again to get these all catalogued in the nick of time.

Another brand new member to our team, Fallon, dove in head-first with the Persona 4 Dengeki comic run. In just 2 days, we’ve seen 7 more manga fully catalogued in English and Japanese. I really gotta get around to trying our P4. Loved Persona 3 and Persona 5.

And final callout to Jamie, who since last week has moved away from the Persona books and is now working on Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai collection. 3 down!

Reminder, that I’m still looking for 2 more volunteers who can commit time and help us catalogue each and every week! If that’s you, reach out!

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

Share

And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

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Guys, things aren’t slowing down. February was an insane month, and looking at the calendar, I count 4 days in March where a book isn’t coming out…the rest is packed!

For Volume 41 of the Newsletter, we have more than 30 announcements and releases, the most exciting of which (for me) is M.J. Gallagher’s long-awaited Mythos: Final Fantasy XVI. There’s also a ton of comics and manga which have been coming fast and furious from all corners of the globe.

In “Behind the Shelves”, we dive into a bunch of cataloguing work that’s been getting done, thanks to our growing team of volunteers who heard the call-out last month and reached out with eagerness to be part of this crazy project.

Lots to talk about, so with creaking bookshelves and trembling wallets, let’s see what this week has in store!

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📰 News & Highlights

• An easy choice for this week’s headliner. M.J. Gallagher’s Mythos: Final Fantasy XVI Volume One: Death & Rebirth has been on my hype-list for a LONG time, and for followers of our site and social media, you’ll know how much of an influence Norse Myths That Inspired Final Fantasy VII had on getting this project off the ground. So glad to see its successful release and resounding praise!

  

• From the team at Bitmap Books (which don’t often get bumped to 2nd page news, but this week is an exception), their newest project, Leaps + Bounds: a Visual Guide to Nine Console Generations, started shipping this past week. Another gorgeous hardcover tomb encapsulating the consoles, handhelds and hybrids that have defined the evolution of the video game form.

  

• Hold your breath. Don't you dare... make... a... sound. Announced this week, and up for pre-order is the revised and expanded edition of Andy Kelly’s Perfect Organism. The book itself was originally published through Unbound, but through the challenges, has found a new home with the team at Lost In Cult. Dubbed “Perfect Organism: The Assembly Cut”, this version includes new chapters, new illustrations and more.

  

• The folks over at Microzeit have launched the Kickstarter for their next entry in the REDO FROM START series. REDO FROM START Vol. II focuses on Canada and Europe. It expands the oral history series with more than 30 interviews and richly detailed visuals that bring the stories of software innovation from 1982–1985 to life.

  

• Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts #2 hit comic book (and digital) shelves this week from Dark Horse Comics. In order to keep a dangerous and familiar relic out of the wrong hands, Lara Croft must travel to Italy and meet the mysterious, masked adversary who stole it from her. But when Lara enlists the aid of her old friend Carter Bell, his own request for help will lead her on a detour, one that will plunge her into the depths of the city of Paris!

  

• Easily one of the most hyped manga releases of the past few months, and reaching a bunch of different languages, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Volume 1 has finally released. Based on the Netflix anime series, felt it was close enough to a Video Game adjacent release.

  

• Sonic has been a staple of these Newsletters since the beginning, and easily has the most comic book entries on the site. Well, add 1 more to the list with this latest IDW crossover announced this week - Sonic x Godzilla #1! When the King of the Monsters and other iconic kaiju mysteriously arrive in the Blue Blur's world, the brilliant and evil Dr. Eggman will try to harness the power of the kaiju for his own nefarious goals.

  

• The Lords of the Makai storyline continues with this penultimate issue! Udon Entertainment brings us Darkstalkers x Street Fighter: Hunter Killers #1. Deep in the Darkstalker Dimension, Morrigan tempts the werewolf Jon Talbain to give in to his violent urges. Can Menat save Talbain from his own violent urges? It's the penultimate chapter of the Lords of the Makai saga!

  

• The literary love for Expedition 33 is still a little light for such a juggernaut of a game, but lots of fan projects seem to be popping up. Check out this new Zine33, a 70-page fanzine with the talents of 33 artists celebrating their love of Clair Obscur.

  

• No shortage of Pokémon sticker books out there, but they seem to be top sellers, so makes sense why this past week we got another from Farshore with Pokémon Mega Evolutions Sticker Book. This one covers everything readers need to know about the 48 Mega Evolution Pokémon plus 300 awesome stickers.

  

• Also in Pokémon news, pre-orders are now open for the upcoming fanzine Ancient Sagas. This gorgeous zine is dedicated to celebrating Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. I’ve missed a lot of the lead-up to this one, but scrolling through the artists, I’m VERY intrigued.

  

• And to round things off with indie Pokémon projects, Piotr Siuda announced on X this week that Gotta Study ’Em All: Understanding Cultural Impact of 30 Years of Pokémon has been approved by Bloomsbury. Loving all this Poké-love going around!

  

• This week marks the big finale of VIZ Media’s digital re-releases of the Splatoon manga series from Sankichi Hinodeya. Both Splatoon, Vol. 15 and Splatoon, Vol. 16 came out this week. Not to worry though, still some Splatoon 3: Splatlands manga still ahead!

  

• And before moving on from VIZ Media, let’s talk about this announcement from Feb. 20th that I totally missed in last week’s Newsletter. Legendary Final Fantasy composer, Nobuo Uematsu, is getting a biography this Fall.

  

• Fangamer’s UFO 50 Deluxe Edition are out of pre-order and have officially started shipping this week. While the game itself is cool enough, this bundle includes a 116-page UFO 50 Companion Book, featuring tips, maps, secrets, stickers, and original art straight from the developers.

  

• And in similar news, Strictly Limited Games has announced that pre-orders are live for the Shadow Gambit Complete Edition. While the bundle comes complete with game, manual, scroll, coin, sticker and poster, the real excitement is of course the Artbook and Strategy Guide.

  

• Another bundled artbook is on the horizon alongside Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter’s premium limited Golden Wings Edition. Pre-orders are now open ahead of the game’s planned Fall 2026 launch. Some other obviously really cool stuff here that, once upon a time, I would have had a blog for (thinks back to first ever Collector’s Corner blog focused on gaming merch).

  

• Step into the front lines of strategy gaming with PC Gamer #420 UK / PC Gamer #408 US released this past week. A world-exclusive cover story on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, where PC Gamer goes behind the scenes with the developers to explore the hotly anticipated return of the classic RTS franchise. Beyond the cover feature, dive into previews of Solasta 2 and Forza Horizon 6, in-depth reviews of Terra Invicta and other top PC games, and nostalgic looks at Duke Nukem 3D and Skyrim mods.

  

• For all the aspiring GameDev/Artists out there, Foundational Techniques for Mastering Environment and Character Concept Art from CRC Press and Lee Stocks released this past week in Hardcover, Paperback and eBook options. It’s a detailed concept art guide with workshops + videos.

  

• And to wrap up this week’s English publications (and GameDev) resources, Indie developer Robin “Birdy” Brown’s new book just released this past week. How to Finish Your First Cozy Game is a calm, practical companion for first-time game creators who want to plan, build, and finish a small cozy game without burning out.

  

• Heading over to France, the 10th entry in the special series, Resident Evil - Jeux Vidéo Magazine Collection Hors-Série, released this week. This one comes right in time not only for Resident Evil Requiem but also in celebration of the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

  

• Immersion is a French independent magazine devoted to in-depth cultural analysis of video games, treating the medium as art, philosophy, and social practice rather than just entertainment. With the announcement of its tenth issue, “Châteaux,” fans can look forward to a richly produced 176-page edition that examines the imagery and meaning of castles in games old and new, features a wide mix of voices from the field. Slated for release in May 2026.

  

• Dans l’Ombre du CPC — L’héritage des jeux Amstrad is a new book project that launched on Ulule. This tribute volume from Editions64K dives into the games and creative spirit of the Amstrad CPC, showcasing the titles and memories that shaped the experiences of early home computer gamers. Through illustrations and narrative, it honors an influential chapter of video game history while inviting backers to support its production and preservation. It really doesn’t seem to be getting much traction though, so this one may be in need of an extra push.

  

• Earlier in the year, we saw a new collection of library books come out of Black Rabbit Books under their Bolt imprint. Well, the fun continues with 3 new Spanish translations this week. Sube de nivel en Pokémon, Sube de nivel en The Legend of Zelda and Sube de nivel en Animal Crossing all hit shelves this week for Spanish speakers.

  

• Possibly a nothing-burger, but I have a good feeling about this one… DeVuego, Spain’s largest database of the video game industry, teased out a “what if” post this past week showcasing a magazine cover mock-up. Some other gaming mags already have a pretty good foothold in that market, but there’s always room for more in-print gaming goodness! I, for one, am VERY supportive!

  

• And speaking of one of those Spanish gaming mags, GTM has another awesome project on the horizon. Sombras de Raccoon City is an in-universe volume that brings together interviews, sketches, notes, and recovered documents about the city’s final days.

  

• For Portuguese readers, there’s more Elden Ring love this week, courtesy of Panini Managa. Nikiichi Tobita’s Elden Ring: O Caminho para Térvore 08 gag manga hit shelves, continue the story of Tarnished on his search for the Dectus Medallion. See what awaits in the Albinauric Village.

  

• German readers continue to be spoiled with great gaming magazines, like this latest issue of Play5. Released earlier this week, the team didn’t quite have enough time to squeeze in Resident Evil Requiem, so instead they’ve focused on Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, Nioh 3, Yakuza Kiwami 3, Reanimal, I Hate This Place and more!

  

• Something about adding Czech books to the site always makes me happy. It’s a language that we don’t see nearly enough love for in video game literature. This week, we were treated to Twisted Wonderland: Příběh z Heartslabyulu 2 from Nakladatelství CREW. Looking forward to seeing this continue through the whole manga series.

  

• And over in Poland, Minecraft fans rejoice this week as Przygoda w jaskiniach. Minecraft. Tryb czytania comes out! This is the translation of Arie Kaplan’s “Trouble Brewing!” Książki HarperKids continues to tackle this “Step Into Reading” series, which is so awesome to see!

  

• Mal’Opus continues to be a translation machine for the Ukrainian language market. Their latest book to go on sale is this Art of Arcane book, translated as Артбук Мистецтво й створення серіалу «Аркейн»). Filled with gorgeous illustrations and concept art from the hit Netflix series.

  

• No stranger to art book translations, Mr. Blue Co. has just announced that they’ve decided to publish Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Official Art Works for the Korean market. This will be crowdfunded on Wadiz starting Mar. 9th, and shipping is expected to start in the 2nd week of June, 2026. This project accompanies their previous efforts with Elden Ring Art Books 1 & 2, as well as Monster Hunter and Final Fantasy XVI art books.

  

• And the award for the best mobile game in 2025 is….UmeMusume: Pretty Derby! That was a surprise to me, and put the game on my radar. Well, it’s been a hit in Japan for a while, and just this week we saw the release of the 4th artbook - ウマ娘 プリティーダービー アートワークス Vol.04. If racing horse-girls are your thing, this is the book for you!

  

• ドラゴンクエストの生みの親 堀井雄二: 新学習まんが人物館 is the new Yuji Horii manga biography we announced a few newsletters back, and as of this week, it’s officially out! I’m confident this’ll be getting the English translation treatment…but oh man is this purchase tempting!

  

• Over in Japan, Kadokawa continues its push toward younger gamers with this 2026 “Popular Games DVD Special” spin-off from てれびげーむマガジン. てれびげーむマガジン別冊 人気ゲームDVDスペシャル 2026 (カドカワゲームムック) clocks in at over 100 pages and bundled with a multi-hour DVD, this one mixes readable strategy content with kid-friendly gameplay videos. Expect coverage spanning Nintendo staples, Minecraft, and other evergreen hits dominating Japanese charts right now.

  

• Pokémon never slows down in the publishing space. ポケットモンスター たのしくとける はじめてのパズル is a new beginner puzzle book that’s aimed squarely at younger fans just starting their logic-game journey. Designed to be approachable and confidence-boosting, it blends simple puzzles with familiar Pokémon characters to ease readers into problem solving.

  

• Konami’s legendary dating sim franchise returns in a more playful format with ときめきモウソウ劇場. Collecting all 85 comic entries originally published on the Tokimeki Memorial X account from 2023-2025, this release leans into comedic scenarios and character-driven fantasy situations, essentially celebrating the long history of Tokimeki Memorial through exaggerated “what if” moments.

  

• Minecraft publishing continues at full speed in Japan. Volume 2 of this “Let’s Start Minecraft” special (別冊てれびげーむマガジン スペシャル 総集編 はじめようマインクラフト号 vol.2 ) from Kadokawa compiles beginner tips, build ideas, survival strategies, and easy-to-digest walkthrough content for new players.

  What stands out is how these guides remain evergreen — every new wave of young players needs a starting point. And with Minecraft’s staying power across platforms, releases like this feel less like one-offs and more like perennial staples.

  

• Another week, another issue of Japan’s most iconic gaming magazine. Famitsu No.1937 (週刊ファミ通 2026年3月12日号 No.1937) opens with a release feature on Biohazard Requiem, teasing what it reveals about “after Raccoon City,” spotlighting characters and creatures, and explaining how its two protagonists create a rhythm of “tension” and “release” alongside review-style impressions. Elsewhere, it digs into Arcade Archives: Rave Racer with a look at the game’s appeal plus Arcade Archives–specific features and a play guide, previews the first new Shutokō Battle in about 20 years (recreated expressways, SP battles, and a developer interview), and rounds out coverage with Tales of Berseria Remastered, revisiting its story and combat while detailing the remaster project’s new elements.

  

• The absurdly popular mobile hit The Battle Cats marches on with Volume 18 of its manga adaptation. まんがで!にゃんこ大戦争(18): てんとう虫コミックス〔スペシャル is published under Shogakukan’s Tentomushi Comics Special line, the series continues its blend of slapstick humor, bizarre enemies, and overpowered feline antics.

  

• Retro hardware fans, this one’s for you. The expanded and revised edition of the PC Engine & PC-FX Perfect Catalog digs deep into NEC’s iconic (and sometimes overlooked) consoles. Updated from the original 2019 release, expect comprehensive software listings, hardware breakdowns, historical context, and gorgeous screenshots.

  

• CONTINUE has long positioned itself as the thinking person’s game magazine, equal parts nostalgia, criticism, and pop-culture commentary. CONTINUE Vol. 88 keeps that tradition alive, looking back at the Dreamcast’s fierce, uphill battle and celebrates the console that delivered innovative network features, outstanding arcade conversions, and classics such as Shenmue, Phantasy Star Online, Space Channel 5, Seaman, and Jet Set Radio.

  

• Dragon Quest has been making non-stop headlines lately thanks to the buzz surrounding the HD-2D remakes, and that momentum continues with Dragon Quest I & II / III Art Works: The Art of Alefgard. This artbook focuses on the visual reimagining of the Erdrick trilogy, showcasing character designs, environmental art, UI concepts, and development materials from the HD-2D versions of I-III.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

The Sonic the Hedgehog cataloguing continues strong thanks to Stephen on our volunteer team. Working backwards down the list, down to 67 thanks to his efforts!

Now just to add some perspective, each one of these issues has multiple covers and formats attributed to different artists. We try our best at The Video Game Library to capture that in our image carousel and publication details. So an extra big thanks to Stephen for continuing to be so thorough!

Also spent a bit of time this week working with the folks at Job Job to get the details on all their cookbooks. We had most catalogued, but some missing information in the records, and they were kind enough to get it all sorted for us. Now we have their full collection on digital display!

Between Fran, Genevieve and new volunteer, Rex, we also tackled more guides from all genres and generations. In 2026, the influx of guides has really slowed down in comparison with yesteryear, so it REALLY feels like we’re catching up each and every week.

And I want to give a special shoutout to Jamie, who’s just joined the team and has been absolutely killing it with the Persona backlog. Dengeki’s entire Persona 3 run is now fully catalogued on the site.

And the last bulk cataloguing I’ll call out was Pillar Red Box’s “Pro Gamer Presents” series. Heavily focused on Fortnite and Roblox, there’s a few Minecraft and Pokémon entries thrown in as well. Full expect these to continue annually.

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

Share

And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

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First off, huge thank you for all the amazingly positive feedback on last week’s juggernaut of an issue! Hard to top it, but this one gets close with over 30 new book announcements and releases to discuss.

It’s that time of month where the Japanese gaming mag market is overflowing on the konbini shelves, and art book fans should be celebrating this week with some really cool projects on the horizon. Manga takes center-stage in a few different languages, and Third Editions out of France has a trio of releases that I’m personally very excited about. Plus a couple indie projects that are generating a lot of excitement.

We also have a lot of great new behind-the-scenes cataloguing work that I’m excited to share. So grab a coffee (or your drink of choice), and let’s dive in!

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📰 News & Highlights

• Let’s start with one of the most hotly anticipated art books of the year. The Art of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has officially released in a whole host of languages including English, French, Italian, Ukrainian and more! Hundreds of concept works, including artwork by character and mechanical design director, acclaimed artist Yoji Shinkawa. This game was absolutely gorgeous, and I for one, am VERY excited to be adding it to the shelves.

  

• Square Enix has revealed more details about the long-awaited English translation of the Final Fantasy IX Picture Book. Officially titled Final Fantasy IX Picture Book: Vivi and Grandpa’s Memories for the Sky, this prequel storybook to the game is set to release on May 19 this year. I love this so much.

  

• And you know what else Square Enix revealed this week? The Art of Final Fantasy Tactics English release! I mean, we all knew this one was coming, but we can officially report now that its scheduled to hit shelves this November in all its hardcover glory.

  

• Now let’s chat about Super Rare Games. In celebration of their first 150 titles, they’ve announced that they’ll be releasing Super Rare Games: 1 to 150 Games – A Collector’s Artbook. Packed with stunning photography of every release, this premium hardcover showcases the artwork, editions, and memories that defined its journey, featuring messages from developers, influencers, and fans, along with a foreword and thoughtful presentation of each title.

  

• And speaking of rare, Limited Run Games’ upcoming Formation Z Deluxe Edition has been revealed with details of a very cool artbook bundled in. Not too much is known quite yet, but I’ve reached out. All I can say is that this book will be a celebration of this remake of one of Jaleco’s most iconic arcade shooters!

  

• Mega Man X kicked into high gear this week, debuting his own comic series with Mega Man X #1 from Udon Entertainment! A whole new generation of super fighting robots face-off against the backdrop of a techno-future. In this issue, X and Zero track down the Prince of the Skies, the noble and deadly Storm Eagle!

  

• And that’s not the only blue mascot getting some comic love this week. DC Comics has just announced DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion, a new five-issue mini-series that reunites Sonic and friends with the Justice League after last year’s crossover. The series brings back writer Ian Flynn and artist Adam Bryce Thomas, and it kicks off in May 2026. In the story, mysterious mechanical rings link the two worlds and spark the heroes’ reunions, while hiding a sinister cause behind the team-ups. Issue #1 arrives May 5, 2026 with a main cover by Pablo M. Collar and variant covers by Adam Bryce Thomas, Serg Acuña, and Min Ho Kim.

  

• The treasure hunt is on for Captain Edward James Kenway! A slow follow to the French releases, Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple, Vol. 2 makes its way to English readers this week thanks to VIZ Media. Still sitting 4-5 volumes behind the latest, but this might work out great with the rumors of the “Resynced” version of Black Flag around the corner.

  

• The 2nd volume in Dark Horse’s latest Minecraft graphic novel series, Minecraft: Heart of Cobblestone #2 hit shelves this week. Brothers Cobb, a quiet farmer, and Flint, a bold adventurer, clash until their friend Rochelle follows a treasure map into a mob-filled danger zone. To rescue her and chase the treasure, they cross wild biomes, face monsters, and learn teamwork, forming an unlikely squad to survive Minecraft’s world.

  

• Only just announced last week, SHELL Method: Mental Framework for Survival in Solo Game Development from Polish author Łukasz S. Kowal has officially released. Developed over 25+ years of solo work, this method grew out of real mistakes, burnout, and projects that almost failed before they could begin. Looking forward to seeing some reviews of this one.

• After teasing it for over a year, Harvey Newman just put out a video promo for his upcoming book, How To Thrive In The Game Industry: The Long Game. Pre-orders are up, and it’s expected to drop on May 28th this year. From surviving crunch, navigating studio closures, building a personal brand, to understanding the business side of game dev — this book covers the full arc of a game developer's career, backed by interviews with seasoned professionals from Ubisoft, DICE, Valve, and Epic Games.

  

• In the world of GameStudies, Playing Politics in Digital Spaces got its official release from Routledge this week. This edited collection examines the intersection of gameplay and political agency. It covers how digital spaces (including MMOs and open-world games) are used for political expression, activism, and the construction of power dynamics. Not solely video games, but enough intersect to warrant a spot in our catalogue.

  

• For fans of the bizarre and charming cookbooks coming out of Job Job LLC., they had a fun social media announcement this week, just in time for Pokémon’s upcoming 30th anniversary. Pocket Munchies! Not much is known quite yet, but rest assured, I’ve reached out and will get it catalogued on our site ASAP alongside all the others!

  

• As expected, with the approach of the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie, books are being hinted at over on Amazon. Random House, and author Benjamin Harper, have a few books now listed. Not a lot of details, but expect to see these pages start to get populated soon!

  

• And in the spirit of fun teases, author Mat Bradley-Tschirgi has confirmed that his new book Doom Video Games will be coming out this Fall from White Owl Books. In addition to Doom, it looks at the early days of id Software, Wolfenstein 3D, and features over a dozen interviews with game designers, programmers, and journalists. I know there’ve been a bunch of teases for this, but I think this is the first time we’ve heard about a Fall publishing. Very exciting!

  

• And before moving on from English, want to make sure I shout out the latest issue of EDGE magazine, with EDGE #421. Neon Giant’s No Law is the feature, with a visit to the studio’s Uppsala HQ to access the world of Port Desire. Also inside: The science of speedrunning, the joy of Eurojank, the making of Deus Ex: Invisible War, catching up with Tetsuya Mizuguchi at Enhance, and a return to C64 classic Impossible Mission.

  

• Now let’s head over to France for some VERY COOL releases thanks to the folks at Third Editions. First off is L'Histoire de Square Enix. Oscar Lemaire chronicles Square Enix’s 40+ year rise, especially Final Fantasy, revealing the messy reality of game-making: creative ambition vs. deadlines, leadership gambles, and some near-disasters. Look at this gorgeous First Print cover!

  

• In the same vein, L’Histoire de FromSoftware from Victor Moisan is next. A history of FromSoftware’s rise, showing how its “die and rebirth” design cycle reshapes old ideas into new classics, from King’s Field to Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Armored Core, and Elden Ring, told through both creators and the players who lived them.

  

• And finally from Third Editions, their 3rd installment of the Inside series which are included as a bonus when 5 or more books are purchased. Inside: Returnal from Simon Aunai invites you to dive into the winding depths of Housemarque’s masterpiece.

  

• At the Premios DeVuego 2025 gala, DeVuego exclusively revealed a preview of the upcoming Anuario DeVuego 2026. We’ve been cataloguing them all each year, and this one looks especially great. Still more details needed before fully getting it catalogued on our site, but wanted to make sure I squeezed it into this week’s newsletter for all of our Spanish readers out there!

  

• Also for Spanish readers, copies of Kentinel Studios’ Sigo Mañana are starting to ship out. In the wake of the 2024 and 2025 layoffs in the video game industry, this book seeks to focus on the evolution of hardware, technological cycles, and the history that has shaped the sector, what it has enabled, and what the future might hold.

  

• Germany has been quite this week, but we can always count on M! Games to make headlines! M! Games 390 teases a hands-on look at Resident Evil Requiem and previews big upcoming titles like Forza Horizon 6 and the Fable reboot. Inside, you’ll also find a stack of fresh reviews—ranging from major RPGs to tougher action games—plus special features celebrating 40 years of The Legend of Zelda.

  

• Heading down through Europe, our fellow Italian readers can now finally explore the Altus Plateau in Elden Ring: La Via per l'Albero Madre 9. Panini Comics has been quickly catching up on the Road to the Erdtree gag manga series, and we can expect a few more of these translations before the year is done.

  

• And Panini’s not done yet! Resident Evil: L’Isola Della Morte has officially released, marking the first time this manga has made it to Italian readers. In San Francisco, Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine investigate two cases revolving around Alcatraz Island. They, along with Chris Redfield, decide to travel there, but they don't know that Leon Scott Kennedy, an old acquaintance of theirs, has infiltrated the former prison to track down a criminal scientist. There, the three will face an enemy who threatens to destroy the entire world!

  

• Great to see Minecraft mania continue to sweep Poland, with the latest books being more of the Minecraft: Novels. These were all released last week thanks to the translation efforts of Ewa Ziembińska and join several more already in the series.

  

• Jumping over to Japan, publisher Sansai Books has launched their latest release. シューティングゲーム大全（ゲームラボ選書 is a comprehensive guide to the history of home console shooting games from 1981 to 1999. Spanning 208 pages, this Japanese-language volume covers 717 titles across 32 hardware platforms; from Cassette Vision and Famicom to PlayStation and Dreamcast.

  

• Also from Japan, a self-published, 350-page essay originally drafted in 2016, is now released for the first time as a full publication. 美少女ゲームとは何だったのか: 1996―2011 explores the history of bishōjo games, analyzing key works from 1996 to 2011.

  

• Kadokawa has officially announced its upcoming NIKKE Official Material Book. Slated for an April 2 release in Japan, it promises over 400 pages of world design from the game. Haven’t got it officially catalogued on our site quite yet, but hope to see a more official cover revealed soon!

  

• Also from Kadokawa, pre-orders for a Guilty Gear -STRIVE- Artbook have gone up. Not a ton of details yet outside of an April 2nd release, but thanks to the Slimpress blog, looks like it’s a 320-page tomb filled with illustrations and concept art, collecting materials from all 4 seasons of DLC and 32 characters. It also includes some exclusive Guilty Gear short stories.

  

• Weekly Famitsu 週刊ファミ通 2026年3月5日号 No.1936 leads the Japanese gaming magazine releases this week. It starts with a 16-page feature, including Ubisoft Montréal interviews, on Rainbow Six Mobile, arriving worldwide on February 23. There’s also a substantial 30-page commemorative feature celebrating CyberConnect2’s 30th anniversary, revisiting the studio’s history from .hack to Fuga: Melodies of Steel.

  

• NintendoDREAM (2026年4月号) continues its long tradition as a monthly Nintendo-focused magazine with a massive celebration of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. The issue delivers three in-depth Pokémon features, from a first look and early impressions of the slow-life city-building title Pokémon Pokopia to a character deep dive into Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A, alongside a sweeping retrospective tracing the series from Red & Green to today. There are also some features on Mario Tennis Fever, Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition), The Legend of Zelda and Urban Myth Dissolution Center.

  

• Meanwhile, SWITCH Vol.44 No.3 特集 ポケモン百景, released this past week, marking their own Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration with “Pokémon Hyakkei” (100 Views of Pokémon), taking a more reflective, cultural approach. Instead of pure mechanics, it focuses on the “scenery” players have shared with Pokémon over three decades—how the series changed, and how its audience grew alongside it. The feature also looks at what new landscapes Pokémon might show next.

  

• For character-driven and otome fans, B’s-LOG 2026年4月号 puts A3! front and center with an illustrated cover featuring Masumi Usui and Sakyo Furuichi. Inside, it leans into themed Q&As and character-focused features, while still showcasing some of the upcoming otome releases. I’ll be honest, a lot of this stuff is out of my wheelhouse, but I know this is hugely popular for the female gaming demographic in Japan.

• And rounding out the week, Dengeki Nintendo April 2026 (電撃Nintendo 2026年4月号) dives deep into the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ver.3.0 free update. It explains major additions like the resort hotel, Dream Islands, collaboration items, and guest recruitment, then goes further with 15 original room designs packed with practical decorating techniques.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

Coming up to the end of February, and that means it’s almost been 4 full years since starting this crazy project. A time to celebrate, surely, but also a time to renew all of the website’s annual licenses. The Premium Tier had served me well to-date, but the site has grown enough that a full-blown Business Tier is necessary. Sadly the costs are almost double…

Sucked it up and renewed for another year. Hoping to see all this work pay off, and a few more Paid subscribers to this newsletter.

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In the meantime, have a really great group of volunteers who’ve continued to do amazing work on the site. Our newest member, Stephen, was an immediate natural with the cataloguing, and has dove headfirst into IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog collection.

Comics are some of the most time consuming records to catalogue because of the collection of cover variants and extensive rosters of credits, but he’s been doing an absolutely phenomenal job!

Fran continues to be a rockstar on our team, plugging away at the Prima collection. These, again, are some of the most frustrating because of the crappy images and detail online - but somehow Fran keeps working her magic and getting these things polished up!

And of course Tommy is the master of these obscure GameDev/GameStudies books that span the decades. A few more this week!

Taking inspiration from Fran, I also spent some time with Strategy Guides this week, focusing on LucasArts and Sierra Hint Books from yesteryear. Found a great side that catalogued these as PDFs, and have been slowly chipping away.

And I’ve been working closely with Yoann at S!CK Magazine which I just discovered. They have an amazing backlog of video game issues, so I’ve got them all catalogued now. Absolutely love the look of these covers, particularly once they started making it onto news-stands and got the vertical strip treatment.

Physical additions to the shelves this week were light, but never-the-less exciting! Zen and Slow Games from Víctor Navarro-Remesal, and James Batchelor’s latest book, The History of Pokémon Games.

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

Share

And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

Subscribe now

Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

Some thoughts and a favor.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself scrambling last-minute to get these Newsletters out in time for you. This week was supposed to be different. I kicked off the shell of the Newsletter on Tuesday, and at a steady pace through Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I slowly built out the news reel… and yet here we are, on Monday again, and I’m STILL adding the finishing touches.

This week turned into the biggest week in Video Game Book news since starting this project. There’s just so much happening right now, particularly in the indie space, and I’m doing my best to spotlight it all.

I often chat with community members who ask about the “state of print.” Sure, the strategy-guide fever of the 90’s has faded. And the days of Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation and Microsoft magazines front-lining the newsstands (at least here in Canada) are long gone. But weeks like this, with nearly 30 big releases, have me wondering if gaming actually has a bright future in print. A lot of the best stuff is coming from the broader literary world, and it’s been so exciting to watch.

One thought that’s been sticking with me this week as I revel in all the news: who’s reading this? Specifically, I wonder if any more prominent gaming news outlets rely on this Newsletter to help craft their headlines each week. I’ll drop the Newsletter, and then over the next few days I’ll see the same books start to pop up elsewhere with much the same coverage. I wouldn’t be mad, I’d be flattered. I’d thank them for helping amplify the books. Thank them for bringing more aspiring readers into the world of video game literature.

If that’s you, or if you know someone at a bigger outlet who should be paying attention, please do me a favor and shine a light on The Video Game Library’s work. Share the Newsletter, tag an editor or gaming outlet, forward a link, mention it to someone who covers games for a living. It’s a win for all of us.

And if you do, let me know.

Anyways, enough of my rambling. You’re here for the new stories. So buckle up!

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📰 News & Highlights

• I want to start off with Lost In Cult this week. I just received their Ultros: Design Works, and it was a great reminder of how incredible their work is at truly spotlighting developers. They return to the headlines this week with a new physical EDITIONS announcement. Now, we of course don’t cover game releases in this blog, but lucky for us, every physical edition comes bundled with an awesome 40-page booklet. In this case we have the Arranger Essay & Dev Interview Booklet from Dave Proctor. Still a ways out before this one starts making it onto fan shelves, but it’ll be great to see this collection grow beyond 10 issues.

  

• On top of that, there have been pages popping up all over about Lost In Cult’s upcoming Arcade Adventures: An Ultimate Anthology of Arcade Gaming. There’ve been no official announcements here, from either the team at Lost In Cult, or Harper Collins, so it’ll be interesting to see when this one gets a spotlight. This one will look great alongside The Console Chronicles, A Handheld History and Joysticks to Haptics.

  

• Lots of exciting comic and manga news this week as well. Far Cry: Cull the Herd #4 was released last Wednesday, as the climactic finale of TOKYOPOP’s original Far Cry comic miniseries. This issue raises the stakes by trapping the group in a brutal storm and pitting them against a relentless Bloodfang Sabretooth, forcing them to confront not only the monstrous predator but also an impossible choice that threatened to tear the team apart. Written by Ryan Nichols and illustrated by Caterina Bacchelli, this series is slated to be compiled in a TPB later this year.

  

• I’ve really been enjoying the latest Archie Comic cross-overs. And while the Army of Darkness issues from Dynamite have been dominating most of the headlines, the Archie Game Galaxy one-shot subtly got a release date of April 29th. This follow’s last year’s Archie & Friends: Level Up!, and like that issue, has multiple covers paying homage to the world of video games. Which cover will you be picking up? The correct answer is ALL 3!!

  

• Now the blue blur has long moved on from Archie Comics, but makes a speedy return to this week’s newsletter with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog: On The Go, Vol. 2 from IDW. This compilation volume collects issues #13–20 from volumes 4 and 5 (Infection and Crisis City) of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the 2019 Annual, and the Tangle and Whisper four-issue miniseries.

  

• The first installment of the year, and the 25th graphic novel in the lineup, Plants vs. Zombies: It's a Dogz Life from Dark Horse Books has released. For once, instead of causing trouble, Zomboss is in trouble and needs help finding his missing dog! As usual, this one is brought to you by the amazing talents of Paul Tobin, Christianne Gillenardo-Goudreau, Heather Breckel, and Steve Dutro. Any fellow readers still playing this game?

  

• Also hitting shelves this past week was Pokémon: Scarlet & Violet, Vol. 4 from VIZ Media. It continues the manga adaptation of the hit Nintendo Switch games with an adventure across Paldea. As the fourth entry in Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto’s Scarlet & Violet series, it follows racer Violet Lang and treasure hunter Scarlet Koito as they power up their teams and inch closer to uncovering the truth behind the legendary Pokémon Miraidon.

  

• Also in manga news Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga – Book of Octavinelle, Vol. 2 has just arrived in its new English edition, opening Night Raven College’s doors to even more readers. Stranded in the strange world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must outwit the smooth yet menacing Azul after a dangerous deal robs Grim and their classmates of their free will. I finally made the decision to download this game this week on iOS, and have been dabbling. I’m not very far, but am already so much more fluent, which will really help me in cataloguing these.

  

• Raiford Guins and MIT Press have just released King PONG: How Atari Bounced Across Markets to Make Millions. It sets out to explore how Atari’s 1972 PONG helped launch the video game industry, why it still endures today, its success through product positioning, market development, and category creation, showing how it shaped our relationship with technology.

  

• In a flurry of posts from Yen Press this week promoting their upcoming lineup, two announcements in particular caught my eye. The first was the announcement of an audiobook for Dark Souls: Masque of Vindication. The Yen Audio imprint does some good work, and it’s exciting to see them continue to branch out.

  

• And the FromSoftware love continues with the long-awaited English translation of Elden Ring: Distant Tales Between #1. Originally published last year in Japanese, the manga has since swept the globe getting translations in French, Italian, German and beyond. It recounts alternate tales of the Lands Between, spotlighting the ‘could-be’ lore of the world’s characters. I’m glad to see Yen Press picking this one up!

• The rumor mills are churning this week, with some mysterious postings online for the Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Remaster Art Book. Appearing on several sites, some even with the “Resynced” subtitle, but most notably was the Amazon listing. Release dates range from July 2026 to December 2027, so there’s not much to go on here, but I think we can all safely expect an announcement to come soon.

  

• Over at Limited Run Games, the Collector’s Edition for Darwin’s Paradox has gone on pre-order this week. And while it doesn’t come with a beefy Art Book, there is a nice mini art booklet included, that we’ll go ahead and shout out for this week’s newsletter.

  

• At Strictly Limited Games, JaJaMaru: Legendary Ninja Collection has started shipping. This love letter to classic ninja action is packed with Japanese-inspired collectibles, a premium puzzle-style box, OST, origami shuriken, posters & most importantly for this blog: the JaJaMaru: Legendary Ninja Collection Material Book.

  

• And from Eastasiasoft, Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ started shipping this week, which means bookshelves across the globe have been getting a new addition in the form of The Art of Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~. This artbook is coming bundled with the game’s limited edition.

  

• Let’s get into some of the indie projects and publications. Polish author Łukasz S. Kowal has announced their new book SHELL Method: Mental Framework for Survival in Solo Game Development. Slated to hit shelves next week, this books sets out to promote a calm system for sustainable productivity, and will be published with both English and Polish versions.

  

• For fans of the brick-breaking roguelike, Mondrian - Plastic Reality, developer Danny Silvers has just announced that not only is it getting “The Last Exhibit” update, but there is also a paperback guide called The Definitive Guide to Mondrian Maker and Mondrian Studio that’ll be sold at Barnes & Noble later this month. It includes an in-depth look at the game’s toolsets and how to use them to make your own Mondrian creations.

  

• Jamie Lendino is back with his 7th book to grace the catalogue. Frenzy: The Colecovision Games That Brought the Arcade Home released on Feb. 10th and explores ColecoVision’s arcade-perfect games, brief rise and fall, and modern revival via fan mods, repairs, and homebrewing.

  

• And in similar news, a new Kickstarter has just started, and has blown past its goal! Bootblock Rebels: The Hidden Stars of the Amiga Underground invites backers to help bring a lavish, 200+ page hardcover history of the Commodore Amiga cracking scene to life. The book dives into the underground world of legendary cracking groups from 1985–1996, packed with interviews, images, screenshots, and first-hand stories about zero-day releases, BBS culture, rivalries, and the hidden economy behind cracked games.

  

• Rounding off the Kickstarter news, we teased this one back in Vol. #35 of the newsletter, but as of this week, Masters of Unlocking: A Resident Evil Retrospective is now live! This book is a a celebration of 30 years of Resident Evil, featuring every mainline game, spin-off, remake and film.

  

• After a successful crowdfund in June 2025, SEGA fans are now receiving Sega Mania #9. The cover feels timely with Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Wolverine all spotlighting the X-Men. This 84-page issue covers early 1996 with features like “The Year of 1996,” “Know Your Enemy,” and a 5th anniversary history of the mag. It also includes an exclusive Panzer Dragoon art print by Simon Pike and extensive Saturn, Mega Drive, Mega CD, and 32X reviews, including X-Men: Children of the Atom, Panzer Dragoon Zwei, Sega Rally, Guardian Heroes and more.

  

• Retro Game Books has announced 2 more books on the near horizon. First one is From Pixels to Prose: What Video Games Taught Me About Storytelling by Nadia Oxford. Not much has been announced beyond this amazing cover art from Phil Summers, but looking forward to getting this one catalogued!

  

• The second is I Am Not Good: The History of Cheating in Video Games by Nate Drake. Similarly, there’s more to come in terms of details, but in the meantime, enjoy the cover art from Melo!

  

• And before moving on from English, I want to give a big congrats to Darren Hupke (interviewed here) for the successful Kickstarter on his 32 Bit Library Greatest Hits 1. Been a big fan of his PlayStation compendiums, and this spin-off installment is a chronological love letter to 50 PlayStation Greatest Hits, packed with essays and 900+ screenshots across 344 pages for true 32-bit nostalgic.

  

• In Spain, GTM has once again has a trio of covers lined up for their March release of Games Tribune Magazine. Only 2 have been revealed so far thought. The first one appropriately showcases Crisol: Theater of Idols from Spanish studio “Vermilia Studios”. The 2nd celebrates Pokémon’s 30th anniversary and, of course, Pokémon Pokopia. Any guesses on what the 3rd one will spotlight?

  

• And if you end up subscribing to the Gold Tier or higher over at GTM, this month you’ll receive the brand new PlayStation: Gris Infinito for FREE! Written by Abelardo González, this is the third entry in the GTM³ Especiales dedicated to video game consoles, joining the company of Gamecube and Dreamcast.

  

• Now for all those Héroes De Papel fans (raises hand while typing), we got a double whammy this week. The first release was the long anticipated Castlevania: El Manuscrito Maldito. Thanks to translator José Manuel Aguado, this original French publication celebrating 30 years of Castlevania is finally available for Spanish readers.

  

• Hard to imagine a Castlevania being the 2nd coolest thing to come out of a publisher in a week, but leave it to Héroes de Papel to introduce this powerhouse! El Enemigo Interior: Parasite Eve y la Evolución Mitocondrial is an analysis of every entry in the Parasite Eve saga, unpacking its iconic moments and key themes. This franchise hasn’t received nearly the amount of literary love it deserves, so a big thank you to Ramón Méndez González for this one!

  

• And finally, for Spanish readers, Héctor Hierro has pulled together years of research to officially launch 1001 Curiosidades de Pkmn: 1ª Generación. Diving deep into the 1st (and best) generation, this book explores Kanto, its characters, mechanics, and the original 151 Pokémon.

  

• Pre-orders have launched for S!CK 032 - Prince of Persia: Les Fables du Temps! This French, cross-culture magazine makes its newsletter debut with this issue, covering the rich legacy of Jordan Mechner’s Prince of Persia. It dives into the original classic through modern titles like The Sands of Time, The Rogue Prince of Persia, and The Lost Crown, with longform interviews and stunning commissioned illustrations that celebrate how games come to life behind the scenes.

  

• Heading down to Italy, Final Fantasy Lost Stranger #13 gets its Italian translation thanks to Nicola Angaran. Searching for clues about the resurrection magic, Shogo and his friends engage in a fierce battle with Alexander to save the Gold Saucer from destruction. These Italian editions are often some of the first to be translated, so no doubt Spanish, German, English and others will follow soon.

  

• Minecraft: Eine Reise Zum Ende Der Welt #9 hit shelves on February 11, 2026 from Egmont Manga, bringing the ninth chapter of Niko’s adventures to German readers. It’s the German edition of the original Japanese manga “Minecraft – Sekai no Hate no Tabi” by Kazuyoshi Seto, translated by Gandalf Bartholomäus, and it promises plenty of Creepers, zombie curses, and a high-stakes trek to the very edge of the Minecraft world.

  

• And continuing the Minecraft spoils for German readers, Der Minecraft Code (Band 3) - Jagd nach dem kostbaren Erz released this week. This is the German translation, courtesy of Hagen Hamm and Loewe Verlag, of Gauthier Wendling’s original French publication, Minecraft: Échappe-Toi! En Chute Libre!

  

• Another year, another 8 issues of Pokémon: Virallinen Pelilehti on the horizon over in Finland. This past week saw the first release. Pokémon magazine offers loads of fun for newcomers to the world of Pokémon as well as long-time fans and enthusiasts.

  

• Moving over to Japan 空の軌跡 the 1st 公式ビジュアルコレクション has just been released, giving Trails in the Sky fans a brand-new official art book to dive into. This large-format, 160-page collection from KADOKAWA gathers package illustrations, ending art, character designs, enemy and item artwork, storyboards, and even Steam achievement icons into one lavish volume. It also fully compiles the game’s “Active Voice” text, including rare conditional dialogue, making this a celebration of the lead-up to the recent the 1st Switch release and a treasure trove of world-building details for long-time Zemuria travelers.

  

• The new issue of Weekly Famitsu 週刊ファミ通 2026年2月26日号 No.1935 is out now, packed with in-depth coverage of Yakuza Kiwami 3 and the brand-new side story Dark Ties, plus a producer–director interview and special 20th anniversary cast talks. It also features a look at the co‑op survival horror REANIMAL and a full introduction to Mario Tennis Fever with its easy controls and new ways to play.

  

• Shogakukan’s trend magazine, DIME, doesn’t often make headlines in The Video Game Library, but this issue is too good to ignore. DIME’s April 2026 special edition DIME (ダイム) 2026年 4月号増刊 celebrates the 20th anniversary of Sega’s Yakuza / Like a Dragon series with a major feature. Inside is a deep dive into the franchise’s evolution, why it’s loved worldwide, and what’s next. You’ll also find exclusive interviews with Like a Dragon Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama, producer/director Ryosuke Horii, and Takaya Kuroda (voice of Kazuma Kiryu) on the creative choices and “rules” behind a long-running hit, plus coverage of anniversary collaborations and upcoming merchandise.

Did I miss something cool? Want to see this laid out differently?
Drop it in the comments or swing by our Discord to share it with the community.

Let’s keep this celebration of game-inspired books going strong!

📚 Behind the Shelves

Every week, I take you behind the scenes of The Video Game Library. From surprising discoveries to cataloguing challenges, there’s always something new as we dig deeper into this ever-expanding archive of game-related literature.

Admittedly, most of this week was spent on the Newsletter, so any site-work on my end was just keeping up with all of the amazing announcements.

Luckily, the volunteers have been keeping things moving with some great new Prima Guides, Art Books and Game Dev books.

And there’s been a few amazing donations to the collection this week. Here are some of the highlights:

• Ultros: Design Works - LostInCult

• Little Nightmares: The Lonely Ones - E.C. Myers

• Forgotten Worlds #7 & Forgotten Worlds #8

This, as usual, is only a small sample of all the things that have been happening behind the scenes, so take a peek at the site to see everything that’s been added since last week! And while you’re at it, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Your feedback helps shape how we deliver these looks behind the curtain.

💡 Book Spotlights

Every week I like to zoom in on a few standout books from the collection. Sometimes it’s brand new releases, other times it’s older gems that deserve more love.

If you’re looking for deeper dives and not just quick headlines, check out some of these past spotlights:

🙏 THANK YOU for Reading

That’s a wrap for this week’s Newsletter. I hope you discovered something new, surprising, or just plain fun.

As always, your feedback helps shape this project - so don’t be shy! Drop a comment below, join the conversation on Discord, or just reply to this newsletter and share your thoughts.

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And if you’re enjoying these weekly roundups, please consider supporting The Video Game Library with a paid subscription or forwarding this to a fellow fan. Every little bit helps us keep preserving and celebrating these incredible works - and the passionate people behind them.

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Until next week — happy reading,
Dean (Founder, The Video Game Library)

Had meant to get this out in time to catch some breakfast-time reading, but it just wasn’t meant to be! The good news is, there are some really fun new announcements and releases to cover this week.

For all you Pokémon fans, we’ve got 5 big news stories in the rundown, as well as mags and manga from Spain, France, Finland and beyond!

The Video Game Library volunteers absolutely killed it this week, with some amazing cataloguing work across the decades. We’re actually looking for 1 more passionate volunteer who can dedicate some time each day to helping us research and catalogue. If that sounds like you, reach out - would love to chat!

Will keep the intro short this week. Let’s get scrolling!

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📰 News & Highlights

• Want to kick things off with a huge congrats to Keza MacDonald on the released of her new book, Super Nintendo! This one has been (deservedly) everywhere on social media, and it’s been so great to see the positive reception. I was lucky enough to get an early copy, and I loved this book!

  

• Don’t think a week has gone by in these newsletters without at least 1 Pocket Monster announcement, but this week got a pentalogy of releases! First up, Scholastic released Pokémon: Head-to-Head, written by series veteran Simcha Whitehill. Nearly 100 pages of battle matchups between your favourite Pokémon. Nidorino vs. Gengar... Charizard vs. Pikachu... Greninja vs. Blastoise... Who would win?

• Next up, continuing the long-running DK Super Readers series, they released DK Super Readers Level 1 Pokémon Meet the Crew this week for all the young bookworms out there. Based on Pokémon Horizons: The Series, this book helps readers meet the crew on the airship, The Brave Olivine, learning about their jobs and friendships.

  

• For slightly more advanced readers this week also saw the release of DK Super Readers Level 2 Pokémon Here Come the Explorers. This one is similarly based on Pokémon Horizons, but instead focuses on the sneaky group of Pokémon Trainers called the Explorers. These are great titles for parents and teachers looking to teach their young-ones how to read.

  

• And if you thought TIME Magazine was done with their Pokémon cover variants, think again! 3 more covers graced the lineup this past week including Ho-Oh and Lugia, Mega Charizard X and Rayquaza. So that’s 4 Pokémon news stories. The fifth will have to wait until we head over to France. in the meantime…

  

• …Sonic the Hedgehog #84 got its debut this week from IDW Publishing. A dream-team of talents yet again this month, helmed by Ian Flynn and Evan Stanley. Fans will be quick to notice the appearance of Sage on the cover. First introduced way back in a 2022 animated special, Sage is making her official IDW debut as the next arc on the road to Issue #100!

  

• Resources for all you GameDevs out there have been a little light lately, which is a shame, but Game AI Uncovered Volume Four released this week, continuing the series with another collection of chapters from twenty of the top game AI professionals and researchers, from around the world. Gotta give props to CRC Press and several university presses who’ve honestly been responsible for 90% of the literary love given to these valuable GameDev tools lately.

  

• Hopping over the pond to the UK, we check in on Retro Gamer. While their latest monthly issue isn’t on sale quite yet, they did publish this first edition 100% Unofficial The Story of Final Fantasy. Celebrate nearly 40 years of the franchise; from Sakaguchi’s 1987 last-ditch debut to today’s global RPG giant. Inside readers will enjoy a retrospective on the series’ origin, evolution and reinventions; deep features and interviews on every numbered entry (FFI–XVI); spin-offs, remakes and oddities; iconic heroes/bosses; movies/manga; a and music talk with composer Nobuo Uematsu.

  

• Teased this one in the last newsletter, but this week Mana Books released Retour à Silent Hill, the French translation of the Return to Silent Hill Official Movie Novelization. While I liked the English edition’s “Pyramid Head in the iris” cover, I would definitely give this French edition the front-facing treatment on the bookshelves, especially in October.

  

• Also in French news, Minecraft, Le Manga Officiel - Voyage au Bout du Monde T07 released, joining a host of other translations for this (very global) manga series. I feel like we can always count on at least SOME news from this run. Comment below if you’ve dove into it yet.

  

• And finally, wrapping up the Pokémon news for this week, Simon de Thuillières has launched its latest crowdfunding campaign over in France. Pochon Dextre Azur & Pochon Dextre Pourpre are two illustrated grimoires celebrating Pokémon, designed in the style of medieval hunting guides. Flipping through the mockup pages is wild, and I’ll definitely be getting these for the shelves!

  

• Spain got another monthly mag release this week with Hobby Consolas #415. This issue spotlights Resident Evil Requiem, plus a 30-year Resident Evil retrospective. It also previews the winter wave of Japanese games and lists 30 long-vanished projects stuck in limbo. Reviews include MIO: Memories in Orbit, FFVII Remake Intergrade, Skate Story, The Rogue Prince of Persia while previews include Reanimal, High on Life 2, Ride 6, Crisol. Retro: Game Boy Advance 25th anniversary, Xain’d Sleena, and Arcade Archives highlights.

  

• Spanish readers can also now enjoy some Elden Ring this week. Elden Ring - La Senda Del Arbol Aureo #6 from Norma Editorial hit shelves, continuing the gag manga saga. Flashbacks to that Starscourge Radahn fight! *shudders…

  

• Finland saw the latest edition of Pelit release this week. This February 2026 issue is a “best of the year” special centered on the winners of Pelit’s 2025 Game of the Year awards. Inside you’ll also find coverage of the upcoming RPG Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, a deep dive into the “soulslike metroidvania” Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, and a look at 2025’s Formula/racing games tuned for different play styles. The issue also features Heroes of Might & Magic, explores Glorantha through RuneQuest: Warlords, and highlights Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and Terminator 2.

  

• And finally heading over to Japan, legendary game designer Hideki Kamiya is releasing a new art and design book, “The World of Hideki Kamiya: The Complete Works of Game Design that Creates ‘Pure Pleasure” on April 2, 2026, from Kadokawa. It explores his philosophy behind titles like Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Okami, Bayonetta and more, featuring over 100 pieces of concept art, development stories, and nearly 100,000 words reflecting on 30 years of action game creation.

  

• Also in Japan, Dragon Quest continues to get strategy guide love thanks to V-Jump Books releasing their latest entry, ドラゴンクエストセブン Reimagined GUIDEBOOK to NEW WORLD. Watched a few early streams of this one and I’m definitely interested!

  

• Weekly Famitsu’s 週刊ファミ通 2026年2月19日号 No.1934 just hit shelves last week, delivering a packed look at Japan’s console gaming scene. Inside, readers will find a launch feature on Dragon Quest VII Reimagined that breaks down its rebuilt systems, “doll look” visuals, and interviews exploring the concept of this modern reimagining. There is also a debut feature on Nioh 3, covering its new Bakumatsu setting, ninja–samurai stance switching, open-field structure, and in-depth commentary on the series’ iconic yokai designs. Rounding out the magazine is a 2026 console game release catalog presented as an at-a-glance database, making it a handy planning guide for upcoming Japanese game releases.

  

• The 5th Battle Cats Quiz Book in the series released this week with なぜ？がわかる！ にゃんこ大戦争クイズブック ～都道府県のぎもん編～. This one offers a fun, kid-friendly way to learn about Japan’s many prefectures with the help of the series’ quirky cat heroes. Across its quizzes, children (and adults) can explore regional culture, history, famous people, and local foods while naturally picking up answers to their “Why?” questions about Japan.