Title: 100 Best Video Games (That Never Existed)
Author: Jonathan Bolding
Publisher: Future plc
Publication Year: 2020
Language: English
This book is a playful and imaginative exploration of video games that were never actually created. Jonathan Bolding curates a collection of fictional games, presenting them as though they were real, with detailed concept art, imagined screenshots, and mock historical context. Each entry is designed to be both visually striking and humorously convincing, offering a unique lens on the conventions of video game design.
The book combines satire, nostalgia, and a deep understanding of gaming culture. By imagining games that could have existed, it highlights trends, clichés, and the evolution of gameplay mechanics over the decades. Many of the entries reference well-known genres, franchises, and design tropes, making the content both familiar and delightfully absurd.
Beyond humor, the book serves as a commentary on the gaming industry itself. It encourages readers to reflect on the possibilities of game development, the limits of creativity, and how fan culture often fills in the gaps of what never was. For gamers, designers, and enthusiasts, it’s a visually engaging and intellectually playful journey into a parallel history of video games.
