List of products by brand Bitmap Books

BItmap Books authors beautiful retro books full of pixel art!

Bitmap Books – When Books Fall in Love with Pixels

What happens when a designer with an Amiga past, a solid dose of nostalgia, and a Kickstarter account walk into a bar? You get Bitmap Books. Founded in 2014 by Sam Dyer in Bath, UK, the publisher kicked things off with Commodore 64: a visual compendium – and has since filled shelves with beautifully crafted gaming books.

These aren't your average reference guides – they’re visual love letters to the golden era of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit systems. Hardcovers, thick pages, vibrant layouts, and designs that would make even Mario shout “Mama Mia!”

Inside, you’ll find everything a retro fan could ask for: jaw-dropping screenshots, swoon-worthy artwork, legendary developer interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories that take you deep into the golden age of gaming.

The “Visual Compendiums” are especially well-known, covering iconic systems like the C64, Amiga, SNES, NES/Famicom, N64, ZX Spectrum, Master System, and Atari. But you’ll also find books dedicated to specific genres – from JRPGs and fighting games to football titles and the art of classic box design – all produced with a ton of love and attention to detail.

Bitmap Books collaborates with experienced authors, game historians, and design specialists – and you can feel that care on every page. Many titles are limited editions, often sell out quickly, and are highly sought after by collectors. And yes, the paper has a suspiciously nostalgic scent.

On the production side, everything is top-tier: premium printing, sustainable materials, eco-friendly packaging – and official licenses from legends like SNK, Sega, and Atari. These aren’t fan-made side projects – they’re true collector’s pieces.

Conclusion:
Bitmap Books makes books the way we used to love games – with heart, style, and a ton of nostalgia. For anyone who doesn’t just play retro games but celebrates, collects, and flips through them with joy – this is a guaranteed level-up for your bookshelf.

Website: https://www.bitmapbooks.com

Bitmap Books CRPG Book Expanded Edition - Gaming History Guide
Bitmap Books
The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games (Expanded Edition)
In Stock
The CRPG Book (Expanded Edition) by Bitmap Books is the definitive guide to the history of computer role-playing games – in English, spanning 684 pages with reviews of over 450 games from 1975–2019.

684 pages, hardcover with sewn binding & gold foil cover
Over 450 game reviews – from Ultima to Disco Elysium
Mod tips, dev quotes & hints on running games on modern hardware
Edited by Felipe Pepe, written by 167 volunteers from around the world
€39.25
Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Vol. 1 – Bitmap Books
Bitmap Books
New
The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Vol. 1
In Stock
The Definitive Book of SNES RPGs Vol. 1 by Bitmap Books is a 550+ page hardcover deep-dive into 22 Super Nintendo role-playing games – packed with restored pixel art, developer quotes, and passionate essays.

556 pages, hardcover, foil-blocked cover, gold bookmark ribbon
22 SNES RPGs from A to K – including Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, Final Fantasy II & III
Written by Moses Norton, foreword by Alex Donaldson (RPG Site)
Premium edge-to-edge lithographic print, sewn binding
€42.05
The Games of a Lifetime – Jaz Rignall | Bitmap Books
Bitmap Books
New
The Games of a Lifetime
In Stock
The Games of a Lifetime is an English-language hardcover by Bitmap Books – written by games journalism legend Julian "Jaz" Rignall. Across 420 pages, you travel through five decades of video game history, from Pong to PlayStation 5, told by someone who was there every step of the way.

420 pages, hardcover, 250 × 250 mm
118 games covered across chronological chapters
Foreword by Richard Leadbetter (Digital Foundry)
Illustrations by Wil Overton (Rare, Super Play magazine)
Cover artwork by pixel-art specialists Army of Trolls
English language
€36.45
The Games That Weren't - Unseen Gaming Classics
Bitmap Books
Out-of-Stock
The Games That Weren't
Out-of-Stock
Discover the fascinating stories behind video games that never made it to your shelves with this comprehensive 644-page hardcover from Bitmap Books.

Over 80 unreleased games from 1975-2015 across all major platforms
Exclusive interviews with industry legends like David Crane, Jeff Minter, and Eugene Jarvis
Never-before-seen screenshots, assets, and specially-created artist's impressions
Premium hardcover with fluorescent inks, sewn binding, and 644 high-quality pages
Features iconic lost titles including Star Fox 2, Sonic X-treme, and SimMars
Includes five 'Hardware That Weren't' blueprint pieces exploring cancelled consoles
€32.71
Details View details  
GBA Pixel Book – Game Boy Advance Art Book
Bitmap Books
New
The GBA Pixel Book
Last items in stock
The GBA Pixel Book by Bitmap Books is the ultimate art book for the Game Boy Advance – 300 pages packed with nearly 4,000 screenshots, pixel art collages, sprites, level maps, and in-depth articles covering over 240 GBA titles.

300 pages hardcover with slipcase
Over 240 games featured, grouped by genre
Nearly 4,000 screenshots specially composed for this book
Pixel art cut-outs, sprite work, montages & immense level maps
Collaboration between Bitmap Books & Elektrospieler
€36.45
The Ultimate History of The King Of Fighters book cover
Bitmap Books
Out-of-Stock
The King Of Fighters: The Ultimate History
Out-of-Stock
The first officially licensed, comprehensive history of one of gaming's most legendary fighting franchises.544 pages of exclusive content with unprecedented access to SNK's archivesHardcover edition with premium black foil-blocked cover and sewn bindingFeatures never-before-seen artwork, character deep-dives, and developer interviewsCovers the entire KOF legacy from Fatal Fury to KOF XVIncludes insights from original team members and voice actorsHigh-quality lithographic print with special Pantone inks throughout
€39.25
Details View details  
The Secret History Of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition
Bitmap Books
The Secret History Of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition
Last items in stock
Dive into the untold story of Macintosh gaming with this beautifully crafted 480-page hardcover that celebrates the platform's revolutionary impact on video game history.Expanded edition with 70 extra pages including new foreword, timeline, and 6,000+ additional wordsFeatures 80 interviews with legendary developers behind Myst, Halo, SimCity, and countless Mac classicsStunning 1-bit pixel art illustrations by JJ Signal, colored page edges, and premium thread-sewn bindingWritten by award-winning game historian Richard Moss with contributions from industry pioneersCovers hundreds of games from the golden age of Mac gaming, including forgotten gems and cult favoritesHigh-quality lithographic print on 158mm × 230mm pages with hardback cover and bookmark ribbon
€32.71
Trigger Happy – Video Game Controllers Book | Bitmap Books
Bitmap Books
New
Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers
In Stock
Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers is the ultimate coffee-table book for everyone who doesn't just use controllers – but truly loves them. 200 remarkable devices, 560 photos and 396 pages of pure controller history – from the Atari joystick to the DualSense.

200 controllers spanning over 40 years of gaming history
560 photos, shot exclusively for this book
396 pages, hardcover, A4 format (210 × 297 mm)
5 art prints housed in a special cover pocket
Contributions from John Romero, Trip Hawkins, James Rolfe (AVGN) and more
€38.65
ZX Spectrum: A Visual Compendium - Classic Gaming
Bitmap Books
Out-of-Stock
ZX Spectrum: A Visual Compendium
Out-of-Stock
Celebrate the iconic ZX Spectrum with this stunning 304-page hardcover visual journey through the computer that defined a generation of British gaming.Over 100 classic ZX Spectrum games beautifully showcased with full-bleed screenshots printed using special fluorescent inks to capture the authentic vibrant paletteExclusive interviews and anecdotes from legendary developers including the Stamper Brothers, Matthew Smith, Dave Perry, and the Oliver TwinsIn-depth profiles of major publishers, Eastern Bloc clones, and the thriving homebrew scene that continues todayPremium hardback edition with spot-varnished dust jacket and high-quality lithographic printing on 304 pagesFeatures iconic titles from The Hobbit and Manic Miner to Elite, Knight Lore, and Head Over Heels
€32.71
Details View details