ZX Dreams Vol. 2 Review By Britt - Author – Graeme Mason Publisher – Fusion Retro Books 📖 #RetroGaming

I covered ZX Nightmares, the original book in this series back in 2023, and was so taken by it that I followed it up with an interview with the author, Graeme Mason. It remains one of my favourite books on gaming (being one of the few to genuinely make me laugh out loud whilst also being incredibly insightful) and is sadly out of stock on the Fusion Retro Books at present, because so many incredibly wise folks snapped it up upon initial release! 

I remember seeing some noise on the internet that there would be a follow-up (ZX Dreams) which got me excited, and then for reasons I still can’t fathom – it completely passed me by, I can only assume that I was buried deep in some preposterous 90-hour JRPG review for GF and time had all but ceased to hold meaning. Whatever the reason, I recently noticed that a second volume of ZX Dreams had been released, and jumped at the chance to cover it here at GF.

The cover (and included dust jacket) feature a handsome gentleman in a white t-shirt lying in bed, lost in the realms of sleep as various instantly recognisable 8-bit characters dance around his head. From Trap Door characters through to Dizzy via the racer from Super Hang-On – it hints at the titles to be covered inside these hallowed pages. Also included is a white-ribbon page-marker to keep your page – and you will need this, because, like all the best books about gaming – you’ll probably find yourself pausing to jump online and watch some footage of / spend a bit of time playing the game currently being discussed in ZX Dreams, as Mason’s words bring the experience to life, and often add context and intrigue to each title.

[METROIDVANIA] A Communal History Of Metroidvania Video Games Explores 50 Years of Genre Evolution in New Communal History Project 🕹️📖

A new deep‑dive into one of gaming’s most beloved genres is on the way, as [METROIDVANIA] sets out to chart the winding, interconnected history of non‑linear exploration games—from their 1970s origins to today’s modern masterpieces.

The book examines the defining traits of the “Metroidvania” genre, known for its branching paths, gated progression, and the thrill of unlocking new abilities that reshape the world. Through incisive retrospectives and personal essays, the project retraces five decades of experimentation, breakthroughs, and dead ends that shaped the genre’s identity.

Led by Derrick Bitner, the writing team brings together more than 15 contributors, each exploring how Metroidvanias resonate with players on both mechanical and emotional levels. Essays range from placing Castlevania alongside classical art to reflecting on how games like Animal Well can reframe life experiences for new parents. The book also features striking illustrations by Luan Tie.

Across its 250+ pages, readers will revisit early genre touchstones such as Below the Root and Xanadu, explore unconventional interpretations like La‑Mulana and Tomba, and uncover overlooked gems from Japan’s indie scene, including Hack9 and Pharaoh Rebirth+. Naturally, the evolution of Metroid and Castlevania—from their foundational entries to their modern classics—forms a central pillar of the book.

With [METROIDVANIA], The Communal History of Video Games aims to offer multiple entry points for readers, whether they’re long‑time fans or newcomers curious about the genre’s legacy. It’s an invitation to discover a new favourite, revisit a forgotten classic, or redefine your personal canon.

A Communal History of Metroidvania Video Games — Lost In Cult

“Playing with Balance: Game Economy Design” Set to Redefine How We Build Game Systems 🎮

March 27, 2026 will see the release of Playing with Balance: Game Economy Design, a major new work by veteran designer Oscar Clark, published by CRC Press. The book is already generating buzz across the industry for its deep, systems‑driven approach to one of game development’s most misunderstood disciplines: economy design.

Clark argues that games are fundamentally different from every other medium because they are built on verbs, not nouns. Players don’t just consume—they act. Every decision, every interaction, every moment of friction or reward feeds into a living system that shapes how players feel, behave, and stay engaged.

Discover the Cosy Worlds of ‘The Best Life Adventure Games’ by Jupiter Hadley 🎮✨ @Jupiter_Hadley

If you’ve ever found solace in the gentle rhythm of a farming sim, or joy in befriending quirky townsfolk in a pixelated village, then Jupiter Hadley’s latest release is your next must-read. The Best Life Adventure Games is a beautifully bound, 208-page hardcover tribute to the slice-of-life genre in video games—especially the indie gems that often fly under the radar.

🧡 A Love Letter to Cosy Gaming
Crafted with care and passion, this book isn’t just a catalogue—it’s an immersive experience. Each featured game is lovingly introduced with a short description, followed by a diary-style entry written from the perspective of a character mid-adventure. These entries breathe life into the worlds, offering readers a glimpse into the emotional heartbeat of each game.

"50 Indie Games That Changed The World" Book Review By Britt 🎮 @BitmapBooks #IndieGames #GameDev

Another day, another glorious release from Bitmap Books! As someone who finds the indie game scene absolutely vital, when I initially caught wind of this book a few months ago, it was instantly close to my heart. That said, with hundreds of video games released each month, I was intrigued as to how the fifty games covered in the final release would be selected as it appeared to be a bafflingly monolithic task that seemed destined to end in myriad keyboard warriors tearfully ruing that their dearly beloved indie game wasn’t included. 

I mean ‘changed the world’ is a pretty hefty sentiment. And after reading the book, whilst – inevitably – some games included aren’t my jam, the beautifully written histories, interview snippets, and summaries that sum up the sheer impact of said game on the overall industry is hard to argue with, making this a surprisingly bold – if not definitive - tome on some of the most influential games ever released.

Psygnosis: Games People Play - Tome One - Book Review By Britt – Author - Christophe Boucourt / Publisher - Editions 64K 🔖📖 @editions64K

This is the first book that we’ve covered from French publishing house Editions 64K, and after reading it, I very much hope that it isn’t the last! For those out there with an interest in the early days of computing – and especially the Amiga – Psygnosis: Games People Play – Tome One covers the beloved UK developer / publisher Psygnosis from the days of their original formation right up until the mid-‘90s, leaving you thirsting for more, as Tome 2 promises to take us from 1995 through to the eventual studio closure in 2012.

First off, Editions 64K are a pleasure to work with and take their processes seriously, the book turned up swiftly and was incredibly well-packaged, almost to Bitmap Book levels of safety, with thick polystyrene corners ensuring that even during a bumpy delivery ride, your book will turn up in pristine condition. The cover of the book is mostly black, with a bold and stylish classic Psygnosis logo taking centre stage. ‘Psygnosis Tome One’ in a classic Psygnosis typeface runs down the spine, with the close-up ‘Owlface’ logo on the back, with a couple of blocks of synopsis text below.

"Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall > Book Review By Rich 📚📖 @JazRignall @bitmap_books

Growing up in the '80s and '90s and reading various video game magazines from the period meant that Jaz Rignall has always been a hero of mine. 

My first experience of Jaz's brand of video game journalism came through the much-thumbed pages of the Mean Machines monthly video game magazine in the early '90s. I remember my first purchase of Mean Machines magazine vividly. I bought Issue 7 of Mean Machines from local Happy Shopper branded newsagents with The Simpsons, complete with Homer strangling Bart, on the front cover as the headline stars of that month's magazine. 

Whilst reading the magazine from cover to cover I remember feeling like I had just become a part of a cool club of video games-loving pals. Jaz's writing and the rest of the Mean Machines staff writing (including Richard Leadbetter from Digital Foundry fame for example) was perfectly in sync with its audience. 

You knew you could trust the reviews from Mean Machines as they knew their onions and Jaz and the gang were independent. In a future issue, there would be a cover giveaway of a miniature Jaz Figure which I cherished for many years and in some ways added to Jaz's legendary status in my own video gaming world.

It's now 2025 and Jaz has put virtual pen to paper to chronicle his lifetime in gaming by writing this wonderful book called "Games of a Lifetime" by Jaz Rignall.

A Tale Of Two Halves: The History Of Football Video Games | Book Unboxing ⚽️ @bitmapbooks #Retrogaming

Rich gets his hands on Bitmap Books' NEW book all about the wonderful world of soccer video games from the 1970's up until the present day. In this video Rich unboxes the CAPTAIN Edition of the book and fondles the pages lovingly.

*Love goes to Britt for sending me this amazing book as an early Christmas Present, what an amazing guy! 💙

PURCHASE LINK:

https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/video-game-history/products/a-tale-of-two-halves-captains-edition

Bitmap Books – A Tale of Two Halves: The History Of Football Video Games | Britt's Review ⚽️📘 @bitmap_books #RetroGaming

Image Credit: www.BitmapBooks.com

We have covered many of Bitmap Books’ fine releases here at Games Freezer, with the most recent being Dave Cook’s rather wonderful Run ‘n’ Gun tome. This, their latest, is a very different beast, tackling a genre that has existed since the early ‘80s and was very much been twisting and morphing for decades before settling into (mostly) more sedate, incremental releases in recent years.

The book covers the football (or ‘soccer’ depending on your geographic location) genre from its nascency in the early ‘80s - when the games were effectively variations on the Pong theme - right up through the modern generations where the majority of the releases are ultra realistic and pretty – but perhaps lack the character and individuality that previously made the football genre a more interesting beast, with some incredible goals, some near misses...and some that deserved a red card, and a kicking in the car park.

Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family by Jordan Mechner | Review By Rich 📚📖 @jmechner #bookreviews #BookoftheDay

Reading a book is generally a personal journey that people take and the journey varies from reader to reader. I've recently been listening to a lot of audiobooks as it's a great way to read books whilst doing something else. In the last year I must have read in excess of 10 books but the years preceding that it was taking me a year to finish one physical book.

Recently though, this changed again as I was sent a digital PDF copy of  the Jordan Mechner Visual Novel/memoir, REPLAY, to read and it has reignited my love for two things, 1. Visual Novels 2. Jordan Mechner and his attitude to making video games. Obviously as it was a PDF copy it was almost reigniting my instinct to read a physical book even though I was using my tablet to read the book.

Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family by Jordan Mechner is a poignant and vibrant graphic novel that attempts and succeeds in weaving together the stories of three generations of the Mechner family. 

GEORGE'S GAMING GRIMOIRE IS NOW ON SALE WITH 20% OFF! 😍 @Funkyspectrum

GEORGE'S GAMING GRIMOIRE. Is a collection of borderline insanity that's been put together by George at Funky Spectrum with the much-appreciated help of some of his long-term collaborators. 

It's a book very much designed for adults who either remember the heyday of the home micro scene OR who want to get a glimpse of what it might have been like had the world taken a very different turn in the 1980s. 

Bitmap Books: Run ‘N’ Gun - A History of On-Foot Shooters 📖📚 @bitmap_books #RetroGaming

Bitmap Books Purchase Link

From Dave Cook - the mind behind the awesome Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’em-Ups - comes this history of run ‘n’ gun shooters (think Contra, Metal Slug etc. and definitely think about Mercs and Rambo III on the Mega Drive, which are a couple of my personal faves), a genre of videogames that – to me at least – almost feels like the very essence of gaming itself.

The requirements of concentration, quick reflexes and (usually) saucy multiplayer action are timeless, and these quintessential essential ingredients allow for quick dip in ‘n’ out gameplay for blasts of fun, whilst requiring the players to lose themselves in the flow and design of the game to really get the most out of it…and the most 10p’s out of your pocket, natch!

The Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection Author – David Cameron (not that one) 📘 #BookReview #Retrogaming

The Sega Saturn is a console that I very much have a personal history with. A unique library of games that was bursting with originality, and is very much a system I often play to this day. David Cameron’s Unofficial Sega Saturn Collection is designed as a coffee table book to be leafed through and enjoyed as the reader picks up some titbits on favourite games – and perhaps even discovers some new gaming gold as they peruse.

Bitmap Books – The Unofficial N64: A Visual Compendium Review By Britt 📚📖 @bitmap_books #Retrogaming #N64

The last Bitmap Book release that we covered here at Games Freezer was the incredible From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror, a book that could very well be – and indeed is - one of the best gaming-related pieces of literature that I’ve ever had the pleasure of inhaling.

It’s a slight change of pace here, from the many forked branches of horror through to a visual compendium focused on the much beloved fan favourite Nintendo 64, whether through many a blistering, thumb-stick breaking multiplayer session of Goldeneye, marvelling at Mario in 3D, or zooming across Hyrule Fields in Zelda, there are millions of memories out there that began with that trusty trident controller in-hand.

C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games – a must-have book for all retro gaming enthusiasts 📘 #Retrogaming

 

C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games – a must-have book for all retro gaming enthusiasts C64 - Polish Pixels in Video Games: Book Let's dive into the retro stage of gaming with C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games, a book about the miracle that is games created for the Commodore 64 computer. Back the project now on Indiegogo and get a game published by Movie Games! Back the project now on Indiegogo C64: Polish Pixels in Video Games is a coffee-table style book where the author, Krzysiek Augustyn, invites readers on an extraordinary visual journey through Polish games developed for the Commodore 64 computer, spanning from the 1980s to today. Yes, the C64 is still alive thanks to its creators! The descriptions of these productions are adorned with exclusive interviews, photographs, trivia, and stories from the developers. Jump into the rad world of the Commodore 64. It's way more than a look-back – it's a lively story that high-fives the trailblazing Polish C64 game makers and the awesome demoscene crew. Get ready for a deep dive into the cool and creative world that popped up during some pretty intense times. You'll get to check out the Polish games that rocked the world's best-selling computer. Plus, we're digging into the C64 demoscene – those art and coding wizards who are now a proud part of Poland's cultural scene, thanks to UNESCO. We're talking about the hurdles faced by legends like California Dreams, and giving you the scoop on epic games like Blockout and Street Rod. Each page is crammed with eye-popping visuals and stories. And it's not just about the games. We're sharing the real-deal stories from the peeps who were there, showing how these adventures shaped their lives. "I'm proud that Movie Games can support such brilliant initiatives. The preservation of video games is a topic very close to my heart, as it should be for all gamers and video game fans," says Piotr Gnyp, Movie Games CMO. And who is the author? Let him introduce himself! Hey there! I'm Krzysiek, but you can call me Chris. I'm stoked to bring you along on my C64 journey with this book. Born in the late 70s in Gliwice, Poland, my love for computers kicked off early and just never stopped. Been in the C64 scene since the early 90s. It wasn't just about playing games; it was about being part of a crew that was all about pushing what these cool 8-bit machines could do. I didn't just play games; I made them. Yep, I coded six games for the C64 and even founded the Inflexion Development team, known for some top-notch Polish games in the 90s. Coding's not just a job for me; it's what gets me up in the morning. This led me to run one of Poland's biggest electronic entertainment websites, Virtual Poland / Games Empire, from 2006 to 2010. Got to really dive into the gaming world there. I also started PolishPixels, a site all about retro gaming, and co-created the GameStory TV series, bringing classic video game stories to life. It's been a wild ride, reliving and sharing these epic game tales that have shaped so much of our culture. This book? It's my way of taking you back to the golden days of the C64, shining a light on the awesome Polish side of the story that not everyone knows about. Preorder the book by backing it up and get a free Movie Games title with your pledge! Back the project now on Indiegogo About Movie Games Movie Games is a Polish game developer and publisher, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The company was founded by game enthusiasts with experience in the financial, gaming, and media sectors. It consists of new talents and industry veterans, including Maciej Miąsik, the key developer behind The Witcher, and David Jaffe, the creator of God of War, Piotr Gnyp, a longtime video game journalist and the creator of Polygamia.pl, and Tobiasz Piątkowski, one of Poland’s most acclaimed art directors and comic book writers. Movie Games’ portfolio includes adventure games (the Lust series) and simulators (Drug Dealer Simulator, Gas Station Simulator, MythBusters: The Game, and Alaskan Road Truckers).

40 Best Machine Code Routines For The ZX Spectrum 4th Edition 🕮 @huey_games #ZxSpectrum

Today I received the latest expanded and remastered 4th Edition of 40 Best Machine Code Routines for the ZX Spectrum book.

The book features the full original text from the original 1983 release that was written by John Hardman and Andrew Hewson. 

As an added bonus there are now new forewords from both original authors which does a great job of putting the book into context.

There’s also all-new content from legendary programmer and Spectrum Next founding member Jim Bagley.

As an added bonus there’s new cover art by Mike Berry of Old Skool Pixels fame.

And at the end of the book there’s a great appendix full of ZX Spectrum Memories which is a delight to read!

If you like what you see then Head over to huey games.com to grab your copy for £18.99.

🕮

The GAMEBOOK | Nintendo Gameboy Unofficial Companion Book "The Best Gameboy Book Ever?" 📕 @NintyMedia @PMurphy1978 #Retrogaming #GameBoy

Rich gets to grips with the GAMEBOOK from Ninty Media. This Kickstarted funded Gameboy book is a beautifully made book and Rich shows you a sneak peek of the one he was sent by the lovely folks at Ninty Media.

ZX Dreams The Follow Up To ZX Nightmares Is Coming Soon... SPRING 2024 🕹️ @Wizwords #Retrogaming

You’ve read about the ZX Nightmares – now sit back and re-discover your ZX Dreams, those brilliant gems we played back in the Eighties. 

From glorious 16K wonders such as Deathchase and Jet Pac to extreme-value budget releases like Booty and Rebelstar and the beautiful games of Pete Cooke and Raffaele Cecco, ZX Dreams celebrates all those games we played – and loved.

FROM ANTS TO ZOMBIES: SIX DECADES OF VIDEO GAME HORROR Book Review "The Gaming Necronomicon" 🧛‍♂️ @BitmapBooks #Retrogaming

Sam Dyer – the brain behind Bitmap Books – is someone that I imagine laughing wildly in a vast, ever-growing library somewhere, surrounded by mad monks engrossed in ever-more-perfect drafts of upcoming books through which they will eventually devour the gaming world. Each time I read a book by the publisher, it always feel definitive and individually voiced. I’ve commented before on how each release doesn’t feel like a run-through of the topic at hand, moving from genre-to-genre with a  vanilla, ‘one-size-fits-all’ sensibility. From the all-encompassing JRPG book to the laser-focused CRPG tome – and the surprisingly moving release on Gremlin Graphics – these books really do each have their own approach and style. 

From the moment that I caught wind of From Ants to Zombies, the fact that it was covering video game horror – a genre incredibly dear to me – I was desperate to discover what approach this book would take - and as it turns out, it’s possibly the boldest move by Bitmap Books yet, and one that absolutely lives up to the lofty heights that author Alexander Chatziioannou sets out in the first few pages.

Fusion Retro Book: The Book of the Game of the Film Author – Jerry Ellis "The Review of the Book of the Game of the Film" 🎞️🎮📕 @Retro_Fusion #Retrogaming #Retrogames

This is the second book published by Fusion Retro Books that I have covered this year, and I own several others by them that I’ve picked up over the years and it’s all been very good stuff. This 300-page hardback continues the trend of high quality releases, and celebrates those oh-so-often movie, TV, and product tie-ins that were released so freely across the cluttered 8-bit landscape. Author Jerry Ellis crams as much gold as he can in those 300 pages, covering a huge amount of movie, TV, comic, product and even board-game tie-ins in a style that blends humour, insight, research and approachability.