A lot can change in 35 years. In 1991, the Cold War was ending, Nirvana was rolling out Nevermind, the first website was launched, and Nintendo was introducing the SNES across North America. Around the same time, a small gaming magazine called Game Informer rolled out its debut issue, with a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog gracing its cover.
While the world has shifted a lot over those decades, I hope our magazine has remained a trusted and entertaining place to stay connected and engaged with your gaming. Game Informer has been along for the ride of gaming’s rise to prominence, celebrating the hobby of play and the industry of making interactive entertainment.
I’d like to believe Game Informer played some small role in shaping that same hobby over the decades. Throughout its many years of publication and across dozens of unique editorial voices, we’ve continually striven to highlight some of the most important games that were defining the field.
Often, Game Informer covers have been a barometer for quality and success for many of the titles that would define a year, or even a decade. From Super Mario 64 and Final Fantasy VII to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and BioShock, and on through The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, Destiny, Elden Ring, and Hades II – in each of the 380 issues across our history, we’ve sought to tell the stories behind gaming’s most influential projects, and help our readers enjoy the games they’re playing more because they understand them better.
That’s why on this anniversary we’re putting a big focus on our covers and connected stories. Print subscribers can look forward to an amazing poster packed in with their next issue of the magazine, showcasing the full breadth of covers we’ve featured over the last 380 issues.
Within the issue, you’ll also find a dedicated look at some of those covers, with commentary from current and former staffers who worked on the stories, alongside industry partners and developers who worked with us to bring those stories and cover images to your mailboxes, including the likes of Tony Hawk, Ken Levine, Sean Murray, and Yoshinori Kitase – among many others.
Beyond this issue, we’re also celebrating Game Informer’s 35 years with several major initiatives, including the debut of international print subscriptions, the impending launch of a dedicated app as an additional way to explore our content, and plans for a robust presence at Gamescom later this month. You can also look forward to special guests on The Game Informer Show in September, featuring faces and voices from our history.
And while I can’t yet pull the curtain back on the specific titles we’ll be showcasing, that 35th anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year; it’s enough to say that the rest of 2026 is looking like it will feature cover stories that can proudly sit alongside the last 380 issues, with exclusive deep-dives into games that you won’t want to miss.
Thanks to all of you for reading, watching, listening, and connecting with Game Informer over the years. Your support means the world to us. We’re thrilled to be pushing ahead into the next 35 years!
Play well. Be well.
Matt Miller
Editor-in-Chief