The best videogame covers of 2012

20 works of art

Even as retail stores die a slow death and digital sales take their place, box covers matter. Look no further than the controversy around BioShock Infinite‘s decidedly safe (and dull) cover for an impassioned example.

A good game cover is one that brings characters to life before we know them, captures our imagination, or is just aesthetically pleasing. Good game covers are a dying breed with most covers designed by computer graphics artists who are following an agenda passed down from marketing.

The 20 chosen covers below are ones that we’ll remember for some time, even if the game attached is one best quickly forgotten.

Tokyo Jungle [PlayStation Network]

Sleeping Dogs [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Hotline Miami [PC]

Gravity Rush [PlayStation Vita]

Akai Katana [Xbox 360]

The Darkness II [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Syndicate [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Touch My Katamari [PlayStation Vita]

Fez [Xbox Live Arcade]

Xenoblade Chronicles [Wii]

Quantum Conundrum (PC, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade)

Hitman: Absolution [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Diablo III (PC, Mac)

Far Cry 3 [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods and Kings (PC)

Borderlands 2 [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Armored Core V (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)

Street Fighter X Tekken [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita]

Max Payne 3 [PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]

Mario Party 9 [Wii]