IIn the 21st century, video game news is constantly available, 24/7. However, for those who grew up in the 1980s and ’90s, gaming information was primarily sourced from magazines. The UK games magazine industry has thrived for 30 years, not only delivering gaming news and reviews but also fostering a sense of community. These magazines were a blend of newspaper and fanzine, with writers who were like today’s YouTube streamers.
Personally, I’ve written numerous articles, but before that, I was an avid reader who invested heavily in these magazines that celebrated gaming culture. Here are approximately the top 15…
15. Maximum (1995-1996)
How did a magazine that only lasted a year make it to the top 15 best video game magazines of all time? Well, because I curated the list, and Maximum is one of my personal favorites. It was a labor of love by founder Rich Leadbetter and art editor Gary Harrod, both Mean Machine alumni. Maximum was filled with detailed articles and beautiful screenshots of major games at that time. While its sales declined with the mainstreaming of games, no one covered Virtua Fighter 2, Ridge Racer, or Tekken better than this team.
