Museum Opens “The Art of the Box Art” Exhibition
Starting today, a temporary exhibition titled “The Art of the Box Art” is on display at the Video Game History Museum, dedicated to the visual identity and iconic packaging that introduced video games to audiences over the decades. Presented as part of this year’s Zagreb Design Week, the exhibition explores what the gradual disappearance of physical media means for the overall gaming experience.
"The Art of the Box Art” takes a nostalgic look back at some of the most striking original video game packaging from the industry's earliest days. In an era dominated by digital storefronts, where 99% of PC games are purchased digitally, thoughtfully designed box art, physical media, printed manuals, figurines, and memorabilia serve as reminders of a time with a different, richer gaming experience. From early cover illustrations to extra included materials, the selected items showcase how game design evolved alongside technology, offering a window into the changing landscape of visual culture and video game marketing.
“Today, with everything distributed digitally, beautifully crafted and preserved game packaging gains a whole new cultural value. These boxes don't just show the industry's technological progress; they reveal the lasting mark video games have left on popular culture,” notes Damir Šlogar, founder of the Video Game History Museum.
The exhibition features Escape from Mt. Drash, one of the museum's rarest and most valuable pieces, commanding up to $10,000 at auction, alongside legendary titles such as Manic Miner, Jet Set Willy, Elite, Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, The Secret of Monkey Island, Myst, Final Fantasy, Fallout, World of Warcraft, and Uncharted. It also highlights iconic releases from Suzy Soft, the region's very first local software publisher. Visitors can additionally explore comprehensive collections from iconic publishers and franchises including Diablo, Warcraft, Origin Systems, LucasArts, Bullfrog, EverQuest, and many more.
Promotional art for early games promised grand adventures, often bridging the gap between imagination and the technological limitations of the time. The 1980s were defined by distinct pixel art, while the 1990s brought more sophisticated designs with a heavier emphasis on character-driven covers. By the turn of the century, the shift to 3D graphics meant box art aimed to render in-game worlds as faithfully as possible. Across every era, varied styles of illustration, photography, typography, and graphic design became an essential part of the visual identity of individual games, consoles, and the memories of entire generations.
“The Art of the Box Art” is on view from 8 to 20 September at Draškovićeva 10 during Zagreb Design Week, with selected exhibits featured exclusively at the festival's central venue at the Academy of Fine Arts. At last year’s Zagreb Design Week, the Video Game History Museum took home a prestigious award for interior design, cementing its place among Zagreb's most visually stunning museums.