Explore free online game mags in the Century Past archive, featuring an extensive collection of old gaming magazines. Discover classic issues of video games magazine titles covering popular consoles, along with dedicated computer games magazine publications. Our library lets you dive into vintage gaming history, offering content from strategy board games to PC and console blockbusters.
See ‘Magazines’ in the top menu to find our other categories.
Table of contents
Old Gaming Magazines for PC & Computer Games
Explore vintage computer games magazine titles and classic old gaming magazines focused exclusively on PC and computer platforms. Find digitized issues of these popular game mags from past decades.
Ace
1987-1992
UK: Future Publishing
“ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) was a multi-format computer and video game magazine first published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing in 1987.”
Computer Games Magazine
2005-2007
Vermont: Strategy Plus
When it closed in 2007, it was the 2nd longest-running print magazine dedicated exclusively to computer games, with 197 issues, behind only Computer Gaming World (also on this page).
Computer Games Strategy Plus Video Games Magazine
1991-1999
Illinois: Strategy Plus
“Action, Adventure, Sims, Sports, Online”
Computer Gaming World Game Mags
1982-2006
CA: Golden Empire
Computer Gaming World (CGW) was an American computer game magazine published between 1981 and 2006. It was the longest-running magazine devoted exclusively to computer games.
Games for Windows
2006-2008
U.S.: Ziff Davis
“The official magazine.” This computer magazine covers games for PCs, rather than consoles.
PC Gamer Video Games Magazine
1995-2001
California: Imagine Media
“The world’s best-selling games magazine.” PC Gamer Magazine free.
PC Zone Game Mags
1993-2001
UK: Dennis, Future Plc
“PC Zone, founded in 1993, was the first magazine dedicated to games for IBM-compatible personal computers to be published in the United Kingdom. The last issue of PC Zone went on sale 2 September 2010. ” – Wikipedia. PC Zone Magazine free.
Computer and Video Games
1981-1999
UK: Future
“Computer and Video Games Magazine (CVG, C&VG or C+VG) was a UK-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot website was launched in 1999 and closed in February 2015. It was the world’s first dedicated video games magazine.” – Wikipedia.
Wireframe Video Games Magazine
Wireframe Magazine Website
1995-Present
UK: Raspberry Pi Trading
“Wireframe magazine is a monthly magazine that lifts the lid on video games. In every issue, we’ll be looking at how games are made, who makes them, and even guide you through the process of making your own.” – Publisher.
Video Games Magazine and Console Game Mags
A collection of video games magazine titles and console-specific game mags. Discover issues covering console history, from early systems to modern-day releases.
Cubed Video Games Magazine
Issues 2016 – 2017
Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK: Cubed Magazine
“A monthly gaming magazine from the team of volunteers at Cubed Gamers, an international gaming collective offering the best in reviews, comment and features about the games industry.” – Publisher.
Electronic Games
1981-1993
Illinois: Decker Publications
“The first dedicated video game magazine published in the United States, and ran from October, 1981 to 1997.” -Wikipedia
Gamefan Video Games Magazine
1997-2000
California: Shinno Media
“Next generation video game magazine. Playstation, Saturn, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC, Neo Geo, M2, SNES, Virtual Boy, Genesis, Anime, Arcade.”
Playstation PDF Magazine Collection
Magazine collection
Various publishers – up to Present date
At this site there are numerous back issues of various magazines dedicated to games for Sony Playstation game consoles. Titles include: Playstation Max, Playstation Pro, Playstation World, Extreme Playstation, Planet Playstation, Mean Machines Playstation and more. Various Playstation magazines free archive.
Sega Saturn Game Mags
1995-1998
UK: Emap Images/Sega
“The official Sega Saturn magazine.” The Sega Saturn was a home video game console.
Smite Video Games Magazine
2012-2018
Kinstaff Media LLC
“A magazine for the community of SMITE players. Smite is a free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena video game from Hi-Rez Studios.
Classic War & Strategy Game Mags
Dive into classic old gaming magazines dedicated to tabletop wargames, strategy board games, and simulations. These niche game mags provide historical context and tactics.
Ares Old Gaming Magazines
1980-1984
Simulations Publications
“The Science Fiction Gaming Magazine”. “Ares was a science fiction wargame magazine published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI), and then TSR, Inc., between 1980 and 1984. In addition to the articles, each issue contained a wargame, complete with a foldout stiff paper map, a set of cardboard counters, and the rules.”
The General Game Mags
1964-1998
1971-1998 (Better Organized List)
Baltimore, MD: Avalon Hill
“The General (1964–1998) was a bi-monthly periodical devoted to supporting Avalon Hill’s line of wargames, with articles on game tactics, history, and industry news. It was the first professionally produced wargaming magazine for the nascent cardboard and hex-map wargaming hobby. – Wikipedia.
Miniature Wargames Old Gaming Magazines
1992-2005
UK: Pireme Publishing
Wargames and historic articles about battles and wars.
Role-Playing, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi Game Mags
Find game mags focused on role-playing games (RPGs), collectible card games, and science fiction/fantasy themes. This group includes titles related to Games Workshop and other major fantasy gaming history events.
The Citadel Journal Game Mags
1994-2002
UK: Games Workshop Ltd.
The Citadel Journal was launched in the 80s, discontinued, then relaunched in 1994 and ran until 2002. It existed mainly to promote games made by Games Workshop.
The Duelist Old Gaming Magazines
1994-1999
Washington: Wizards of the Coast
“The Duelist became a monthly gaming magazine in March 1995 with simply a focus on the collectible card game and trading card game industry before publication ceased in September 1999.” -Wikipedia
Dungeons and Dragons Old Gaming Magazines
Century Past Sci-Fi & Fantasy Magazines
Please see our Sci-Fi & Fantasy Magazine page for several Dungeons & Dragons magazines, as well as other fantasy role-playing game magazines.
High Passage Game Mags
1980-1981
Illinois: High Passage.
“Ticket to Traveller adventure.” Traveller is a role playing game set in the far future.
Inferno Old Gaming Magazines
1997-2005
UK: Games Workshop.
“Tales of Fantasy and Adventure”. The magazine presented fiction, artwork and comics set in the fictional universes of Games Workshop’s fantasy and science fiction games. These initially include Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer 40,000, and Necromunda, and later added the Mordheim and Gorkamorka settings. This is apparently a complete set of issues.
Protodimension Old Gaming Magazines
2009-2016
Kinstaff Media LLC
“A mostly monthly publication written and produce by fans of the modern, conspiratorial, horror genre of role play gaming”.
Proteus Old Gaming Magazines
1984-1988
UK: Wimborne Publishing
“A complete fantasy adventure game magazine. Dice and pencil are all you need to begin this adventure – then you decide which route to take, which dangers to brave.”
Sims Nation Game Mags
Simmer’s Digest Website
Simmer’s Digest
For the community of players of the online simulation Sims Nation.
Strategic Review Video Games Magazine
1975-1976
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: Tactical Studies Rules
“Military miniatures, games, swords & sorcery”. This is the newsletter of Tactical Studies Rules, which created Dungeons and Dragons, so it contains a lot of information about that game and the company’s other games.
White Dwarf Game Mags
1990-1993
1977-1988
UK: Games Workshop Ltd.
“White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop, which has long served as a promotions and advertising platform for computer Games Workshop and Citadel Miniatures products.” -Wikipedia
Traditional & Board Game Mags
A specialized collection of old gaming magazines covering traditional pastimes, including chess, diplomacy, and puzzles. These vintage game mags predate the rise of the digital video games magazine.
The British Chess Magazine Old Gaming Magazines
1881-1928
UK: British Chess Magazine Ltd.
First published in 1881, the British Chess Magazine still appears monthly.
Chess Review Old Gaming Magazines
1933-1959
New York: Chess Review
“Chess Review was virtually unchallenged as the premier U.S. chess periodical from its start in 1933 until a rival emerged in 1961 … ” -Wikipedia. Each annual “issue” at this link contains all the monthly issues of Chess Review magazine for that year.
Diplomacy World Game Mags
1977-2014
Diplomacy World
A long-running zine for the board game Diplomacy. “The purpose of such a publication would be to distribute hobby news, discuss strategy and tactics, introduce new variants, and in general give the hobby member a place to go for everything EXCEPT to play the game.”
Diplomacy Board Game Zine Archive Old Gaming Magazines
1963-2014
Mostly not published
Diplomacy is a strategic board game first released in 1959. Diplomacy zines were mostly home-produced newsletters produced by many players over the years. This collection contains about 4,500 items.
Games Old Gaming Magazines
1977-1993
New Jersey: B&P Publishing
The magazine contains many kinds of word games and puzzles, plus reviews of board games and puzzle books. A few computer games are reviewed, but mostly this is not about computers or consoles.
Games & Puzzles Old Gaming Magazines
1972-1980 at Internet Archive (Black & White)
London, UK: Edu-Games
Games & Puzzles first appeared in 1972 in London. The first editor recruited a team of experts as writers and consulting editors, and it had a good reputation in the games community. It ceased publication in 1981, but was briefly revived in the 1990s. – Wikipedia.
Inside Chess Game Mags
1990-1993
Amsterdam: International Chess Enterprises
“The Best in Chess every two weeks”. Covers international chess competition.
Archived and Varied Games Magazine Collections
Comprehensive archives and assorted collections containing various game mags, manuals, and newsletters, offering a broad look at old gaming magazines across all categories, including computer games magazine titles.
Archive of Classic Game Manuals Video Games Magazine
1982-2006 (estimated)
Various Publishers
User manuals for hundreds of computer games.
Gambit Game Mags
Issues 2014 – 2018
Gambit Magazine
Gambit stands for Games, entertainment, movies, television and technology. The articles mostly appear to be about games. There is also a “news” section.
Games International Old Gaming Magazines
1988-1990
UK: Games International
“The Journal of fun and games.” This magazine covers a wide variety of computer games.
Vintage & Old Game Magazine Collection
Archive Collection
Various
This is a collection of magazines and newsletters based around gaming of all sorts: Arcade games, Computer Games magazine, Console Games, as well as Board Games, Role-Playing Games, and any other sort of related entertainment. Collection at the Internet Archive.
World of Warcraft Community Video Games Magazine
Issues 1-31
U.S.
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment. This magazine claims to be by and for the community of players.
Games Magazine Collection
Variety of Magazines
Various Publishers
This Internet Archive collection of computer and video game magazines has dozens of titles and thousands of issues, in English and other languages. Some titles: Advanced Computer Entertainment, Amiga Power, Activisions, Classic Gamer, Consolemania, Dreamcast, Family Computer Magazine, Game Informer, Game Developer, GamePro, Joystik, Mean Machines, Mega Console, Micro Adventurer. Plus many more.
For More Game Magz, See our Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Magazines
Explore More Free Online Resources
Discover further collections of free online books and other free online materials on these Century Past pages.