RPG Books with the Best Art

[TwiceBorn2]

My vote also goes to Free League, and to The One Ring 2nd Ed and Symbaroum (or Ruins of Symbaroum 5E) in particular.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I’ll second the DIE RPG. The art by Stephanie Hans is simply amazing. It helps that some of it is from the comic (which I also recommend… it should be required reading for anyone into RPGs).

Here’s a couple of nice shots.

 

[StoneDev]

My vote also goes to Free League, and to The One Ring 2nd Ed and Symbaroum (or Ruins of Symbaroum 5E) in particular.

Came to put a vote in for Symbaroum.

 

[Werthead]

I think it's almost an easier question so say what TTRPGs don't have amazing art these days.

Traveller needs a nod, for a game infamous for having minimalist, black-and-white drawings for the longest time, the current edition of full-colour, beautiful, epic imagery is crazy. The art's so good that Mongoose's Instagram page is basically them releasing new images almost every day going, "look what our artists did, isn't this crazy?" And they're usually right. The rulebooks are works of art in themselves.

Free League, obviously. The One Ring needs a shoutout for having very Tolkien-feeling artwork, and Tales from the Loop, though that just straight-up uses Simon Stålenhag's incredible art as its inspiration for everything.

Cyberpunk Red gets kinda forgotten in these discussions (especially if you're tapped out on cyberpunk imagery) but its artwork is really good, and often incredible.

Salvage Union also has incredibly evocative artwork, in a "what if we converted an AT-AT into a mobile home?" kinda way.

Pendragon is also amazing. The core rulebook looks like an illuminated manuscript, but they don't lean so hard on the idea that it becomes unreadable. One of those books you just want to take out and look at to gawp at the art. The Starter Set also rocks in its visual design.

 

[Anon Adderlan]

There's also those frustrating games from art houses which prioritize aesthetics and treat mechanics like an afterthought. Our Brilliant Ruin and Degenesis fit this bill, and while they aren't the most functional games they're damn pretty to look at.

I'll go with Maze of the Blue Medusa. Very artistic and original style fitting the dungeon and immersion.

finally got a pdf copy on your recommendation,

Suuure

after missing the opportunity to get a physical copy, which are probably worth a small fortune by now.

If by small fortune you mean $70 on Ebay.

 

[ElminstersApprentice]

A vote for Jacob Fleming. Artist/Writer

 

[colombus1592]

Mörk Börg may not be the best one, but at least the most striking one. Zak Smith, who is a professional painter, did some excellent illustrations on his own products (but the guy is controversed).

 

[SJB]

I rather liked the Texas artist Rick Guererro’s work on Burgundia.

However, I think the whole graphic design and accompanying art by Keith Haney was, if anything even better.

The English artist Katie Wakelin did some great art for Heorot.

 

[aramis erak]

For me, I think on the technical side, the best art is in the various Stalinhag inspired RPGs: Tales from the Loop, Things from the Flood. Probably also Electric State, but I've yet to get me grubbies on the RPG, tho' I skimmed the artbook, and 'tis every bit as good.)
From a flavor state, however... current? ALIEN. A little further back? C7's TOR 1E layouts. Both of those just feel so very right, in ways that ICE never did for MERP nor LEG for ALIENS Adventure Game. And while the corebook for TOR2E is pretty, it didn't have the charm of C7's work, especially Jon Hodgeson's work. (I don't dislkike the 2e art on TOR, but I hate the changes to the mechanics, deeply.)

 

[heks]

i picked up 'scavenger' during the exalted funeral black friday sale and the art is gorgeous.