Famous video game logos: Pixel perfect video game symbols

Whether you’re an avid gamer or not, there’s a good chance you’ll recognize a handful of famous video game logos.

Some of these images have existed for decades, evolving into a crucial part of the gaming landscape. Other video game symbols, though more recent, have quickly become cultural icons, appearing in merchandise and collaborative ad campaigns worldwide.

Just like any brand, companies specializing in game design rely on logos to capture the attention of their target audience and convey crucial emotional messages. Whether it’s the bright and eye-catching colors of the sonic logo, or the unforgettable Atari symbol, amazing examples are everywhere.

Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the most famous video game logos of all time, as well as a selection of emblems for iconic game console brands and developers.

Let’s hit play…

Iconic video game logos: Video game consoles

Atari

First launched in 1972, Atari was a home computer and video game company responsible for creating one of the most iconic consoles in gaming history. The legendary video game logo created for Atari was designed by George Opperman.

According to the designer, the three lines in the Atari logo both symbolize the name of the company by representing an “A” and draw attention to one of the console’s most popular games. The image is intended to look like a “Pong” court, with two players on either side of the central line.

Find out more about the Atari logo here.

Nintendo

Easily one of the best-known video game symbols in the entertainment world, Nintendo’s image is still a major part of the landscape today. Best-known for its handheld game consoles, Nintendo has also helped to create various phenomenal titles, including Super Mario and Donkey Kong.

Nintendo’s logo features a bright-red wordmark, surrounded by a red border. According to the designers, the surrounding border is intended to look like a racetrack, something we associate with fun and excitement.

Find out more about the Nintendo logo here.

Sega

Originally founded as “Standard Games” in the 1940s, Sega has come a long way over the years. The company remains one of the biggest brands in the world of gaming today, thanks in large part to its contribution to major characters like Sonic the Hedgehog.

The Sega logo is simple and bold, with thick blue lines making up the letters of the wordmark. The multiple lines in the Sega logo could be perceived in a multitude of different ways. You could even look at them as wires from the internal components of a games console.

Find out more about the Sega logo here.

PlayStation

PlayStation’s logo is one of the most famous video game logos in the world, and for good reason. The company was produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment and continues to stand as one of the biggest gaming companies worldwide.

There are various PlayStation devices on the market today, including, the most recent PlayStation 5.

The emblem combines a playful and modern wordmark in sleek black letters, with an interesting symbol. The symbol shows the “P” for PlayStation, with an “S” in the shadow behind it.

This is an abstract and interesting image, great for highlighting PlayStation’s creative side.

Find out more about the PlayStation logo here.

Xbox

The biggest competitor of PlayStation, Xbox was created by Microsoft, and offers a range of five video game consoles, streaming services, and applications. The original Xbox device appeared on the market just after the Atari disappears.

The famous logo is inspired by the first name used to label Microsoft’s console “DirectX Box”.

While the stylized wordmark is a significant part of this video game logo, the most memorable component is the symbol. The “X” placed over the circle now appears all over the world, including on Xbox devices and controllers.

Find out more about the Xbox logo here.

The best video game logos: Video game brands

Capcom

Launched over 40 years ago in 1979, Capcom is one of the world’s best-known video game developers and publishers. The Japanese brand has produced a huge range of multi-million-dollar game franchises, including Resident Evil, Mega Man, and Street Fighter.

Portrayed in a bright yellow and blue color palette, the fun and eye-catching Capcom symbol offers a reflection of the energy and creativity of the brand. The color yellow is one we frequently associate with fun and joy, while blue is naturally trustworthy.

Find out more about the Capcom logo here.

Ubisoft

Another excellent example of one of the most famous video game logos, Ubisoft Entertainment’s emblem is an eye-catching and engaging image.

The gaming brand first launched in 1986 and has produced a huge selection of great games ever since, including Assassin’s Creed, and Price of Persia.

The Ubisoft logo is simple and effective. The design features a swirling circular shape, intended to portray feelings of unity and creativity. The stylized wordmark includes a slightly altered “O” character, further demonstrating the company’s out-of-the-box thinking.

Find out more about the Ubisoft logo here.

2K Games

An American video game publisher based in California, 2K was launched under the Take-Two Interactive brand. The company is best-known for creating titles like Borderlands, and the Bioshock series.

Though the original logo has been updated over the years, it still captures the bold and confident nature of the brand.

The 2K image today is a bright red square, with the characters “2” and “K” displayed on two levels. The characters seem to connect in the middle, highlighting the innovative nature of the brand.

The slight tilting angle of the design also delineates speed and progress.

Find out more about the 2K Games logo here.

EA

Otherwise known as “Electronic Arts”, EA is another American video game company with a huge presence in the industry. The organization has created some of the better-known games in the world for more than 40 years, including The Sims, Dead Space, and Mass Effect.

EA’s famous video game logo has changed a few times over the years with the evolution of the brand. Today, the image features a pinkish hue, intended to demonstrate fun and playfulness.

The “EA” symbol in the circle is tilted slightly, to represent speed and development.

Find out more about the Electronic Arts logo here.

Activision

First launched in 1979, Activision is an American video game company, which also serves as the publishing company for parent brand, Activision Blizzard. This video game vendor produced a host of great titles over the years, including the Call of Duty and Guitar Hero series.

The Activision logo might seem simple at first, but it’s an excellent depiction of a company with a focus on unity and agility.

The “V” in the middle of the design connects with the “T” and creates an image similar to a bird with its wings outspread.

Find out more about the Activision logo here.

Konami

More than just a video game developer, Konami also produces trading cards, anime, and arcade cabinets for customers around the globe. Some of the brand’s most famous franchises include Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Metal Gear.

Konami is one of the older video game companies on our list, and its logo depicts a sense of heritage and prestige. Like many gaming brands, the organization chose the color red to demonstrate passion and power.

The sleek and stylish typography reminds us of the expertise put into game creation.

Find our more about the Konami logo here.

Square Enix

Another phenomenal example for our list of popular video game logos, the Square Enix symbol isn’t one you’re likely to forget.

The company, first launched in 1975 has produced a number of well-known franchises, including Tomb Raider and Space Invaders.

The modern and clever wordmark chosen to represent the company use a very geometric “square” design, to draw attention to the company’s name.

There are even little red blocks in the middle of the “E’s” in place of the usual connected lines.

Find our more about the Square Enix logo here.

Bandai Namco

A company which only recently updated its logo in 2022, Bandai Namco was launched in Japan just over 15 years ago. The company specializes in toys, anime, and video games.

Some of the better-known franchises of the brand include Gundam, and Dragon Ball.

The recently updated logo was introduced as part of a mission statement introduced by the brand, to focus on communication and community.

The abstract, overlapping speech bubble attempts to represent the company’s commitment to connect with players.

Find out more about the Bandai Namco logo here.

Rockstar

If you’re a fan of fast-paced gaming titles, you’re probably familiar with Rockstar. The Rockstar Games Company based in New York City was originally established as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive.

Today, the brand is known for creating games like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead, and Midnight Club.

Rockstar’s logo is bright and eye-catching, perfect for a competitive video game company. The design features the letter “R” and a stylized star in white and black.

The orange/yellow background reminds us of fun, happiness, and excitement.

Find out more about the Rockstar Games logo here.

Bethesda

A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda Game Studies has become a well-known brand over the years. The company is best-known for creating games like Skyrim, Fallout, and Diablo.

Today, the brand is one of the biggest in the world and has even entered the mobile gaming space.

The bold and wide wordmark conveys the confidence and strength of the company.

Find out more about the Bethesda logo here.

Popular video game logos: Video game emblems

Assassin’s Creed

Widely regarded as one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, Assassin’s Creed is an open-world video game published by Ubisoft.

There have been a number of titles in the series over the years, each focused on the exploration of different historical environments.

This logo is both mysterious and attractive at the same time. The word “Creed” depicted in red helps to draw attention to ideas of excitement and passion.

In the background, we see a symbol which commonly appears throughout the game franchise.

Find out more about the Assassin’s Creed logo here.

Destiny

One of the most famous video game logos in the world today, the Destiny emblem has become a major icon in the industry, within a relatively short space of time. This online-only multiplayer game was developed by Bungie after the company separated from Activision.

The Destiny logo, like many popular video game logos, includes a symbol familiar to those who have played the title. There’s also a modern and minimalistic wordmark, perfect for drawing attention to the futuristic theme of the game.

Find out more about the Destiny logo here.

Half-Life

A first-person shooter developed by Valve and published for Windows; Half-Life was the debut game delivered by the Valve brand. The game revolves around escaping the Black Mesa Research Facility once it’s invaded by aliens.

One of the better-known games in the PC landscape, the Half-Life symbol has achieved legendary status over the years, and now appears on a range of merchandise items.

The image represents the Greek letter “A” and is also a symbol used in the “half-life equation”.

Find out more about the Half-Life logo here.

Minecraft

Minecraft has quickly emerged as one of the most popular games in the world. With a strong focus on crafting, building, and exploration, the game allows players to explore randomly generated worlds made heavily out of block-shaped pixels.

Minecraft’s logo is an insight into the game’s unique aesthetic, which has been replicated a number of times since. The image is 3D and includes the face of one of the enemies in the game within the “A”.

The texture of the design is also based on a material within the game.

Find out more about the Minecraft logo here.

Skyrim

Definitely one of the most iconic video game logos we’ve seen, Skyrim’s logo depicts a stylized dragon, designed to form the shape of a diamond. The game itself is all about hunting dragons, among other creatures, in a vast open world, as your character discovers their history.

Skyrim’s logo is bold and attractive. The image itself pops up throughout the game a number of times, representing the “Dragonborn”, a critical character in the story.

Though there is a wordmark available too, it’s rarely needed now the emblem has become so recognizable.

Find out more about the Skyrim logo here.

Pac-Man

Pac-man started life as “Puck-Man” when it was first introduced in Japan. A character shaped like a hockey puck attempts to eat a number of dots in a maze, while avoiding enemies.

After the initial release, the name was changed to avoid unruly youngsters vandalizing machines.

Pacman’s logo is a wonderfully retro and playful design. The shape of the “C” represents the shape of the titular character. What’s more, the bright colors of yellow, red and orange convey ideas of fun, youth, and happiness.

Find out more about the Pac-Man logo here.

Donkey Kong

Released by Nintendo in 1981, and created by the amazing Shigeru Miyamoto, Donkey Kong is one of the best-known games of all time. The title introduced us to a brand-new world of gaming, with a unique storyline offering both fun and straightforward gameplay.

Donkey Kong became such a beloved character, he continues to appear in Mario franchise titles today.

The Donkey Kong logo is a delightful and brightly colored design. The cartoony typography and the vivid colors were perfect for attracting a younger audience.

The stars in the “O’s” are also a reference to a recurring currency in the Mario space.

Find out more about the Donkey Kong logo here.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Another example of the top video game logos no-one will forget any time soon, the Sonic the Hedgehog emblem has a place in the hearts of countless gamers.

Sonic was created by Sega as a competitor to the Mario franchise, and he quickly gained massive degrees of success across the globe.

Today, there’s even a new series of Sonic cartoons, games, and movies.

Though the company struggled to find the ideal logo to begin with, it discovered the perfect image in 1999, combining the iconic colors of Sonic (blue, with red and white for the sneakers), with the color gold.

The blocky typography is fun and quirky, with an angled “O” to symbolize speed.

Find out more about the Sonic the Hedgehog here.

Super Mario

It’s hard to write an article about popular video game logos without mentioning Super Mario. One of the most famous video games of all time, Super Mario first appeared in a game for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985.

The Mario Bros were a pair of plumbers traversing a bizarre kingdom to save a princess from her captor.

The Super Mario logo is just as fun and bright as the game itself. The bold and bubbly typography choice is excellent for a younger audience, while drawing attention to the colorful art style of the game.

Plus, the various colors in the logo remind us of some of the major characters too.

Find out more about the Super Mario logo here.

Street Fighter

The go-to game for countless arcade fans, and still a popular franchise today, Street Fighter is a name any true gaming aficionado will recognize.

Delivered as an alternative to the family-friendly titles like Pac-Man and Super Mario in 1987, Street Fighter established the one-on-one fighting genre, and sold millions of units worldwide.

It’s no surprise this is one of the better-known video game emblems around. The latest version of the Street Fighter logo is bold and confident, with a textured design, which almost makes the design look as if it’s glowing with energy. The blocky text is fantastic for making an impact, while the emblem itself is simple and easy to remember.

Find out more about the Street Fighter logo here.

Doom

Another of the more famous video game emblems on our list, Doom was first created in 1993, and focuses on following the adventures of a space marine fighting hordes of demons and undead creators.

This was one of the most pioneering games of its time, introducing the concept of immersive 3D graphics to the world of video gaming.

With such a strong focus on 3D, it’s little surprise the company decide to use a three-dimensional font for its logo. The impactful image draws from some of the textures you’re likely to see in the original Zoom games.

At the same time, the powerful and somewhat aggressive nature of the logo helped to provide an insight into what gamers can expect.

Find out more about the Doom logo here.

Grand Theft Auto

Speaking of world-changing video games, few have had quite the same impact on the industry as Grand Theft Auto.

Introduced in 1997, Grand Theft Auto changed everything we thought we knew about video gaming.

The controversial game included piles of nudity, sex, violence and swearing – things we weren’t used to seeing in a child-focused industry.

Though the original logo was flashier and brighter than the one we know today, the existing design is far more compelling. The multi-level wordmark is surprisingly simple and subtle.

While the blocky letters may remind some people of certain graffiti styles, they definitely don’t tell us what to expect from this unpredictable game.

Find out more about the Grand Theft Auto logo here.

Fortnite

The Fortnite logo might not be as old as some of the most iconic video game logos on this list, but it’s definitely become one of the more recognizable images in recent years.

The fun and blocky design represents a game with more than 12.3 million players on a regular basis.

Fortnite’s logo, while simple, offers an insight into the unpredictable and quirky nature of the game, which introduced a generation to the concept of Battle Royale fights.

The subdued and monochrome approach is wonderfully modern, while the unusual letters still offer an insight into the attitude behind the game.

Find out more about the Fortnite logo here.

Tetris

One of the best-selling video games of all time, Tetris was created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. The phenomenal game helped to make the Game Boy console become a massive success.

What’s more, the game’s image is one of the most famous video game logos of all time.

The Tetris logo features the iconic “T” shape from the gameplay, with the word “Tetris” in great retro-style letters.

Though the color palette of the design has changed a few times over the years, the Tetris logo remains instantly recognizable today.

Find out more about the Tetris logo here.

Among Us

Among Us’s logo sports a light, hand-drawn font with a game character for an ‘A’, forming very memorable and recognizable symbol. This design played a big role in how the game’s branding became a success — it enhanced the emotional connection with players, further boosting the popularity of the game and merchandise.

The logo clearly shows how an intelligently created mascot plus wordmark will increase presence and appeal to a brand.

Find out more about the Among Us logo here.

Celebrating the most famous video game logos

Famous video game logos have taken the world by storm in the last few decades. Whether it’s the beautiful logos created for the world’s most memorable video consoles, game designers, or the game titles themselves, there are plenty of great examples out there.

Just like the designs created for any brand, video game logos are engaging, eye-catching, and great for offering an insight into the business behind the creation.  

Of course, like any logo, the best designs often come from working with the professionals to produce the most emotionally impactful images possible.

Reach out to learn more about creating your own video game logo.

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