Summary
- Quality instruction manuals have become rare in the gaming industry, but those that still exist provide a more immersive gaming experience.
- Games like Serpent In The Staglands and Cyberpunk 2077 offer extensive manuals that help players navigate complex gameplay and delve into the lore of the game.
- Stardew Valley and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots both have instruction manuals that add to the overall enjoyment of the game, providing a fun and informative experience for players.
The art of a great instruction manual has largely fallen by the wayside in the ever-evolving world of gaming. While games of the first couple of generations often sported incredibly detailed, expansive physical manuals for players to sift through, the seventh generation onward has seen a general decline in their presence.
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For the most part, physical guides have been replaced by digital guides and in-game tutorials. However, the few that have bucked this trend and provided players with quality manuals have shown an all-round commitment to providing a rich gaming experience. These manuals have often done more than just run players through the game's controls and set-ups. They've also served to further immerse gamers in the lore, artwork, and character backstories of the game. Of the few modern classics and recent releases to commit to a physical guide, some stand out for going the extra mile ahead of the rest.
5 Serpent In The Staglands (2015)
A Challenging Indie RPG With An Essential Instruction Manual
This indie fantasy game sees players take control of Necholai, a powerful god making a visit to his mortal followers during a celebration period. Unfortunately for the mysterious lunar god, he finds himself trapped in a human vessel and must find a solution to return to his spiritual realm.
To get a full grip on the game's controls and environment, players are essentially forced to read the game's extensive instruction manual. The game itself lacks any in-game tutorials, ensuring most gamers will flock to the manual to get a handle on things. While this might sound frustrating at a glance, it largely adds to the more immersive appeal of the game, as its intricate gameplay provides a challenge on a more intellectual level. With a more immersive, less exposition-laden approach to discovery and narrative development, Serpent in the Staglands' surprisingly difficult approach to the RPG genre is eased considerably by its detailed instructions guide.
4 Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Offers An Extensive Compendium For Players To Enjoy
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
CD Projekt Red's controversial entry into futuristic, transhumanist thrills has a rich array of weapons, upgrades, and mods to learn. More importantly, its setting is overflowing with lore and colorful characters, all of which lends to the importance of having a worthwhile manual.
For players who got a copy of the game's world compendium instruction booklet, many of the nearly endless questions posed in the game can be answered. Considering many players' frustrations with its controls and gameplay at the time of its initial December 2020 release, having clearer-cut instructions proved to be more important than usual by the standards of eighth-generation gaming. On top of that, this highly detailed manual provides an engaging look into Cyberpunk 2077's world, further helping to flesh out the flashy, crime-ridden intensity of Night City for players.
3 Stardew Valley (2016)
A Simple But Effective Instruction Manual
Stardew Valley
This colorful simulation game takes players into the exhaustive world of farming. The story kicks off with players inheriting a rundown farm before working around the clock to build it back up.
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First released back in February 2016, Stardew Valley had a pleasant surprise for gamers who opted to buy a physical copy. The instruction manual, while nothing revolutionary, stands out for providing players with an old-school way to learn about the game and its controls before playing. By the time of its release, manuals were virtually a thing of the past. The farming simulation's instructional guide reflects the gentle but expansive nature of the game, decked out in a similarly light and bright aesthetic to the game's cover art. Overall, it's a fun, old-school addition to this modern classic in the simulation genre.
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008)
Rocked A Gritty, Comic Book-Inspired Manual
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Released
- June 12, 2008
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- PS3
- Genre(s)
- Stealth
provided players with one of the most creative, in-depth manuals in gaming history. The 2008 entry in the iconic stealth action series saw popular protagonist Solid Snake dealing with an unfortunate premature aging condition.
Called back in for one last mission and the chance to settle an old score, Snake returns to action in this surprisingly emotional franchise chapter. For players looking for some instructions, Metal Gear Solid 4's manual is a work of art. Loaded with neatly rendered comic panels, character development, and meta references, the manual established itself as more than just instructions. Instead, players came to recognize it as an essential cog in the overall experience the full game had to offer. In the years since its release, Guns of the Patriots has enjoyed a strong legacy as one of the finest games of the seventh generation. Its remarkable attention to detail in everything down to its instruction manual is a key reason behind the game's quality and success.
1 Red Dead Redemption (2010)
Provides An Effective, Nicely Designed Manual
Rockstar's seminal 2010 foray into the Old West wowed both critics and players alike almost immediately. Former outlaw John Marston's grim, murderous journey to save his family struck a chord with gamers everywhere.
Chock-full of rich, intricate detail in all areas, the second installment in the Red Dead series (and the first entry from Rockstar Games) also had a pleasant surprise waiting within its plastic case. Sporting plenty of the signature artwork style seen in other Rockstar classics such as the Grand Theft Auto series and Bully, the instruction manual is full of nicely rendered character art. With some world-building details to read and enjoy, the manual provides a surprising level of atmosphere for players before they've even turned the game itself on. Like all good instruction manuals, Red Dead Redemption ensures every possible aspect of gameplay a player could wonder about is covered in detail, making it an all-around perfect example of a worthwhile gaming guide.