NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1: 1985-89 Hardcover — Is It Worth Your Shelf Space?

Quick answer

If you care about how classic NES games wrapped up their stories, the NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1 is a focused reference worth owning. It is best for players who want to revisit endings without replaying entire games, and for collectors who enjoy behind-the-scenes context. If you prefer broader console history or developer interviews, Atari Archive Vol. 1 or It's Not All Fun & Games may suit you better.

You have probably finished a game and wondered what other endings you missed, or wanted to see how a notoriously difficult title concludes without spending another weekend on it. The NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1 collects those moments in one hardcover, covering 1985 through 1989.

This guide breaks down what the book actually offers, who will get the most from it, and when a different retro gaming hardcover makes more sense for your shelf.

What the NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1 actually covers

The book focuses on NES game endings from 1985 to 1989. That window captures the console's early years, when developers were still figuring out how to tell stories with limited hardware. You get a concentrated look at how games concluded during a formative period, rather than a broad overview of every NES title ever made.

Because the scope is tight, the book works as a reference you can dip into rather than a cover-to-cover read. If you want to compare how different publishers handled finales in the same era, this format makes those comparisons easy.

• Check whether the games you care about fall within the 1985-89 window before buying.
• Use it as a companion when replaying a game, not as a replacement for playing.

How it compares to other retro gaming hardcovers

Atari Archive Vol. 1 takes a different approach: it digs into the history of Atari's Video Computer System, including legal papers and trade coverage. That book is for readers who want the business and development story behind a console. The NES Endings Compendium is narrower and more visual, centered on the endings themselves.

It's Not All Fun & Games offers a personal insider perspective on licensed games across film, production, video games, and toys. If you prefer memoir-style anecdotes over a structured reference, that book may hold your attention longer. The NES Endings Compendium rewards readers who want a specific, repeatable lookup tool.

• Choose Atari Archive Vol. 1 for console history and industry context.
• Choose It's Not All Fun & Games for insider stories about licensed titles.
• Choose the NES Endings Compendium for a focused endings reference.

Who gets the most out of this book

This book fits players who grew up with the NES and want a nostalgia-friendly way to revisit endings without the time commitment. It also suits completionists who want to see alternate conclusions they never unlocked. If you enjoy discussing how games end and why those endings mattered, the book gives you material to revisit.

It is less useful if you are looking for a strategy guide, a full history of the NES, or developer interviews. The book does one thing: it documents endings from a specific era. That focus is a strength if it matches your interest, and a limitation if you want broader coverage.

• Great for lapsed players who want to see endings they missed.
• Less ideal if you want walkthroughs or historical analysis.

Practical buying considerations

Hardcover reference books like this hold up better than paperbacks if you plan to revisit them often. The NES Endings Compendium is a shelf book, not a one-time read, so build quality matters. If you already own similar compendiums, check whether the 1985-89 window overlaps heavily with what you have.

Limited Run Games also carries other retro gaming books, including Atari Archive Vol. 1 and It's Not All Fun & Games. If you are building a small reference shelf, mixing an endings compendium with a console history and an insider memoir gives you three different angles without much overlap.

• Consider your existing shelf before adding another era-specific book.
• Hardcover editions are easier to keep in good condition long term.

Decision rules for buying the NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1

• You want to see NES endings from 1985-89 without replaying every game: The book collects endings from that specific window, making it a quick reference for nostalgia or research. Buy it if this era matches your collection focus.
• You prefer console history or developer stories over endings: Atari Archive Vol. 1 and It's Not All Fun & Games offer broader historical and personal narratives that this book does not attempt. Choose one of those instead if endings are not your main interest.
• You already own several NES reference books: Check whether the 1985-89 window duplicates content you already have. The value here is in the specific era and format. Skip it if you already own a similar endings-focused book.

Product facts

• Atari Archive Vol. 1 (Hardcover): Atari Archive Vol. 1 covers Atari's Video Computer System, including its creation, market place, and games, drawn from dusty memories, legal papers, and trade industry coverage. If you want console history and industry context rather than a focus on endings, this is the stronger pick for your shelf.
• It's Not All Fun & Games (Hardcover): It's Not All Fun & Games: A Life in Film, Production, Video Games, and Toys by Mark Flitman covers licensed games across sports, wrestling, toys, cartoons, comics, and manga, with insider stories. Choose this if you prefer personal anecdotes about licensed games over a structured endings reference.

Who should buy this book

Best for

• NES players who want to revisit endings from 1985-89 without replaying games
• Collectors building a focused retro gaming reference shelf
• Fans of video game endings who enjoy comparing how different titles concluded

Not for

• Readers seeking a full NES history or developer interviews
• Players looking for strategy guides or walkthroughs
• Collectors who already own a comprehensive NES endings reference

The NES Endings Compendium Vol. 1 is a focused, practical hardcover for anyone who wants to revisit how early NES games ended. If that niche matches your interest, it earns its shelf space. If you want broader history or insider stories, Atari Archive Vol. 1 or It's Not All Fun & Games will serve you better.