Overview
A retro-futuristic VHS cover designed for Wilder World in collaboration with Polygon Labs for the Tokyo Game Show 2024. The goal was simple: grab attention in a sea of corporate booths and make people curious enough to play the game.
Every copy of the cover was handed out physically at the event. A nostalgic collectible that connected Web3 gaming with 80s energy.
Art Direction
The design draws inspiration from old-school VHS sleeves with worn textures, spine typography, and cinematic framing, while keeping Wilder World’s futuristic DNA intact.
The layout and grid were made to feel authentic, not a parody. Warm tones, subtle distortion, and print grain give it that filmic touch.
References came from classics like Blade Runner, Back to the Future and Kill Bill, reimagined through Wilder’s universe.
Design Focus
Realistic VHS texture and physical detail
Nostalgia balanced with futurism
Consistent with Wilder World’s visual identity
Clean readability in both print and digital formats
Poster Design
The project started with designing the main poster that set the tone for the entire VHS cover.
I used Midjourney to explore different lighting setups and compositions before recreating them inside Unreal Engine. Each render tested how the world of Wiami would look if captured through the lens of old analog film.
After several rounds, we found the one that hit the perfect balance of realism, mood, and storytelling. The characters, car, and skyline came together under a warm, cinematic glow that felt straight out of a retro movie poster.
VHS COver
Once the poster was locked, it evolved into a full VHS package.
The front carried the cinematic art, while the back featured in-game captures, story hooks, and fake “feature blurbs” inspired by 80s movie boxes.
Every detail, from the worn spine texture to the rating icons and film grain, was crafted to feel like a real collectible. The goal was to make it look so authentic that people would question whether it came from the past or the future.
Conclusion
The Wilder World VHS cover became a conversation starter at Tokyo Game Show. It wasn’t just a prop, it was a physical gateway into the metaverse, turning nostalgia into curiosity and curiosity into engagement.
