explorersdesign.com
Great Covers: September '26
I'm back this month with a slightly different format. Five covers of note. New, interesting, or on my mind. Without further ado, here they are...
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# Seven-Part Pact
Seven-Part Pact by Jay Dragon
Seven-Part Pact, a game about the might and folly of powerful wizards bound by a venerable pact. What's pictured here is the planned slipcase art by Seattle-based illustrator, Pam Wishbow._Seven-Part Pact_ is a maximalist game. The kind that corrupts a kitchen table with knick-knacks, charts, booklets, cards, and notes. There will be conspiracy, patriarchy, power, violence—and thanks to this game's cover—a lot to look at.
I love how the art captures the ornate, kaleidoscopic-feel of the game without plucking something more expected off the wizardly tree. Less Planeswalker. More weirdo antiquarian with a stationary fetish. Excellent.
Check out Seven-Part Pact
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# Tiny Fables
Tiny Fables by Josiah S. Moore
There's a lot to love about _Tiny Fables_ cover. Its execution is flawless. Harmonious colors, clean woodcut-style illustrations, soft textures, and a simple but evocative composition. Tone is on full display in this cover. It's just so cute!
Something worth calling out: the title and art compliment each other. There are two reasons for that. One (1), the letterforms borrow some of the visual characteristics of the art—serifed, humanist, similar weights. Two (2), the art gives the title somewhere to be. Too many covers diminish their title and art by piling them on top of each other with outlines, overlays, and drop shadows.
Check out Tiny Fables
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# Empire of Hatred
Empire of Hatred by Sam Sorenson
I can think of only a few self-inserts in tabletop rpgs. This is the loudest and most interesting: Sam Sorenson screaming bloody murder. This is who I picture in front of the mic recording _Dead Letters._ A blood-drenched zealot for simulation.
Something interesting: this cover doesn't have a title. Online you don't necessarily need one. The storefront's UI will label it for you. But if this does live on a shelf somewhere, I don't think it needs the title. _Empire of Hatred_? Oh yeah, the screaming one. It's right over there.
Check out Empire of Hatred
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# Green Oaks
My biggest regret from the 2025 Ennies was not nominating _Green Oaks_ for best cover or design. My wife nearly tossed it in the trash when I got it. If it weren't for that tiny snippet of copy in the lower right, it would be too covert for its own good.
This kind of cover takes guts, and I officially award Green Oaks the crown for in-world artifacts. Sorry, _Call of Cthulhu_ and prop-tastic LARPS—you never stood a chance. Look at what you had to spend for a fraction of _Green Oak's_ power.
Check out Green Oaks
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# Wages of Sin (Special Edition)
Normally special edition covers are a downgrade immortalized in leather. Not so with this one!__ The simplicity and colors do a lot for this _Mothership_ release. The trio of portraits is also a better appetizer for the interiors smorgasbord of bastards, dissidents, and saps. It makes me wonder what an entire rogues gallery might look like.
Pay special attention to the logos and icons here. These are the correct proportions. Anything else would be a distraction. A clumsy bit of trade dress. Logos should never compete with the book's title or art.
Check out Wages of Sin
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# Send me your favorites.
This is a fun regular exercise, but it's hard to do on a regular schedule without help. If you have a new release or new obsession, let me know in the comments or on Bluesky.
Current covers I'm looking for:
* Typographical covers. Minimal art. Font everything.
* Minimalist covers. Something with next to nothing.
* Scenery covers. Something that depicts a place well.
Until then, I'll keep exploring.
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## Additional Reading
Great Book Covers July ’26Cover inspiration from across the tabletop rpg industry.Explorers DesignClayton NotestineThe Art of the RPG CoverHow to make your roleplaying game’s cover stand out (with examples).Explorers DesignClayton NotestineKilling Good Games with Bad TitlesHow to write a bad RPG title. And how to do the opposite.Explorers DesignClayton Notestine
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