Top 5 epic gaming and guitar collabs!

Big brands and iconic gaming franchises teaming up on cool projects is nothing new. We’ve seen loads of epic mash‑ups in recent years, from LEGO x Nintendo to Nike x PlayStation. And after recently coming back from a trip to Japan — where wild crossovers are commonplace — it’s easy to see why these kinds of collabs are popping up more and more. I mean, who doesn’t want to see two of their favourite passions collide?

And believe it or not, gaming and guitars have crossed paths a few times already (with some wicked results). One of the freshest loot drops is Jackson’s X Series Diablo IV Kelly, which landed only last week. So naturally, we reckoned it was time to round up some of our personal faves (in no particular order). Kicking things off with the very guitar that inspired this article…

1. Jackson X Series Diablo IV Kelly

Jackson and Blizzard Entertainment didn’t just collaborate here — they summoned something truly monstrous. The Jackson X Series Diablo IV Kelly “Lord of Hatred” is a celebration of all things loud, heavy and evil. Mephisto’s menacing face dominates the front with Diablo IV artwork lurking around the back, making this one seriously sick-looking axe.

Under that unholy exterior is a Nyatoh body with blood‑red binding, paired with a through‑body Maple neck and Amaranth fingerboard featuring custom red Diablo inlays. It boasts an active high‑output Jackson bridge pickup with enough power to wake the dead. And its hardtail bridge is built to stand up to the most punishing playing styles. In short, this beastly Diablo guitar is ready to raise hell!

A close up photo of the Jackson X Series Diablo IV Kelly guitar on a red background with smoke detail

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2. ESP SN-25th Sonic the Hedgehog Guitar-II

When it comes to gaming franchises, they don’t get much bigger than Sonic the Hedgehog. Sure, the series might have run out of puff a little in recent years. But there’s no denying Sonic’s an iconic character that everyone knows and loves (especially those of us of a certain age). In 2016, ESP partnered with Sega to release four limited Sonic‑themed guitars, celebrating 25 years of blistering speed, Chaos Emerald collecting and stopping the dastardly Dr. Eggman.

All of ‘em were seriously cool — and spec’d to play just as fast as the blue dude can sprint. But the SN‑25th Sonic the Hedgehog Guitar‑II was arguably the headline model, featuring Sonic himself splashed across the front and a rad checkerboard pattern that only the truest old‑school fans would clock (guilty). This high‑octane axe nailed both style and nostalgia, and with a Floyd Rose 1000 trem, Seymour Duncan H/S pickups, plus a slick Ebony ‘board with XJ frets, it was built for full‑tilt shred. You gotta go fast, after all.

A graphic showing the ESP SN-25th Sonic the Hedgehog Guitar-II, one of four Sonic gaming guitar collabs ESP did in 2016

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3. Fender Final Fantasy XIV Stratocaster

Back in 2021, Fender worked with Square Enix to create what might just be one of the sharpest-looking Stratocasters ever. Yup, I’m still kicking myself for not buying one of these at the time. But to be fair, they were the best part of three grand a pop…

Developed alongside the FFXIV team, this Japanese‑made Strat was designed to capture the magic, mythology and scale of one of the world’s most beloved MMORPGs. Dressed head‑to‑toe in black, the body featured translucent blue and purple crystal sections inspired by the game’s Crystals of Light and Darkness. Modern guitar makers, please take notes.

Other key appointments included a slim Modern “C” Maple neck, a Rosewood fingerboard with a Meteor inlay at the 12th fret, plus a trio of specially‑calibrated V‑Mod single‑coil pickups. There was even a neat Easter egg for FFXIV players — a push‑push “Limit Break” tone control (a special ability in the game) that put the bridge and middle pickups in series for a beefier sound. I dread to think what these go for now.

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4. Taylor The Last of Us Replica 314c

Gaming and guitar collabs aren’t reserved solely for supercharged electrics, you know. Taylor have got in on the action too, joining forces with the (uninfected, cordyceps‑free) brains behind The Last of Us on a couple of limited-edition acoustics. The latest is the The Last of Us Replica 314c released in May 2025, which you may have spotted in the hands of Joel and Ellie in the acclaimed HBO Original series.

It’s a cool collector’s piece for sure, but it’s also a serious strummer. The versatile Grand Auditorium body boasts a Tobacco Sunburst top with a smooth satin finish all over, paired with grained ivoroid binding, a faux‑tortoiseshell pickguard and classy Ebony bridge pins. That distinctive third-fret moth inlay also gets the ivoroid treatment, with matching dot inlays running up the neck. You do have to play Pearl Jam’s “Future Days” to properly break it in, though (wink).

A studio photo of the Taylor The Last of Us Replica 314c acoustic guitar, sat in its included case against a wooden background

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5. Fender Monster Hunter Rathalos Telecaster

Another gaming and Fender guitar collab? You betcha. To celebrate 20 years of Monster Hunter in 2024, Fender teamed up with Capcom to unleash a Tele inspired by none other than Rathalos — the “King of the Skies” and poster dragon of the series. Unsurprisingly, it looked ferocious. From the feather and flame detailing to the guild mark on the front, Rathalos emblem on the back and custom 12th‑fret inlay, it’s Monster Hunter lore galore.

As pretty as it is, the Fender Monster Hunter Telecaster wasn’t the kind of guitar designed to hang on the wall. This thing was forged to be wielded onstage, with custom Rathalos S/H pickups voiced for fire‑breathing tones that love a bit of gain. Paired with a smooth satin‑finished Alder body, modern‑feeling Maple neck and 22 medium jumbo frets, it’s clear this was intended as a real player’s guitar ready for battle. We’d love to see a sequel soon.

A screenshot of the Fender Monster Hunter Rathalos Telecaster being played by a character in the game with a dragon in the background

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Gaming x guitar collabs: honourable mentions

Kramer x DOOM: The Dark Ages: A limited‑run crossover that was as savage as you’d expect. To celebrate the release of DOOM: The Dark Ages in 2025, Kramer built three Doom Slayer‑inspired guitars dripping in brutal aesthetics with suitably aggressive specs. These were giveaway‑only one‑offs rather than production models — which only makes them cooler.
Fender x Fortnite: Yup, Fender guitars are officially in Fortnite now. Fender’s partnership with Epic Games brought officially licensed Strats and P‑Basses into Fortnite Festival, letting players shred virtual versions of some of the most iconic instruments of all time.
CRKD x Gibson: CRKD collaborated with Gibson last year to create a range of premium Les Paul‑shaped gaming controllers. Whether you’re rocking out in Fortnite Festival or reliving classic Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, these are designed to give you an edge with lightning‑fast response times and customisable features.

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