For Dungeons and Dragons 5E you need the core books. The 5th edition core books include the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master Guide and Monster Manual. These books are really well made. Unlike the original 1st Edition books that fell apart at the binding from use over the years these 5th edition books are sturdy. And the artwork inside of them is nothing short of awesome by comparison to the books of long ago.
Of course, the AD &D books had a flavor all of their own. They were in black and white. They had cartoons that brought humor to the game. But to make these 5E core books Wizards of the Coast must have spent a great deal of money on artists.
You can tell just from the cover art that the Dungeons and Dragons 5E books have some incredible images and they do. They are full color and are full of fine artwork. These books have extensive tables as well.
I love the beholder picture on the cover of the monster manual. Each of the monsters inside this book have a full color image as well as extensive stats and ecology information for the creature. The Player’s Handbook has a wide variety of classes and options for each. There are extensive spell lists and descriptions as well. And the Dungeon Master’s Guide has everything the budding dungeon master might need. These products are high quality. And they are kind of expensive. I got mine off of Ebay. Drive Thru does not appear to offer the 5E core books. Or at least I could not find them there.
