As Ballpoint struggles to fit in with his new Autobot friends, a mishap with an experimental weapon causes him to swap bodies with the most feared Decepticon of them all – Megatron!
Will Ballpoint’s newfound size and strength finally garner him the acceptance he desires? Maybe!
Will the mighty Megatron really accept being placed in the itty-bitty body of the Worst Bot Ever? Of course not!
Brian “Smitty” Smith and Marz Jr. return for Ballpoint’s next hilarious adventure in TRANSFORMERS: WORST BOT EVER – BOT SWAP!
I will always be chasing an experience that equals that of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Oh, those sweet, sweet days of wondering what the next cut scene will yield, what glorious battles might ensue. Who to romance! While I may not be considered a “serious” gamer, I have been gaming since the ’90s. I was there, dear readers, when my parents gifted my brother and I a Super Nintendo. We took turns each time one of us perished in Super Mario World, and while Mario games will always be a mainstay in my household, especially now that I have my own kids, I’ve been able to explore other science fiction and fantasy games as well.
As a reader and writer, it is a delight to find a book that has that same feel as some of my favorite video games. LitRPG is having a moment, but don’t discount the other stories out there that will gift you that gamer vibe. Sci-fi and fantasy books, especially, are great for all gamers.
What Makes a Great Book For a Gamer?
What I was looking for when choosing this list was vibrant, layered worlds that—if I were a game designer or game writer (which would be pretty kickass)—I’d want to adapt for a sprawling, adventure-filled game. I looked for braided plots, multiple secondary characters, or even multiple main characters. Is there a Navi-adjacent companion (Navi is Link’s fairy companion in Ocarina of Time, who acted as a great tool for providing outside information and guidance)? Are there useful items and gear in these stories? Are there episodic missions and milestones that add to the larger conflict at play? My choices clearly range, but they all touch on one or more of these factors.
Additionally, for the sake of this post, I am using “gaming” and “gamers” mostly in regard to video games, as that is primarily what I play as a gamer. However, I do sincerely hope that some of my picks might connect with tabletop and board gamers as well. All gamers are welcome, and I hope you find a book or idea that interests you. Cliché or not, I truly believe there is a book out there for everyone.
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
If you prefer games with an overarching mystery to solve, this would be perfect for you.
This is one of my favorite fantasy books of all time, and its accolades speak for it. It takes place in an alternate 1912 Cairo. In this timeline, Cairo is a beacon of technology, culture, art, academia, and supernatural beings coexisting alongside humans. Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman to work at the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, and she already has a seasoned, successful CV. Agent Fatma is called to investigate a murder that occurred amidst a secret brotherhood, and the murderer claims to be one of the most famous men in history returning to condemn the modern age. Agent Fatma must scour Cairo, enlist the help of friends, colleagues, and a former lover, to solve this ever-expanding, world-shattering mystery.
The way I would absolutely lose myself exploring Cairo in this world in a video game environment, looking for clues, and engaging in daring chases and supernatural battles.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
If you’re into epic games, large maps, and characters with different types of magical abilities, try this book (and series).
Susan Dennard is a known Dragon Age: Inquisition fan and gamer. In her epic Witchlands series, you can see some of the influence and inspiration the game has on her worldbuilding and characters. Truthwitch is the first in this sprawling young adult fantasy series, and you’ll be pleased to know that the series is finished and available to read. You don’t have to wait for the next installment!
There are two main characters in this series, Safi and Iseult. They are the epitome of soulmates as best friends, but they each have their own destiny to follow and pasts to overcome. They also have their respective love interests, coming together only to be torn apart again. The world is full elemental witch magic, which can vary in scope and power depending on the person.
American Hippo by Sarah Gailey
If you play games because you love to find the perfect animal companion to battle with and/or ride, this book is for you.
We all have opinions on what our favorite mount is in a video game. From Epona in Ocarina of Time, to Shadowmere in Elder Scrolls, we have Big Feelings about these. But let me riddle you this: Have you ever wanted to have your own hippo mount? If you read Gailey’s alternate history epic American Hippo, you can imagine it. And oh my god, do I want to have one in a video game. I want my own Ruby!
This book consists of two novellas, River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow, that are set in an alternate American past, circa 1890s, where hippos rule the swamp that used to be the Mississippi River. Winslow Houndstooth rides a Cambridge Black hippo named Ruby. My hero Ruby is over 3,000 pounds and is savage AF. If you don’t prefer Ruby (how dare you), there are other hippos to pick from. Picture yourself, dear reader, kicking ass on the back of a hippo. Someone make this game, I beg you.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
If you enjoy games where the storyline includes various types of trials/competitions that reflect the politics, oppressions, and conflicts of the larger world, you’ll enjoy this read, especially if you enjoy games with a fabulous dash of romance.
This Egyptian-inspired fantasy debut is absolutely stunning, and I still think about it. It follows Sylvia, whose family, the royal family of the kingdom of Jasad, perished and burned ten years prior. Everyone thinks the heir to the kingdom died with everyone else in the royal family, but Sylvia is very much alive. Although her kingdom’s magic has been outlawed, her people hunted down, she disguises her identity and magic to survive. When Arin, the Nizahl Heir and her enemy, discovers her magic (but not her true identity), they strike a dangerous and alluring bargain.
This story is also a gut-wrenching, heart-pounding true enemies-to-lovers romance. For everyone who romances their favorite characters in Baldur’s Gate III, this one is for you.
Countess by Suzan Palumbo
If you enjoy playing space opera games that involve overthrowing an authoritarian empire by any means necessary, this novella is for you.
Despite this story being a novella, it is absolutely epic in scope and setting. It’s timely, relevant, and a retelling of a classic story (The Count of Monte Cristo). For gamers, this queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial story would be perfect to dive into if you’re between games and are looking for a brief yet powerful story to escape into for the interim. The accolades for this book are many, and Palumbo is one of my favorite authors working in genre, period.
Picture yourself in a game where you play Countess, causing chaos and interrupting trade routes to a highly capitalistic, authoritarian regime. Picture a cast of characters you’d be willing to fight for and alongside. This is a story that will set fire to your blood.
The Iron Garden Sutra by A.D. Sui
Here’s a great book for anyone who might enjoy exploring large, ancient, and abandoned spaceships, however unsettling, along with your AI companion.
Think classic locked-room mystery, but make it super science fiction. Sui is a master at creating ornate and awe-inspiring worlds. The story follows Vessel Iris, who has devoted himself to the Starlit Order, performing funeral rites for the dead across the galaxy.
The generation ship, Counsel of Nicaea, has suddenly appeared after thousands of years, and Vessel Iris has been called in to perform the rites for the people who have long since turned to dust in its moss-filled halls. Along with his AI enhancement, Iris explores the halls, but he and the team he’s a part of quickly realize that there’s another sentience aboard this ancient ship, and it’s stalking the team one by one.
This strikes me as a book for gamers who enjoy that locked-room mystery/Alien Isolation type of environment. Explore the ship, solve the mystery, all while trying to keep yourself and your team alive.
A Book List for Gamers and a Wishlist for Games
I see now that I have made this list into a sort of wishlist for the gaming industry, which is good! The gaming industry ought to be looking at the fantastic array of science fiction and fantasy literature as inspiration to plan the next big gaming hit.
However, and very important: this doesn’t mean you steal people’s work by feeding it into an AI program without proper permission and compensation! Copyright is there for a reason, y’all. Inspiration and partnerships are great, but there’s a right way to do it. So take note, gaming and tech industry.
For those looking for more gamer-themed bookish articles, look no further than these amazing Book Riot pieces:
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