Here's What Book You Should Read Based On Your Favorite Game

It should come as no surprise that I, a person who writes about video games for a living, absolutely love games; I have ever since I could hold an SNES controller. I love witnessing how video, audio, story, mechanics, and clever interactivity can come together to create something so entirely unlike any other form of media. That said, if I had to pick just one element of video games that most captivates me ... I'm a story person, through and through.

As such, when I am not in the middle of playing a game, you can often catch me with my nose in a book--or basking in the glow of my Kindle. In this gallery, I wanted to merge my two loves and perhaps give you something fun (or horrifying and bleak) to read based on your favorite games. I'm firmly of the mindset that anyone who is "not a reader" has probably just not found the right book for them, so if that's you, here's hoping one of these will pull you in! And, if you are a reader, I--and all my absolutely wonderful colleagues at GameSpot--have tried to dig a bit deeper to procure slightly less-talked-about picks.

Though I am a huge proponent for paying your local library a visit (seriously, pay your local library a visit if you have one--you'd be shocked at what all they offer, including video games!), we also noticed so many of these books are available at incredibly low prices online. To spare you from digging around yourself, we went ahead and added links to them below. Happy reading!

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

If you're looking for something that captures the same sense of joyous, seafaring adventure as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, I highly suggest giving Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea a read. The novel follows a young woman, Tress, who is forced to abandon her quaint life on a small rocky island after the man she loves is sent away to see the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea. That said, you'd be wrong to dismiss Tress of the Emerald Sea as merely a love story. This book packs piracy, adventure, whimsy, and magic to craft an extremely charming adult fairy tale.

Destiny - Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

The first entry in the Sun Eater series, Empire of Silence is a must-read for those in search of an epic space opera in which the line between technology and magic is blurred, much like it is in the Destiny series. The saga follows Hadrian Marlowe, a man who made history after putting an end to a galactic war--albeit at a truly terrible price. With its complex characters, robust world-building, and lovely, philosophical prose, Empire of Silence should appeal to those who adore Bungie's approach to storytelling.

Dragon Age - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I know a lot of Dragon Age fans (myself included), and despite our united devotion to the series, I've noticed that most of us have wildly different reasons as to why we adore it. As such, I tried to pick something that has mass appeal and touches on many of the different pieces that make Dragon Age such a beloved series: its fantastical setting, its politics and intrigue, its cast of memorable and often-charming characters, and its inclusion of romance. Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, a notorious assassin who--after a year-long stint in an enemy kingdom's death camp--strikes a terrible bargain with an enemy prince in order to escape. What ensues is a fascinating and brutal adventure that is likely to appeal to all you DA fans out there.

Honorable mention: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

Persona 4 - After Dark by Haruki Murakami

After Dark by Haruki Murakami exists somewhere between dream and reality. It takes place in the early hours of the morning while its characters try to make sense of a series of coincidences and phenomena. It’s less of a “whodunnit” like Persona 4, but its ethereal mystery may feel somewhat familiar to those who’ve uncovered the secrets of the Midnight Channel. After Dark even has a ghostly television set reminiscent of the protagonist’s in Persona 4. -- Jake Dekker

Pentiment - The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Everything about Pentiment--from its tone, attention to detail, and clever art direction, to its fascinating characters, brilliant writing, and the way it explores time, legacy, morality, and humanity--makes it a singular and utterly mesmerizing experience. At its core, however, Pentiment is a medieval murder mystery; therefore it might not be too surprising that it takes inspiration from Umberto Eco's seminal work, The Name of the Rose. Like Pentiment, The Name of the Rose follows a charming character who gets roped into investigating a series of murders that shake up a small town and its monastery. And, like Pentiment, this is only the setup for what is truly a deep exploration into humanity and our various ways of thinking.

Honorable mention: The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael by Edith Pargeter

Bloodborne - Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

Bloodborne and Between Two Fires share a lot in common: masterful use of atmosphere, gorgeous imagery, grotesque monstrosities, an enthralling gothic setting, and a keen interest in exploring religion and trauma, to name a few. And while these qualities alone are sure to be enough to convince From Software fans to give Buehlman's medieval horror a read, the two also share a core theme: the importance of holding on to your humanity in a world that seeks to strip it away from you. Set during the Black Plague and in a universe in which Earth has become heaven and hell's battleground, Between Two Fires follows a disgraced knight who reluctantly decides to aid a young girl on her quest to put an end to the ongoing depravity. The adventure that ensues is grim, brutal, and profound.

Honorable mention: Berserk by Kentaro Miura

Persona 5 - Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The first entry in Bardugo's Six of Crows series, Six of Crows sees a handful of young outcasts come together to try to accomplish an impossible, potentially life-changing mission, and execute the perfect heist. Naturally, this makes for a lot of adventure and thrills a la Persona 5, but the real charm of this series--and what makes it perfect for Persona fans--lies with its fantastic characters, who go on to form a sort of found family in an often-unjust world. The Dregs' group dynamic, as well as the relationships that form between characters, is endearing, and is sure to bring readers the same joy they felt when watching The Phantom Thieves assemble and bond.

Hades - Circe by Madeline Miller

Though I suspect Madeline Miller's next book, which is confirmed to be about Persephone, will be even more applicable here, for now I wholeheartedly recommend that all my fellow Hades fans give Circe a read---and I promise it's not just because it's one of my all-time favorites books ever. Circe is a gorgeously written novel that spans centuries and features several of the same mythological figures players interact with in the Hades series. It's tender, dark, adventurous, romantic, smart, and heartfelt--much like Hades--and offers readers a crash course on Greek mythology alongside enchanting prose and plenty of heartache.

Yakuza - Jade City by Fonda Lee

Jade City is the first book in Fonda Lee's The Green Bone Saga, and kicks off a gripping series following two rival crime syndicates seeking control over the island of Kekon, which probably sounds both familiar and exciting to fans of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. However, whereas Yakuza is uh ... relatively grounded, Jade City leans into some fantasy elements--for example, the reason these two crime families are fighting over Kekon is because it is the only place on Earth that produces a rare jade which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities. Despite its urban-fantasy leanings, however, Jade City is first and foremost a tale that explores intergenerational trauma, politics, consumerism, family, and loyalty, all from an East-Asian perspective.

Infamous - Vicious by V. E. Schwab

The first part in V.E. Schwab's Villains duology, Vicious follows former college roommates--Victor and Eli--who, after their shared research experiment goes terribly wrong, each gain superhuman abilities. However, the pair soon discover they have very different ideas regarding what they should do with them. The bulk of the book takes place 10 years later, and follows Victor as he escapes from prison and embarks on a mission to hunt down and stop Eli, who is hard at work killing every other super-powered person he can find. Naturally, all of this should sound particularly exciting to Infamous fans--especially considering the video game series has remained stagnant since 2014.

Final Fantasy XVI - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Much like the Final Fantasy series as a whole, Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive is massive. That said, its also well worth reading if you are high-fantasy lover who loves world-building, interesting magic systems, larger-than-life heroes, twists and turns, politics, war, betrayal, knights, and compelling characters--which, coincidentally, are many of the things that make the Final Fantasy series more sword-and-sorcery-esque entries so appealing. The Way of Kings has a few story beats that are also quite similar to XVI, making it an easy recommendation to those looking for something similar.

Honorable mention: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Red Dead Redemption - All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

Truth be told, most of Cormac McCarthy’s bibliography shares a lot of similarities with Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption series. However, All the Pretty Horses embodies and expands on a lot of themes Rockstar explored in its Western video games. All the Pretty Horses follows John Cole Grady as he ventures down to Mexico with his best friend in order to find that cowboy life that the United States of America was starting to leave behind. Like McCarthy’s other work, All the Pretty Horses juxtaposes its beauty with instances of swift and bloody violence. It's a harrowing read filled with fascinating characters, stunning imagery, and heartbreaking moments. -- Jake Dekker

Honorable mention: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Resident Evil VII - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A sharp and surreal work of horror, Mexican Gothic follows unlikely heroine Noemí Taboada during her stay at High Place: a secluded house in the Mexican countryside. Though Noemí is originally drawn to the home by her cousin, who writes her a frantic letter begging her to help her escape, once Noemí arrives, she finds that other, darker forces are compelling her to stay, and the family her cousin married into is not just eerie and secretive--they are something else entirely. For those in search of something as tense, jaw-dropping, grotesque, and horrific as Resident Evil VII, allow me to introduce you to Mexican Gothic and the Doyle family.

Life is Strange - We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

As Life is Strange is an emotional, character-driven, coming-of-age story with LGBT+ representation and truly lovely writing, it only makes sense to recommend Nina LaCour's We Are Okay. The novel follows Marin, a young woman who, after a sudden, devastating loss, decides to leave California to attend college in New York, allowing her to essentially run away from her grief and cut out everyone she used to be close to. However, when her old friend Mabel comes to visit her, Marin is forced to reconcile with her grief and loneliness, as well as confront her complicated feelings towards her former best friend. For those who couldn't get enough of Chloe and Max, I suspect you'll fall in love with Marin and Mabel.

Honorable mention: Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang

Silent Hill 2 - Bone White by Ronald Malfi

"It's not even a town; more like the bad memory of a town."

Although that sentence is a description of Bone White's rundown town of Dread's Hand, Alaska, it could just as easily describe Konami's Silent Hill 2, which just goes to show you that these two stories share some stunning similarities. In Bone White, readers follow Paul Gallo, who decides to make the trek to Alaska after hearing there has been another murder in the same town his brother went missing. However, as Paul begins to investigate both the murders and his brother's disappearance, he is confronted by strange, superstitious locals who are convinced the devil is at work. Before long, Paul finds he is being pulled into the dark forces and mystery surrounding the town, too.

Control - Authority by Jeff VanderMeer

Okay heads up with this one: Authority is actually the second book in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy, so I highly recommend you start with Annihilation (on which the Alex Garland film is based) first. That said, Authority is undoubtedly more similar to Control and is confirmed to be one of Remedy's inspirations, so this is where you'll really see payoff if that's what you're looking for. In it, readers follow John Rodríguez--whose nickname is literally "Control"--as he takes on a new role as the head of a secret government organization investigating mysterious, supernatural incidents ... sound familiar? Unsurprisingly--and much like Control's Jesse Faden--the more John digs around the department, the more he begins to question its true intentions and his role within it.

Honorable mention: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Dishonored - Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Looking for a story about a secret organization of stealthy assassins with magical abilities working to overthrow a cruel, oppressive empire? What if we placed that story in a dark-fantasy setting--one abundant with soot-covered rooftops, smothered in political tension, and featuring an intriguing, well-defined magic system? This is precisely what to expect from both Dishonored and Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, which is what makes the series an extremely easy recommendation to fans of the former. If you couldn't get enough of Dunwall, Luthadel--and a whole new swathe of corrupt nobles to take down--is waiting for you.

(Dis)Honorable mention: The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano

Lost Records - Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

If you've finished up Lost Records and are looking for even more suspense, '90s references, and VHS tapes, Universal Harvester is the book for you. Though it's far less concerned with examining girlhood and relationships, it manages to capture a similar atmosphere while leaning further into the Lost Record's small-town-horror elements. The novel follows Jeremy, a clerk at a locally owned VHS rental shop, who is pulled into a supernatural mystery when customers begin reporting disturbing clips being spliced into their movie rentals. What ensues is a dark story that forever alters his perception of his hometown and the people who inhabit it.

Cyberpunk 2077 - Burning Chrome by William Gibson

Although William Gibson’s Neuromancer seems like the obvious choice here, I think Burning Chrome might be the better option for Cyberpunk 2077 fans. Unlike Neuromancer, Burning Chrome is a collection of Cyberpunk short stories that feature different settings, characters, and themes, and they're all written around the cyberpunk genre. A handful of these short stories also take place in the Sprawl, the fictional city Gibson created for Neuromancer. One of Cyberpunk 2077’s strengths is its diverse set of interesting characters, side quests, and locales, and Burning Chrome kind of feels like a collection of meticulously written side quests that could fit neatly into CD Projekt Red’s open-world game. -- Jake Dekker

Honorable mentions: Neuromancer by William Gibson, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick

The Last of Us - The Girl with All the Gifts by Mike Carey

Looking for another piece of media that will make you unreasonably wary of cordyceps? Much like The Last of Us, Mike Carey's The Girl with All the Gifts follows a young girl who has been infected with a fungal, zombie-making disease yet does not show any symptoms of turning into a zombie herself, making her a curious figure that scientists long to poke and prod at. Though The Girl with All the Gifts begins at a lab and works its way out--a reversal of what happens in The Last of Us--it shares several things in common with the Naughty Dog series, including an emphasis on the relationship between a young girl and the moody, reluctant father figure who steps in to care for her.

Honorable mentions: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Castlevania - Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

The first entry in Jay Kristoff's Empire of the Vampire series, Empire of the Vampire follows Gabriel de León, a very Trevor Belmont-esque character who serves as the last remaining member of the Silversaints--a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending the land from vampires. However, not much else is particularly "saintly" about this brutal series that has been frequently described as Netflix's Castlevania meets Interview with a Vampire and Game of Thrones. In the post-apocalyptic world of darkness this book is set in, readers will bare witness to a lot of grotesquerie and adult content. It might be a bit too edgy for some, but for those willing to embrace the over-the-top nature of games like Devil May Cry, there's a lot to get excited about here.

Baldur's Gate 3 - Homeland by R.A. Salvatore

I've tried to stray away from recommending books set in the same world as the games mentioned on this list; I don't think you need me to tell you that you should try reading The Witcher series if you liked ... The Witcher series. However, I think this pick is just different enough to merit being on this list. Salvatore's Homeland--the first book in his The Dark Elf trilogy--is set in the Forgotten Realms, the same plane that Dungeons and Dragons and the entire Baldur's Gate series is set in. As such, reading this book is sure to whisk you away back to your adventure across Faerûn. You'll hear plenty of familiar names and visit well-treaded areas (like the Underdark) as you follow the dark elf Drizzt on his journey to redefine what being a drow entails.

STALKER - Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky and Boris Strugatsky

Roadside Picnic has had a tremendous influence on both games and movies. The Russian science-fiction novel was adapted into Andrei Tarkovsky's cinematic masterpiece Stalker. Pulling influence from both the book and the movie, GSC Game World created the STALKER series. While the games are not official adaptations and are in no way connected to the book or movie, fans will certainly find a lot of similarities between the movie, book, and games. The novel follows a young stalker who illegally enters The Zone to collect rare, otherworldly artifacts. Scientists don’t fully understand The Zone, and with that, comes a lot of fascinating questions that prod at our existence. -- Jake Dekker

Assassin's Creed - The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The first entry in The Gentleman Bastard series, The Lies of Locke Lamora follows a gifted con artist living in the mysterious city of Camorr. With its canals and Italian architecture, it's clear that Camorr is based on late-medieval Venice, though that's certainly not the only reason I'd recommend this book to AC fans. Protagonist Locke Lamora shares a lot in common with the charming Ezio Auditore, and the story's sense of adventure, delightful blending of fantasy and history, and overall roguish quality make for an experience that is sure to remind you of playing through Assassin's Creed II.

Mass Effect - Conquerors' Pride by Timothy Zahn

If you're looking for a daring space opera that explores what humanity's relationship with other lifeforms might look like should we make contact with them, you should definitely play through the Mass Effect trilogy And, if you've played Mass Effect and are looking for something to fill the Garrus-shaped hole in your heart, you should read the Conqueror's Trilogy. The first novel in the series, Pride, kicks off after humanity's failed first contact with an alien race known as the Zhirrzh, and follows a crew of humans as they embark on a mission to rescue their captured commander, Pheylan Cavanagh.

The Witcher - The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan

There are a lot of reasons to love The Witcher games, but if you are particularly interested in its political intrigue, examination of justice and morality, and the relationship between Geralt and his protégé, Ciri, I think you'll love The Justice of Kings. The book follows Sir Konrad Vonvalt, the most feared Justice in the Empire of the Wolf, and his talented, daughter-like companion Helena Sedanka, as they begin an investigation that will shake their faith in the empire they serve and its laws.

God of War - The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

If you're a fan of 2018's God of War, I think you'll enjoy John Gwynne's The Shadow of the Gods. Set in a Norse-inspired world in which bloodthirsty gods waged wars until they drove themselves to extinction, The Shadow of the Gods follows three vastly different heroes as they embark on an adventure that will ultimately shape the fate of the world. With its epic world-building, dark-fantasy elements, and the inclusion of a deep mother-child relationship that feels a bit similar to Kratos and Atreus in the God of War series, this series should appeal to those who adore the PlayStation games.