If you’re a parent with a young child, their sole interest in life may be video games. As much as you’d like them to stop talking about Minecraft, at this point, you’ll take what you can get in terms of reading. Or perhaps you’re a high schooler desperately trying to finish your summer reading assignments without being bored to death or ending up on TikTok complaining about your lack of media literacy.
Luckily, there are plenty of books that capture the same themes, and in many cases the same characters, as popular video games. Sure, standalone books like Monster, The Road, and World War Z are great, but they may be one-hit wonders with your gamer kid. By choosing one of these great book series, even the most avid gamer will be hooked for weeks, months, or even years!
The Best Back to School Supplies for Gamers
Get everyone excited about a new school year with these gamer-themed supplies!
Bookshop.org is a wonderful way for readers to connect with and support local booksellers. Every purchase on their site financially supports independent bookstores. Check out the TheBestWarGames storefront to find dozens of books for gamers and support small businesses in the process!
Alternatively, some of these books are available for free with a new Audible subscription. Start your free trial of Audible by clicking here!
The Best Books for Student Gamers in 2024
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Display card main info widgetWings of Fire
$23 $45 Save $22Display card main info widget endWings of Fire begins with the book The Dragonet Prophecy, and is a perfect book series for fans of fantasy games such as Skyrim, Skylanders, and Dragon Age. The sprawling story spans many novels, though the first arc is only five books. The story follows a diverse cast of dragon characters in an intrigue-filled adventure!
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Display card main info widgetRedwall
$8 $9 Save $1Display card main info widget endBeginning with a standalone novel of the same name, the Redwall series follows a fantasy world of various woodland creatures trying their best to survive through villains, new regimes, and beloved traditions. A classic fantasy series written for children, there are 22 books total, promising plenty of content for young readers.
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Display card main info widgetWarriors
$28 $60 Save $32Display card main info widget endErin Hunter’s Warriors series is a #1 national bestseller and spurred a whole trend of students finally diving into back-to-back reading. As the title suggests, Warriors is action-packed and focuses on warring groups of wild, sentient cats. Young gamers who enjoy Overwatch, Pokemon, and League of Legends should be easily hooked on this book series.
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Display card main info widgetMinecraft: The Island
$8 $11 Save $3Display card main info widget endThe first official Minecraft novel is still considered one of the best! Absolutely thrilling and packed with action, Minecraft: The Island is a great book even for readers who aren’t super familiar with Minecraft. For audible subscribers, an audio version of the book is available too, with Jack Black as the narrator! Aimed at young adults, the story focuses on survival in a strange land, starting with the main character having been transported from our world into the world of Minecraft, with no memory of their previous life. The story continues in The Mountain and The Village.
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Display card main info widgetMinecraft: Wither Without You
$22 $33 Save $11Display card main info widget endWither Without You is one of Mojang’s official Minecraft comic series and a rare YA title from the series. The story is about two siblings on a mission to save their mentor with the help of another teen with strange abilities. The art is highly detailed, but manages to have a cutesy element to it that cements it as a YA graphic novel.
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Display card main info widgetFive Nights At Freddy’s The Silver Eyes
Display card main info widget endConsidered one of the best FNAF book series, The Silver Eyes captures the same spooky vibes that made the game so popular. Written by the creator of the game, the FNAF Silver Eyes book series covers the events of the game and more across three volumes. Gamers who love Five Nights at Freddy’s will love this extension of that adventure.
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Display card main info widgetAliens Ate my Homework
$22 $28 Save $6Display card main info widget endA rare sci-fi story written for young readers, Aliens Ate My Homework is a comedic book perfect for kids who love to laugh and could do with a little less homework in their life. Of course, with the book series offering four hilarious volumes, they may end up reading more than ever before! Fans of games like Grounded and Hello Neighbor will likely enjoy Aliens Ate My Homework.
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Display card main info widgetThe Wild Robot
$30 $54 Save $24Display card main info widget endThis mysterious story about a robot who wakes up alone in a forest is an excellent bridge between middle-grade and young adult books. The text is easy to understand, making it approachable for a wide range of ages, but the content is filled with dynamic themes that explore a variety of literary devices. Kids who enjoy quieter games, such as Minecraft, Valheim, and Stardew Valley might find The Wild Robot to be their next favorite book. The series includes three volumes.
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Display card main info widgetAmulet
$83 $119 Save $36Display card main info widget endAmulet is a fantastic graphic novel adventure steeped in high fantasy, but written for middle school reading levels. If your child struggles with getting into traditional books, a graphic novel like Amulet could be just the thing they need. This series spans nine volumes and follows a brother and sister as they try to save a magical kingdom in the wake of a devastating loss.
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Display card main info widgetPersepolis
$15 $27 Save $12Display card main info widget endIdeal for high school students who hate traditional books, this two-volume graphic novel series touches on very real issues through the eyes of its author. Persepolis is the true story of Marjane Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. While a nonfiction book is hard to sell to students, Satrapi’s artistic skill and lyrical writing make it one of the most approachable historical series available to high school students. Fans of Call of Duty or Life is Strange won’t be able to put this series down.
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Display card main info widgetLog Horizon
$12 $14 Save $2Display card main info widget endLog Horizon follows a group of MMO players who are suddenly and inexplicably trapped in their game. While many isekai stories jump right to the players trying to escape, Log Horizon’s protagonists focus on organizing efforts between players. Featuring a ton of political intrigue, as well as in-depth MMO information and analysis, this light novel series currently offers 10 volumes of science fiction tailored to gamers.
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Display card main info widgetSherlock Holmes
Display card main info widget endSherlock Holmes is a classic more than 100 years after it was originally written for a reason. The mysteries solved by the greatest detective have been reused in all kinds of media, including video games. The older language is ideal for students trying to broaden their vocabulary, while the plot devices used have become staples of the writing world. Plus, the stories are genuinely very thrilling!
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Display card main info widgetHalo: Glasslands by Karen Traviss
$13 $19 Save $6Display card main info widget endThe first of the Kilo-Five Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss, Halo: Glasslands is part of the expanded universe set in the year 2553. The Covenant has collapsed after a long, brutal war with humanity that saw billions slaughtered. Peace finally seems possible, but though the fighting has stopped, the war is far from over; it's just gone underground. Now, a secret elite group called Kilo-Five vies with the Arbiter as the Covenant approaches a civil war.
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Display card main info widgetEarthsea
Display card main info widget endFans of games like Ni No Kuni and Spiritfarer, or any of the Studio Ghibli movies, may be interested to read Earthsea, which is well-known to have been a source of inspiration for many of Hayao Miyaki’s most fantastic films. Set in a world of island nations, wars, and wizards, Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic quartet of novels has enthralled readers around the world. Beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea, this book series is an easy entry into fantasy for middle and high school students.
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Display card main info widgetThe Arc of a Scythe
$30 $40 Save $10Display card main info widget endA dystopian view of the future, The Arc of a Scythe series imagines a world where death has been relegated to a rote task, much to the distaste of the main characters. Offering dark mysteries and moral dilemmas, The Arc of a Scythe is the ideal book series for players who enjoy games like Cyberpunk 2077, Bioshock, and We Happy Few. The series consists of three total books, starting with Scythe.
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Display card main info widgetWarhammer 40k: Gaunt's Ghosts
$18 $21 Save $3Display card main info widget endFans of 40K will dive deep into this story which follows the Imperial Guard as they stand shoulder to shoulder against an invasion by heretical forces. Amongst the defenders of the Imperium are the troops of the Tanith First-and-Only, a displaced regiment forced to flee their home planet before it succumbed to the unrelenting assault of Chaos. Nicknamed 'the Ghosts', their specialist scouting role sees them thrown into the thickest of the fighting.
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Display card main info widgetSaga
$37 $60 Save $23Display card main info widget endSaga is one of the greatest comic series ever written and follows a mixed family caught in the middle of a literal race war that has consumed the galaxy. Given the premise, the content is suitable for high school readers only, but the themes, art work, and writing are perfect for a gamer to finally immerse themselves in a good book.
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Display card main info widgetStar Wars: X-Wing
$13 $18 Save $5Display card main info widget endStar Wars fans are spoiled for books, especially as young adults, but one of the best Star Wars book series ever written was the Star Wars: X-Wing series, which begins with Rogue Squadron. This fast-paced, action-packed series follow fighter pilots in space as they try their best to free themselves from the grasp of the Empire. Consisting of 10 books total, it’s easy for Star Wars fans to dive deep and immerse themselves in a galaxy far, far away.
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Display card main info widgetDiscworld
$15 $18 Save $3Display card main info widget endAnother classic series, Discworld begins with The Color of Magic and takes readers on a hilarious ride through a fantasy world built on the backs of four elephants riding a giant space turtle. The main characters has been described as “the world’s worst magician” and works as a tour guide in a crazy city of unchecked magic. Fans of games like Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate, and The Elder Scrolls Online will love exploring Discworld through its many volumes.
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Display card main info widgetThe Murderbot Diaries
$11 $17 Save $6Display card main info widget endThe Muderbot Diaries is an endearing book series about an android who just wants to learn more about itself...and also murder humans. However, they aren't very good at being a "heartless killing machine" and this makes what could be a terrifying horror story into a strange, and often hilarious, record of a robot gone rogue. Perfect for fans of Starfield or Elite Dangerous, this book is written at a high school level and currently has seven volumes.
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Best Middle-Grade Book Series for Gamer Kids
Warriors was a world-wide phenomenon for years and though its influence has waned, it’s still popular with young readers, particularly young readers who struggle to feel engaged with books. The story follows a number of cat clans who are warring against each other.
The main series is only six books long, but there are dozens of other related stories, including graphic novels, manga, and even a guide book, so it's extremely easy to get started and keep up with reading goals. Young gamers who love stories set in fantasy worlds, especially those starring animals, such as Spyro and Stray, will likely find Warriors to be a thrilling series they won’t be able to put down.
Best Young Adult Book Series for Gamer Kids
So you think you know everything about MMOs? Great! Log Horizon puts all of that knowledge to good use in a very realistic way. When a video game trapped all active players in its world, all of the top players immediately thought of isekais and headed towards the game's various bosses. But what is everyone else supposed to do in the meantime?
Log Horizon follows a group of adventurers set on stabilizing their lives while they try to figure out how to escape. Tackling issues never addressed in most isekais, the group works to keep new players safe, correct daily issues facing players, and research why they are trapped and how they can escape. Filled with hyper-specific MMO facts and steeped in political intrigue, this book is perfect for strategic gamers who want to read something that feels true to life, at least as far as MMO gaming goes.
Editor’s Choice Book Series for Gamer Kids
Minecraft: The Island by Max Brooks
Max Brooks’ Minecraft book series, which starts with The Island, is one of the best books for gamers of any age. Despite being written for elementary and middle school students, Brooks’ compelling storytelling has left more than a few gamer parents sneaking in chapters between school days.
Anyone who enjoys Minecraft will love this book, even if older readers are able to speed through it. Consisting of three novels altogether, the story follows two adventurers essentially trapped in Minecraft. The main character doesn’t know anything about Minecraft at the onset, which makes it easy for kids to learn about how books explain concepts and allows for parents to enjoy the story without having much knowledge about the game. One of the best ways to get your kids reading is to read along with them, and this thrilling Minecraft series by Max Brooks is perfect for the entire gaming family!
Every Mojang Minecraft Book, Ranked
With over a dozen standalone novels and even more sequels, which Minecraft books are the best reads?